Planning to relocate to the beautiful Australia or Down Under as it is known colloquially? What a great idea! To make the move smoother, consider these helpful tips on topics such as customs and visa documentation.

Documents

For the most up to date information regarding visas and documentation required for you to be able to relocate to Australia, contact your nearest embassy for an appointment.

If you will be seeking work upon your arrival, embassy staff will be able to advise you on whether your skill set is currently sought after in Australia, for example. They could potentially even be able to advise on the best areas for you to move to, taking into consideration your education, work experience and skill set.

Common documents that you may need to produce both at the border and while settling into your new home are birth and marriage certificates, medical and work records. These should be presented in their original form with translations if applicable. A valid passport is obviously also needed.

Customs

Australia being a separate continent, there are strict rules and regulations in place regarding what you can and cannot bring into the country. This is to avoid the spreading of diseases and the introduction of foreign species to the native land, for example.

Many items require declaration. You should expect strict checks to be performed upon your arrival so it is really not advised to try to cheat the system. The rules are there for a reason so punishments are harsh, and could even see you banned from ever entering the country again.

Be sure to consult customs documentation before cramming your suitcase full of food stuffs, any items of organic origin such as wood and leather, and even electronics as these might not comply with local standards. There are also restrictions on the amount of cigarettes and alcohol you are legally allowed to bring into the country.

Other Helpful Tips

Before leaving to your new home, make sure all your existing financial matters are sorted, as well as any legal affairs. Inform your bank and any other important parties of your move. There are some international banks such as HSBC that may be able to set up an Australian account for you from afar so that it is ready and waiting for your arrival at the other end.

Make sure someone in Australia is expecting you so that you have a local emergency contact. This could be a business contact or a friend of a friend, but some sort of safety net is advisable.

Chances are you will be making quite a few international phone calls in the run up to your big move, whether they are to do with your new job, accommodation or immigration concerns. Therefore it is wise to set up an account with or purchase credit from a specialised call company that offers cheap calls to Australia, saving you lots of money on bills.