Offramp← All destinations

🇬🇧 United Kingdom → 🇦🇺 Australia

Emigrating from the UK to Australia: the real cost

The #1 destination for British emigrants. As a UK passport holder you skip the English test, but the points-tested skilled visas and full family visa charges still add up fast.

Difficulty

Moderate

Timeline

8–18 mo

Currency

AUD

Cost-to-leave estimator

🇬🇧 United Kingdom → 🇦🇺 Australia. Indicative ranges, not a quote.

Skills assessment ×2check ↗A$600 – A$2,000
Visa application — primary applicantcheck ↗A$4,765
Visa charge — additional adult (18+)check ↗A$2,385
Visa charge — child (under 18)check ↗A$1,195
Immigration medical exams ×3A$1,050 – A$1,500
UK police certificate (ACRO) ×2check ↗A$160 – A$300
One-way flights (UK→AU) ×3A$3,600 – A$6,600
UK pension / QROPS transfer adviceA$500 – A$2,500
Landing fund (bond, first month, setup)A$5,000 – A$10,000

Estimated total cost to leave

A$19,255 – A$31,245

Fees reviewed 2026-06. Indicative FX. Not financial, tax or migration advice. Official fees ↗

Your pension

UK pension (SIPP / workplace)→Superannuation

Transferring a UK pension to Australia via QROPS is technically possible but tightly restricted: almost no public Australian super funds are QROPS-registered, and HMRC rules generally block transfers before age 55. Most under-55s leave the pension in a UK SIPP and draw it later. Get cross-border advice before moving anything — a wrong transfer can trigger a 25%+ HMRC overseas-transfer charge.

Dig deeper on Australia

Your UK pension→Tax residency→Cost breakdown→Visa & timeline→

Frequently asked

How much does it cost to emigrate from the UK to Australia?

It varies by family size and route, but most households should budget across visa fees, medical and police checks, flights, cross-border tax/pension advice and a landing fund. Use the estimator on this page for a personalised range. The #1 destination for British emigrants. As a UK passport holder you skip the English test, but the points-tested skilled visas and full family visa charges still add up fast.

Can I transfer my UK pension to Australia?

Transferring a UK pension to Australia via QROPS is technically possible but tightly restricted: almost no public Australian super funds are QROPS-registered, and HMRC rules generally block transfers before age 55. Most under-55s leave the pension in a UK SIPP and draw it later. Get cross-border advice before moving anything — a wrong transfer can trigger a 25%+ HMRC overseas-transfer charge.

How long does the move to Australia take?

Typically 8–18 months. Points-tested skilled visas (189/190/491). UK citizens are exempt from the English test.

Get the Australia financial-emigration playbook

Step-by-step checklist for UK tax residency, your pension, moving money and banking. Join the list for launch pricing.

See a free sample of the playbook →

Educational information only — not financial, tax, legal or migration advice. Fees reviewed 2026-06; verify current figures via the official links above before acting.