Australia Now: Moving from the UK (October 2026)

Oct 16

4 min read

Last checked: 16 October 2026. Visa rules, fees and tax rates change. Every figure below comes from official or cross-checked sources, but always confirm on the official links before you apply.

Australia is still one of the easiest big moves for UK passport holders. Under-36s get a three-year working holiday with no farm work required, skilled workers can reach permanent residence in two years with a sponsor, and the lowest tax band was cut again this July. Here is where things stand right now.

Three ways in from the UK

1. Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

Age: 18 to 35 inclusive for UK passport holders. You must apply before your 36th birthday.
Length: up to three separate 12-month visas, so up to three years in total. The years don't have to be back to back.
No farm work: since 1 July 2024, UK passport holders don't need to do specified (regional) work to get a second or third visa.
Limits: usually no more than six months with any one employer, and up to four months of study.
Cost from 1 July 2026: A$840 for your first visa, A$1,000 for a second or third.

Best for: under-36s who want to test life in Australia before committing.

2. Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

How it works: an Australian employer sponsors you for a role they can't fill locally.
Core Skills stream: your job must be on the Core Skills Occupation List (456 occupations), and your salary must be at least A$79,423 (up from A$76,515 on 1 July 2026).
Specialist Skills stream: for higher earners. The salary floor is A$146,576 (up from A$141,210).
Experience: at least one year of relevant work experience.
Length: up to four years.
Route to permanent residence: after two years of sponsored work you can apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Since the December 2024 reforms, the two years don't have to be with a single sponsor.
Cost from 1 July 2026: A$4,015 base application charge.

Best for: skilled workers with a job offer, at any age.

3. Skilled permanent visas (subclasses 189 and 190)

These are points-tested and give permanent residence from day one, but you need an invitation, and invitations go mainly to occupations in short supply. Your age, English score, qualifications and work experience decide your points. Check your occupation and points on the Home Affairs skilled visa pages before paying for a skills assessment.

Jobs Australia wants

All of these are on the official Core Skills Occupation List:

Healthcare: registered nurses, general practitioners
Trades: electricians, plumbers, carpenters, motor mechanics, chefs
Professional: software engineers, civil engineers, accountants
Education: secondary school teachers, early childhood teachers

Job titles in Australia follow ANZSCO codes, so check your exact code against the list rather than relying on your UK job title.

Tax: what you'll pay in 2026–27

These are the resident rates from the Australian Taxation Office:

Up to A$18,200: nil
A$18,201 to A$45,000: 15% (cut from 16% on 1 July 2026)
A$45,001 to A$135,000: 30%
A$135,001 to A$190,000: 37%
Over A$190,000: 45%

Most residents also pay a 2% Medicare levy on top. Worked example: on a A$90,000 salary, income tax is A$17,520 and the Medicare levy is A$1,800, a total of A$19,320, before any deductions. Working holiday makers are taxed under separate working holiday maker rates, so check the ATO if you're on a 417.

Superannuation: your employer pays extra

On top of your salary, your employer must pay at least 12% of your qualifying earnings into your super (pension) fund. From 1 July 2026, under the new Payday Super rules, employers have to pay it every payday instead of every quarter, so you can check it lands each time you're paid. When you compare job offers, check whether the figure is quoted "plus super" or "including super".

Healthcare from day one

The UK and Australia have a reciprocal health care agreement. If you lived in the UK before arriving, you can enrol in Medicare for medically necessary care, including treatment as a public patient in a public hospital and some prescription medicines at the general rate. Take your passport, visa and proof of UK residence (such as a GHIC) to enrol. Cover ends when your visa expires, and it is not full private health insurance, so check whether your visa requires private cover too.

Your first-week checklist

Tax file number: apply online once you're in Australia on a visa with work rights. It's free with the ATO.
Medicare: enrol under the reciprocal agreement through Services Australia.
Bank account: open one and give your employer the details along with your tax file number.
Super fund: pick your own fund or accept your employer's default.

The bottom line

Under 36 and unsure? The Working Holiday visa is the cheapest way to try Australia for up to three years.
Nurse, tradesperson, teacher or engineer? Find a sponsor under the 482 Core Skills stream and you could have permanent residence in about two years.
High earner? The Specialist Skills stream is built for you.

Not sure Australia is the right fit? Try our free relocation app to see how it compares with other countries for your job and priorities.