Your India to Australia Relocation Toolkit
Indians are now one of Australia's largest and fastest-growing migrant communities, strong in study, IT, and skilled migration. Visas, Medicare, jobs, housing, schools, pets, and moving money out of India — all in one place.
It looks like a lot — but you've already taken the hardest step by deciding to go. We'll walk you through it section by section.
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or Skilled 189/482
in practice 90+
no reciprocal cover
RBI remittance limit
family of 4, Sydney/Melbourne
2.5–5.5 hrs ahead of IST
Last updated: June 2026. We keep this guide regularly updated, but immigration rules, fees, and costs change — always confirm the final figures with the official source linked in each section before you rely on them.
Many Indians arrive as students and move to a Graduate then skilled visa; others come directly via skilled migration or employer sponsorship.
Student → Temporary Graduate (485) → PR
A very common path: study in Australia, then a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) for post-study work, building experience and points toward permanent residence. Australian study also adds points to your skilled score.
Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) — PR
Points-tested, no sponsor needed — minimum 65 points to be invited. Submit an EOI via SkillSelect. Subclass 190 (state-nominated) and 491 (regional) can be easier to be invited for.
Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) — employer-sponsored
Employer-sponsored, not points-tested — minimum salary AUD $79,499 minimum salary; can lead to PR via the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186).
⚠ Figures marked here change frequently — confirm the current amount with the official source before relying.
Where Indians settle
Victoria (Melbourne) and NSW (Sydney) have the largest Indian communities, top universities, and deepest job markets — and the highest costs. Queensland (Brisbane), WA (Perth), and SA (Adelaide) offer state-nomination routes, strong IT/engineering demand, and far lower living costs.
Renting as a new arrival
Competitive market — Sydney median house rent is about AUD $750–815/week for a house, other capitals cheaper. Apply at open inspections with paperwork ready: passport, visa, employment or enrolment letter, references. Without local rental history, offer a few months upfront or a strong reference. A 4-week bond is standard.
🗺️ Explore Melbourne, Australia
Use the map to explore neighbourhoods, distances, and key areas before you arrive.
⚠ Figures marked here change frequently — confirm the current amount with the official source before relying.
Suburb choice shapes commute, schools, and community. A quick orientation for the biggest Indian-community hubs.
High-demand sectors
IT and software, engineering, healthcare (nurses, doctors, allied health), accounting and finance, and construction/trades are all in demand and feature on the skilled lists. Indian IT and engineering professionals are heavily represented. Check whether your occupation is listed — it drives 189/190/491 eligibility. SEEK is the main job board.
Sydney ranks #58 of 226 cities in Mercer's 2024 survey. Australia is far more expensive than Indian cities across housing, groceries, and services — but salaries and the minimum wage are high, and the lifestyle, schooling, and air quality are the real draw. Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth stretch your money much further than Sydney or Melbourne.
Cross-check with the calculator below and verify current rents.
💰 Monthly Budget Estimator
Enter your details to get a personalised monthly cost breakdown.
Monthly budget — family of 4, Melbourne
Rent (3-bed house): AUD $2,600–3,800/month · Groceries $1,000–1,400 · Transport $500–800 · Utilities $300–450 · Private health (required pre-PR) $250–450 · Eating out $400–700. Rough total: AUD $5,050–7,600/month. Adelaide and Perth trim 15–30%.
Open an Australian account before you fly
The big four banks let you open online before arrival, so your salary lands from day one; verify ID at a branch after you land. Moving rupees out is governed by RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme (up to USD 250,000 per financial year) — plan transfers within that limit and keep documentation. You'll be auto-enrolled in superannuation once you start work.
Moving money abroad? Don’t lose it in the exchange rate.
Banks and high-street transfer services often bury a 3–5% markup in the exchange rate — on top of any upfront fee, and easy to miss because it hides inside a worse rate. On a large transfer — moving your savings across, or sending money home — that quietly costs hundreds to thousands, for nothing.
The mid-market rate is the one you see on Google. We earn a commission if you open a Wise account through our link — it never affects your rate.
No reciprocal Medicare for Indians
India has no Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia — so on a temporary visa (student, 485, 482) you are NOT covered by Medicare and must hold private health insurance (mandatory OSHC for students, OVHC for working visas). Once you become a permanent resident or citizen, you enrol in Medicare for full public cover. Medicare covers most GP visits (some bulk-bill for free) and public hospital care, with gap fees common.
Public, Catholic, and independent schools
Australia runs Prep through Year 12 on a January–December calendar. Public schools are free for residents and catchment-based (temporary-visa holders may pay fees in some states); Catholic schools charge modest fees; independent and selective public schools are popular with academically focused Indian families. Year 12 feeds an ATAR for university.
One of Australia's largest communities
India is now one of the very largest sources of overseas-born Australians, with huge, vibrant communities in Melbourne and Sydney and growing ones everywhere. Indian grocery chains, restaurants, temples, gurdwaras, and mosques are everywhere; Diwali, Holi, and Vaisakhi are widely celebrated; and regional/professional WhatsApp and Facebook groups are very active with housing, jobs, and day-to-day help.
Australia's biosecurity is strict. From India, expect rabies testing, an import permit, and a minimum 10-day government quarantine on arrival. Plan 6+ months ahead and use an experienced pet relocation agent.
An ISO microchip and a valid import permit from the Department of Agriculture, applied for well in advance.
A rabies vaccination then a Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test, with a 180-day wait from a successful test before entry — the longest step, so start early.
Treatments and tests in the months before travel, signed off by an official vet on the exact government schedule.
All cats and dogs enter via Melbourne and complete a minimum 10 days at the Mickleham facility. Book your space early.
📅 Your Move Timeline
Relocation feels overwhelming when you look at it all at once. Break it into stages — tick things off as you go. Your progress saves automatically in your browser.
⚠ Figures marked here change frequently — confirm the current amount with the official source before relying.
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Once your visa and housing are sorted, the last big job is shipping your life over. International moving quotes for the same route can vary by thousands — so it pays to compare a few movers before you book.
📦 Compare International Movers — India to Australia
Sea freight from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, or Chennai to Australia — quotes vary by thousands. Get matched with vetted movers and compare. Free, no obligation.
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