Joanne Donnelly

Its so interesting reading all these posts... I came as a 24 year old backpacker and then again as a WHV backpacker at 31... I did lots of travel all over Australia and worked, I feel like I have been to every little corner in some way apart from Tassie and the red centre. I have camped slept in vans house sat and rented and had real jobs... I have met and had loads of aussie friends and work colleagues and I have loved so much and adore the wildlife and the exotic side of Oz. We did have perm res and we had thought when we emigrated then in our late 30's after all our previous trips and time in Oz that we were certain of wanting to live here. When we arrived 5 years ago we even said we would def give it 5 years but after 2 we went off travelling again in Europe! Turned 40 just after returning to Oz from the trip and it was kinda like right this is it then decide to now fully stay here and live live not the young free backpacker people (lol we are 40!) but we had a great life so far so much fun living for the moment, but something changed at 40 cliche! We just felt like are we those people who live away from their roots and family and thats it never really connect see them be involved? Do we really see ourselves in Oz forever and buying a house getting a dog etc etc... all of a sudden our 'life' looked more like a english country garden and european holidays etc and seeing our families and all my new nieces and nephews and frankly we had seen and done so much of Oz we had gotten bored been here done this despite the lifestyle. It just kinda hits you or not, we felt like living here all the time is not the same as a holiday or a long drawn out nomadic life we had created that meant we never really committed fully. We during covid up and left and we are dealing with lockdown and all that comes with it and it is hard and challenging and you def have days of what have we done and want to run back to Oz, yearn for it miss getting up at sunrise and getting a coffee by the beach watching dolphins just so casually etc... But getting up when its snowing and walking in boots in the woods with a coffee and seeing the beauty and feeling the coolness has its beauty, seeing the glimmer of spring is a glorious thing and once you are in the nature of UK it is so calming and reassuring. We hope that our life we evolve better once covid starts to leave as this is the only thing that is dampening the situation. Very hard to gauge everything under these circumstances, but coming home you do feel a weight being lifted.

Thank you for the replies... it appears to be the 10% amount so that is ok better that 4X% ! I will let the tax go and get my money moved soon enough Thanks!

Hi, thanks for your reply. I am a perm resident of AU rather than working holiday etc or sponsorship.. does that make a difference. I will be planning on moving the money in the next few months to UK well before the start of the new AU tax year I think is best. So the money they have taken is gone and not able to be claimed back?

Hi, I left AU in August to UK. I have an Suncorp savings account with savings and it is gaining interest at this time better than UK. I am intending to send it to enable me to buy a house in UK at some stage but for now there is no hurry. However, I had contacted the bank about how to transfer the money and therefore they logged that I was in the UK and I now have a resident witholding tax being deducted. I am not sure what I am suppose to do this tax year in AU... Do I complete a tax claim that indicates I have no tax to claim? Now that I have left AU do you still have to keep declaring that you have not earnt anything in that tax year every year? Can I claim the witholding tax back? I will not be doing a tax return in UK for this year either. I am confused with these matters and there has been alot to sort with moving. Ultimately my money will be moved using moneycorp as I have done so before. The tax situation is new to me. I just want to restart in UK now and not keep one foot in AU if you know what I mean. I did my final tax claim before I left and claimed all my super through the covid recovery package, these savings are all I have now. Thanks!

Ok, great... I may just call you at some stage. I'll have a think....

Thanks Paul, interesting apply now and roll it forward what do you mean?

Thank you everyone for the information, its great to get clarification! And it is an interesting point that a job offer could secure a return and the rules do change! I agree that applying now is one less thing to think about but with the pandemic etc and the fact that I have literally just returned I feel that waiting until the last available opportunity to apply would probably suit me best and then it would be 5 years from that date so gives more time effectively? I am unsure if returning to Oz will be on the cards but you never know, and if I did it would likely be for a period of time just to enjoy life there for a while rather than a full move with all your stuff etc... Its a shame to have not gotten citizenship but 36 months that is spilt time would not have been applicable and then there is the wait until 4 full years and then the application time. As its been mentioned alot on the forums if you are wanting to return home delaying and waiting can make it more and more complicated overall and more upheavel. Right now I am trying to settle in and all the tribulations that comes with that, I am glad I have my UK bank accounts here and my credit score is good. I have used family as an address for the last 4 years so that helps and I am moving back into my own flat that I have rented out. Otherwise, work is difficult the weather is now rubbish and Brexit is rearing its ugly head along with the pandemic so its challenging times. I miss Oz for the sunny skies etc but I am aware that I need more time to really settle in here and then see

Hi I have just returned to the UK. Although I am not planning on returning to Oz anytime soon and with the pandemic who knows if I could anyway! I like to understand the options available... I am a prem resident and my RRV travel facility part of visa expired in August 2020 just as we landed in UK. So as far as I gather, to return to OZ ever we would need to apply for a RRV and you have to fit into certain eligibility criteria. For us we would have been living in oz for the total of 36 months in the last 5 years. I say months as this has been split. We arrived and lived for 20 months then went travelling for a while (overseas) and then returned again for 16 months. It states that you must have been in Oz for 2 years out of 5 years so I gather we would be eligible for the visa. My question is, when do you need to apply for it or how long can you leave it to apply? If I apply now I have the criteria but if I leave it for a year will it not apply any longer? Any advice would be great!

Hi Goodluck with everything much harder with pets! https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia#toc-2 You require an exemption if your citizen AU or a perm resident so this depends on your situation. Check out the link for info. We applied online pretty straight forward had to attach details of proof as such of why we were requesting the exemption and we had our shipping invoice / details and our customs form for the UK (TOR). Explained our circumstances and 4 weeks later we had the exemption emailed. The timeline is a undetermined amount of time as far as I can gather and you cannot apply more than 3 months in advance. If you need to get one then apply as soon as you can so you have it in good time. :):)

Hi, We flew on 16th August with Etihad. 1. We had our gov travel exemption and the check in staff call immigration and check and people had been turned away. 2. We were covid tested at a local hospital and had a text only, the guy at check in nearly forgot to ask us! He was on his first shift after 6 months off and he laughed at forgetting. Ultimately others were being checked and showing phones and paperwork. 3. Stricter rules on luggage and having to check in hand luggage so make sure you have a small case that can be checked in instead of backpacks. We had backpacks so only one piece of hand luggage. Others had to rearrange luggage and check in their additional bags. Usually you get 7kg and a 5kg hand bag etc... 4. The Q was quiet, the airport was very quiet, not much is open, no one was turned away and the flight the first leg had 78 people on it! I had 4 seats to myself and so did my partner and no one in front or behind for rows and rows! best flight ever. 5. Etihad you have to wear a mask all the time, they provide you with one and there are masks at the airport (Sydney). 6. The staff are helpful and the plane was very clean... 7. You must complete the passenger locator form for entering UK either before during or at the airport in London online only. Heathrow was dead quiet and no Q's. The form does not specifically state .. did you transit through etc...? This info is only available when you read the guidelines on further information if you check this info... Technically transiting through UAE you have to isolate for 14 days. However, at border control we spoke to the guy and he was like your coming from Oz, you dont need to, you should have ticked NO on the form for do you need to isolate Q? he didnt appear to think we needed to and said not to bother and welcome home! He also said no one will check on us as there are no resources and he said if they do say you ticked the wrong box! We left feeling very confused and bewildered, I thought of older people etc who would be less aware of the regulations (such as my in laws who would have found the whole process stressful) They would always ask an official and do what they are told by them... in this case told to not isolate.... go figure! 8. We are back, shell shocked, glad the anxiety fuelled mad travel is over, feel like we have left the pandemic and its over as getting back was our biggest hurdle but clearly that is not the case! We are enjoying being back though its very odd, wearing a mask everytime you go to a shop and the way things are here compared to Oz is definitely noticeable and the strain and the message of say safe save lives is strong and people are paranoid and been leaving in such a strange way compared to Australia. Family get togethers have been odd and the no touching is horrible, plus new restrictions of no more than 6 people indoors or out is changing things again. 9. The weather has been pleasant in the south, warm, sunny, rainy, cloudy, warm, breezy, late warm evenings, cold... all the usual but its been lovely, calm refreshing pleasant weather, I've enjoyed sitting in the sun in the evening with a glass of wine watching the slow long sunset and feeling a difference from the strong UV sun of Oz. 10. Went into one pub and it was weird.... 11. People are not always socially distancing in the tourist hotspot areas... 12. Supermarket produce seems appalling but I am comparing it to Oz and the mid norther coast with all the growers markets and the general good produce of Oz and lack of plastic in supermarkets... So far not impressed with UK supermarkets... 13. The news is all about the same but its cheery and interesting to listen to, uplifting unified and decent music jokes and chats... 14. I missed Oz for days and kept thinking about the beach the sunrises the kookaburras etc... Less so already and its not even a month.... 15. The countryside is spectacularly beautiful right now

Yes Hong Kong is the only route available to enter UK from AU without having to go into Isolation for 14 days. You still need government permission to leave AU though.

We had exactly the same issue. Travelling on Saturday back to uk now. We finally got insurance through the flight centre with cover more insurer. The flight centre rep checked the whole process with them for us with regards to being one way etc and leaving oz permanently and they said it was ok and we got a cover letter stating so. The insurance is void from the moment we pass through immigration and only covers basic needs medical etc... jot flight cancelling or repatriation as we are going one way. Probably useless and not worth having but ya know the insurance paranoia predicament... goodluck... Btw if anyone is flying Etihad you have to have a PCR test prior to flying now! We get tested tomorrow!

hiya, yes i have looked at the UK gov site. Transit as we are to disembark (2hrs) means in the current situation that we have to 14day isolate, even though everybody has to be tested negative to board, but yes your correct about the days previous or the actual airport! Just minimising risk best they can. Just seems a little much coming from AU (very low cases) also everybody best as possible showing negative but still having to quarantine for 14 days??. UK residents are arriving home from far higher figure destinations without a test or Iso.

Hi all, my partner and I are due to fly from Sydney to Heathrow via Abu Dhabi on Sat Aug 15th. We have our AU government allowance papers as we are re-emigrating. On noticing that Australia was on the list for OK countries to be aloud to return 'without' self isolation of 14 day we booked up the hotel, hire car and Air b&b etc for 1 week. All good. However, only now today just been notified all Etihad flights have to have a C19 test showing obviously negative before being aloud to board in Sydney! But also that arrivals into UK does not include UAE?? as we shall be transiting through, for 2hrs. How would you arrive from AU? as no countries listed that are aloud in without S.Iso?? This makes no sense at all. My question is this.....has anybody just done this same route??? did anybody board or get off the plane in transit, if not why if we hold a negative certificate would we need to self isolate for 14 days in UK?

Plus from what I can gather from gov website if your ordinarily resident of another country you don't need to request an exemption... if you are resident of AU then you do under a particular situation, and must prove it with supporting documents, such as moving permanently overseas and having a receipt of your shipping of all your belongings such as our situation..