Marisawright

I would still get busy with making preparations, though, because you don't want to get to 60 and realise you're still unsure. I really recommend looking into the NI contributions. I paid about 9 years' worth of back payments and even though I'm still in Australia, I'm now receiving a British pension. Even at the reduced rate payable in Oz, the extra payments were well worthwhile and I will easily recoup the money I paid in.

It depends what you mean by "something missing". Sure, there are people who migrate to Australia, then years later find themselves thinking, "Is that all there is?" and looking back at their homeland through rose-coloured glasses. They probably won't be happy if they move back. But there are many people, like @Quoll, @bug family, @Nemesis who simply never feel they belong, no matter how good their life in Oz is. I've never felt that feeling, but I can see that it eats away at a person's mental health. For those people, moving back is the cure, even if they're financiall worse off, or if the UK isn't what they remembered. They don't care because they're home. @Britinozz, I think you need to decide which one you are. Are you just dissatisfied with life, or have you had a hole in your heart most of the time you've lived here? If I may make a suggestion: If I were you, I would stay in Australia until I'd turned 60. In the meantime, I'd be 'decluttering' my home, paying as much in extra NI contributions as I'm allowed/can afford, and saving up for the big move. You don't have to make a final decision about whether you'll move, until nearer the time. Then once you're 60, if you still want to go, you can claim your super, get your UK passport, and off you go.

@hop, I agree 100% with what Jimmy says above. Even if Australia was a paradise, if you feel you don't belong, it will feel like hell. I don't see Australia like you do, but it would be rude and unfair to criticise you for not liking it. In your shoes I'd be moving heaven and earth to get home, even if you'll be financially worse off doing so.

https://www.homely.com.au/dunsborough-busselton-south-west-western-australia

Surprisingly, there is no social security agreement between Australia and the UK so there's no reciprocal credit.

On the face of it, no. But we've been astonished at some of the applications that have been approved in recent years. No harm in trying.

Good for you. Feeling the way you do, moving back sounds like the right decision for you. That "something missing" feeling will never go away, otherwise. First things first, renew your British passport. Legally, you need it to enter the UK to settle (though they will let you in with your Aussie one). Once you're in the UK, you'll find you need it as a form of ID for various things. Next thing to do is contact HMRC, get a State Pension Forecast, and find out about back-paying NI (National Insurance) contributions for some of the years you've been in Australia. As long as you worked at least 10 years before you left the UK, you should be able to backpay some of those missing years, and then you'll be able to claim a higher UK pension. The more you pay in, the more you'll get back as a pension (up to a certain limit). And that matters, because you won't be able to claim the Australian govt pension, ever, (unless the rules change in the future). https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension You can't withdraw your super until you reach 'preservation age', even if you're leaving Australian permanently. I think your preservation age will be 60. So if you absolutely must have the lump sum, you'll have to delay your move until you're 60, AND then make sure you claim the money and get it safely in your bank account before you leave Australia. I say that because if you leave Australia now, then claim your lump sum from the UK when you're 60, the British taxman will grab a massive chunk in tax. So remember, if you want a lump sum, you have to take it and put it in the bank before you leave. If you really want to leave now, then the answer is to convert your superannuation to a pension ('income stream') when you reach retirement, instead of taking the lump sum. As you won't have the Aussie state pension, that sounds like the wisest move anyway. You will pay UK tax on your income stream, but as it will be your only income and you'll have a tax-free threshold, it won't be nearly so high. All you have to do is keep your superannuation company up to date with your address and they'll help you arrange it when the time comes.

Is there no way you could get up and go home?

...and this is why so many Brits want to migrate to Australia. They have an unrealistic view of it.

As Paul said, it's always worth trying to get a RRV first, even if it seems unlikely. We've been surprised at how many people manage to get one despite not qualifying. Best to get a MARA registered agent to help you put a case together.

I guess if you're offering them all that, you'd have to wonder why they're so reluctant.

I suggest you get a quote for a shared container, to compare it with the cost of the Movecube. The Movecube used to be a no-brainer because it was cheaper than a shared container, but that's certainly not always the case now. If you're not sure what to bring and what to leave behind, try doing a 'pretend shop' at the websites of major Australian stores. Sites like TheGoodGuys for electrical, HarveyNorman for furniture (or IKEA if you like their stuff, but make sure there's going to be a branch where you are, as they aren't everywhere here). The thing that stunned me, when I moved countries, was how much it cost to replace pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, towels and linen -- all the small stuff. We tend to buy those things gradually and don't realise how many you need, and how much they cost, when you have to trek round the shops and buy them all at once. The dog is going to be the most expensive cost of the lot! Doing it yourself won't save much and isn't worth the hassle and potential disasters, look at Pet Air or similar. You'll save a ton of money by having family to stay with, so that's great. Buying a car is expensive, and Australians don't generally lease their car, because leases here are a dreadful rip-off. Also don't get sucked into a car loan from a car dealer, because they're a rip off too! Probably best to compromise on a second-hand car to start with.

It's not unusual for people to post a question here, and never come back. Sometimes it's because they've got their answer so they go away and take action -- I suspect that sometimes, they post the question, forget where the site was and don't even see the replies. It would be nice to know! Did you have a question yourself, @CaseyLawson?

Yes, I think that's exactly what it is. After all, we're the ones who chose to go off and leave them behind, so (whether it's conscious or not) they feel it's up to us to do the keeping in touch, not them. When we left, we left a hole in their lives, but they've filled that hole up long ago -- they've had to.

That's interesting, they must have tightened up recently. No one asked us that question in 2015.