Marisawright

If you don't arrive before the Initial entry date, you lose the visa. However as Paul said, you just have to visit for a holiday, you don't have to move permanently. Once you've made that first visit, you've got until the MNAA date to make the actual move.

If you had a valid 189 or 190 visa, it doesn't matter that the travel facility has expired. As long as you don't leave Australia, your visa remains valid and you don't need a RRV. You need a RRV only if you want to leave Australia temporarily (e.g. for a holiday). If you have your foreign passport you can apply with that https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/tax-file-number/apply-for-a-tfn/foreign-passport-holders-permanent-migrants-and-temporary-visitors-tfn-application

Citizenship isn't relevant I'm afraid, it's residency that matters, and you're no longer a UK resident. I have the same situation in that I'm locked out of the Barclays website but that can happen for all kinds of reasons. It doesn't mean they have closed the account. I'd suggest contacting them again and seeing what they say. If that fails then contact the ombudsman as Philip suggests.

What does retirement age have to do with it? We're not talking about people already in a job. We're talking about people who are trying to find a NEW job in their 60s. It's nice to hear that in your field, there is a better attitude, but I can assure you that in many occupations in Australia, ageism is still widespread. I worked in a male-dominated field so I had already done well to achieve success, and I had a great track record and stellar references. But when I was trying to find a new job at 56, i was told by two recruitment agencies that I stood no chance because (although they'd never put it in writing), all their big clients had an upper age limit of 50 for candidates. That was a few years ago now, but I am told by ex-colleagues that it hasn't changed. It's highly insulting of you to imply that because I, Quoll and several of our acquaintances have encountered age discrimination, it must be because we were unskilled or bad at our jobs. What a horrible thing to suggest. I am offended. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australians/contents/justice-and-safety https://www.dewr.gov.au/newsroom/articles/ageism-awareness-workplace

If the accountant's usual clients are only in the UK or only in Australia, it's very unlikely they're familiar with both tax systems. As it's an investment property, you'll just declare it exactly as you would declare the sale of an Australian investment property, but you'll also declare the tax you paid in the UK. https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/investments-and-assets/capital-gains-tax/calculating-your-cgt

No chance of a permanent visa if that's what you're hoping for. However if you just want a temporary contract, then do what you'd do for any international contract -- contact employers in Australia to let them know you're available, and apply for jobs you see advertised. Unfortunately, Australia is a very ageist country, so I'm not sure I fancy your chances. To be honest, I've lived here for nearly 40 years and when my friends and I started to hit age prejudice in our 50s and 60s, we all just assumed it was a global trend. I was gobsmacked when I was back in England in 2015/16 to see the difference in attitude, I even got offered jobs I didn't apply for.

Each state is allowed to set its own rules. If a job isn't massively in demand then they may decide to take only people who've already got a job offer.

Was it an investment property? If so, you treat it exactly like you would treat an investment property in Australia. So you'll have to declare it on your tax return. I hope you've been declaring the rental income while it was rented out, too! It can be a complicated process to work out what CGT has to be paid so you'd be best to get a tax agent to help you.

Yes it's more expensive overall, but then if you're a tradie, or in the medical field, your salary will be higher so it becomes swings and roundabouts. If you're in the corporate world, you may have to take a salary drop and you'll probably have to live in the very expensive major cities to get a job, so it all gets a lot harder. As to whether the weather is better -- it depends where you're coming from and where in Australia you'd be going to. Personally, I'm not good when the temperature over 30 degrees, which is extremely common in most of Australia in summer. That's why I live in Melbourne, which is cooler than most of the rest of Oz. Anyway, your first hurdle is to work out whether you can get a visa.

The first thing you'll have to check is whether, as a non-resident, you're even allowed to open a new account with another provider. You certainly can't open a new bank account so it's not safe to assume.

When I looked it up, it appeared that he'd be classed as a foreigner receiving investor income in the UK, so he'd have to pay UK tax. The 40% tax rate is for foreigners with an income over 50,000, the 20% tax rate is for below that figure.

From what I can see, you'd probably be liable for 20% tax by the UK taxman, because you're a foreigner being paid an income in the UK. 40% only applies over 50,000. So maybe you could claim some back. But don 't forget about the Australian taxman. You'll need to declare the lump sum on your tax return as income, and it will be taxed the same as a salary. If the lump sum plus your other annual income up into the next tax bracket, that will cost you a lot more and could be 37%.

I'm not surprised you're fuming. Unfortunately it's the way the tax system works. It would be the same if you were in the UK, wanting to transfer an Aussie lump sum. When you receive a lump sum of money, it' regarded as 'income'. It just gets added to your total taxable income for that year. So let's say you're earning $75,000 a year, and you get a lump sum of another $50,000. Then your total income for that year is $125,000, and suddenly you're in the top tax bracket! You've also got to consider that you've got the UK taxman to worry about as well as the Australian one, and I don't know how that affects it. I can't see how you can possibly withdraw the whole amount and not pay tax on it. It doesn't matter whether the money stays in the UK or comes to Australia, you've still received it from the pension fund, so it counts as income. There may be some loophole that allows you to get around that, but I can understand why the pension person didn't want to name names. If you only really wanted a small amount anyway, you might just as well leave the money in the fund and take the pension when you get to that point.

Why do you say that?

Of course they do. They know how hard it'll be for you to get a visa. They know most people want a permanent visa, so they think you'll change your mind when you find out how slim your chances are. They're not going to waste time talking to you when they think there's not much chance you'll follow through. If you can convince them you're genuinely just looking for contract work, you might get a different reaction. As Tulip1 says, I'd also check up whether you need the wife's permission to remove your daughter from the UK. As she's not living there herself, I don't think it should be an issue, but it's important to be sure. You don't want to go through the whole visa process then find they don't allow your daughter into the country when you arrive.

It's not a question of which job is more in demand. I know that sounds a bit mad, but it's the way it is. What matters is, which of you can score the most points? That's what will give you the best chance. An agent can calculate that for you, so no point wasting time on doing your own research. Get a quote from Go Matilda or Suncoast Migration.

Judging by the recent rise in people posting here, saying they're desperate to get out of the UK, you'll find things are not what they were. However, I'm sure you also realise that's not the point. Some people are nomads. Anywhere they choose to live can be 'home'. It's not a rational thing, it's just the way they're made. And it never really changes. Other people are deeply attached to their homeland. It's not a rational, logical thing, it's just the way they're made. And it never really changes. If you're that second kind of person, Australia could be a paradise and your homeland an absolute dump, and you'll still be happier in your homeland.

I think I get what you mean. Apart from the bogans (our version of chavs), I don't think you mean the average Australian dresses in slovenly or dirty clothes. It's just that we have a different, and far more casual, dress code. Go to a restaurant in Double Bay (Sydney's poshest suburb) in summer, and you'll still see guys in shorts and t-shirts, and women in loose cotton dresses and flip-flops -- the only difference is that the t-shirts are Ralph Lauren and the flip-flops are Balenciaga. I think our appearance is one of the reasons for the myth of the 'laid-back lifestyle' in Australia. In terms of work pressures, I don't find that we're any more laidback than the Brits, but we look as though we are, because of the way we dress. You'll probably feel a similar sense of culture shock when you start work and see how people dress in the office

The cutoff date for most visas is 45, not 49, so you're already too late for a permanent visa. There are some very rare exceptions but not likely to apply to you. Also as a reality check, £450,000 won't be enough to buy a house in most capital cities in Australia, especially as you'll be slugged a hefty surcharge as a temporary resident. Housing is very expensive here. So I doubt you could afford your strategy, even if it was possible. I'd be looking at other alternatives, but if you're set on Australia, I would look into getting a short contract (which would be on a 482 visa, that's 2-4 years with a chance of renewal). You don't have to be in Australia for an employer to sponsor you. Look on Seek.com.au for jobs. If you're having trouble making contacts, maybe you could come on a holiday and try visiting a few potential employers. If you can get a 482 visa then of course, your daughter can come with you. But she won't be able to get a permanent visa either, so she'll have to return to the UK at some point. Still, once she's old enough, she could get a WHV (working holiday visa) to return for another 2-3 years and if she's lucky and has chosen the right career, might eventuallyy get a permanent visa.

It's tax deductible too.

Actually, my first winter in Australia, I kept wearing my shorts and t-shirts for quite a few weeks, because I hadn't acclimatised that much. It was my second winter where I was wishing I'd brought more woollies with me, and had to go out and buy a heater for the cooler nights. That said, I never felt I needed really warm clothing when I lived in Sydney. I found the winters absolutely glorious (the summers were always too hot for me). It was only when I got to Melbourne that I had to go out and buy a decent coat, bobble hat and warm gloves.

It wasn't meant as a dig. You said you wouldn't be in Australia if you had a choice. I'm just saying, that even though I feel just the opposite, I still agree with you about the poor work-life balance.

That's not necessarily true. Don't get me wrong, unlike LoopyLu, I love Australia and have lived here for almost 40 years. The lifestyle and attitudes suit me much better than the lifestyle and attitudes in the UK, and that may be the case for you too. However the work-life balance is one of the major disadvantages of living here, if you work in the corporate or legal sectors. For tradies, teachers, medical staff it's different. But that's not you. Firstly, the standard workday in many offices is 8.30 to 5.30, not 9 to 5. So it's already a longer day, and then most people will be in the office considerably earlier or later -- because if you stick to those hours, you'll be regarded as clock-watching and get a bad performance review (I've known colleagues lose their bonuses over it, which is ridiculous considering they did their job and worked their full legally-contracted hours). Also, to get time off for holidays (which are only 20 days a year), you have to go into battle with your boss (HR departments are always talking about encouraging staff to take leave, but that's all talk). The articles below are both recent and older, showing it's been an ingrained culture in Australian offices for a long time: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-22/why-are-so-many-australians-working-overtime-long-hours/102353176 https://www.smartcompany.com.au/people-human-resources/human-resources/aussies-owed-106-billion-overtime/ https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/australians-one-of-the-worst-at-taking-annual-leave-report-suggests-20150113-12mwh8.html You may have read articles like the one below, which ranks Australia high on work-life balance. However for someone like you, who'll be working in the corporate/law sector, it's very misleading. The score in the survey was based on these factors: minimum wage, sick leave, maternity leave, healthcare availability, average work hours, public happiness and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity. Of those factors, only TWO are relevant to you. You won't be on minimum wage or working average work hours, and sick leave and maternity leave are actually more generous in the UK than Australia. So you're looking at only two possible benefits, 'healthcare availability' and 'public happiness'. Even public healthcare doesn't compare all that well with the UK. Medicare is our equivalent but you still have to pay for some services, unlike the NHS. For instance, dentists and spectacles aren't covered at all, you have to go private. Even a visit to a GP isnt free. Waiting lists for hospital treatment are much the same as the NHS in most places. https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health/mental-health/australia-has-one-of-the-highest-rates-of-worklife-balance-in-the-world/news-story/8c2e410472dd829459ba953d087bd286 Of course, one option might be for you to use your legal qualifications to get a permanent skilled visa, then when you arrive in Australia, look for a change of career outside the corporate sector?

As I understand it, they won't be able to offer you a permanent job on a 482 because it's a temporary visa. If the school has never done this before, I wouldn't get too excited about planning just yet. I hope they are engaging an agent to guide them through the process, because it's complex for the employer and there's a lot of preparatory work to be done. If they've never done it before, it may take them several weeks to get their act together before they can even apply, and then the processing can take up to a year. So I think they may be optimistic to count on you being there for January. A 186DE would be a much better option for you, because it gives you security. The question would be whether the preparation and processing times will be longer. Some of the agents here, like @paulhand, might be able to give a better idea of current processing times.