There are numerous ways through which a person can immigrate to Australia from UK. As a British citizen, one is entitled to immigrate to Australia on a short-term basis or a long-term basis. Our immigration lawyer in Australia can provide legal assistance on any immigration procedure available for British nationals.
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What types of visas are necessary for short-term stays in Australia?
Persons who want to immigrate to Australia from UK on a short-term basis can apply for an eVisitor visa, which is issued by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (British citizens do not have to pay a fee for the issuance of the travel document). Another common way to immigrate to Australia from UK on a short-term basis is by obtaining the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visas for short-term immigration to Australia from UK | One can immigrate to Australia from UK on a short-term basis for purposes such as: work, studies, travel, business. |
Visas for long-term immigration to Australia from UK | They can be obtained for study, business, investment, etc., under visas such as: Subclass 482, Subclass 190, Subclass 202, Subclass 864, etc. |
Visa exemptions | UK passport holders are not required to apply for a visa for short-term stays (stays of maximum 90 days), but they must obtain the eTA before their arrival. |
| Electronic visas available | Yes, foreigners can immigrate to Australia from UK with an electronic visa – this is the case of eTA. |
| Main reasons to immigrate to Australia from UK | Visiting and tourism purposes, study and training, work (short-term, long-term, skilled employment, sponsored foreign workers, work holiday programs), business and investment, family reunification, refugee and humanitarian reasons. Foreigners can also arrive here for medical treatment, retirement, as former residents,etc. |
| Institution in charge with the issuance of the visa | The Department of Home Affairs |
| Fee system available for the processing of the visa (yes/no) | A visa processing fee system is applied. |
| Fees charged for the issuance of short-term/long-term visas | The fees vary based on the visa class. A temporary visa can cost AUD 315 (Subclass 400), while the Global Talent Visa is charged with AUD 4,180. |
| Special rules for citizens of UK (yes/no) | With the exception of the short-term visa exemption, UK citizens do not benefit from other special rules. |
| The procedure for permanent residency in Australia | After meeting the residency requirements, the applicant must prove that he or she meets all the eligibility requirements for a visa class of interest, by submitting the necessary paperwork with the immigration authorities. |
| Documents required for permanent residency application | In order to permanently immigrate to Australia from UK the following are required: – the application form; – the passport; – various certificates (birth, marriage, adoption, death, etc.); – a police cleareance; – a health examination; – the proof of paying the processing fee; – the current visa. |
| Reasons for which permanent residency can be granted in Australia | In most cases, foreigners can acquire permanent residency through family reunification visa programs, work visas, investment visas, or the New Zealand visa. |
| Right to permanent residency for refugees/asylum seekers (yes/no) | Yes (through visas such as Subclasses 201, 202, 203, 204) |
| Immigration pathways for highly skilled persons | The General Skilled Migration Program (several types of visas), the Global Talent Program, the Skilled Regional Visa, the Distinguished Talent Visa. |
| Legal pathways to citizenship | By conferral, by descent, by being a New Zealand citizen, by adoption, by being a citizen of Papua, by reclaiming the Australian citizenship, by being the child of a former Australian citizen, etc. |
What is ETA?
It is issued as an electronic document (but it is not a visa) and it can be obtained in a short period of time. It attests that the British foreigner received the right to arrive to Australia. The application must be made from outside the country before the date of the arrival, the following being available as well:
• the ETA grants the right of staying up to 90 days in the country per each stay;
• this type of document is a multiple entry document and has a validity of 1 year;
• the applicant must pay a fee of AUD 20 when concluding the online application;
• the issuance of the document can be completed in only 24 hours.
What do I need to do if I want to immigrate to Australia on a long-term basis?
As a British citizen who plans to relocate to Australia on a long-term basis, you must first identify the visa type that is most suitable to your circumstances (business, work, investment, study, etc.) and apply for it following the standard application procedures. Along with this, you must also apply for a residence permit.
What is a residence permit?
A residence permit in Australia is an official document issued by the Australian authorities to all foreign nationals who arrive here for stays of at least 90 days. The document attests the fact that the person has the legal right to reside on the Australian territory for a specific period of time. Residency in Australia can be granted for:
- temporary stays;
- permanent stays.
What are the main reasons for which I can relocate to Australia in 2026?
British passport holders can migrate to Australiafor any of the legal grounds stipulated by the immigration law. At the moment, foreigners can arrive here for long-term/permanent stays for any of the following:
- employment;
- business/investments;
- family reunification;
- study/training;
- working holiday;
- humanitarian reasons, etc.
What are some of the visa options for employment in Australia?
If you plan to immigrate to Australia from UK and you want to arrive here for employment opportunities, you must know that there are many options that can be suitable for you. In the list below, our Australia migration lawyer has highlighted few work visas:
- Subclass 482 – Temporary Skill Shortage visa;
- Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa;
- Subclass 417 – Working Holiday visa;
- Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme visa;
- Subclass 407 – Training visa.
The infographic below presents how to immigrate from UK to Australia in 2026:
Is there any visa specifically created for British nationals?
Yes. British nationals can apply for the Working Holiday visa. This visa program exists for British passport holders and for 18 other nationalities. While the requirements imposed to all applicants are similar, differences can appear from one nationality to another. When we refer to the coordinates for the visa addressed to British passport holders, the following apply:
- have an age of at least 18 years old or maximum 35 when the application is made (for other nationalities the age limit is 30);
- be able to pay a processing fee of AUD 670;
- live in Australia for a period of 12 months (out of which 4 months can be spent studying);
- while in general, working holiday visa holders must work for at least 3 months in specific work activities that can grant the right to apply for a 2nd Working Holiday visa, for UK passport holders, the rule does not apply starting with 1st of July 2024 – they benefit from the right of applying for a 2nd visa without meeting this condition;
- please mind that UK passport holders also benefit from the right of applying for a 3rd visa under the Subclass 417 (also, starting with 1st of July 2024).
What are the requirements for becoming a permanent resident in Australia?
The legislation offers multiple options for those who want to move to Australia from UK on a permanent basis. They have to apply for a permanent visa that can be issued for one of the following reasons:
- family-related matters;
- employment in Australia;
- for those applying for an investor visa in Australia;
- for developing business relations in this country.
Below, you can watch a short presentation on Britons relocating to Australia:
How can I obtain Australian citizenship?
A British person can apply for Australian citizenship by 2 main legal pathways: 1) by conferral and 2) by descent. However, most foreigners, including British citizens, qualify for citizenship by conferral.
You can find out more information on this subject from our immigration lawyer in Australia, who can help you with legal advice on numerous aspects that concern the immigration law.
