Other Services and Links
Government Sites, Tax and Finance.
Australia.gov.au
The main website of the Australian Government.
www.australia.gov.au
Australian Taxation Office
Australian taxation information.
www.ato.gov.au
Phone 13 28 61
Tax File Number Application
For your Tax File Number application.
www.ato.gov.au/content/downloads/nat1753.pdf
Phone 13 28 61
Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Consumer and financial services laws and regulations.
www.asic.gov.au
Foreign Investment Review Board
For submissions of proposals to undertake a direct investment in Australia.
Phone 02 6263 3495
www.firb.gov.au/content/default.asp
Foreign Investment Review Board
C/O Department of the Treasury Langton Crescent
Canberra ACT 2600
Invest Australia
Australian Government's investment agency providing free investment assistance.
www.investaustralia.gov.au
Health and Welfare
CentreLink
Government-funded financial assistance for individuals, families and students.
www.centrelink.gov.au
Phone 13 10 21
Medicare
For government assistance with medical expenses and to apply for a Medicare Card.
www.medicareaustralia.gov.au
Phone 13 20 11
Private Health Insurance
Find out about all private health insurance policies available in Australia
www.privatehealth.gov.au
Lifestyle
Department of Meteorology
Website offers live weather conditions and forecasts for all over Australia.
www.bom.gov.au/index.shtml
Radio stations
Website offers live streaming of local radio stations and information on local community events all over Australia.
http://www.theradio.com.au
Department of Transport
Website offers information public and private transport.
http://www.dotars.gov.au
News
News and events all over Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au, http://www.ninemsn.com.au, http://www.theaustralian.com.au (National news), http://www.afr.com.au (Australian Financial Review),
Banking
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
For all your banking and finance needs.
www.commbank.com.au or http://www.commbank.com.au/movingtoaustralia/
National Australia Bank (NAB)
For all your banking and finance needs.
www.nab.com.au or contact Australian migrant banking team at nab.migrant.banking@nab.com.au
Employment
Assistance in finding employment.
www.seek.com.au
www.mycareer.com.au
www.careerone.com.au
Real Estate
To find a place to rent or buy.
www.domain.com.au
www.realestate.com.au
www.propertyview.com.au
Studying in Australia
The website is a good resource for anyone who is planning to come here to study.
www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/Splash.aspx
Vehicles and Boats
Cars www.carpoint.com.au
Boats www.boatpoint.com.au
Used cars, boats and general goods (similar to Junkmail) www.tradingpost.com.au
Pet Relocation services
Pet travel and relocation services
www.globalpaws.co.za
www.keringa.co.za
www.petsentransit.co.za
The 105 step process to immigrating to Australia from South Africa
What follows is a 105 step process that the average immigrant would need to follow. This is based on various posts from forums, so most of the stuff you might have read before. Not everything listed here applies to everyone. Some things are not required for some visas and everyone’s situation is different. But maybe you will see something you never thought of. The more information you gather, the easier it will be.
The decision
1. Make the decision to immigrate
2. Make the decision to do the process of applying for a visa yourself or to use an immigration agent.
3. Start reading the www.immi.gov.au website. Spend hours reading about all the different visa options and who they are for. It is a fantastic website and most of your questions will answered there. Alternatively, let your migration agent find the correct visa for you.
4. Try to speak to someone who has already immigrated or someone who is already in the process of immigration.
The Visa application process
5. Choose which visa is best for you and your situation.
6. Start collecting the required documents for your particular visa.
7. Get multiple passport sized photographs. You will need about 8-10 per person. (You even need photo for the customs department that inspects your container.)
8. Apply for passports
9. Apply for all family members unabridged birth certificates from home affairs
10. Apply for unabridged marriage certificate from Home Affairs or get proof of De Facto relationship.
11. Get certified copy of custody documents (and access arrangements) / adoption papers (if applicable to dependents)
12. Apply for military discharge papers from the Defence force if you did National Service.
13. Book to write your IELTS exam with the British Council if required
14. Apply for academic transcripts from your university
15. Apply for a letter from your university saying the course was taught in English (if not using IELTS to prove English speaking ability)
16. Apply for a letter from your High School saying the medium of instruction was taught in English (if not using IELTS to prove English speaking ability)
17. Get certified copies of all academic qualifications
18. Get certified copies of all licenses you hold to practice your profession
19. Ask for detailed references from all places that you have worked (previous and current)
20. Apply for skills recognition/assessment from the relevant Australian skills assessing authority.
21. Write a professional a curriculum Vitae. In Australia it is referred to as a Resume. (this is not only for looking for work but needs to be attached to some visa applications)
22. Study up on the different areas in Australia.
23. Do an LSD (look-see-decide) trip - either actual or virtual - to help make the decision. For a virtual tour use Google Earth or go to http://www.migrate360.com (provides incredible 360 degree photos of Perth, its suburbs, various streets - unfortunately Perth only) or use http://www.google.com.au and use the image search for other areas.
24. Choose in which part you want to live.
25. Secure work in Australia from an employer who is willing to sponsor you to DIAC (if not going the independent route)
26. Get a formal letter of appointment signed by both employer and employee
27. Complete your character Assessment (Form 80)
28. Apply for police clearance certificate
29. Book your medical exams (form 26 for medical and form 160 for x-rays)
30. Read and sign the Statement of Australian Values (Form 1281)
31. Get a copy of Regional Certification Body approval (if applicable)
32. Get a copy of the Nomination approval letter
33. Submit your visa application
34. Get your ”visa approved” letter
35. Book your airplane tickets.
The moving house process
36. Make the decision whether to sell your house or to rent it out and finish paying off your bond, then to sell. Remember to take into account the depreciation of the ZAR and the strengthening of the AUD. One million rand at R6 to the AUD is $166,667, if the exchange rate goes to R7, then you would have to have an extra R166,667 to get the same amount of AUD’s, or for your one million rand, you would get $23,809 less, that’s the price of a new, medium sized car. Get financial advice if you are uncertain.
37. Make the decision whether to ship all your belongings across or to sell up and buy everything new once there. A 20ft container will cost in the region of R30-R45,000 and a 40ft will cost R60-R75,000). If you sold all your belongs for say R30,000, could you replace everything for between R75-R100,000?). Australia does not have the market for secondhand goods that SA does. You would be shocked at what is thrown away at the dumps in Australia. If you can sell your old stuff, rather bring the cash over than ship something halfway around the world to dump.
38. The design of houses in Australia is, in some instances, different to SA. The furniture you have in SA might not fit in your rental house (yes, most people will rent a place for a few months) or new house.
39. Have a good look at your tools and garden equipment. The climate in Australia is different to SA. A lot of products and equipment have been specifically developed in Australia to cope with the harsh UV rays and the vegetation. Because there is no cheap labour, they have developed machines and tools that make life easier. You will spend a lot of time and money at Bunnings!! www.bunnings.com.au ( use post code 4227, Queensland to browse a store.)
40. Get three or four removal companies in to give you quotes (eg Magna, AGS Frasers, Crown, Chess, Pickfords, Biddulphs, Amphibious Freight)
41. Choose which one you will use. It is also some times better to use a company that has a branch in Australia than one that subcontracts to agents in Australia. At least if you are dealing with the same company in Australia when you receive your container, there is continuity of service.
42. Start throwing away things that you have horded for years. Keep only what is going in the container. This takes longer than you think so start early.
43. Unfortunately, those nice little blue cadac gas bottles and fittings are useless in Australia. The fittings are totally different, so you cannot fill them or fit them to local gas bottles, so sell them if you can.
44. Make an inventory of everything in your house (with values) that’s going with you to Aus. (You can even take photographs of the contents of each room before they start packing - open your cupboard doors and photograph your clothes, CD’s, DVD’s etc) Take this with you on the plane.
45. Do some research on DAFF website http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/travel/enterin...ving-emigrating as to what you can take with and what you can’t.
46. List the serial numbers of all valuable items in your house (TV, PC etc). Take it with you on the plane.
47. Clean perfectly all items like garden equipment, vacuum cleaner, camping and fishing equipment. Cleaning and gamma radiation of goods in Australia is expensive.
48. All Australian King and Queen size beds are extra length (203cm) - that means if you buy a new bed in Australia, your old linen (fitted sheets) will be too short. Consider replacing your linen with extra length here, as linen in Australia is pricey.
49. Keep all receipts for your relocation costs (medicals, etc). You can claim it from your tax.
50. Make sure your passport is not in the container!!!
51. Keep the keys for everything that is locked inside your container with you - customs will request it.
The pet decision
52. Make the decision whether to take your pets with you or not.
53. Contact both Keringa and Kookaburra for quotes
54. Visit them both (if possible one is in JHB and the other in Pretoria)
55. Get certified copies of your pets vaccination records
56. Select one and book them a place
57. Ensure your pets are micro chipped
58. Ensure all their vaccinations are up to date.
59. Ensure their rabies vaccination is valid. All pets must have had at least two Rabies vaccinations, one of which must have been done not more than 6 months, but not less than 1 month, before entering quarantine. (Extremely NB: ensure that if they need a rabies shot that the vet does not use one containing Leptospira interrrogans. var. canicola. This affects the blood tests during quarantine
60. If your pet is ten years and older, then have a geriatric profile done by your vet. It is advised to get full blood counts, liver and kidney enzymes and urine analysis. Your vet may require chest and hip x-rays. If they fail this profile, you will not be allowed export them.
“Shutting up Shop” process
61. Change postal address of all accounts to a reliable friend or family member two months before you go (so you can see which companies did not make the change, and you have enough time to sort it out before you go , things like telephone account, DSTV & MNET, City Council, Security company, insurance , both short term and life, Bank (all accounts - some banks you have to change it for each account!), Medical Aids, Shopping Cards, Memberships, Doctors, Specialists etc.)
62. Set up a free email account like gmail and start using it two months before you leave. Then you can see who is still emailing your old email address. Remember when you cancel your ISP you will lose your email address.
63. Start obeying the South African speed limit and road rules. Takes time to get used to watching that speedometer and the cars behind you edging you to go faster. Australia works on the Drivers license point system. Too many speeding fines will see you losing your drivers license.
64. Get a reference letter and client code from your bank.
65. Sign a fax indemnity with your bank. This allows you to give faxed instructions for transactions etc.
66. If you don’t already have internet banking, get it set up and test it.
67. Get a reference letter from your short term insurance detailing your no claim bonus etc.
68. Cancel Telephone account (Do this in writing and keep proof . This applies to all cancellations)
69. Cancel cell phone contracts (all three VC, MTN, Cell C contracts require 3 months notice).
70. Cancel ISP
71. Cancel DSTV / MNET
72. Cancel Security Company
73. Cancel SABC license
74. Make the decision whether or not you will continue paying your policies (Life Insurance, Annuities etc) from Australia. Speak to your broker about the effects of early cancellation.
75. Cancel your medical aid (read the fine print , they may require 3 months notice)
76. Close your store accounts.
77. Cancel all membership debit orders etc that won’t continue.
78. Get all you kids’ immunizations up to date and have it recorded on their immunization cards. (To attend school in Australia it has to be up to date).
79. Get a letter of membership and involvement from your church. Advise them that you are leaving.
80. Get a reference letter for your family if you were involved in volunteer work. Volunteering is big in Australia and if you were involved in volunteering, it goes a long way - also, when you want to get involved again in Australia, you will need references.
81. Back-up everything on your computer (photos, documents, inbox, sent items etc) and take the CDs with you on the plane.
82. Make certified copies of ALL important documents (passports, visas, ID books, birth certificates etc) and leave it with a reliable friend or family member. Even better yet, have it scanned and leave a copy of the disk - take the other one on the plane with you.
83. Update your will and leave a copy with a reliable friend/family member.
84. Give a reliable person power of attorney to attend to your business on your behalf. Make sure they have details of all your bank accounts, policy numbers, contact persons etc. As well as copies of all important documents.
85. Get transfer cards from your kids’ schools and their latest report cards or a progress report.
86. Get reference letters from your kids’ activities e.g. ballet report, etc - this will assist in placing them in the right group when they take it up here. If your child performed in anything, get proof. You WILL need it!
87. Take the whole family for a medical check-up, have their eyes tested, go to the dentist, get that filling etc. Dental and optometry is very expensive.
88. Get the contents of your medical files from all your doctors and specialists. Saves you from going through the whole process again - they don’t take your word for it! If you have a special condition, let the doctor write a letter. If you have contacts or glasses, get your script.
89. Get scripts for all medication your family is currently using - especially chronic. You can bring 3 months prescription medication if you have a written script. Take it on the plane with you in case your container is delayed etc. (Also bring some general medication that your family use regularly if it is anything stronger than panado or if it is something specific such as anetheine cream, myprodol, etc).
90. Apply for an international drivers license. (This point is debatable as your current SA license is sufficient, well, for three months anyway).
91. Leave your flight details, first accommodation details etc with a family member/friend.
92. Also leave the details of your next of kin with this person.
93. Write this persons contact details in the back of your passport.
94. Service your washing machine and dryer if they haven’t had one in the last 12 months (just a call out by a technician for a quote is A$75).
95. Pay your UIF and de-register. Give your employees their UIF documents as well as a letter that they no longer work for you. (UIF does not only accept the UIF document - they also require a letter that they no longer work for you). Keep proof of all of this. Give your employees reference letters and assist them in finding work elsewhere. (Advertise with you school, church, neighbours etc that they will be available from a specific date etc). Pay them their last salary, notice pay, leave and pro rata bonuses. Keep proof.
96. Go to the AA travel shop and buy some SA to Auz/NZ plug adapters. Pop them in your hand luggage! Then buy some ”mulitplugs”. The kind with 4 or 5 plugs on a cord. Then when you get there replace the main plug with your Aussie plug, you can then use your old SA plugs in the multiplug.
97. If you haven’t yet sold your house, but are planning to do so, get an electricity certificate before you leave. Give it to your agent or the person who will be handling the sale of your property. Keep a copy.
98. Inform your tax consultant that you are leaving. He will still have to complete a tax return for you for the current tax year. Then he may need to deregister you as a tax payer at some point and arrange a tax clearance certificate. In which case you might need to sign papers before you leave.
99. Help the older members of family set up Skype before you leave. Buy them a microphone for their computer as a gift. Install it for them.
100. Take photographs of everyone and everything, your friends, family, the neighbours, your pets, the kids friends (give your digital to your kids to take to school for a day). Take photographs of your house, neighbourhood, church, school, street.... This is all you will have of your life in South Africa. It may not seem important now, but when your kids or grandchildren one day, want to know what life was like, you’ll have more than enough visual memories to share.
101. Have a farewell party at least 3 weeks before you leave. Less tears & emotion than having the goodbyes at the airport!!
102. Tie up any emotional loose ends and leave with a clear conscience. You will not have space in your container for emotional baggage. Try to make sure that you are not leaving anyone on bad terms or with regrets.
103 Arrange accommodation in Australia.
104. Sell your cars.
105. Arrange your transport to the airport.
Prices of goods (heading)
Price lists in excel format to be posted here.
Contact us here- Copyright Mignetau
- Terms & Conditions
- Contact Us
