Moving to Australia from Canada draws skilled workers, working-holiday travellers and families after sunshine, high wages and an outdoor lifestyle. Relocating to Australia from Canada means winning a place in the points-based skilled migration system or another visa, booking long-haul ocean freight from Vancouver, and meeting Australia's famously strict biosecurity rules at the border. This guide walks Canadians through every step of a Canada-to-Australia move, from visa to first home.
Moving to Australia from Canada: overview
Canadians move to Australia for strong salaries, a relaxed coastal lifestyle and demand for skilled workers in health, trades, tech and education. The main hurdles are qualifying for a visa and the long shipping distance, which makes Australia one of the slower and pricier moves from Canada.
The biggest planning items are securing the right visa (often via a skills assessment and points test) and preparing your belongings for Australia's strict biosecurity inspection. Sort your CRA non-residency position with a cross-border accountant before departure.
Visa & residency basics
Canadians need a visa to live and work in Australia. Most skilled routes require a positive skills assessment and an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. Confirm current occupation lists and points thresholds with the Department of Home Affairs.
- Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) — points-tested permanent residence, not employer-sponsored.
- Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) — points-tested with state or territory nomination.
- Employer-sponsored visas (e.g. subclass 482/186) — for those with an Australian employer.
- Working Holiday visa (subclass 462) — for eligible Canadians, typically up to 35, for temporary work and travel.
- Partner/family visas — for those joining an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Shipping household goods to Australia from Canada
Canada-to-Australia moves travel by ocean container from Vancouver (or via other ports) to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth or Fremantle. A full 20ft or 40ft container (FCL) suits a whole home; smaller moves go as shared LCL or air freight. Shipping boxes from Vancouver by air is fastest for essentials, while sea freight is the economical choice for furniture on this long route.
Plan roughly 6–10 weeks port-to-door by sea from Canada, plus packing, biosecurity inspection and customs time. Used personal effects you have owned and used are generally free of duty, but everything is subject to biosecurity screening.
Customs & biosecurity clearance
Australia has some of the world's strictest biosecurity rules, enforced by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Items with soil, seeds, plant or animal material, untreated wood and even dirty outdoor gear (boots, camping equipment, bikes) can be held, cleaned at your cost, treated or destroyed.
Clean and dry outdoor items thoroughly and declare everything honestly on the Unaccompanied Personal Effects (B534) form. Have your passport, visa, inventory and bill of lading ready. A mover experienced in Australian biosecurity will prep your shipment to avoid costly delays.
Banking in Australia for newcomers
You can often open an Australian bank account (CommBank, Westpac, ANZ, NAB) online before you arrive and activate it with ID once you land. You'll need a Tax File Number (TFN) for work and to avoid higher tax withholding, and superannuation (compulsory retirement contributions) will be paid by your employer.
On the Canadian side, plan RRSPs, TFSAs and non-registered accounts before you leave — a TFSA stops being tax-advantaged once you are a non-resident, and Australia taxes residents on worldwide income. Get cross-border advice.
Schools in Australia for expat families
Public schools are available to residents, often with catchment zones, and temporary-visa holders may pay fees in some states. Private and international schools charge fees that commonly range from roughly AUD 10,000 to AUD 40,000+ per year. Research catchments and apply early, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.
Housing & where expats live
Australian rentals are competitive in big cities; you typically apply with references and proof of income, pay a bond (usually four weeks' rent) and rent in advance. Canadians settle across Sydney and Melbourne for jobs, Brisbane and the Gold Coast for climate and value, and Perth for mining and west-coast living.
Bringing your pet from Canada
Cats and dogs from Canada (a recognised rabies-controlled country) can enter Australia with an import permit from the Department of Agriculture, microchip, rabies titre test and a strict pre-export protocol, followed by a minimum 10-day stay in the Mickleham post-entry quarantine facility. This process takes months and must start well ahead — use a specialist pet-relocation agent.
Destination charges explained
Your shipping quote from Canada covers origin packing and ocean freight, but Australian destination charges — terminal handling, biosecurity and customs clearance, any inspection or treatment fees, and final delivery — are billed at the Australian end. These are normal but should be disclosed upfront; surprise destination charges are the most common complaint in international moves.
Ask for a written quote that itemises origin costs, freight and estimated Australian destination and biosecurity charges so you can compare movers fairly. Our destination charges guide explains each line item.
Plan your move to Australia from Canada
Tell us your origin city in Canada and what you're shipping. A move coordinator will reply with a verified, written quote and a clear breakdown of Australian destination and biosecurity charges within one business day.
Request relocation guidanceFrequently asked questions
How long does shipping from Canada to Australia take?
Ocean freight runs roughly 6–10 weeks port-to-door from Canadian ports to Australian ports, including biosecurity and customs. Air freight is far faster — about 1–2 weeks — and suits smaller, time-sensitive shipments of boxes from Vancouver or other cities.
What visa do Canadians need to move to Australia?
Most skilled migrants use points-tested routes — the Skilled Independent (189) or Skilled Nominated (190) visas — after a skills assessment, while others use employer-sponsored, partner or Working Holiday (462) visas. Check current occupation lists with the Department of Home Affairs.
Why is Australian customs so strict about my belongings?
Australia enforces tough biosecurity to keep out pests and diseases. Items with soil, seeds, plant or animal material, untreated wood and dirty outdoor gear can be held, cleaned, treated or destroyed. Clean everything thoroughly and declare it on the B534 form.
Do I need to be a non-resident of Canada before moving to Australia?
To stop being taxed in Canada you generally need to sever Canadian tax residency, which can trigger a CRA departure tax on certain assets. Australia taxes residents on worldwide income, so get cross-border advice before you leave.
Does my pet have to go into quarantine in Australia?
Yes. Cats and dogs from Canada need an import permit, microchip, rabies titre test and a strict pre-export protocol, followed by a minimum 10-day stay at the Mickleham quarantine facility. Start months ahead with a specialist pet-relocation agent.
How much does it cost to move to Australia from Canada?
Australia is one of the pricier moves from Canada because of the distance. Cost depends on origin city, shipment volume, FCL vs LCL vs air, insurance, biosecurity and Australian destination charges. Request a verified written quote based on a confirmed inventory.