Live in Australia

We wanted to compile everything you need to know to live in Australia in one place, from the visas you can apply for to the cost of living, including the main characteristics of the climate.

Our goal is to make everything clear from the beginning so that you know what to expect on the other side of the world and avoid surprises. Ready?

If you need more reasons to convince yourself that Australia is one of the best countries in the world to live in, here are the most important ones for us:

The cost of living in Australia is quite high, but salaries are proportional and allow you to handle it perfectly, even if you are a student working part-time (24 hours/week).

To give you an idea, these are the three main expenses you will have to face, and they will largely determine the cost of your stay in this land: accommodation, transportation, and food.

Australians take life very seriously, and that’s why they don’t limit themselves to work alone: they go out, laugh, surf, live, fall in love… There is time for everything, and life in Australia has a pace that allows you to balance.

In Australia, you can enjoy a laid-back lifestyle that allows you to meet new people and engage in activities such as surfing, exploring nature, visiting new places, trying different food… Oh, and enjoying the events we organize every month at Dingoos, of course!

In Australia, there are as many types of accommodations as there are budgets and lifestyles: from a backpacker (similar to a hostel and perfect for your first days, and if you come with Dingoos, /alojamiento/) to a student residence, a shared apartment, or staying with an Australian family while working as an au pair.

Our recommendation regarding accommodation is not to start looking until you arrive in Australia. There is so much available that you will find something secure, and it’s also better to visit them in person.

Australia is so vast that the climate differs greatly from the east to the west or from the north to the south. To give you an idea, the farther south, the colder it gets, and the farther north, the hotter. For example, Melbourne can be cold in winter, while the Gold Coast is quite temperate, and Cairns is even more so.

In essence, there is a tropical, subtropical, desert, tropical climate. If you love rain, you’ll find a place where it rains every two or three days. If you prefer the sun, you can live in one of the sunniest cities in the world. Whatever you want! Still, when you talk to your Dingoos guide, they will inform you in detail about the climate of each city based on the time of year, making it easier for you to choose the destination that suits you best.

It all depends primarily on your goal, as the first thing you will have to do is apply for a visa depending on the time you want to spend in Australia and what you plan to do here. But don’t worry, because Dingoos will help you get it thanks to our team of experts in Australian visas.

Our advice is that if you want to study and work at the same time to earn some money, the Student Visa is the way to go. However, as we will see later, there are many other visas you should consider based on your goals and the time you plan to spend in Australia. Still, we want you to know a little about the main advantages of this visa, as it could become your best option.

If you want to migrate to Australia for 3 months or less, your best option is the Tourist Visa.

• What does the Tourist Visa allow you to do? As the name suggests, this visa only allows you to travel and not work under any circumstances.
• Requirements for applying for the tourist visa: If you are coming from Spain, this visa is straightforward to obtain as you can process it directly online through eVisitor. It is free, and you only need your passport.

If your plan is to live in Australia for 6 months or 1 year, you have two main options: the Student Visa or the Work and Holiday Visa.

Both visas allow you to work, although they have their peculiarities. For example, the Work and Holiday Visa does not allow you to work for more than 6 months with the same employer, and the student visa allows you to work 48 hours every two weeks.

On the other hand, the main difference lies in the requirements. To obtain the Work and Holiday Visa, you must be under 35 years old and demonstrate a minimum level of English through an official certificate, while the student visa does not require any language or age requirements regardless of your nationality.

There is also the issue of available slots, where the student visa does not have a limited number of slots, while the Work and Holiday visa does.

Our advice is that if you are thinking of coming for 6 months and then decide to renew, you will have to pay the visa fees again. Still, if you enroll in a course for a more extended period, you will save money when it comes time to renew your visa. Keep this in mind because it happens to many of us

If you want to migrate to Australia for one to four years, the ideal visa is the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (482), although it is a visa that has its difficulties and very specific requirements.

• What does the TSS allow? Working in Australia for 1 to 4 years, bringing your family with you, and entering and leaving Australia as many times as you want during that period.
• Requirements to obtain it: To come with this visa, an approved Australian company will have to invest in you and complete all the paperwork and application to the Australian Government. Also, your profession has to be one of those required by the Australian Government, and depending on what it is, you can opt for more or less working time.

If your dream is to stay in Australia forever, your option is the Skilled Visas for Australia, and there are mainly two types:

Skilled Nominated visa (190)

• What does the SN Visa allow? Living and working in Australia as a permanent resident.
• Requirements: You will have to be invited by an Australian state. Here is all the information about the Skilled Nominated Visa.

Skilled Independent Visa (189)

• What does the SI Visa allow? Working in Australia with permanent permission and applying for Australian citizenship.
• Requirements to obtain it: Your profession must be one of those eligible by the Australian Government, have professional experience, a very good level of English, and be under 45 years old, among other criteria. Here is all the information about the Skilled Independent Visa (189).