Why Australians Are Moving Overseas: Migration Trends, Top Destinations and What to Check Before You Leave

For many Australians, moving overseas is no longer just a gap-year idea. A job transfer can turn into a decade abroad. A relationship can become a permanent relocation. A few years in London, Auckland, New York, Singapore or Dubai can become a new home.

But the headline ‘Australians are leaving’ needs context. Australia still has strong population growth from overseas migration, and not everyone counted as an emigrant is an Australian citizen. The latest official figures show both a real outward flow and a much more complicated story than a mass national exodus.

This guide looks at the latest migration data, the main destinations for Australian citizens, the most common reasons people choose to build a life overseas, and the practical issues that can make or break the decision.

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Are more Australians really moving overseas?

The latest complete annual Australian Bureau of Statistics migration data show that Australia recorded 263,000 migrant departures in 2024–25, up 13% from the previous year. However, that total includes Australian-born residents, overseas-born permanent residents and former temporary migrants leaving Australia.

Within that total, the ABS recorded a net loss of 17,000 Australian-born residents in 2024–25. That is important because it confirms that more Australian-born residents left Australia than returned during the year, but the ABS also says this is broadly consistent with the historical pre-pandemic pattern rather than evidence of an unprecedented exodus.

The latest quarterly population data show 265,400 people emigrated from Australia in the year ending March 2026. Again, this figure covers all migrants departing Australia, not only Australian citizens.

There is another important statistical trap. The ABS specifically warns that monthly ‘permanent and long-term departure’ travel data should not be treated as the official measure of migration because a traveller’s stated intention can differ from what they actually do later. Official net overseas migration uses a residence-based measure instead.

In short: outward migration is substantial, Australian-born residents continue to record a net loss, but the available evidence does not support the claim that Australians as a whole are abandoning the country in record numbers.

Where are Australian citizens going?

The most useful current international comparison comes from the OECD. Its International Migration Outlook 2025 reports that emigration of Australian citizens to OECD countries reached about 22,000 in 2023. Of that group:

• 24% moved to New Zealand
• 19% moved to the United Kingdom
• 16% moved to the United States

These percentages apply to Australian citizens moving to OECD countries and should not be confused with all departures from Australia. They nevertheless provide a useful picture of the major destinations.

1. New Zealand

New Zealand stands out because the immigration pathway is unusually simple for Australian citizens. Immigration New Zealand says Australian citizens can normally live, work and study there without applying for a visa before travelling. They are generally granted an Australian Resident Visa on arrival, subject to entry and character requirements.

That makes New Zealand particularly attractive for people seeking a culturally familiar environment, proximity to family in Australia and fewer immigration barriers than most other destinations.

However, easier immigration does not automatically mean lower living costs or higher income. Housing, wages, healthcare access, taxation and career opportunities need to be assessed for the specific city and occupation.

2. United Kingdom

The UK remains one of the strongest magnets for Australians, especially younger professionals. Australians aged 18 to 35 can currently qualify for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme if they meet the requirements. The scheme can allow eligible Australians to live and work in the UK for up to two years and then extend for another year.

The UK allocated 38,500 Youth Mobility Scheme places to Australians for 2026. That does not mean all participants settle permanently, but it creates an accessible pathway through which temporary relocation can later lead to sponsorship, partnership or another long-term immigration route.

London remains attractive for finance, professional services, technology, media and global corporate experience, but high rents and living costs can materially change the financial equation.

3. United States

The United States accounted for about 16% of Australian citizen emigration to OECD countries in the OECD’s latest comparison.

The US can offer high salaries and major career opportunities in technology, finance, medicine, academia, entertainment and professional services. However, moving there permanently is generally more immigration-intensive than moving to New Zealand or entering the UK under a youth mobility arrangement. Employment sponsorship, family-based routes and other visa categories each have detailed requirements.

Other destinations attracting Australians

Singapore and the United Arab Emirates are also important expatriate hubs for Australians working in professional, financial, technology, construction, resources and corporate roles.

Singapore requires foreigners to hold the appropriate work pass. Its Employment Pass is aimed at professionals, managers and executives who meet salary and eligibility requirements, while a separate Work Holiday Pass exists for eligible Australian students and graduates aged 18 to 30.

The UAE offers employer-sponsored work residence visas and, for some categories, self-sponsored or virtual-work residence options. These destinations can be attractive for career mobility and international business exposure, but they have very different legal, tax, healthcare and residency systems from Australia.

Why do Australians decide to move overseas?

There is no single current ABS table that assigns a reason to every Australian who emigrates, so it would be misleading to claim that cost of living, tax or any other factor is ‘the’ reason Australians are leaving.

In practice, long-term moves usually come from a combination of the following factors.

Career opportunities

For some professions, overseas markets are simply larger. London, New York, Singapore and Dubai can provide access to global finance, technology, consulting, law, media, engineering and multinational corporate roles that may be harder to replicate at the same scale in Australia.

A move made for two or three years of experience can become permanent once careers, relationships and children become established overseas.

Family, relationships and dual nationality

Many permanent moves are driven by partners, extended family or existing citizenship rights rather than economics. Australians with British, European, New Zealand or other citizenship connections may have fewer barriers to settlement than someone starting from scratch.

Housing and lifestyle

Australia’s housing affordability pressures naturally lead some people to compare life elsewhere. However, assuming another country will automatically be cheaper is dangerous. London, New York, Singapore and many other major destinations can have extremely high housing costs.

The useful comparison is not simply ‘rent in Australia versus rent overseas’. It is total disposable income after tax, housing, healthcare, transport, childcare, schooling, insurance, visas, flights home and currency movements.

Remote work and location flexibility

Remote employment and location-independent businesses have made long-term overseas living more feasible for some Australians. Several countries now offer digital-nomad or virtual-work residence arrangements.

But working remotely from another country can create immigration, employment-law, payroll, company-tax and personal tax-residency consequences. A tourist visa is not automatically permission to work.

Retirement and family support

Some Australians consider retiring overseas because of family ties, climate or perceived living-cost advantages. Others move to provide care to relatives or to be closer to children and grandchildren who already live abroad.

Retirement moves need particularly careful planning because Medicare, private health insurance, Age Pension portability, tax residency, estate planning and access to healthcare can all change.

What to check before making a permanent or long-term move

A move can look financially attractive until the hidden costs and legal consequences appear. Before selling property, resigning from a job or shipping your household overseas, work through the following checklist.

1. Confirm your legal right to live and work there

Do not assume an Australian passport gives you the right to work in another country. New Zealand is unusually accessible to Australian citizens, but most destinations require a specific work, family, investor, retirement or residence visa.

Check whether your status is temporary or permanent, whether it depends on your employer, whether your partner and children are covered, and what happens if you lose your job.

2. Work out your Australian tax residency before you leave

Citizenship and tax residency are not the same thing. The Australian Taxation Office says moving overseas does not automatically make you a foreign resident for Australian tax purposes. Your circumstances, family ties, assets, accommodation and living arrangements can all matter.

A change in tax residency can affect how Australia taxes income and capital gains. The ATO also notes that when a person ceases to be an Australian tax resident, special capital-gains rules can apply to certain assets.

This is one of the areas where personalised tax advice before departure can be far cheaper than correcting an unexpected tax position later.

3. Think carefully before selling or renting your Australian home

Property can become one of the biggest tax traps for Australians living abroad. The ATO states that if you are a foreign resident when you dispose of Australian residential property, you are generally not entitled to the main-residence CGT exemption, subject to limited exceptions.

The familiar ‘six-year rule’ should therefore not be assumed to protect an expatriate in every situation. Your tax residency at the time of sale can be critical.

4. Check what happens to Medicare and healthcare

Services Australia says Medicare cannot be used to cover healthcare received overseas. If you later return to live in Australia, re-enrolment requirements depend on your status and how long you have been living overseas. Current Services Australia guidance says Australian citizens living overseas for five years or more may need to re-enrol, while different rules apply to Australian permanent residents. Reciprocal Health Care Agreements may provide limited cover in some countries, but they are not a substitute for checking local healthcare and insurance requirements.

Before relocating, understand the destination country’s public-health eligibility rules, waiting periods and private insurance requirements. For families and people with ongoing medical conditions, healthcare can materially alter the cost of living.

5. Review Centrelink and pension portability

Australian social-security payments do not all travel with you. Services Australia says some payments stop when you move overseas, while Age Pension and certain other payments may continue subject to eligibility and portability rules.

Age Pension rates can change after you leave Australia, and the amount payable can depend on your circumstances and years of Australian residence. If government benefits form part of your retirement budget, verify the position before moving.

6. Do not assume your Australian salary comparison tells the whole story

Compare:

• after-tax income
• rent or mortgage costs
• health insurance
• schooling and childcare
• transport
• utilities
• visa and residency costs
• annual flights to Australia
• currency risk
• local pension or retirement contributions
• the cost of returning to Australia if the move fails

A lower-tax location can still leave you worse off if housing, private healthcare or schooling is expensive.

7. Understand local employment rights

Annual leave, redundancy, sick leave, unfair-dismissal protections, superannuation-style contributions and employer-provided health insurance differ dramatically between countries.

Before accepting a role, compare the complete employment package rather than the salary headline.

8. Review your Australian superannuation strategy

Moving overseas does not by itself mean an Australian citizen can simply withdraw superannuation. Your super may remain an important part of your long-term retirement plan while you live abroad.

Consider how your overseas retirement arrangements interact with Australian super, beneficiary nominations and your eventual return plans, and obtain regulated financial advice where appropriate.

9. Update wills, estate planning and powers of attorney

Owning assets in more than one country can complicate estates significantly. A will drafted only for Australian assets may not deal effectively with overseas property, local succession rules or foreign tax obligations.

Seek estate-planning advice in each relevant jurisdiction if the move is intended to be long term.

10. Decide what you are doing with your electoral enrolment

The Australian Electoral Commission says Australians intending to return within six years may be able to register as overseas electors. If you move overseas indefinitely and do not intend to return, different enrolment rules apply and the AEC can remove your name from the roll after departure.

11. Read the destination’s local laws and understand consular limits

Smartraveller warns that Australians living abroad leave behind many Australian support systems and that there are legal and practical limits to the assistance Australian consular officials can provide overseas.

Local laws apply to Australians abroad even when they differ substantially from Australian law. Check safety, healthcare, driving, employment, family-law, medication, business and personal-conduct rules before committing to a move.

12. Build a return-to-Australia plan

Even a move intended to be permanent can change because of family illness, job loss, relationship breakdown, political instability or simply homesickness.

Keep an emergency fund, maintain important Australian records and understand what would be required to re-establish housing, Medicare, schooling, banking and employment if you return.

Should you try the country before committing permanently?

For many people, yes. A three-to-six-month test period can expose issues that holidays do not: commuting, healthcare, bureaucracy, schooling, climate, isolation, time zones and the real cost of maintaining relationships with Australia.

Where immigration rules allow it, testing the lifestyle before selling an Australian home or making irreversible financial decisions can reduce risk.

Is moving overseas actually cheaper?

Sometimes. But ‘cheap country’ comparisons are often too simplistic.

Someone earning an Australian salary remotely in a lower-cost country may have a very different outcome from someone earning a local salary. A family paying international-school fees may spend more than it did in Australia. A retiree may save on housing but spend significantly more on health insurance and flights.

The question to answer is not ‘Is Country X cheaper than Australia?’ It is: What will our household’s after-tax, after-housing, after-healthcare standard of living look like there?

What the migration numbers really tell us

Australia is simultaneously a major immigration country and a country from which thousands of citizens build lives abroad.

The latest ABS annual data show a net loss of 17,000 Australian-born residents in 2024–25. The OECD’s latest destination comparison shows New Zealand, the UK and the US as the three largest OECD destinations for Australian citizen emigrants.

That is a meaningful trend, but it is not evidence that Australia is being abandoned. For many people, migration is circular: they leave, gain experience, form families or build businesses abroad, and some eventually return.

The more useful story is that international mobility has become a normal part of Australian life — and that the financial and legal consequences of a permanent move are considerably more complex than booking a one-way flight.

Frequently asked questions

How many Australians are moving overseas permanently?

There is no single reliable current figure for ‘Australians permanently leaving’ based only on stated intention. The ABS recommends using official overseas migration statistics rather than permanent-departure travel declarations. In 2024–25, Australia recorded a net loss of 17,000 Australian-born residents, while total migrant departures across all birthplaces were 263,000.

Which countries are Australians moving to?

According to the OECD’s latest available destination comparison, among Australian citizens emigrating to OECD countries, approximately 24% went to New Zealand, 19% to the UK and 16% to the US.

Can Australians move permanently to New Zealand?

Australian citizens can normally live, work and study in New Zealand without applying for a visa before travelling and are generally granted an Australian Resident Visa on arrival if they meet the requirements.

Can Australians move to the UK easily?

Australians aged 18 to 35 may qualify for the UK Youth Mobility Scheme, which can provide up to two years initially plus a one-year extension for eligible Australians. Permanent settlement requires a separate qualifying route where applicable.

Do you lose Medicare if you move overseas?

Medicare does not pay for healthcare received overseas. If you later return to live in Australia, re-enrolment requirements depend on your status and time abroad; Services Australia currently notes that Australian citizens living overseas for five years or more may need to re-enrol, while different rules apply to Australian permanent residents.

Does moving overseas automatically make you a non-resident for Australian tax?

No. The ATO assesses tax residency based on the relevant legal tests and your circumstances. Citizenship or simply being physically overseas does not by itself determine the outcome.

Sources

• Australian Bureau of Statistics — Overseas Migration 2024–25
• Australian Bureau of Statistics — National, state and territory population, March 2026
• OECD — International Migration Outlook 2025: Australia
• Immigration New Zealand — Australian Resident Visa
• UK Government — Youth Mobility Scheme
• Smartraveller — Going overseas to live or work
• Australian Taxation Office — Main residence and foreign-resident CGT guidance
• Services Australia — Medicare and living overseas
• Australian Electoral Commission — Overseas enrolment

Important disclaimer

This article is general news and informational material only. NextNews is not providing migration, immigration, legal, tax, financial, investment, property, superannuation, medical, insurance or other professional advice. Laws, visa requirements, tax-residency outcomes, pension rules, healthcare entitlements and financial consequences vary by individual circumstances and jurisdiction and can change without notice. Do not make a relocation, property, tax, investment, retirement or immigration decision solely on the basis of this article. Before acting, obtain independent advice from appropriately qualified Australian and destination-country professionals relevant to your circumstances, including registered migration or immigration advisers, lawyers, tax advisers, licensed financial advisers, healthcare professionals and other specialists where appropriate. See the NextNews disclaimer for further information.

NextNews strives for accurate news, but readers should use this information with care. Details, availability and external links can change, and technical issues may occur.