It’s great that you’re thinking about moving to Western Australia (WA). Our unique landscape and renowned lifestyle are unparalleled!
Preparation and research are the key to successful settlement, and that's where we can help.
We have collected some information to help you research our amazing state and learn more about the accommodation, lifestyle, services and employment opportunities available to you and your family.
Pictured: Base Imagery; Group of migrants looking at Perth CBD from Ozone rooftop at Optus Stadium, Burswood.
Moving to WA checklists
There are a number of things you can do in preparation for your move. We’ve put together some checklists to help you prepare, move, and settle in WA.
Documents and immigration
It is important that you organise original or certified copies of documents relating to you and your family. These documents may include:
- birth certificates;
- children’s school reports;
- driver’s licence;
- family medical records (eg vaccination documentation);
- marriage certificate;
- change of name certificate;
- references from previous landlords;
- taxation documentation;
- trade, university and other educational certificates and qualifications; and
- work experience and character references.
When you arrive in WA, you will need to complete a customs declaration. To protect our wildlife and environment, Australia has very strict biosecurity procedures at our international borders to prevent the introduction of harmful pests and diseases that could be carried in certain foods, products and materials. Australian Border Force carefully monitors all goods entering the country.
Please visit the Can you bring it in page of the Australian Border Force website(opens in a new tab) to familiarise yourself with items that are restricted or banned for entry into Australia.
Before you can collect your baggage, you will need to present your passport; incoming passenger card; and boarding pass ready for customs clearance.
If you have been prescribed, or use, essential medicines for existing medical conditions you should bring those with you. Please ensure you can provide a record of these medications; such as a prescription or letter from your doctor. Any medicines you bring into or take out of Australia may be subject to import and/or export controls. These requirements may change, so you should check the Can you bring it in? (opens in a new tab)page of the Australian Border Force website to review any conditions for the importation of medicines before you enter Australia.
For more information, contact the Department of Health, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
T: 1800 020 653 (from within Australia) or + 61 2 6232 8644 (from outside Australia)
E: info@tga.gov.au
W: tga.gov.au(opens in a new tab)
WARNING! Do not carry illicit drugs. Penalties for drug offences in Australia are severe.
Most personal items such as clothing, footwear, and articles for personal hygiene and grooming may be brought into Australia in your accompanied baggage, free from duty and tax. Personal goods are free from duty and tax if they are owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more.
If you are 18 years or over, you can bring up to $900 worth of general goods into Australia duty free. If you are under 18 years of age, there is a $450 limit. General goods include gifts, souvenirs, cameras, electronic equipment, leather goods, perfume concentrates, jewellery, watches and sporting equipment.
When you arrive at Perth International Airport, you will find duty free shops between disembarkation and Customs and Immigration processing. These shops can sell only a limited range and quantity of duty and tax-free goods per person — for example, you can buy:
- alcohol (to a limit of 2.25 litres);
- confectionery;
- cosmetics and perfume;
- photographic film; and
- tobacco (50 grams of tobacco or 50 cigarettes).
If you have any questions about duty free goods, please visit the Duty free concessions page of the Australian Border Force website(opens in a new tab).
You are able to bring (import) household goods to WA, including crockery; cutlery; furnishings (curtains, rugs, carpets); furniture; and linen. Do your research to determine if it is cost effective to bring your household items with you to Australia.
Imported goods do not receive the same duty/tax concessions as goods you bring with you — they may be subject to duty/tax unless you have both owned and used them for 12 months or more. You can search the Can I bring it in? (opens in a new tab)page of the Australian Border Force website, to check the guidelines for individual items.
You may also want to consider shipping household goods separately, as unaccompanied personal effects (UPE) — further information is available on the UPE page of the Australian Border Force (opens in a new tab)website.
If you're considering sending items to Australia via sea or air, you should source quotes from various freight companies and ensure you take careful note of what is included in each quotation (eg packing, transportation, customs clearance, unpacking and disposal of materials).
Contact the Australian International Movers Association (AIMA) for more information.
T: +61 2 9659 4299 (from outside Australia)
E: admin@aima.com.au
W: aima.com.au(opens in a new tab)
If you are planning to bring electrical appliances (eg kitchen equipment, hairdryers and televisions), you will need to make sure they are compatible with the Australian electrical system – 240V with a three-pin plug.
Appliances from the United Kingdom and continental Europe should work with an adaptor, but it is advisable to check with a manufacturer or an electrician.
You can buy a 240V–110V step down voltage converter or a three-pin plug adaptor from hardware stores and supermarkets.
Conditions for importing pets vary, depending on the type of animal and their country of origin. This may include pre-export treatment by veterinarians and periods of quarantine.
Restrictions apply for certain animals entering Australia. You can visit the Can I bring it in — Animals and pets page (opens in a new tab)of the Australian Border Force website for information about your bringing your pets with you.
Visit the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website(opens in a new tab) for more information.
T: +61 3 8313 6700 (from outside Australia)
Freecall: 1800 900 090 (from within Australia)
Accommodation and housing
Choosing where to live in WA is an exciting prospect and you’ll need to pick the option that is best for you.
For market information and to find out what’s happening currently in the property market in Perth and regional WA – including prices on specific suburbs and regional areas, advice on purchasing property, and properties for sale or rent – visit the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) website(opens in a new tab).
You’ll be able to view key facts about the suburbs, such as how close they are to schools, public transport and shopping centres, so that you can make an informed decision about what’s best for you and your family when you settle in WA.
Pictured: Tom Iffla/Two Palms; Birds eye view of the suburb of Scarborough and Scarborough beach, home to the Scarborough Beach Surf School.
Hotels/motels
There are many short-term hotel/motel accommodation options in Perth and/or regional WA ranging from three star hotels to five star resorts.
Contact the Western Australian Visitor Centre(opens in a new tab) for more information.
T: 1800 812 808 (within Australia) or +61 8 9483 1111 (outside Australia)
E: info@wavisitorcentre.com.au
W: westernaustralia.com(opens in a new tab)
Apartments/townhouses
Apartments and townhouses can be rented for short-term or long-term periods. Many are fully furnished and include linen, towels, crockery, cutlery and cooking equipment. In some cases, a daily or weekly cleaning service may be provided. A simple internet search for ‘WA apartments or townhouses for rent’ will provide you with a list of rental websites.
WA offers both fully furnished and unfurnished rental properties with a variety of housing options — large family homes, townhouses, apartments, duplexes and villas. Properties for rent are usually let through a real estate agent or private landlord. They are usually advertised in the “To Let” section of The West Australian and The Sunday Times newspapers or on real estate websites such as the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA)(opens in a new tab). You can arrange to inspect a property before you make the decision to make a rental application.
To secure a property, you will pay a security bond – usually a refundable deposit of four weeks' rent – plus two weeks' rent in advance. For information on the documents you need to be able to secure a rental property, visit the frequently asked questions page of the REIWA website(opens in a new tab) and select 'Renting residential property'.
The Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety website(opens in a new tab) provides information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. Three information videos about renting a home(opens in a new tab) are available (in several languages) for viewing.
Circle Green Community Legal is a not-for-profit agency that provides free legal services to residential tenants across WA. View their Making an application for a rental property(opens in a new tab) publication for some valuable information.
Most properties in WA are on freehold land and are generally sold through an offer and acceptance process. There is a trend currently towards buying and selling homes by auction, particularly high-end or luxury housing. Properties are advertised for sale and are generally open for public inspection on weekends or by appointment during the week. Landgate, WA's official register of land ownership and survey information, has property sales reports on their website which can help you monitor market trends(opens in a new tab).
Permanent residents may be eligible for the Western Australian Government First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) which provides up to $10,000 towards the purchase of your first home in Australia. The grant is not subject to a means test; however, you or your partner cannot have previously owned a home in Australia. For more information and to find out if you qualify, visit the Western Australian Government website(opens in a new tab). Holders of temporary residency visas who want to buy residential property in Australia need approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board(opens in a new tab).
Where to find property for sale
- The Real Estate Institute of WA (REIWA) website(opens in a new tab) lists thousands of properties for sale and has advanced search facilities and features
- Major newspapers, including The West Australian – the Saturday edition real estate lift-out; The Sunday Times – the real estate lift-out; and community newspapers, or property magazines available from most real estate agencies
- A general internet search
For rental properties
If you rent a property, you may wish to insure the contents of your home.
The landlord of the property is responsible for insuring the structure of the property, but you have responsibility for insuring your own belongings within it.
For home owners
If you buy a property, you may wish to insure both home and contents which will (depending on your selected cover) insure both the structure of the property itself as well as the contents within it.
Mobile number transfer
There are three options for ‘transferring’ your mobile telephone for use in Australia.
International roaming
Normally for short-term use, where you continue to make payments with your existing service provider and retain your mobile telephone number. Ensure that you take note of the charges associated with international roaming as they can be quite expensive per telephone call, SMS and message retrieval. Speak to your service provider for details.
New connection
You can set up an account and connect to one of the many service providers in Australia. You may be able to use your existing mobile telephone or buy a new one, either outright or through a plan. A new connection will most likely require a new mobile telephone number.
You can apply for a business package if the mobile telephone will be used for your business; however, you will need an Australian Business Number (ABN), an Australian Company Number (ACN) or an Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN) to apply.
Visit the Australian Business Register website(opens in a new tab) for more information.
Pre-paid
Most service providers have a pre-paid service where you can "pay as you go" with no contracts or long-term commitments. A simple internet search for ‘Australian mobile service providers' will provide you with details of numerous organisations.