A quick checklist for Australians returning home

On average, at any given point in time, around 1 million Australian nationals are living and working in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, when the coronavirus struck, many of these expats had little choice but to return home. Most had to leave extremely quickly, so did not have time to make the arrangements they would have normally made for their return. So, we have put together a quick checklist for them and their families.

Open an Australian bank account

Expats that are not out of the country too long can maintain an Australian bank account. Wisely, many do so. But it is not possible for everyone. If you don’t currently have an Australian account and believe you will be in the country long-term it is wise to consider opening one. Continuing to use your foreign cards is going to work out to be expensive.

Transfer some funds across

It is usually wise to transfer some funds from your foreign account. You will need access to Australian dollars. Before you do, go online, and work out which approach is going to be the cheapest for you. You can find the best ways to transfer money from UK to Australia by clicking this link.

Start to build up your credit history

Having an Australian account will make it easier to get paid. It is also an important step in starting to build up a credit history again. Later, when you want to buy a car or a home, this will prove to be important.

You should also consider taking the steps outlined in this article to start rebuilding your credit history. The longer you have been out of the country the more important it is to do this.

Register your presence in the country

It is a good idea to make it known to the authorities that you are back in the country. Doing so will help you to prove the length of your Australian residency. This can be important should you need to claim social support from the government.

Take your time before deciding what to do

This article has been written mainly with those who are planning to stay permanently in the country in mind. If you believe you will not be making Australia your permanent home again, you may want to take a different approach.

Regardless of which category you fall into, take the time to think carefully before doing anything. You should also seek proper, in-depth advice from those who are legally qualified to give it.

Whilst there is a lot to consider, and you may not have wanted to return, this could be a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends, visit places where you have childhood memories and see how much your home country has developed. Try to stay positive! Just remember, you will probably have the opportunity to move abroad again in the future, so try not to be too disheartened – focus on looking after yourself and those around you.