Leaving Australia?
Where your AUD income goes furthest, which visa programs welcome Australian passports, and how to navigate ATO non-residency rules. Ranked from PPP-adjusted cost data.
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destinations
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countries
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regions
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avg cost index
Australian-passport visa landscape
Australian passports rank in the global top 10 for visa-free travel and residency-program eligibility. The free-movement Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement gives Australians effective NZ residency at arrival; the UK Youth Mobility Scheme + Ancestry Visa (for grandparent-born-in-UK applicants) are uniquely accessible to Australians; most digital-nomad + retiree visas welcome Australian applicants. Australian-tax residency is determined by the ATO's "resides" test + statutory tests — moving abroad does not automatically end Australian tax residency.
Most-trafficked Australian-expat destinations: UK (long-standing tie — currently easier post-2023 reforms to Youth Mobility), New Zealand (Trans-Tasman), Indonesia (Bali — long-stay visa pathways for retirees + remote workers), Thailand (LTR for retirees + remote workers), Vietnam, Singapore (Employment Pass for skilled workers), Hong Kong, US (E-3 visa is uniquely Australian under the Free Trade Agreement), Canada (Working Holiday + Express Entry for skilled migrants).
What's the easiest country for Australians to move to?
The easiest country for Australians to move to is New Zealand by a wide margin — the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement gives Australians effective NZ residency on arrival with full work + residence rights. The UK Youth Mobility Scheme is open to Australian citizens 18-35 (the upper age extended from 30 to 35 + the stay extended from 2 years to 3 years in 2024); the UK Ancestry Visa (5-year work visa for those with a UK-born grandparent) is uniquely Australian-accessible. The US E-3 visa is uniquely Australian under the AU-US FTA (~10,500 visas/year for specialty-occupation Australians, with spouse work rights). Most digital-nomad visa programs (Portugal D8, Spain DNV, Croatia DNV, Estonia DNV, Mexico Temporary Resident) accept Australians on standard terms.
Can Australians live in Bali long-term?
Yes, via several pathways. The B211A "social-cultural" visa (formerly known as the social visa) allows 60-day stays extendable to 180 days. The Indonesia Second Home Visa (B214 or successor — verify current name) allows 5-10 year stays for those with $130K-130K USD savings. The newer Indonesia Investor Visa requires investment in an Indonesian company. Many Australian Bali residents cycle B211A renewals + visa runs — legal but high-friction. Indonesian-tax residency triggers at 183+ days in any 12-month period. Verify current visa rules at the Indonesian Embassy/Consulate before relying.
Best country for Australians to retire to?
The best country for Australians to retire to depends on cost vs proximity: Thailand leads on cost + community (Long-Term Resident + Retirement visas — well-established Australian retiree communities in Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai), Malaysia on accessibility (MM2H — recently reformed), Indonesia on Bali lifestyle (Second Home Visa or B211A cycling), New Zealand on paperwork (Trans-Tasman), the UK on heritage (Ancestry Visa for those with a UK-born grandparent), Portugal (D7), and Spain (Non-Lucrative). Mexico + Costa Rica are accessible but not common Australian destinations due to distance.
How does the ATO treat Australians living abroad?
Australian-tax residency is determined by the ATO's "resides" test (a facts-and-circumstances analysis of where you ordinarily live) + four statutory tests. Moving abroad does NOT automatically end Australian tax residency — you need to demonstrate that you no longer "reside" in Australia. Indicators: maintain no Australian residential property available for your use, sever Australian banking + utility ties, establish a permanent residence abroad (typically 12+ months continuously). Once non-resident, Australian-source income (rent, employment) is still taxed in Australia at non-resident rates (no tax-free threshold); foreign-source income generally is not. The CGT "deemed disposal" applies to most Australian-located assets when you become a non-resident.
Top destinations
Ranked by cost of living, data quality, and relevance.
#5Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand · 127K
#6Surabaya, Java
🇮🇩 Indonesia · 2.9M
#9Bandung, Java
🇮🇩 Indonesia · 2.4M
#10Seoul
🇰🇷 South Korea · 10.3M
#12Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil · 6.7M
#19Barranquilla
🇨🇴 Colombia · 1.2M
#20Aguascalientes
🇲🇽 Mexico · 722K
#22Santiago de Querétaro
🇲🇽 Mexico · 1.6M
#26Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia · 1.5M
#28Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
🇪🇸 Spain · 384K
#34Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina · 2.9M
#36Durban
🇿🇦 South Africa · 3.3M
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