Moving to Perth from the UK: The Complete Guide (2026)

In 2024 we packed up our life in Yorkshire, put Norman (our black Lab) through the longest admin process of his life, and moved to Perth. It was the best decision we've made, but it was also a lot. There were dozens of small jobs, a few big ones, and plenty of things we only found out about the hard way.

This guide is the checklist we wish we'd had. It's written for people moving from the UK, but most of it applies whether you're coming from Ireland, New Zealand or anywhere else. It's general information, not legal or financial advice, and rules change, so always check the official sources we link to.

1. Sort your visa first (and get proper advice)

Everything else hangs off your visa: when you can travel, whether you can work, whether you can get Medicare, and how long you can stay. We don't give visa or migration advice, and honestly, neither should anyone who isn't registered to do it.

Use a registered migration agent. We usually point people to the Down Under Centre (DUC). Whoever you use, check they're on the official register run by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), and check visa details yourself on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Once you know your visa type and rough grant date, you can plan everything else around it.

2. Build a realistic timeline

Most moves take months, not weeks. A rough order that worked for us:

9 to 12 months out: visa advice, research suburbs and costs, and if you have a dog or cat, start the pet process now. The pet timeline is often the longest part of the whole move (see our guide to bringing your dog to Perth).
3 to 6 months out: get quotes for shipping or decide what to sell, sort your notice periods, start looking at jobs, and get your documents in order.
1 to 3 months out: book flights and short-term accommodation, open an Australian bank account if your bank allows it from overseas, and build your rental application pack.
Last month: tie up UK accounts, redirect post, tell HMRC and your pension providers, and pack the things you'll need in the first few weeks into your suitcase rather than the shipping container.

3. Budget for the first three months

We're not going to give you made-up average numbers, because costs depend hugely on your household, suburb and lifestyle. Instead, here are the things to budget for, so nothing catches you out:

Flights for everyone, plus pet transport and quarantine fees if you're bringing an animal.
Short-term accommodation for your first few weeks while you look for a rental. It's rarely as quick as you'd hope.
Rental setup: in WA, the bond is usually up to four weeks' rent, plus rent in advance (often two weeks). Check current rules with Consumer Protection WA.
A car. Perth is spread out, and outside the train lines most people drive.
Furniture and household basics if you're not shipping your own.
Health cover if your visa needs it or you won't be eligible for Medicare.
A buffer for the gap before your first pay day.

The best way to get real numbers is to look at live listings for rent, cars and furniture in the suburbs you're considering, and build your own spreadsheet. On our $79 planning call we go through this with you line by line.

4. Choose the right area

Perth is a long, thin city that stretches along the coast, and where you live makes a big difference to your daily life. Before you fall in love with a beach suburb, think about:

Your commute. Where will you (or might you) work? Check drive times at rush hour, not on a Sunday.
Train lines. If you'd rather not drive every day, look near a station on the Transperth network.
Schools, if you have kids. Public school places in WA are generally based on where you live, so check catchment areas before you sign a lease.
Budget. Beachside and inner suburbs usually cost more. A short drive inland can stretch your money a lot further.
Lifestyle. Cafés and nightlife, quiet and leafy, near the river, near the hills: Perth has all of it, just not in one place.

If you can, spend your first few weeks in short-term accommodation and explore before committing to a 12-month lease.

5. Find somewhere to live

Renting in Perth can be competitive, and it's harder when you're applying from overseas or have no Australian rental history. The short version: get a strong application pack ready before you arrive, be ready to view quickly, and be flexible about your first home. We've written a whole guide on this: Renting in Perth from overseas: how to actually get a rental.

If you're coming solo, or want somewhere cheaper while you find your feet, a room in a share house can be a great first step. Our free Perth Room Finder lists rooms across Perth, and if you work FIFO you can match with someone on the opposite swing to share a room.

6. Work and your CV

Check what your visa allows before you start applying. Then:

Rewrite your CV for Australia. Australian employers often expect a slightly different style to the UK, with clear achievements and local contact details. Put an Australian mobile number on it as soon as you have one.
Check if your job is licensed or registered. Many trades and professions (for example in health, teaching and electrical work) need registration or a skills assessment in Australia. Check with the relevant registration body early, as it can take a while.
Use the big job boards and LinkedIn, and don't underestimate local recruiters, especially in mining, construction and health.

7. Bringing a pet

If you have a dog or cat, start now. Seriously. From the UK there's a mandatory 180-day wait after a rabies blood test before your pet can travel, and all imported cats and dogs go through quarantine at Mickleham, near Melbourne, before flying on to Perth. We did it with Norman and have written it all up in our step-by-step dog guide.

8. Your first weeks in Perth

These are the jobs we'd tackle first, roughly in this order:

Get an Australian SIM. You'll need a local number for almost everything else.
Bank account. If you opened one from the UK, visit a branch with your passport to activate it.
Tax File Number (TFN). Apply online through the Australian Taxation Office. You'll want it before you start work.
Medicare. Depending on your visa, you may be able to enrol, and the UK has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia. Check your eligibility on Services Australia.
SmartRider card for Transperth buses, trains and ferries.
Driving licence. The rules on driving with a UK licence and converting to a WA licence depend on your visa and residency, so check with the Department of Transport WA.
Superannuation. Your employer pays into a super fund. Choose one yourself rather than ending up with several by accident.

9. Settling in (the bit nobody plans for)

The admin ends eventually. The homesickness can take you by surprise. A few things that helped us:

Say yes to everything for the first few months: work drinks, sports clubs, parkrun, community groups.
Find your people. There are big UK and Irish communities in Perth, and plenty of Facebook groups for new arrivals.
Get outside. The beaches, Kings Park and the Swan River are a big part of why people move here, so make the most of them.
Be patient. Building a new life takes time, and the first year is the hardest.

Quick checklist

Visa advice from a registered migration agent
Timeline worked back from your move date
Pet process started (if you have one)
Budget for your first three months, with a buffer
Shortlist of suburbs based on work and lifestyle
Rental application pack ready
Short-term accommodation booked
CV rewritten for Australia
First-week jobs: SIM, bank, TFN, Medicare, SmartRider

Moving across the world is a big project, but it's very doable with a plan. If you'd like help building yours, that's exactly what our planning call is for.

Hero photo: Elizabeth Quay at golden hour by -wuppertaler, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0). General information only, correct to the best of our knowledge on 13 October 2026. We don't give visa or migration advice.