· NextMigrate Team
Moving to Australia From the UK: Visas, Costs and Age Limits in 2026
Imagine you are a 31-year-old electrician in Leeds, or a primary school teacher in Glasgow with a partner and a toddler. Your cousin moved to Brisbane and sends photos of the beach after work. You think: "We could do that." But which visa? How much? And is there an age when the door closes?
The short answer: A UK passport gives you a head start, but you still need a visa. As of November 2026, the main routes are: a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) if you are 18 to 35, with up to three years and no farm work needed for UK passport holders; an employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) if your job is on the Core Skills Occupation List; or a permanent points-tested visa (subclass 189 or 190) if you are under 45 when invited and score at least 65 points. The main applicant charge is A$840 for a first 417, A$4,015 for a 482 and A$6,135 for a 189, before skills assessments, health checks and flights (Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, compilation of 2 October 2026).
Pick your route in 60 seconds
| Your situation | Likely route | Permanent? |
|---|---|---|
| 18 to 35, want to try Australia first | Working Holiday (417) | No, up to 3 years |
| Job offer from an Australian employer | Skills in Demand (482) | No, up to 4 years, with paths to permanent residence |
| Skilled job on the MLTSSL, under 45, 65+ points | Skilled Independent (189) | Yes |
| Same, plus a state wants your skills | Skilled Nominated (190) | Yes |
| Will live and work in a regional area | Skilled Work Regional (491) | No, provisional |
| Partner is an Australian citizen or resident | Partner visa | Leads to permanent |
Ask yourself: do you want to test the country, or move for good from day one?
Route 1: the Working Holiday visa for UK passport holders
The UK and Australia changed the rules under their free trade agreement (Home Affairs, checked November 2026):
- Age 18 to 35 inclusive. You can apply until the day before your 36th birthday.
- Up to three separate 417 visas, each for 12 months, without "specified work" (the farm or regional work other nationalities must do).
- You do not have to use them back to back.
- You can work for one employer for up to 6 months, and study for up to 4 months.
- Home Affairs says the average processing time is expected to be around three months, so do not book flights before the grant.
Cost: A$840 for a first Working Holiday visa and A$1,000 for a second or third (Migration Regulations, item 1225, October 2026 compilation).
A working holiday is not a path to permanent residence by itself. Many people use the time to find an employer who will sponsor them. It cannot include a partner or children as dependants: you each need your own visa, and the 417 requires that you are not accompanied by dependent children.
Route 2: employer sponsorship (subclass 482)
The Skills in Demand visa lets an approved Australian employer sponsor you for up to 4 years. For the Core Skills stream you must (Home Affairs, November 2026):
- be nominated in a job on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
- have at least 1 year of relevant work experience in the last 5 years
- meet the English standard (a UK passport usually covers this, see below)
- be paid at least the Core Skills Income Threshold: A$79,423 for nominations from 1 July 2026 (Home Affairs)
Is your job on the CSOL? Our guide to Australia's Core Skills Occupation List explains the list and how it differs from the lists for permanent visas.
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Route 3: permanent skilled visas (189, 190, 491)
These are points-tested. You register an expression of interest in SkillSelect and wait for an invitation. For the 189 you must (Home Affairs, November 2026):
- be under 45 when invited
- score at least 65 points
- have a job on the relevant list and a positive skills assessment from the authority for your job
- have at least competent English
Age: the 45 cliff
The age rule is strict. If you are 44 when you are invited, you can apply. At 45 you cannot use these visas. Age also gives points: the younger you are, the more you score. Check where you stand now.
At 42, you are not too old to migrate
Possible, with workYou are not too old. Age counts least against you in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand. In Canada, age costs you 82 CRS points, so language and job category matter more.
- 1. UK (Skilled Worker)
- Age not scored
- 2. Ireland (Critical Skills permit)
- Age not scored
- 3. New Zealand (Skilled Migrant)
- Not scored, 55 or under
Not sure how to close the gap?
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Read our guide to age limits and whether you are too old to migrate if you are close to 45. Then work out your score with the free Australia points calculator.
English: your passport helps
Home Affairs accepts a valid passport from the United Kingdom (and from Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and the USA) as evidence of competent English (Home Affairs, checked November 2026). But competent English gives zero English points. If you want more points, you need a test score at "proficient" or "superior" level. Our guide to PTE or IELTS for Australia explains the scores.
Skills assessment: the slow step
Every occupation has an assessing authority, listed in the skilled occupation instrument. For example, nurses go to ANMAC, and Ahpra handles nursing registration separately. Trades often need a practical assessment. Our guide to skills assessment timelines by assessing body shows how long each one takes. Nurses should read Ahpra registration for NMC and NMBI nurses, and electricians should read what an overseas electrical licence is worth in Australia.
How much does it cost to move to Australia from the UK?
Government visa charges first. These are the amounts in the Migration Regulations from 1 July 2026, as compiled on 2 October 2026:
| Visa | Main applicant | Each extra adult | Each child under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 417 Working Holiday (first) | A$840 | Own visa needed | Not allowed |
| 482 Skills in Demand | A$4,015 | A$4,015 | A$1,005 |
| 189 Skilled Independent | A$6,135 | A$3,070 | A$1,540 |
| 190 Skilled Nominated | A$6,140 | A$3,070 | A$1,535 |
| 491 Skilled Work Regional | A$6,140 | A$3,070 | A$1,535 |
Source: Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 1, items 1137, 1138, 1225, 1240 and 1241.
Worked example: a couple with one child applying for a 189 pays A$6,135 + A$3,070 + A$1,540 = A$10,745 in visa charges. Add these, which vary by provider:
- skills assessment for your occupation
- English test, if you want extra points
- health examinations for each family member
- police certificates from the countries where you have lived, as Home Affairs asks (see our guide to police certificates)
- flights, shipping, a rental bond and the first months of living costs
For a side-by-side estimate with the UK, Canada or Germany, use our free visa cost calculator. Also plan your pensions and tax before you leave: read pension and social security portability and taxes when you migrate abroad.
A simple checklist
- Choose your route: 417, 482 or 189/190.
- Check your occupation on the right list (CSOL for 482, MLTSSL or STSOL for points visas).
- Start your skills assessment, because it is usually the slowest step.
- Collect police certificates and plan health checks.
- Lodge your expression of interest or application only when your documents are ready.
- Book flights only after the visa is granted.
Our Australia migration guide explains each step in more depth. If you are also weighing Canada, read Canada vs Australia for immigrants.
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit to move to Australia from the UK?
For the Working Holiday visa, UK passport holders must be 18 to 35 when they apply. For the points-tested 189, 190 and 491 visas, you must be under 45 when invited. Employer-sponsored and partner visas have different rules.
Do UK citizens need a visa to live in Australia?
Yes. UK citizens can visit on an eVisitor, but to live and work you need a work, skilled, family or working holiday visa.
Do UK passport holders need to do farm work for a second working holiday visa?
No. Since 1 July 2024, UK passport holders can get up to three Working Holiday visas without doing specified work, as long as they are still within the age limit.
Do I need an English test to move to Australia from the UK?
A valid UK passport counts as evidence of competent English. You only need a test if you want extra points for proficient or superior English.
How much does it cost to move to Australia from the UK?
Visa charges alone run from A$840 for a first working holiday visa to A$6,135 for a 189 main applicant, plus A$3,070 for each extra adult and A$1,540 for each child on a 189. Skills assessments, health checks, flights and set-up costs come on top.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Australian visa rules and charges change, usually on 1 July. Always confirm with the official source and a licensed lawyer or registered migration agent before you act.
