Moving back to Australia: the return checklist

You know the country, but the paperwork forgot you. Plan the return like any other international move, and start earlier than feels necessary.

The short version

Pets take the longest. Group 3 countries need months of preparation, an import permit and post-entry quarantine [1].
Shipping household goods? Lodge an Unaccompanied Personal Effects statement (form B534). Anything you've owned for less than 12 months must be declared [2].
In your luggage, adults get A$900 of general goods and 2.25 litres of alcohol duty free [3].
Away more than five years? You'll probably need to re-enrol in Medicare, with a passport and two proof-of-residence documents [4].
From the day you become an Australian tax resident again, you declare your worldwide income [5].

Six months or more before you fly

Pets first

If you're bringing a cat or dog, start here. The rules depend on which group your current country is in [1]:

Country group	Examples	Quarantine on arrival
Group 1	New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands	None
Group 2	Approved countries listed by the department	Mandatory, period shown on the permit
Group 3	Other approved countries	Mandatory; may be eligible for 10 days

For Group 2 and 3 countries, the key steps include a valid biosecurity import permit and a rabies antibody test (RNATT) with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml [1]. Pets that weren't prepared before leaving Australia generally need to complete 180 days in an approved country before they can come back [1]. An RNATT done overseas needs a declaration endorsed by an official government vet [1].

Translation: if your pet needs a fresh test and the 180-day wait, you're looking at six months or more. Talk to an approved pet transport company early and book quarantine as soon as your permit allows.

Partner and kids

If your partner isn't an Australian citizen or permanent resident, look at visa options early. Partner visas can take a long time to process, so this often drives your whole timeline.

Children born overseas to an Australian parent may need citizenship by descent before they can get an Australian passport. Read our guide before you book flights.

Work and money

Line up work, or at least a job search plan. Recruiters back home often want to know when you'll be available to start.
If you plan to buy a home, speak to a broker while you still have your overseas payslips. Lenders look at your income history.
Decide what to do with overseas pensions, bank accounts and investments. Some are hard to manage once you leave.

Three months before

Get shipping quotes. Ask for door-to-door quotes that include Australian customs and biosecurity clearance.
Declutter hard. Shipping is priced on volume, and Australian biosecurity is strict about soil, plant material, wooden items and outdoor gear. Clean everything that has touched dirt.
Gather receipts for anything bought in the past 12 months. You'll need them for customs [2].
Check your Australian driver's licence. If it has lapsed, find out what your state needs before you rely on it.
Give notice on your lease, utilities, gym and phone in your current country. Get final statements: they double as Medicare evidence later [4].
Book temporary accommodation in Australia for the first few weeks.

Your shipment and customs

Shipped goods are "unaccompanied personal effects". You complete form B534 with the details of your shipment, including your arrival date and whether you're resuming residence or returning as a citizen [2]. The form asks about your periods of absence from Australia.

Key points from the form [2]:

Goods owned for less than 12 months must be declared and may be assessed for duty and taxes.
Alcohol and tobacco in the shipment must be described with a price and purchase date.
Vehicles, motorbikes, trailers and boats must be declared with a description and price. Importing a vehicle has its own approval process, so research that separately before you ship one.
Have keys ready. Unaccompanied effects may be examined.

What's in your suitcase

On the plane, normal traveller allowances apply. Adults 18 and over can bring A$900 worth of general goods and 2.25 litres of alcohol duty free. For under-18s the general goods limit is A$450, with no alcohol or tobacco concessions [3]. Declare food, plant material and animal products on your Incoming Passenger Card. When in doubt, declare it.

Your first month back

Medicare

Services Australia says that in most cases you don't need to tell it you've returned, but if you've lived overseas for more than 12 months you may need to re-enrol [6]. For citizens away more than five years, you re-enrol by mailing or emailing the enrolment form with [4]:

a current passport for each person
two documents dated within the last six months showing you now live in Australia. These can be two Australian documents, or one Australian and one from where you last lived

Good examples include a lease plus a matching utility account, proof of an Australian job, a statement showing you opened an Australian bank account, or proof you ended your overseas lease, job or bank account [4]. Copies don't need to be certified.

Tax

Your tax status flips when you become an Australian resident for tax purposes again. As a resident, you must declare all income earned in Australia and overseas [5]. Plan the timing of overseas bonuses, share sales and pension withdrawals with an accountant who understands both countries.

The ATO has a part-year tax-free threshold for people who become residents during an income year. In its example, the flat A$13,464 plus a share of A$4,736 for the months you're resident gives a threshold of A$14,648 for someone who became a resident in April [7]. The ATO's page is written for newcomers, so confirm with the ATO or your tax adviser whether it applies to your return.

Centrelink, child support and voting

Centrelink: usually no action needed, but contact Services Australia if a payment stopped while you were away and didn't restart, or if you're paid under an international social security agreement [6].
Child support: if you have a Child Support Agreement, call when you get home [6].
Electoral roll: if you're back permanently, re-enrol once you've lived at your new address for at least one month [8].

Everything else

Update your address with your bank, super fund and the ATO through myGov.
Get an Australian mobile plan, or move your kept number back to a full plan.
Register your car and transfer or renew your licence if needed.
Enrol kids in school. Bring overseas school reports and immunisation records.
Get private health insurance quotes, and ask about waiting periods.

The first-year reality check

Reverse culture shock is real. Prices, the housing market and your old friendship group may all have moved on. Give yourself a year before deciding whether the move "worked". Many returning expats find it helps to stay connected with people who've lived overseas too.

Moving back to Australia: the return checklist, from packing to Medicare