# ExpatCooee > The community website for Australians living abroad: practical, sourced guides to moving, money, health, schools, housing and getting around in 22 cities, plus living-abroad and property-back-home guides. Written in Australian English for Australians. General information, not legal, tax, migration or financial advice. Site: https://expatcooee.com/ · Sitemap: https://expatcooee.com/sitemap.xml · Updated: 2026-11-06 ## Sections - [Cities](https://expatcooee.com/cities/): 22 city hubs with 20 guides each, by category - [Living abroad](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/): tax, super, Medicare, voting, passports and moving home - [Compare: property](https://expatcooee.com/compare/property/): buying where you live vs back home, and Australian home loans from overseas - [Join](https://expatcooee.com/join/): Cooee community groups in 21 countries ## London - [UK eVisa and share codes: how Australians prove their status in London](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/uk-evisa-share-codes-and-national-insurance-number): Your UK visa is now a login, not a card. Here's how Australians set up the UKVI account, use share codes, update a new passport and get a National Insurance number. - [UK tax for Australians in London: PAYE, tax codes and the treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/uk-income-tax-and-paye-for-australians-in-london): Your first London payslip can look brutal. Here's how PAYE, tax codes and National Insurance work, when you need a tax return, and how the treaty stops double tax. - [Opening a UK bank account in London: beating the address catch-22](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/opening-a-uk-bank-account-in-london): No bank account without an address, no flat without a bank account. Here's how Australians break the London loop, and move money from home without big fees. - [Finding work in London: UK CVs, right-to-work checks and notice periods](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/finding-work-in-london-cvs-references-notice): A London job hunt runs on different rules: shorter CVs, no referees up front, share codes and month-long notice periods. Here's what Australians need to adjust. - [Damp and mould in London: who fixes it, and how to stay warm](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/damp-mould-and-heating-a-london-flat): London flats get damp in ways Australian homes rarely do. Here's what causes it, who has to fix it, and how to stay warm without a frightening energy bill. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to the UK: no quarantine, lots of paperwork](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-the-uk): Australia is a listed country, so your dog or cat skips UK quarantine. The catch is a rabies jab, a 10-day certificate and a cargo flight. Here's the order to do it in. - [Staying for good in the UK: ILR, the Life in the UK test and citizenship](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/uk-settlement-ilr-and-british-citizenship): ILR costs £3,226, citizenship £1,839, and the five-year clock may become ten. Here's how Australians in London go from visa to British passport without giving up their own. - [Registering with a GP in London: the NHS, the IHS and the reciprocal deal](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/registering-with-a-gp-in-london-nhs): You don't need proof of address to join a London GP. Here's how to register, what your Immigration Health Surcharge buys, and what you still pay for in 2026. - [Having a baby in London: NHS maternity care from booking to birth](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/having-a-baby-in-london): From self-referring to a midwife to registering the birth within 42 days and getting your baby Australian citizenship: the London maternity path, step by step. - [London school admissions: catchments, Ofsted and applying from abroad](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/state-school-admissions-in-london): London state schools are free for visa holders' kids, but places go by council deadlines and distance. How to apply, even from Australia, and which year your child joins. - [Childcare in London: nursery costs, funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/childcare-and-funded-hours-in-london): A London nursery place for an under-two runs about £217–£238 a week for 25 hours. Here's who gets funded hours on a visa, and what Tax-Free Childcare adds. - [Getting around London: Oyster, contactless caps and railcards](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/oyster-contactless-and-railcards-in-london): Tap in, tap out, let the caps do the work. How London's fares, zones and railcards work, and how to get to Heathrow or Gatwick for your flight home without paying silly money. - [Driving in the UK: swap your Australian licence before 12 months](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/exchanging-your-australian-licence-in-the-uk): Your Australian licence is good for 12 months after you become a UK resident. After that, you need a British one. Here's how the swap works, and the manual-car catch for most states. - [Moving to London from Australia: visa, flat, bank, done](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/moving-to-london): The visa decides everything else. Here is the order that works for Australians moving to London, from savings proof to your first Oyster tap. - [Renting in London: what Australians need to know before signing](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/renting-in-london): England rewrote its renting rules on 1 May 2026. Here's what that means for Australians flat-hunting in London, from deposits to bidding wars. - [Cost of living in London: how it stacks up against Sydney and Melbourne](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/cost-of-living-london): London rent swallows a bigger slice of a typical pay packet than Sydney's does. Here's the 2026 maths on rent, wages, tax, transport and bills. - [Aussie life in London: where to find footy, your mates and a dawn service](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/aussie-life-in-london): London has more Aussie life than you'd expect, if you know where to look. Footy on Hackney Marshes, a dawn service at Hyde Park Corner, and the mates you meet there. - [UK Youth Mobility and Ancestry visas: which one gets Australians to London](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/uk-youth-mobility-and-ancestry-visas-for-australians): Under 36? Youth Mobility gives you up to three years. Got a British-born grandparent? Ancestry gives you five. Here's how each works for Australians in 2026. - [Australian cafés, restaurants and bars in London: where to get a proper taste of home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-london): London's brunch scene was built by Australians. Here's where to find a proper flat white, a chicken parmi, an Aussie wine list and a pub showing the grand final at dawn. - [Nightlife in London: pubs, clubs and getting home on the Night Tube](https://expatcooee.com/cities/london/nightlife-in-london): London does a big night better than almost anywhere. Here's where to go, what a pint costs in 2026, the rules that catch Aussies out and how to get home at 3am. ## Athens - [AFM, AMKA and gov.gr: the three numbers that run your life in Greece](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/afm-amka-and-gov-gr-in-greece): No AFM, no lease. No AMKA, no doctor. Here's how Australians in Athens get both numbers, the TAXISnet codes behind gov.gr, and the paperwork from home you'll need. - [Emergencies in Athens: 112 alerts, heatwaves, wildfires and earthquakes](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/emergencies-in-athens-112-heatwaves-wildfires): Athens summers bring 40-degree days and fires on the city's edge. Here are the numbers to save, how the 112 alerts work and how to reach the Australian Embassy. - [Greek tax for Australians: new-resident breaks, and no tax treaty yet](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/greek-tax-for-australians-in-athens): Greece taxes residents on worldwide income and has no tax treaty with Australia yet. Here's when you become resident, the breaks for newcomers, and how to avoid paying twice. - [Freelancing in Greece: EFKA contributions, e-invoices and myDATA](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/freelancing-in-greece-efka-and-mydata): Freelancing in Greece means a monthly EFKA bill before you've earned a cent, and every invoice reported to the tax office. Here's how the system works in 2026. - [Opening a Greek bank account: what Athens banks ask Australians for](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/opening-a-bank-account-in-greece): Greek banks want your AFM, an address and proof of income before you get a card. Here's what to bring, when an EU app bank will do, and how Greeks pay each other with IRIS. - [Surviving an Athens summer: air con, power bills and the winter sting](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/summer-heat-air-conditioning-and-power-bills-athens): Athens flats are built for sun, not for air con. How to cool yours, which electricity tariff to pick, and why winter heating in the building can cost more than summer. - [Renewing a Greek residence permit: deadlines, delays and the road to long-term residence](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/greek-residence-permit-renewal-and-long-term-residence): Your Greek permit is about to expire and the new card is months away. Here's when to apply, what keeps you legal while you wait, and how five years becomes long-term residence. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Greece: easy in, hard back](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-greece): Getting your dog or cat into Greece from Australia takes weeks. Getting it back into Australia takes months. Here's how to plan both before you book the flight. - [Healthcare in Athens: the public ESY, private clinics and what Australians pay](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/healthcare-in-athens-esy-and-private-clinics): Greece has no reciprocal health deal with Australia, so your cover depends on your AMKA and EFKA contributions. How ESY, private clinics and pharmacies work. - [Schools in Athens: Greek state school or international school for Aussie kids?](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/schools-in-athens-for-australian-families): Free Greek state school or an English-language international school? How each works in Athens, what the fees look like in 2026, and how to keep the road back to Australia open. - [Learning Greek in Athens: courses, certificates and the citizenship test](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/learning-greek-in-athens): Where to learn Greek in Athens, what it costs, which certificate counts, and how much Greek you need for long-term residence and citizenship. Plus tips for heritage speakers. - [Getting around Athens: the metro, the ATH.ENA card, ferries and flights home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/athens-metro-tram-buses-and-the-ath-ena-card): A 90-minute ticket in Athens costs €1.20 and a 30-day pass €27. How the metro, tram, buses, ATH.ENA card, airport links, Piraeus ferries and taxis work. - [Driving in Greece: when your Australian licence works, and when to swap it](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/converting-your-australian-licence-in-greece): Your Australian licence is valid in Greece. Once you live here, you swap it for a Greek one without a driving test. Here's the paperwork, the fees and the road rules. - [Moving to Athens from Australia: visas, paperwork and your first month](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/moving-to-athens): Athens is easy to visit and harder to move to. Here's which visa route fits you, the paperwork everything else depends on, and how to set up your first month. - [Renting in Athens: leases, deposits and suburbs for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/renting-in-athens): Athens rents have climbed fast, and Greek leases work differently from Australian ones. What a flat costs by suburb, what you sign, and what to check first. - [Cost of living in Athens: how far your Aussie dollars go in 2026](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/cost-of-living-athens): Rent in Athens is a fraction of Sydney's, transport is a bargain, and wages are low. A side-by-side look at 2026 costs, and the bills Aussies forget to budget for. - [Aussie life in Athens: Anzac Day, early-morning footy and a city full of cousins](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/aussie-life-in-athens): Athens has a big, mostly Greek-Australian community. Where Aussies gather, how to watch the footy at breakfast, and how to keep Anzac Day in Greece. - [Greek citizenship by descent: how Australians claim the passport that's already theirs](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/greek-citizenship-by-descent-for-australians): Got a Greek mum, dad or yiayia? You might already be Greek on paper. How registration works, which rules apply to your birth date, and what the grandparent route needs. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Athens: a short list, honestly told](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-athens): Athens has only a couple of verified Aussie venues, but they're good ones: a Melbourne roaster doing brunch in Neos Kosmos and an Aussie-run sports bar in Makrygianni. - [Nightlife in Athens: world-class cocktails, late dinners and the Saturday all-night metro](https://expatcooee.com/cities/athens/nightlife-in-athens): Athens now has some of the best cocktail bars in the world and a metro that runs all night on Saturdays. Here's where to go and the rules Aussies need to know. ## Los Angeles - [Getting a Social Security number in LA: the first number you need](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/getting-a-social-security-number-in-los-angeles): In the US almost everything runs on a nine-digit number. Here's how Australians in LA get a Social Security number, what to bring, and what to do if you can't get one. - [US and California tax for Australians: treaty, FBAR and your super](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/us-and-california-tax-for-australians): Two tax systems, a third back home and a calendar year that isn't July to June. Here's how federal and California tax work for Australians living in LA. - [Opening a US bank account in LA and moving money from Australia](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/opening-a-us-bank-account-in-los-angeles): Your first US bank account opens the door to rent, payroll and credit. Here's how Australians in LA open one, move money from home and start a credit file. - [Working in Hollywood: the O-1 visa, the unions and the Aussie way in](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/working-in-hollywood-o-1-visa-and-unions): Talent gets you noticed in Hollywood. Paperwork gets you paid. How the O-1B visa, union consultation letters and SAG-AFTRA fit together for Australians in LA. - [Earthquakes and wildfires in LA: renters insurance and being ready](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/earthquakes-wildfires-and-renters-insurance-in-la): Your LA renters policy probably doesn't cover earthquakes. Here's what it does cover, how to add quake cover, and how to get ready for the shake and the fire season. - [Bringing your dog or cat to LA: the easy entry and the hard part](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-the-us): Getting an Aussie dog into the US is easier than most people expect. Getting it out of Australia, into an LA flat and back home again takes the real planning. - [From E-3 to green card: how Australians get US permanent residency](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/from-e-3-to-green-card-for-australians): The E-3 is temporary by design, but plenty of Australians end up with a green card. Here's how PERM, marriage and self-petitions work, and how to protect your E-3 on the way. - [Health insurance in LA: employer plans, Covered California and the deductible trap](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/health-insurance-in-los-angeles-for-australians): No Medicare, no reciprocal deal and bills that can run into the thousands. Here's how employer plans, deductibles and Covered California really work in LA. - [Urgent care vs the ER in LA: getting seen without a shock bill](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/urgent-care-er-and-surprise-bills-in-la): Where you go when you're sick in LA can change the bill by thousands. Here's when to use telehealth, urgent care or the ER, and how to fight a surprise bill. - [LA schools: LAUSD, school districts and why your address decides](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/lausd-schools-and-school-districts-in-la): In LA, your lease decides your school. Here's how LAUSD and the independent districts work, how magnets and charters fit in, and where your kids land by grade. - [Childcare in LA: daycare costs, nannies and free transitional kindergarten](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/transitional-kindergarten-and-childcare-in-la): There's no Child Care Subsidy in LA, and daycare can cost more than rent. The good news: California's free TK starts at four. Here's how to plan the gap. - [Getting a California driver's licence: no swap, just tests](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/getting-a-california-drivers-licence): There's no licence exchange for Australians in California. Here's when your Aussie licence stops counting, how the DMV tests work and how to pass first go. - [Buying a car in LA: dealers, smog checks and insurance from zero](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/buying-a-car-and-car-insurance-in-los-angeles): In LA a car isn't a luxury. Here's how to buy one without getting stung: smog checks, DMV fees, sales tax and getting insured with no US driving record. - [Moving to Los Angeles from Australia: visas, first weeks and where to live](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/moving-to-los-angeles): LA rewards people who plan. Here's how Australians sort a visa, a Social Security number, health cover and wheels, and where new arrivals tend to land. - [Renting in Los Angeles: rent control, deposits and getting approved](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/renting-in-los-angeles): LA has some of the strongest renter rules in the US, if your building is covered. Here's how rent control, deposits and approvals work for Aussie newcomers. - [Cost of living in Los Angeles: how it compares with Sydney and Melbourne](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/cost-of-living-los-angeles): Rent looks close to Sydney, wages can be higher, but petrol, health insurance and tips change the maths. LA's 2026 costs, side by side with home. - [Aussie life in Los Angeles: footy, film, flat whites and finding your crew](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/aussie-life-in-los-angeles): There's no Little Australia in LA, but there's footy, a film scene full of Aussies and a consulate in Century City. Here's how to find your people. - [The E-3 visa: how Australians get to work in the US](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/the-e-3-visa-working-in-the-us-as-an-australian): The E-3 is a US work visa made just for Australians. Here's who qualifies, how the paperwork runs, what it costs and how spouses, renewals and job changes work. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Los Angeles: surf cafés and a Melbourne butcher](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-los-angeles): LA has fewer Aussie venues than you'd think, but the ones that are left are good. Here's what we could confirm is open in 2026, and where to watch the footy. - [Nightlife in Los Angeles: Sunset Strip gigs, rooftop drinks and the 2am cut-off](https://expatcooee.com/cities/los-angeles/nightlife-in-los-angeles): LA goes out early and stops at 2am. Here's where to go, the venues worth knowing in 2026 and the rules that catch Aussies out, from ID checks to open cans. ## New York - [SSN and IDNYC: getting the IDs New York actually runs on](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/social-security-number-and-idnyc-in-new-york): Your passport gets you in. An SSN, an IDNYC card and a state ID get you paid, banked and into the museums for free. Here's the order to get them in. - [Three layers of tax in New York: federal, state and city for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/new-york-city-and-state-tax-for-australians): Move to Manhattan and you pay income tax three times over: to Washington, Albany and the city. Here's how the layers stack, and what the IRS wants to know about your super. - [Job hunting in New York: salary ranges, at-will jobs and reading the offer](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/job-hunting-in-new-york-salary-transparency): In New York every job ad has to show a pay range, but there's no four weeks' annual leave and no notice period by law. Here's how to read the ad, the offer and the fine print. - [New York building life: supers, heat season, laundry and holiday tips](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/building-life-in-new-york-supers-heat-laundry): Your New York flat comes with a super, a boiler with legal rules, a laundry room in the basement and a December tipping custom. Here's how building life works. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to New York: the easy way in, the hard way home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-new-york): Getting your dog or cat into New York from Australia is surprisingly simple. Finding a pet-friendly flat and planning the trip home are the hard parts. - [Green card routes from New York: how Australians get beyond the E-3](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/green-card-routes-for-australians-in-new-york): The E-3 gets you to New York, but it was never built to keep you there. Here are the real routes to a green card, and the traps Australians fall into. - [Leaving New York: breaking your lease and cutting your tax ties cleanly](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/leaving-new-york-lease-break-and-tax-ties): Leaving New York takes more than a one-way ticket. Get out of the lease, get the deposit back, file as a part-year resident and decide what happens to your US accounts. - [Health insurance in New York: employer plans, the Essential Plan and no Medicare](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/health-insurance-in-new-york-for-australians): Medicare doesn't follow you to New York and there's no reciprocal deal. How employer plans, NY State of Health and the Essential Plan work for Aussies on visas. - [Having a baby in New York: insurance, Paid Family Leave and two passports](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/having-a-baby-in-new-york): No Medicare, a deductible and 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave. How Australians have a baby in New York, then make it both a US citizen and an Aussie. - [NYC public schools: zoned seats, G&T and the SHSAT explained for Aussie parents](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/nyc-public-school-admissions): New York has the biggest school system in the US and its own admissions jargon. Here's how zoned schools, MySchools, G&T and the SHSAT work, and how to enrol mid-year. - [Childcare in New York: the US$26,000 daycare bill, nanny tax and free 3-K](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/childcare-3-k-and-pre-k-in-new-york): Daycare in New York averages about US$26,000 a year, the Child Care Subsidy stops when you leave Australia, and 3-K and Pre-K are free. Here's how it works. - [Getting around New York: OMNY, the fare cap and every train you'll need](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/omny-subway-ferries-and-commuter-rail-nyc): New York runs on a tap of your phone. Here's how OMNY's weekly fare cap works, when to take the ferry or commuter rail instead, and the cheapest way to JFK. - [Driving in New York: your Australian licence, the DMV and the road test](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/getting-a-new-york-drivers-licence): New York swaps licences from US states and Canada, not Australia. Here's when your Aussie licence is enough, and how to get a NY licence from permit to road test. - [Moving to New York from Australia: visa, paperwork and your first 30 days](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/moving-to-new-york): New York moves fast and so does its paperwork. Here's how Australians line up a visa, a Social Security number, health cover and a borough that suits them. - [Renting in New York: the broker fee ban, the US$20 cap and getting approved](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/renting-in-new-york): Broker fees are now the landlord's problem, deposits are capped at a month and application fees at US$20. Here's how Australians rent in New York in 2026. - [Cost of living in New York: the Sydney and Melbourne reality check](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/cost-of-living-new-york): Rent in New York is the headline shock, but health cover, the city's own income tax and tipping do the quiet damage. Here's the 2026 maths in Aussie dollars. - [Aussie life in New York: finding your people in a city of eight million](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/aussie-life-in-new-york): New York is loud, fast and oddly easy to love. Here's how Australians find their crew, handle the culture shocks and keep a foot in both countries. - [Building a US credit history from scratch: a 12-month plan for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/building-a-us-credit-history-from-scratch): Arrive in the US and you're a credit ghost, however good your record at home. Here's a step-by-step plan to build a US credit score within your first year. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in New York: the flat white mile](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-new-york): New York runs on Aussie-style cafés. Here are the Australian spots we could confirm are still trading in 2026, from Tribeca brunch to a Melbourne-style Midtown café. - [Nightlife in New York: 4am bars, jazz cellars and a subway that never sleeps](https://expatcooee.com/cities/new-york/nightlife-in-new-york): New York pours until 4am and the subway runs all night. Here's where to go out, what a pint costs in 2026 and the rules that trip up Australians. ## Hong Kong - [Registering for your HKID card: the 30-day deadline and what to bring](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/registering-for-your-hkid-card): Your HKID card is your key to bank accounts, phone plans, e-Channel and iAM Smart. Here is who must register, how to book, what to bring and what to do if you lose it. - [Typhoon signals and black rain: what Hong Kong expects of you](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/typhoon-signals-and-black-rain-in-hong-kong): In Hong Kong a number on the Observatory's website decides whether you go to work, whether school is on and whether the trains run. Here is what each signal means. - [Salaries tax in Hong Kong: low rates, provisional tax and no treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/hong-kong-salaries-tax-for-australians): Hong Kong tops out at 17%, but the bill arrives in one lump, includes next year's provisional tax, and Australia may still want its share. - [The MPF: Hong Kong's super and getting it out when you leave](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/mpf-in-hong-kong-and-taking-it-home): Hong Kong's MPF is compulsory super with a HK$1,500 monthly cap. Australians can usually cash it out when they leave, and timing decides the tax back home. - [Setting up a company in Hong Kong: the easy hour and the hard bank](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/setting-up-a-company-in-hong-kong): You can incorporate a Hong Kong company online in about an hour. Opening the bank account, keeping it compliant and having the right visa take a lot longer. - [Hiring a domestic helper in Hong Kong: the contract, the wage and your duties](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/hiring-a-domestic-helper-in-hong-kong): In Hong Kong a live-in helper is normal, even for young families on one income. You also become an employer, with real legal duties. Here is what the rules say. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Hong Kong: permits, flights and flats](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-hong-kong): Australia's rabies-free status makes the move to Hong Kong easier than most. The hard parts are the paperwork timing, the flight and finding a building that says yes. - [Hong Kong permanent residency after seven years: what it gives you](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/permanent-residency-in-hong-kong-after-seven-years): Seven years in Hong Kong can turn a visa into the right of abode. Here is what counts, what resets the clock, how to apply and what changes for Chinese-heritage Australians. - [Healthcare in Hong Kong: public hospitals, private clinics and the cover you need](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/public-and-private-healthcare-in-hong-kong): Hong Kong's public hospitals are excellent and cheap once you hold an HKID. Here is who qualifies, what the 2026 fees are, and why private cover still matters. - [Kindergarten in Hong Kong: K1 applications, interviews and the race for a place](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/kindergarten-admissions-in-hong-kong): In Hong Kong, kindergarten applications start when your child is barely two. Here is how K1 admissions work, local and international, and the dates for 2027/28. - [Learning Cantonese in Hong Kong: how much you need, and when Mandarin wins](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/learning-cantonese-in-hong-kong): You can live in Hong Kong on English alone, but a little Cantonese changes everything. Here is how much to learn, where to study and when Mandarin is the smarter bet. - [Getting around Hong Kong: Octopus, MTR, minibuses and ferries](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/octopus-card-mtr-and-ferries-in-hong-kong): One card runs your whole commute in Hong Kong. Here is how to set up Octopus, ride the minibuses like a local, catch the island ferries and get to the airport for flights home. - [Driving in Hong Kong: swapping your Aussie licence without a test](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/converting-your-australian-licence-in-hong-kong): Australia is on Hong Kong's list for direct issue, so most Aussies can swap their licence without a test. Here is who qualifies, what to bring and whether a car is worth it. - [Moving to Hong Kong from Australia: visa first, harbour views later](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/moving-to-hong-kong): Hong Kong lets you in for 90 days on an Aussie passport, but living and working there takes a proper visa. Here is the order that works. - [Renting in Hong Kong: small flats, big deposits, and how to sign smart](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/renting-in-hong-kong): Hong Kong rents are quoted per square foot and flats are tiny. Here is how leases, deposits and agents work, with official 2026 rent figures. - [Cost of living in Hong Kong: dearer rent, cheaper everything else?](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/cost-of-living-hong-kong): Rent and school fees decide whether Hong Kong is cheap or crushing. We compare 2026 figures with Sydney and Melbourne, in Australian dollars. - [Aussie life in Hong Kong: 100,000 of us and a rugby weekend](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/aussie-life-in-hong-kong): More than 100,000 Australians call Hong Kong home. Here is how to find them, from AustCham networks to the Sevens at Kai Tak and the Cooee Hong Kong group. - [International schools in Hong Kong: HSC, IB or ESF, and how to get a place](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/international-schools-in-hong-kong-for-australian-families): School places, not flats, are the hardest thing to secure in Hong Kong. Here is how Australian families compare the HSC, the IB and ESF, and when to apply. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Hong Kong: flat whites, a chook pie and a McLaren Vale shiraz](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-hong-kong): Fineprint for the flat white, Servo for a chook pie, Bourke's for a McLaren Vale shiraz. Our checked list of Australian cafés, restaurants and bars in Hong Kong. - [Nightlife in Hong Kong: world-beating bars, steep streets and the new vape ban](https://expatcooee.com/cities/hong-kong/nightlife-in-hong-kong): Hong Kong is home to the world's best bar for 2026, with dozens more on the same hill. Here's where to go, what it costs and the rules to know. ## Auckland - [RealMe and a bank account: how Australians prove who they are in New Zealand](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/realme-bank-accounts-and-id-in-new-zealand): Your Australian passport gets you into New Zealand. Proving who you are to a bank, Inland Revenue and government websites takes a few more steps. Here's the order that works. - [Your IRD number and tax code: how Australians get paid right in New Zealand](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/ird-number-and-tax-codes-in-new-zealand): Pick the wrong tax code and you'll overpay at 45% or get a bill later. Here's how the IRD number, M and secondary codes, PAYE and the Australia–NZ tax treaty fit together. - [Working in Auckland: employment agreements, 90-day trials and leave for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/working-in-auckland-employment-agreements): A Kiwi job offer looks familiar until you hit the 90-day trial clause. Here's what New Zealand law guarantees, what differs from Fair Work, and how to get your Australian registration recognised. - [Contracting in New Zealand: sole trader, GST and provisional tax for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/contracting-and-sole-trading-in-new-zealand): Freelancing from Auckland is easy to start and easy to get wrong at tax time. Here's how sole trading, GST, provisional tax and ACC work, and what to do with your Australian ABN. - [Flood risk in Auckland: how to check a home before you rent or buy](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/flood-risk-and-property-checks-in-auckland): Auckland's 2023 floods showed that a leafy street can sit on an overland flow path. Here's how to check a rental or a house for flood risk before you sign. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to New Zealand: no quarantine, lots of timing](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-new-zealand): Pets from Australia skip quarantine and need no import permit, but the vet treatments run to a tight countdown. Here's the timeline, the fees and the catch on the way home. - [ACC explained: New Zealand's no-fault accident cover for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/acc-accident-cover-in-new-zealand): Break your wrist in Auckland and ACC picks up most of the bill, whoever was at fault. But you also lose the right to sue. Here's how New Zealand's accident scheme works. - [Enrolling with a GP in Auckland: fees, full books and after-hours care](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/enrolling-with-a-gp-in-auckland): There's no bulk billing in New Zealand, and some Auckland practices have closed books. Here's how to enrol with a GP, what it costs and where to go after hours. - [Auckland schools: zones, ballots and NCEA vs the ATAR](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/school-zoning-and-ncea-in-auckland): In Auckland, your address picks your school. Here's how home zones and ballots work, what NCEA is, and how your kids can still get an ATAR if you move home. - [Childcare in Auckland: 20 Hours ECE, FamilyBoost and the wait](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/early-childhood-education-and-20-hours-in-nz): Australia's Child Care Subsidy stops at the border. In Auckland you'll lean on 20 Hours ECE, FamilyBoost and an early spot on the waitlist. Here's how it fits together. - [Getting around Auckland: AT HOP, contactless and the new City Rail Link](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/at-hop-buses-trains-and-ferries-in-auckland): Auckland's fares run on zones, a $50 weekly cap and a card called AT HOP. Here's when to tap your bank card, when to buy a HOP, and how to reach the airport. - [Buying a car in Auckland: WoF, rego, Japanese imports and money owing](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/buying-and-running-a-car-in-auckland): In Auckland, the car might be a Japanese import, insurance is optional and a private seller owes you almost nothing. Here's how to buy one without inheriting a problem. - [Te reo and tikanga: what Australians in Auckland should know](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/te-reo-and-tikanga-for-australians-in-new-zealand): Kia ora isn't just a greeting on a coffee cup. Here's how te reo Māori and tikanga show up in Auckland life and work, and how Australians can start learning for free. - [Moving to Auckland from Australia: the first weeks, sorted](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/moving-to-auckland): No visa form, no sponsor, no ballot. Moving to Auckland is the easiest big move an Australian can make, but the paperwork still has an order. Here it is. - [Renting in Auckland: bond, rules and warm-house rights for Aussies](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/renting-in-auckland): Auckland rentals run on weekly rent, a four-week bond cap and warm-house rules Australia doesn't have. Here's how to land a place and keep your bond. - [Auckland cost of living: how it stacks up against Sydney and Melbourne](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/cost-of-living-auckland): Auckland rent looks cheaper than Sydney's until you convert the pay packet too. Here's the 2026 comparison, with the exchange rate doing the heavy lifting. - [Aussie life in Auckland: footy, cricket and Origin on the other side of the ditch](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/aussie-life-in-auckland): Auckland has six Aussie rules clubs, cricket at Eden Park and a State of Origin match on the calendar. Here's how Australians find their people across the ditch. - [Living in New Zealand under the Trans-Tasman arrangement: what you get, and when](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/living-in-new-zealand-under-the-trans-tasman-arrangement): You can move to New Zealand on day one, but full health cover, benefits and student loans come later. Here's the Trans-Tasman timeline for Australians. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Auckland: Melbourne coffee, Aussie bakeries and the footy at 4.30](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-auckland): Auckland has few Australian restaurants, because it barely needs them. Here are the Melbourne-style cafés, Aussie chains and footy bars we could confirm for 2026. - [Nightlife in Auckland: K Road gigs, Ponsonby bars and the ID rule that stops Aussies at the door](https://expatcooee.com/cities/auckland/nightlife-in-auckland): Auckland feels like home until the bouncer rejects your Aussie licence. Here's where to go out, what a pint costs in 2026 and the rules to know. ## Toronto - [Your SIN and first-week admin in Toronto: the order that actually works](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/sin-number-and-first-week-admin-in-toronto): Your first week in Toronto is a chain of errands. Here's the order that works for Australians: work permit, SIN, phone, bank, then Ontario ID. - [Income tax in Ontario: your first Canadian tax return as an Australian](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/income-tax-in-ontario-for-australians): Canada taxes you twice over, federal and Ontario, then expects you to file by 30 April. Here's how your first return works and how the Australia–Canada treaty helps. - [Job hunting in Toronto: making your Australian experience count](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/job-hunting-in-toronto-with-australian-experience): Your Australian CV is good. It just isn't Canadian yet. How to fix the resume, beat the 'Canadian experience' wall, get licensed and talk money in Toronto. - [Banking in Canada: how Australians build credit from zero in Toronto](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/banking-and-credit-history-in-canada): Your Australian credit score doesn't cross the Pacific. Here's how to open a Canadian account, get a first credit card and build a score you'll need for renting. - [Your first Toronto winter: heating bills, proper gear and keeping your head above the snow](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/surviving-your-first-toronto-winter): Toronto winter isn't the end of the world, but it is a very different one. Here's what heat your landlord owes you, what to buy, what to skip and how to stay sane. - [From IEC to PR in Canada: Express Entry for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/pathways-to-permanent-residence-in-canada): Two years on IEC goes fast. How Australians turn Toronto work into permanent residence: Express Entry, CRS points, Ontario's new stream and the timing traps. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Canada: the easy direction, done properly](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-canada): Australia's rabies-free status makes Canada one of the easier places to take a pet. The work is at the Australian end, the US connection, and finding a pet-friendly lease. - [OHIP in Toronto: health cover for Australians, gaps and all](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/ohip-and-health-cover-in-toronto): There's no reciprocal health deal between Australia and Canada. Here's who gets OHIP in Toronto, how to apply, and what you'll still pay for yourself. - [Schools in Toronto: public boards, French immersion and private options for Aussie kids](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/schools-in-toronto-for-australian-families): Two big public boards, an address-based catchment, French immersion from age four and a September start. Here's how Aussie families get kids into a Toronto school. - [Childcare in Toronto: waitlists, the $22 cap and the $10-a-day promise](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/childcare-in-toronto-and-the-10-a-day-plan): Toronto daycare is far cheaper than it was, capped at $22 a day in most centres. Getting a spot is the hard part. Here's how waitlists, subsidies and the CCB work. - [Swapping your Australian licence for an Ontario G: what to bring and what it costs to drive](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/australian-licence-to-ontario-g-licence): Ontario has a licence exchange deal with Australia, so most drivers skip the tests. The catch is the paperwork from home, the 60-day clock and the insurance bill. - [PRESTO, the TTC and GO trains: getting around Toronto without overpaying](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/ttc-presto-and-getting-around-toronto): Tap a card, ride for two hours, and stop paying after 47 trips a month. How Toronto's TTC, GO trains, UP Express and Bike Share work, and the best ways to fly home. - [Beyond the Aussie crowd in Toronto: hockey, rec leagues, volunteering and real friends](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/ice-hockey-and-local-sport-in-toronto): Your Aussie mates will go home eventually. Shinny at a city rink, a rec league or a volunteer shift is how Toronto turns from a stopover into home. - [Moving to Toronto from Australia: visas, first weeks and where to live](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/moving-to-toronto): The visa routes Australians actually use for Toronto, the paperwork for your first fortnight, and how to pick a neighbourhood before winter arrives. - [Renting in Toronto: deposits, leases and rent rules Australians should know](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/renting-in-toronto): No bond, a last month's rent deposit, a standard lease and rent increase rules that depend on how old the building is. Here's how renting in Toronto works. - [Cost of living in Toronto: how it stacks up against Sydney and Melbourne](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/cost-of-living-toronto): Rent is a little cheaper than Sydney, transport is capped, groceries are rising and every price tag hides 13% tax. Toronto's costs, compared with home. - [Aussie life in Toronto: footy, cricket, Vegemite and finding your people](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/aussie-life-in-toronto): Toronto has proper Aussie rules, a cricket club older than Canada itself and plenty of fellow Australians. Here's where to find them and a taste of home. - [Working holiday and work permits in Canada: the IEC guide for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/working-holiday-and-work-permits-in-canada-for-australians): Australians aged 18 to 35 can work in Canada for up to two years through IEC. Here's who qualifies, what it costs, the steps and what happens when it ends. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Toronto: a short list and a long night](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-toronto): Toronto is short on Aussie venues, and we won't pretend otherwise. Here's what we could confirm in 2026, where the Grand Final party is and how to find a pie. - [Nightlife in Toronto: Queen West gigs, 2am last drinks and beers in the park](https://expatcooee.com/cities/toronto/nightlife-in-toronto): Toronto's drinking age is 19, bars stop serving at 2am and you can now have a beer in some parks. Here's where to go out and how to get home in 2026. ## Rome - [Codice fiscale and residenza in Rome: the paperwork chain, in order](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/codice-fiscale-and-residenza-in-rome): Italian admin is a chain: each document gets you the next one. Here's the order that works in Rome, from the tax code to SPID, and where Australians get stuck. - [Paying tax in Italy: IRPEF, Rome's surcharges and the Australia–Italy treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/income-tax-in-italy-for-australians): Italian tax isn't one rate but three layers, plus a wealth tax on your Australian accounts. How IRPEF, the impatriate break and the Australia–Italy treaty fit together. - [Freelancing in Rome: the partita IVA, the flat-tax regime and INPS](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/working-freelance-partita-iva-in-rome): Italy's flat-tax regime makes freelancing in Rome look cheap, until INPS arrives. How the partita IVA, the forfettario and e-invoicing really work in 2026. - [Opening a bank account in Rome: what Italian banks want from Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/opening-a-bank-account-in-italy): Italian banks want paperwork, charge stamp duty and love a branch visit. What you need to open an account in Rome, what it costs and how to move money from Australia. - [Bills and the condominio in Rome: power, gas, TARI and building rules](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/utilities-and-condominio-rules-in-rome): In Rome the heating has a start date set by the mayor, the bins have five slots and the condominio has rules. How to set up bills and live in an Italian building. - [The permesso di soggiorno in Rome: kits, the Questura and renewing on time](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/permesso-di-soggiorno-renewal-in-rome): The yellow-striped envelope, the dawn trip to the Questura and the receipt you guard with your life. How the Italian residence permit works for Australians in Rome. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Italy: the paperwork, the flight and Rome](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-italy): Getting a pet into Italy is far easier than getting one into Australia. Here's the timeline, the EU certificate, the flight and the Rome rules once you land. - [Joining the SSN in Rome: your medico di base, the tessera and what Medicare covers](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/italian-national-health-service-ssn-in-rome): Medicare gets you six months of essential care in Italy. After that you need the SSN. Who joins free, who pays at least €2,000 a year, and how to get a GP in Rome. - [Having a baby in Rome: free public care, the birth paperwork and your baby's passports](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/having-a-baby-in-rome): Italian public maternity care is free once you're in the SSN. The birth paperwork is quick. The citizenship part is where Australian parents get caught out. - [Schools in Rome: Italian state school, bilingual or international?](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/international-and-italian-schools-in-rome): Italian state school is free, international school in Rome runs €13,000 to €28,000 a year. Here's how enrolment works, what each option suits and how to pay for nido. - [Learning Italian in Rome: courses that actually get you talking](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/learning-italian-in-rome): Italian is the key to Rome's offices, neighbours and permits. Here's where to learn, what's free, and which certificate you need for long-term residence or citizenship. - [Driving in Rome on an Australian licence: the one-year trap](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/converting-an-australian-licence-in-italy): Your Australian licence works in Italy for a year after you become a resident. Then it doesn't, and there's no swap. How to get an Italian licence and dodge ZTL fines. - [Getting around Rome: ATAC passes, strike days and the run to Fiumicino](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/atac-metro-and-buses-in-rome): A €35 monthly pass covers Rome's metro, buses and trams. Here's how fares work in 2026, what happens on a strike day and how to get to Fiumicino for the flight home. - [Moving to Rome from Australia: visas, paperwork and your first month](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/moving-to-rome): Visas that actually work for Australians, the paperwork order that saves you weeks, and the Rome neighbourhoods worth a look before you sign anything. - [Renting in Rome: how Italian leases work and what you'll pay by zone](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/renting-in-rome): The Rome rental market runs on registered contracts, a deposit cap and a lot of competition. Here's how leases work and what each zone costs in 2026. - [Cost of living in Rome: cheaper rent, €1.19 coffee and a €35 transport pass](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/cost-of-living-rome): Rome rent is roughly half a Sydney unit's, a monthly transport pass is €35 and an espresso at the bar is about €1.19. Here's the full comparison for 2026. - [Aussie life in Rome: where to find your mob in the Eternal City](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/aussie-life-in-rome): Rome has no Aussie quarter, but it does have a dawn service, a cricket ground inside a racecourse and plenty of Italian-Australians. Here's how to find them. - [Italian citizenship by descent: what the 2025 law changed for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/italian-citizenship-by-descent-what-australians-need-to-know): The great-grandparent route is mostly gone. Here's who still qualifies for Italian citizenship by descent after the 2025 reform, and what Australians can do now. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Rome: flat whites yes, Aussie pubs no](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-rome): Rome has no Australian-owned café or pub we could verify in 2026. Here's where Aussies get a flat white and brunch instead, and where to watch the game. - [Nightlife in Rome: aperitivo, piazzas and the last metro at 1.30am](https://expatcooee.com/cities/rome/nightlife-in-rome): Rome's nights start with aperitivo and end in a piazza. Here's where to go, what a beer costs in 2026, the rules that catch Aussies out and how to get home. ## Valletta - [Your Malta residence card: Identità, the e-ID and surviving the queues](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/identity-malta-residence-card-and-eid): The eResidence card runs your life in Malta. How Identità works, how to book biometrics, activate the e-ID and update your address without losing a morning. - [Tax in Malta: residence, the remittance basis and the Australia–Malta treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/income-tax-in-malta-for-australians): Malta taxes residents at 0–35%, but non-domiciled Australians often pay only on what they earn in Malta or bring in. How it works, with 2026 rates and the treaty. - [Working in Malta: iGaming, finance and getting the right to work as an Australian](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/finding-work-in-malta-igaming-and-finance): Malta's iGaming and finance firms hire foreigners all the time. The hard part for Australians is the right to work. Permits, pay and getting your degree recognised. - [Opening a bank account in Malta: surviving the due-diligence marathon](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/banking-in-malta-as-a-newcomer): Maltese banks ask a lot of questions before they let you in. What they want, your legal right to a basic account, where EU apps fit in, and how to move your money over. - [Power and water in Malta: ARMS bills and the tariff trap](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/utilities-arms-and-water-in-malta): One wrong word on your ARMS bill can cost you. How Malta's power and water billing works, how tenants get the residential rate, rubbish bag days and air-con costs. - [Malta's homes: summer heat, winter damp and the mould nobody mentions](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/summer-heat-humidity-and-mould-in-malta): Malta's limestone flats bake in August and drip in January. How to handle damp, mould, heat and the building site next door, and what to check before you sign. - [Retiring to Malta: residence routes, your Age Pension and the 2027 deadline](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/retiring-in-malta-as-an-australian): Malta's retiree tax programmes change on 1 January 2027. What the current routes cost, how your Age Pension and super are treated, health cover and why Gozo is cheaper. - [Bringing your pet to Malta: the Australian dog and cat checklist](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-malta): Australia is an EU-listed country, so pets can fly to Malta without quarantine if the paperwork is right. The steps, the timing, the Malta extras and life with a dog there. - [Healthcare in Malta: Mater Dei, health centres and what Australians are entitled to](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/maltese-public-healthcare-for-australians): Malta's public system is good and often free, but only if you're entitled. Here's how Australians get care, what the reciprocal deal covers and where insurance fits. - [Schools in Malta: state, church or independent for Aussie kids?](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/schools-in-malta-for-australian-families): Malta has three school sectors and a ballot for church places. Here's how state, church and independent schools work for Aussie kids, plus free childcare and moving home. - [Studying in Malta: fees, permits and learning Maltese for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/studying-in-malta-university-and-english): An Aussie passport makes you an international student in Malta, a Maltese one makes you a home student. Fees, the study permit, MCAST and learning Maltese. - [Driving in Malta: swapping your Australian licence and staying sane on the left](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/driving-in-malta-on-an-australian-licence): Australia is on Malta's licence-exchange list, so no test. Here's the 12-month rule, the 185-day residence catch, car registration costs and Valletta's CVA charge. - [Getting around Malta: free buses, harbour ferries and the Gozo crossing](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/malta-public-transport-ferries-and-airport): Residents ride Malta's buses and harbour ferries free with a personalised tallinja card. Here's how to get one, what still costs money, and how to reach the airport. - [Moving to Valletta from Australia: visas, permits and your first month](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/moving-to-valletta): The permits that actually work for Australians in Malta, what they cost in 2026, and the order to do the paperwork so your first month in Valletta isn't all queues. - [Renting in Valletta: leases, deposits and registration explained](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/renting-in-valletta): Malta's rental rules are not Australia's. Lock-in periods, registered leases, the 5% renewal cap and where Aussies look for flats in and around Valletta. - [Cost of living in Valletta: cheaper rent, free buses and pricier groceries](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/cost-of-living-valletta): Rent is lower than Sydney, the buses are free once you're set up, but groceries aren't cheap. A 2026 look at what life in Valletta really costs an Aussie. - [Aussie life in Valletta: Maltese-Australians, Anzac graves and the breakfast grand final](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/aussie-life-in-valletta): Malta is half full of people with a cousin in Melbourne. How to find the Aussie crowd in Valletta, where the Anzac connection lives and how to watch the footy. - [Maltese citizenship by descent: how Australians with Maltese roots claim an EU passport](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/maltese-citizenship-by-descent-and-life-in-malta): A Maltese-born parent or grandparent could make you a Maltese and EU citizen. Who qualifies, which form you need, what it costs and how to apply from Australia. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Valletta: one Melbourne brunch spot and a lot of footy at home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-valletta): Malta is full of Maltese-Australians but short on Aussie venues. Here's the one we could verify, a Melbourne-style brunch spot on Spinola Bay, plus where to watch the sport. - [Nightlife in Valletta: Strait Street wine bars, Paceville clubs and the night bus home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/valletta/nightlife-in-valletta): Valletta does quiet wine bars in old stone lanes. Paceville does the big nights. Here's how Malta goes out in 2026, what a beer costs and the rules to know. ## Ho Chi Minh City - [SIMs, bank apps and biometrics: getting connected in Saigon without getting cut off](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/vietnam-sim-card-banking-and-biometric-rules): Vietnam now checks your face for your SIM and your bank transfers. Here's how Australians in Saigon register a number, open an account and avoid getting locked out. - [When things go wrong in Saigon: police, scams, exit bans and the Australian consulate](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/consular-help-and-legal-trouble-in-vietnam): Lost passport, a scam call or an exit ban at the airport: here's what Australians in Saigon should do, and what the Consulate-General can and can't do about it. - [Filing tax in Vietnam: residency, the April finalisation and the Australian treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/personal-income-tax-in-vietnam-and-the-treaty): Your employer withholds tax every month, but the job isn't done until the annual finalisation. Here's how Vietnamese residency, refunds and the Australian treaty fit together. - [Teaching English in Saigon: qualifications, pay and doing it legally](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/teaching-english-in-ho-chi-minh-city): An Australian passport gets you in the door, but Saigon schools still need a degree, a 120-hour TEFL and legalised papers. Here's the legal route, the pay and the traps. - [Running a home in Saigon: helpers, power bills, internet and the rainy season](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/household-help-and-utilities-in-ho-chi-minh-city): A housekeeper now needs a written contract and a ward notification, the air-con can push you into the top power tier, and Thao Dien floods. Here's how to run a Saigon home. - [Vietnam's temporary residence card: who gets a TRC and how it works in Saigon](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/temporary-residence-card-in-vietnam): The TRC replaces endless visa runs with one card valid for up to two years or more. Here's who qualifies, what to file in Saigon and what a job change does to it. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Vietnam: easy in, hard home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-vietnam): Getting your dog into Saigon takes a few months of paperwork. Getting it back to Australia takes far longer. Plan both trips before you book the first one. - [Healthcare in Saigon: international hospitals, upfront bills and the insurance you need](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/hospitals-and-health-insurance-in-ho-chi-minh-city): Medicare stops at the border and Vietnam has no health deal with Australia. Here's how Saigon's hospitals bill you, and the cover that keeps a bad week from becoming a debt. - [Air, heat and dengue: staying healthy in Ho Chi Minh City](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/air-pollution-dengue-and-staying-healthy-in-saigon): Saigon won't hurt you the way Australia's sharks and snakes might. It's the mosquitoes, the haze and the heat. Here's how Australians living there stay well. - [International schools in Saigon: the Australian options, fees and the trip home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/international-schools-in-ho-chi-minh-city): Saigon has an Australian-founded IB school, an Adelaide-linked SACE school and plenty of IB and British options. Here's what they cost in 2026-27 and how to plan the trip home. - [Learning Vietnamese in Saigon: tones, courses and why the south sounds different](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/learning-vietnamese-in-ho-chi-minh-city): Vietnamese is hard for English speakers, but survival Saigon Vietnamese isn't. Here's where to study, what it costs in 2026, and why your app sounds nothing like the market. - [Riding a motorbike in Saigon: the licence, the law and your insurance](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/driving-a-motorbike-legally-in-vietnam): Most Australians on a bike in Saigon are riding illegally without knowing it. Here's why your IDP doesn't count, how to convert your licence and what it means for insurance. - [Getting around Saigon: Grab, the new metro, buses and flights home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/grab-metro-and-getting-around-ho-chi-minh-city): Saigon finally has a metro, a second airport is on its way and Grab still does the heavy lifting. Here's how to get around the city and back to Australia. - [Moving to Ho Chi Minh City: visas, your first fortnight and where Aussies live](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/moving-to-ho-chi-minh-city): An e-visa gets you into Saigon, but not into a job. Here's the visa path, the paperwork for your first fortnight and where Australians actually settle. - [Renting in Ho Chi Minh City: deposits, leases and the all-in price](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/renting-in-ho-chi-minh-city): Saigon rents look cheap until the power bill lands. Here's what Australians pay in 2026, how deposits and leases work and which areas suit whom. - [Cost of living in Ho Chi Minh City: how far your dollar goes vs Sydney and Melbourne](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/cost-of-living-ho-chi-minh-city): Rent is a third of Sydney's and pho costs less than a flat white at home. But imported groceries, school fees and hospital bills can bite. The 2026 numbers. - [Aussie life in Ho Chi Minh City: footy on Saturdays, cricket and the Anzac match](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/aussie-life-in-ho-chi-minh-city): Saigon has more Aussie life than you'd guess: mixed footy, a cricket club, an Anzac match in Vung Tau and a Consulate that throws a food festival. - [Working and doing business in Vietnam: permits, tax and setting up a company](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/working-and-doing-business-in-vietnam-as-an-australian): Vietnam made work permits faster in 2025 and cut income tax in 2026. Here's how Australians get a permit, what they pay and how to set up a company. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Ho Chi Minh City: pies, parmas and a Michelin star](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-ho-chi-minh-city): Saigon has Aussie-run pubs showing the AFL and NRL, a café with Vegemite on toast and a Michelin-starred Melbourne chef. Every venue checked for 2026. - [Nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City: Bui Vien, rooftops and a Grab home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/ho-chi-minh-city/nightlife-in-ho-chi-minh-city): Saigon's nights run from plastic stools and cheap draught on Bui Vien to wartime rooftop bars. Here's where to go, what it costs and the rules Australians can't ignore. ## Dubai - [Emirates ID and UAE Pass: the two cards that run your Dubai life](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/emirates-id-and-uae-pass-explained): Australia never made you carry an ID card. Dubai does. Here's how the Emirates ID and UAE Pass work, from the medical test to renewal, and why your phone line depends on them. - [Your Dubai contract: gratuity, notice and the labour law that replaces super](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/end-of-service-gratuity-and-uae-labour-law): Your Dubai employer pays no super. Instead, the UAE labour law gives you a gratuity, set notice periods and a complaints system. Here's what your contract really says. - [Starting a business in Dubai: free zone or mainland, and what the ATO thinks](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/setting-up-a-business-in-dubai-free-zone-or-mainland): A Dubai company can be set up in days. Choosing the right licence, staying on top of the new UAE corporate tax and keeping the ATO happy takes longer. - [Banking in Dubai: salary accounts, credit scores and the cheques that still matter](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/banking-and-salary-transfer-in-dubai): In Dubai, your salary, your rent and your credit history all run through one bank account and a chequebook. Here's how to set it up and stay out of trouble. - [Hiring a nanny in Dubai: sponsorship, Tadbeer and the law that protects her](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/hiring-a-nanny-or-maid-in-dubai): Live-in help is normal in Dubai, but it comes with a visa, a contract, insurance and real legal duties. Here's how to hire a nanny or maid properly and fairly. - [DEWA bills in Dubai: deposits, the housing fee and the chiller bill nobody mentions](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/dewa-bills-and-summer-cooling-in-dubai): Your DEWA bill carries your power, water and a 5% municipal housing fee. Your chiller bill may come separately. Here's what each line means and how to keep summer bills sane. - [Bringing your dog or cat to Dubai: the permit, the paperwork and the heat](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-dubai): Australia is a low-risk rabies country for the UAE, so getting your pet in is simpler than getting it home again. Here's the permit, the timeline and the summer trap. - [Health insurance in Dubai: what your employer must cover, and what it won't](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/health-insurance-and-hospitals-in-dubai): In Dubai, health insurance is the law and your employer pays for yours. Your partner, kids and nanny are on you, and Medicare won't step in. Here's how it works. - [Bringing medicine into the UAE: what Australians must check before packing](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/medicines-you-cannot-bring-into-the-uae): A script from your GP doesn't make a medicine legal in the UAE. Here's how to check your pills, get the free MOHAP permit and avoid the CBD trap. - [Choosing a school in Dubai: KHDA ratings, curricula and the Aussie options](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/schools-in-dubai-for-australian-families): Dubai has more than 200 private schools and 17 curricula, but only one full Australian Curriculum school in the UAE. Here's how to read KHDA ratings and pick well. - [Swapping your Australian licence in Dubai: the RTA exchange, step by step](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/converting-your-australian-licence-in-dubai): Australia is on the RTA's exchange list, so no lessons and no road test. Here's the paperwork, what it costs in 2026 and the road rules that catch Aussies out. - [Getting around Dubai without a car: Nol cards, the metro and taxis](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/dubai-metro-nol-card-and-getting-around): You can live in Dubai without a car if you pick the right Nol card and the right postcode. Fares, passes, taxis, scooters and flights home, for Australians. - [Ramadan in Dubai: shorter workdays, quieter days and the best evenings of the year](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/ramadan-in-dubai-for-australians): For a month each year Dubai slows down by day and comes alive after sunset. Here's what changes for non-Muslim Australians, from your office hours to your lunch. - [Moving to Dubai from Australia: visas, paperwork and your first month](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/moving-to-dubai): Your employer sponsors the visa, the Emirates ID opens every other door, and a few local laws matter more than you'd think. Here's the order to do it in. - [Renting in Dubai: cheques, Ejari and the rules Aussie renters miss](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/renting-in-dubai): Dubai rentals are paid upfront, registered on Ejari and capped by an official rent index. Here's how the system works and what to check before you sign. - [Cost of living in Dubai: cheaper than Sydney, until you count the rent](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/cost-of-living-dubai): Day-to-day spending in Dubai often comes in under Melbourne. Rent, schools and the gym usually don't. Here's the side-by-side, with ranges. - [Aussie life in Dubai: where 25,000 Australians find their people](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/aussie-life-in-dubai): About 25,000 Australians live in the UAE. Here's where they play footy, watch the cricket, find a decent flat white and mark the big days. - [A tax-free salary in Dubai: when Australia still wants its share](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/a-tax-free-salary-in-dubai-and-your-australian-tax): The UAE doesn't tax your pay. Australia might, if the ATO decides you never really left. Here's how residency works and what to sort before your first payslip. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Dubai: flat whites, a barbie brunch and the footy at breakfast](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-dubai): Melbourne-style brunch in Al Quoz, an Aussie barbie brunch every Saturday and the Grand Final over breakfast. Here are the Australian venues in Dubai we could confirm for 2026. - [Nightlife in Dubai: sky bars, Irish pubs and the rules that don't bend](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dubai/nightlife-in-dubai): Dubai goes out late and dresses up for it. Here's where to drink, what a pint costs in 2026 compared with Sydney, and the laws that can turn a big night into a court date. ## Singapore - [Singpass and your FIN: the logins that run life in Singapore](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/singpass-fin-and-the-apps-that-run-life-in-singapore): Your FIN and your Singpass login open almost every door in Singapore, from the bank to the tax office. Here's how to set them up and keep them working when your pass changes. - [Singapore's strict laws: vaping, drugs and the fines Aussies don't expect](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/singapore-laws-that-catch-australians-out): A vape that's legal on prescription at home can cost you your pass in Singapore. Here are the rules that catch Australians out, what they cost, and what the High Commission can't do. - [Income tax in Singapore for Australians: IRAS, the 183 days and the treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/income-tax-in-singapore-for-australians): Singapore taxes your salary lightly, but only if you count your days right. The 183-day test, IRAS filing, the IR21 clearance when you leave, and where Australia still fits in. - [CPF and Australians in Singapore: why you don't pay it, until you become PR](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/cpf-and-australians-in-singapore): On an Employment Pass, CPF isn't your problem. Take up PR and up to 20% of your pay goes in. How the rates phase in, what MediSave does and how to get it all back if you leave. - [Banking in Singapore: opening an account and moving money from Australia](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/banking-in-singapore-and-moving-money-from-australia): Your Singapore salary needs somewhere to land. What DBS, OCBC and UOB ask pass holders for, the fees for a low balance, PayNow and GIRO, and getting AUD across without losing a chunk. - [Starting a business in Singapore: ACRA, EntrePass and the local director rule](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/starting-a-business-in-singapore-as-an-australian): Registering a Singapore company takes a day. Getting the director, the pass and the tax right takes longer. ACRA, EntrePass, the 17% rate, GST and what to do with your ABN. - [Hiring a helper in Singapore: the work permit, the levy and what's on you](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/hiring-a-helper-in-singapore): A live-in helper is normal in Singapore and almost unheard of at home. What it costs in 2026, the MOM rules you sign up to, and the legal duties that sit with you as employer. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Singapore: AVS licences, HDB rules and no quarantine](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/bringing-a-pet-from-australia-to-singapore): Good news: pets from Australia skip quarantine in Singapore. The catch is paperwork timing, banned breeds and strict limits on where your dog is allowed to live. - [Healthcare in Singapore: polyclinics, private GPs and who pays when you're not a local](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/healthcare-in-singapore-for-australians): Singapore's healthcare is excellent, but foreigners pay full price. What polyclinics, GPs, A&E and specialists cost in 2026, and how to make sure insurance is paying, not you. - [International schools in Singapore: fees, waitlists and the Aussie option](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/international-schools-in-singapore-for-australian-families): What international schools in Singapore really cost in 2026, why one-off fees matter, how waitlists work and what the Australian International School offers Aussie families. - [Local schools in Singapore for Aussie kids: the AEIS test and what it costs](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/local-schools-in-singapore-for-foreign-kids-aeis): Singapore's government schools take foreign kids, but only through a test. How AEIS and S-AEIS work, what international students pay in 2026 and how it fits a move home. - [Driving in Singapore on an Australian licence: conversion and the COE](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/driving-in-singapore-on-an-australian-licence): Your Australian licence plus an IDP gets you 12 months on Singapore's roads. After that you'll need to convert, and before you buy a car, you'll need to swallow the COE. - [Getting around Singapore: MRT, buses, SimplyGo and Grab](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/getting-around-singapore-mrt-buses-and-grab): Tap your Australian card and go, but watch the daily fee. How fares, passes, the MRT, buses, Grab, taxis and bikes work in Singapore, plus getting to Changi for the flight home. - [Moving to Singapore from Australia: passes, paperwork and your first month](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/moving-to-singapore): Singapore is an easy move on paper and a fiddly one in practice. Here's the order to do things in, from your work pass to your first HDB or condo lease. - [Renting in Singapore: condo or HDB, and the clause that saves your deposit](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/renting-in-singapore): Condo or HDB? Two-year lease or one? Here's how renting in Singapore really works, what it costs in 2026 and the clauses to fight for before you sign. - [Cost of living in Singapore: cheap laksa, dear cars, and rent that bites](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/cost-of-living-singapore): Singapore is cheaper than Sydney for lunch and far dearer for a car. Here's how rent, food, transport and school fees compare with home in 2026. - [Aussie life in Singapore: dawn at Kranji, Wombats on the oval, mates in every lift](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/aussie-life-in-singapore): Australians have called Singapore home for generations. Here's where to find them, from the Anzac dawn service at Kranji to the Wombats, ANZA and our Cooee Singapore group. - [Work passes in Singapore for Australians: EP, ONE Pass and the Work Holiday Pass](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/work-passes-in-singapore-for-australians): Which Singapore pass fits you? Employment Pass salary floors and COMPASS, the 2027 increase, the ONE Pass, the two work-holiday options for young Aussies and passes for family. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Singapore: flat whites, fire and footy](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-singapore): Craving a proper flat white, a Coopers or a seat for the grand final? Here are the Australian cafés, restaurants and bars in Singapore we could confirm are still going in 2026. - [Nightlife in Singapore: rooftops, river bars and the 10.30pm rule](https://expatcooee.com/cities/singapore/nightlife-in-singapore): Singapore goes out later than its reputation suggests. Here's where Australians drink and dance, what a round costs in 2026 and the rules that catch people out. ## Bangkok - [90-day reports and TM30: the Thai immigration paperwork that bites](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/90-day-reporting-and-tm30-in-bangkok): Your visa is only half the job. Here's how 90-day reports, TM30 address notifications and re-entry permits work in Bangkok, and what missing one costs. - [Thai tax for Australians: the 180-day test and the 2024 foreign income rule](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/thai-income-tax-and-the-foreign-income-rule): Since 2024, money you bring into Thailand can be taxed there. Who counts as a Thai tax resident, what's caught, what's not, and how the Australia–Thailand treaty helps. - [Working in Bangkok: work permits, jobs and the list Thais keep for themselves](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/work-permits-and-jobs-in-bangkok): No work permit, no work, even for a few hours. How the Non-B visa and work permit fit together, which jobs are off limits and what employers must have in place. - [Opening a bank account in Thailand: what banks ask Australians in 2026](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/opening-a-thai-bank-account): Thai banks tightened up in 2025 and 2026. What to bring to the branch, why one branch says yes and the next says no, and how to set up PromptPay and move money from home. - [Living in a Bangkok condo: the juristic office, your power bill and a helper](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/condo-living-and-juristic-rules-in-bangkok): Your landlord owns the unit, but the juristic office runs the building. How the rules, the power bill, a helper's rights and the wet season work in a Bangkok condo. - [Retiring to Bangkok: the O-A, retirement extension and LTR visas compared](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/retiring-in-bangkok-as-an-australian): Bangkok is a popular place to retire, but the visa wants proof of money every year. Compare the O-A, Non-O and LTR routes, and see what happens to your Age Pension. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Thailand: the permit, the jabs and the way home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/bringing-your-pet-from-australia-to-thailand): Getting your dog into Bangkok takes a permit, five vaccines and careful timing. Getting it back to Australia is much harder. Plan both trips before you book. - [Healthcare in Bangkok: private hospitals, public ones and insurance that pays](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/hospitals-and-health-insurance-in-bangkok): Bangkok's private hospitals are excellent, but they want proof you can pay before they start. Here's how the system works and how to pick insurance that pays. - [Bangkok's PM2.5 season: haze, school closures and keeping your family well](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/air-pollution-and-pm25-season-in-bangkok): Every dry season, Bangkok's air turns grey and schools sometimes close. Here's when the haze peaks, how to read the numbers and what actually protects your kids. - [International schools in Bangkok: the Australian school and the alternatives](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/international-schools-in-bangkok-for-australians): Bangkok has one Australian-curriculum school and dozens of British, IB and American ones. Here's how they compare on curriculum, location, fees and getting back into school at home. - [Learning Thai in Bangkok: language schools, the ED visa and how long it really takes](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/learning-thai-and-the-ed-visa): Thai is hard, the ED visa is under scrutiny and good courses aren't cheap. Here's how Aussies in Bangkok learn the language properly, and what the education visa now demands. - [Driving in Thailand on an Australian licence: when to switch to a Thai one](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/driving-in-thailand-on-an-australian-licence): Your Aussie licence and an IDP get you started in Thailand. Here's when to convert to a Thai licence, what the DLT asks for, and why motorbikes catch Australians out. - [BTS, MRT and boats: how to get around Bangkok without a car in 2026](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/bts-mrt-and-getting-around-bangkok): Rabbit card or tap-and-go? Skytrain or boat? A practical guide to Bangkok's trains, boats, ride-hailing and airports for Australians who'd rather not drive. - [Moving to Bangkok from Australia: visas, first weeks and where to live](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/moving-to-bangkok): Bangkok is easy to land in and harder to stay in. The new 30-day entry rule, the visa to aim for, first-week paperwork and where Aussies actually live. - [Renting in Bangkok: condos, deposits and the contract clauses to check](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/renting-in-bangkok): Bangkok rentals are mostly furnished condos, signed fast and paid in baht. What deposits look like, which clauses to read twice and what rent costs. - [Cost of living in Bangkok: what's cheaper than Sydney and what isn't](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/cost-of-living-bangkok): Rent and street food are a fraction of Sydney prices. Imported cheese, wine and private healthcare are not. Here's the side-by-side in baht and dollars. - [Aussie life in Bangkok: footy, cricket, Anzac Day and finding your people](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/aussie-life-in-bangkok): Bangkok's Aussie scene is bigger than you'd think: a footy club since the 1990s, a cricket league, Anzac Day at Hellfire Pass and a busy chamber of commerce. - [Long-stay visas in Thailand: the options for Australians after the 30-day rule](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/long-stay-visas-in-thailand-for-australians): The 60-day visa-free stay is gone. Here's how the DTV, LTR, retirement, work and Thailand Privilege visas compare for Australians who want to stay longer. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Bangkok: brunch, Aussie chefs and the footy](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-bangkok): Bangkok's Aussie food scene is better than you'd think: Australian-run brunch, two Michelin-starred Aussie chefs and a sports bar that shows every round. - [Nightlife in Bangkok: world-class cocktails, 4am zones and the rules on the clock](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bangkok/nightlife-in-bangkok): Bangkok has some of the world's best bars and dance floors that run till 4am. Here's where to go, what a beer costs in 2026 and the rules that trip up Australians. ## Beirut - [Emergency planning in Beirut: Smartraveller, go-bags and getting out](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/emergency-planning-in-beirut-for-australians): Smartraveller says do not travel to Lebanon. If you live in Beirut anyway, here's how to plan: alerts, insurance, a go-bag, a document kit and a way to the airport. - [Banking in Lebanon after the crisis: fresh dollars, lollars and cash](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/banking-in-lebanon-after-the-crisis): Lebanon's banks froze billions in 2019 and trust never came back. Here's how Australians in Beirut handle money now, and what Lebanese-Australians with old deposits can do. - [Working in Lebanon as an Australian: work permits, residency and remote work](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/working-in-lebanon-work-permits-for-australians): A job offer in Beirut is only step one. Here's how the Ministry of Labour and General Security fit together, which jobs foreigners can't do, and where remote work sits. - [Tax in Lebanon for Australians: no treaty, two tax systems and how to cope](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/paying-tax-in-lebanon-with-no-australian-treaty): Lebanon taxes your salary, Australia may tax it too, and there's no treaty to sort out who goes first. Here's how the two systems meet and how to avoid paying twice. - [Electricity in Beirut: EDL hours, generator amps and keeping the lights on](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/electricity-in-beirut-edl-generators-and-solar): In Beirut you don't have one power bill, you have two: EDL and the neighbourhood generator. Here's how they fit together and what they cost in 2026. - [Water in Beirut: rooftop tanks, water trucks and what's safe to drink](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/water-in-beirut-tanks-trucks-and-drinking-safely): Beirut taps run on a roster, rooftop tanks fill the gaps and trucks top them up. Here's what that costs, what's safe to drink and what to check in a flat. - [Bringing a pet from Australia to Lebanon: papers, flights and the way back](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/bringing-a-pet-from-australia-to-lebanon): Getting your dog or cat to Beirut is the easy part. Getting it back to Australia is the hard part. Plan both before you book anything. - [Healthcare in Beirut: private hospitals, upfront payment and insurance](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/healthcare-in-beirut-for-australians): Beirut has hospitals as good as Australia's, but you pay first and Medicare can't help. Here's how the system works, what the NSSF covers and how to insure yourself. - [Schools in Beirut: IB, the French bac or the Lebanese programme for Australian kids](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/schools-in-beirut-for-australian-kids): Beirut's schools are private, multilingual and paid in dollars. Here's how IB, French and Lebanese programmes compare, and which one travels best back to an Australian uni. - [Learning Arabic in Beirut: Lebanese dialect, MSA and where to study](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/learning-arabic-in-beirut): Lebanese Arabic gets you through the day; Modern Standard Arabic gets you through the paperwork. How to choose, where to study in Beirut and what courses cost in 2026. - [Getting around Beirut: service taxis, vans, buses and ride-hailing apps](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/getting-around-beirut-service-taxis-and-vans): Beirut has no metro and no Opal card. It runs on shared service taxis, vans, a few new buses and apps. What each costs, what Smartraveller says, and how to get to the airport. - [Driving in Lebanon on an Australian licence: the IDP, the roads and the rules](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/driving-in-lebanon-on-an-australian-licence): Your Aussie licence and an IDP get you started in Lebanon, but residents eventually need a local licence. What to sort before you go, and what Beirut traffic is really like. - [Volunteering in Beirut: NGOs, refugee support and doing it well](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/volunteering-in-beirut): Beirut has no shortage of good causes. Here's how Australians can volunteer with reputable NGOs, use real skills, avoid harm and stay on the right side of visa rules. - [Moving to Beirut from Australia: visas, safety and your first weeks](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/moving-to-beirut): Smartraveller says do not travel to Lebanon, yet thousands of Australians live there. If you're going anyway, here's how visas, residency and the first weeks work. - [Renting in Beirut: dollars, generators and what to ask before you sign](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/renting-in-beirut): In Beirut the rent is only half the story. The other half is how many hours of power the building gets. Here's how to rent without nasty surprises. - [Cost of living in Beirut: cheaper rent, pricier power and a cash habit](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/cost-of-living-beirut): Rent in Beirut is about half of Melbourne's, but generators, gyms and coffee can cost more than at home. Here's the 2026 comparison in Australian dollars. - [Aussie life in Beirut: where the accent is half Bankstown, half Beirut](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/aussie-life-in-beirut): About 15,000 Australians normally live in Lebanon, and many grew up in Sydney or Melbourne. Here's how they find each other, follow the footy and stay sane. - [Lebanese-Australians: two passports, one family and the rules that bite](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/lebanese-australians-passports-family-and-staying-connected): Two passports sound simple until you need consular help or a child custody ruling. What Lebanese-Australians should know about citizenship, family law and home. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Beirut: the honest version](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-beirut): Beirut is full of Lebanese-Australians, but not Aussie venues. Here's what we could confirm for 2026, and how people get their flat white and footy fix anyway. - [Nightlife in Beirut: late nights, cheap pints and a city that keeps bouncing back](https://expatcooee.com/cities/beirut/nightlife-in-beirut): Beirut still knows how to throw a night out, even with a Do not travel warning hanging over it. Here's where locals go, what a pint costs in 2026 and how to get home safely. ## Seoul - [Your ARC in Seoul: booking immigration before the 90-day deadline](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/alien-registration-card-in-seoul): Staying in Korea longer than 90 days? You need a residence card. Here's which Seoul office to book, what to bring and the 14-day rules that catch Aussies out. - [Phone numbers in Korea: why every app wants a number in your name](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/korean-phone-numbers-and-identity-verification): In Korea your phone number is your ID. Here's why apps keep rejecting you, which plans work before and after your ARC, and how to cope in the first weeks. - [Income tax in Korea: year-end settlement, the 19% flat rate and the treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/income-tax-in-korea-for-australians): Your Korean employer withholds tax every month, then settles up in February. Here's how the flat rate, the May return and the Australia–Korea treaty fit in. - [National Pension in Korea: what Australians pay and how to get it back](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/national-pension-in-korea-for-australians): Every Korean payslip takes a bite for the National Pension. Thanks to the Australia–Korea agreement, you can usually get it back when you leave. Here's how. - [Banking in Korea: opening an account, lifting limits and sending money home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/banking-in-korea-for-australians): Opening a Korean account is easy. Using it properly takes a few more steps. Here's what to bring, how to lift the limits and how to send won home to Australia. - [Rubbish in Seoul: volume-rate bags, food waste bins and how not to get fined](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/rubbish-and-recycling-rules-in-seoul): No council wheelie bin here. In Seoul you buy your rubbish bags, weigh your food scraps and sort recycling by type. Here's how it works and how to dodge the fines. - [Bringing your pet from Australia to Korea: the microchip, the paperwork and Incheon](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/bringing-a-pet-from-australia-to-korea): Good news: Australia is rabies-free, so your dog or cat skips Korea's blood test. Here's what you do need, the catch for cats, and life with a pet in Seoul. - [Korea's National Health Insurance: compulsory cover for Australians in Seoul](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/national-health-insurance-in-korea-for-australians): Stay in Korea six months and National Health Insurance is compulsory. Here's how employees and freelancers pay, who your family can join and why Medicare won't help. - [Seeing a doctor in Seoul: walk-in clinics, big hospitals and getting help in English](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/seeing-a-doctor-in-seoul): No GP gatekeeper, walk-in specialists on every block and pharmacies next door. Here's how Seoul's clinics, big hospitals and English-language help actually work. - [International schools in Seoul: fees, admissions and who's allowed in](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/international-schools-in-seoul): Your Aussie passport is the ticket into Seoul's foreign schools. Here's who qualifies, what a year really costs in 2026 and how to plan the move back to school at home. - [Learning Korean in Seoul: uni institutes, KIIP and the TOPIK explained](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/learning-korean-in-seoul): Hangeul takes a weekend. Ordering, renting and arguing with the gas company takes longer. Here's how uni institutes, KIIP and the TOPIK fit together in Seoul. - [Driving in Korea on an Australian licence: IDP, conversion and the right side](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/driving-in-korea-on-an-australian-licence): Your Aussie licence can become a Korean one with an eye check and some paperwork. Here's when an IDP is enough, how conversion works and the Seoul road rules that catch people out. - [Getting around Seoul: T-money, the new Climate Pass and Naver Map, not Google](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/getting-around-seoul-tmoney-subway-and-ktx): Seoul's transport is cheap, fast and spotless, once you have the right card and the right map app. Here's how T-money, the new K-Pass, taxis and the KTX work in 2026. - [Moving to Seoul from Australia: visas, first weeks and where to live](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/moving-to-seoul): Seoul is easy to land in and fiddly to settle into. Here's the visa picture, the paperwork order and the neighbourhoods that suit Australians. - [Renting in Seoul: jeonse, wolse and why the deposit is the whole game](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/renting-in-seoul): In Seoul the deposit matters more than the rent. Here's how jeonse and wolse work, what to check before you hand over millions of won, and where to look. - [Cost of living in Seoul: cheaper rent, cheap trains, pricey fruit](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/cost-of-living-seoul): Seoul rent and transport cost a fraction of Sydney's. Coffee doesn't, and fruit can shock you. Here's the 2026 comparison in Australian dollars. - [Aussie life in Seoul: grand finals at lunch, cricket at Yeonhui and your crew](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/aussie-life-in-seoul): Seoul is one or two hours behind the east coast, so the grand final is a lunch event. Here's how Aussies in Seoul find sport, food and each other. - [Working holiday and teaching English in Korea: two routes, very different rules](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/working-holiday-and-teaching-english-in-korea): Want a year in Korea? You'll probably come on a working holiday or to teach English. Here's how each route works, who qualifies and the traps to avoid. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Seoul: a short list, honestly](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-seoul): Seoul's Australian food scene is thin. bills in Gangnam and Jamsil is the one we could confirm in 2026. Here's where else Aussies get a taste of home. - [Nightlife in Seoul: soju, speakeasies and a night bus home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/seoul/nightlife-in-seoul): Seoul goes out late and eats while it drinks. Here's where Australians head after dark, the rules that trip newcomers up and how to get home once the subway stops. ## Shanghai - [Getting online in China: the Great Firewall, VPNs and what the law says](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/vpns-and-getting-online-in-china): Google, Facebook and many news sites don't load in China. Here's what the rules on VPNs actually say, and how to keep myGov and your Aussie bank within reach. - [A Chinese phone number: real-name registration and why your life runs on it](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/phone-numbers-and-real-name-registration-in-shanghai): In Shanghai your +86 number is your ID, your wallet and your delivery address. How to get one with a passport, the real-name rules, and why you keep your Aussie SIM. - [Income tax in China for Australians: the IIT app, the six-year rule and the treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/income-tax-in-china-for-australians): Your employer withholds every month, but the IIT app, the allowance choice and the six-year rule are on you. Here's how Chinese income tax works for Australians. - [Social insurance in Shanghai: why Australians pay in, and what you get back](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/chinese-social-insurance-for-australians): Australians working in Shanghai pay into Chinese social insurance, and there's no Australia–China agreement to opt out. Here's what it costs and what you can claim back. - [Banking in Shanghai: opening an account and getting your salary to Australia](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/banking-in-shanghai-and-sending-money-to-australia): Your salary lands in yuan, your mortgage is in Australian dollars. How to open a Shanghai bank account, what paperwork the bank wants, and how to get money home legally. - [Hiring an ayi in Shanghai: what to pay, where to find one and how to do it right](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/hiring-an-ayi-in-shanghai): Household help is normal in Shanghai, even for Aussies who'd never hire a cleaner at home. Here's what an ayi does, what to pay and how to set it up fairly. - [Bringing a pet from Australia to Shanghai: no quarantine, one dog, one licence](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/bringing-a-pet-from-australia-to-shanghai): Australia is on China's designated list, so your dog or cat can skip the 30-day quarantine. Here's the paperwork, the one-pet rule and getting a Shanghai dog licence. - [Healthcare in Shanghai: international clinics, VIP wings and who pays](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/healthcare-in-shanghai-for-australians): Medicare doesn't follow you to China. Here's how Shanghai's public hospitals, international wings and private clinics work, what you pay up front and how insurance fits in. - [Air quality in Shanghai: how to read the AQI and protect your lungs](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/air-quality-in-shanghai): Shanghai's air is far better than its reputation, but it's not Hobart. Here's how the seasons work, how to read the AQI and what to do about purifiers, masks and kids. - [International schools in Shanghai: foreign-passport schools, fees and getting back into Aussie classrooms](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/international-schools-in-shanghai): Shanghai's international schools are only open to some kids. Here's who qualifies, what a year really costs in 2026 and how to plan the move back to an Australian school. - [Learning Mandarin in Shanghai: university courses, X visas and how much Chinese you need](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/learning-mandarin-in-shanghai): A semester of full-time Mandarin at a top Shanghai university is cheap by Australian standards. Here's how the courses, the X visas and the HSK work. - [Driving in China on an Australian licence: the theory test, the temporary permit and why most don't bother](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/driving-in-china-on-an-australian-licence): Your Aussie licence and IDP won't let you drive in China. Here's how to get a Chinese licence in Shanghai, the 90% theory test, and why most Australians use DiDi instead. - [Getting around Shanghai: paying for the Metro, DiDi in English, bikes, fast trains and flights home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/getting-around-shanghai-metro-didi-and-trains): Shanghai's transport is cheap and fast once your phone is set up. How to pay for the Metro, use DiDi in English, book fast trains on a passport and get to the airport. - [Moving to Shanghai from Australia: visas, first weeks and where to live](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/moving-to-shanghai): Visa-free entry gets you in the door, but not into a job. Here's the visa path, the paperwork for your first weeks and where Australians live in Shanghai. - [Renting in Shanghai: deposits, contracts and the police station visit](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/renting-in-shanghai): Three months up front, a Chinese-language lease and a trip to the police station. Here's how renting in Shanghai really works for Australians. - [Cost of living in Shanghai: cheaper than Sydney, until you live like an expat](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/cost-of-living-shanghai): Rent and the metro are cheaper than Sydney or Melbourne. Imported food, private healthcare and international schools are not. Here's how the numbers stack up. - [Aussie life in Shanghai: where to find footy, cricket and your people](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/aussie-life-in-shanghai): Shanghai has a small but busy Australian crowd. Here's where to find footy, cricket, Anzac Day drinks, a taste of home and a few mates who get it. - [Daily life in China: the visa rules, the apps and paying with WeChat and Alipay](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/daily-life-in-china-visas-apps-and-paying-with-wechat-and-alipay): China runs on your phone. Here's which visa lets you do what, the apps to set up before you land and how to pay with WeChat and Alipay on an Australian card. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Shanghai: a short list, honestly](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-shanghai): Shanghai has very few Australian venues, and we won't pad the list. Here are the ones we could verify for 2026, plus where the footy and Anzac drinks happen. - [Nightlife in Shanghai: Bund views, laneway bars and a DiDi home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/shanghai/nightlife-in-shanghai): Shanghai does skyline bars, hidden cocktail dens and clubs that run until sunrise. Here's where to go, what it costs and the rules Australians need to take seriously. ## Berlin - [Phone and internet in Berlin: SIMs, contracts and how to get out of them](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/phone-and-internet-contracts-in-germany): German phone and internet contracts are easy to sign and famously hard to leave. Here's how SIMs, terms, install waits and cancelling actually work in Berlin. - [German income tax for Australians: tax classes, Soli and your first return](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/german-income-tax-for-australians): Your German payslip is full of codes and percentages. Here's what the tax class, Soli and church tax mean, and why your first tax return in Berlin often pays you back. - [Freelancing in Berlin: the freelance visa, the Finanzamt and VAT](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/freelancing-in-berlin-as-an-australian): Berlin is full of Australian designers, developers, teachers and writers working for themselves. Here's the permit, tax and insurance setup that makes it legal. - [Schufa and German banks: building credit from zero in Berlin](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/schufa-and-german-bank-accounts): Your Australian credit history stays in Australia. Here's how Schufa works, why it matters for flats and phones, and how to open a German bank account from scratch. - [German pension contributions: what the Australia–Germany agreement means for you](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/german-pension-and-the-australia-germany-agreement): Nearly a tenth of your Berlin salary goes to the German pension fund. Here's what you get for it, whether you can take it home, and how it sits next to super and the Age Pension. - [Haftpflicht and house rules in Berlin: insurance, quiet hours and bins](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/haftpflicht-and-german-house-rules): Germans insure against flooding the neighbour's flat and take Sunday quiet seriously. Here's the insurance and house rules every Australian in Berlin should know. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Berlin: EU entry rules, dog tax and the leash](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/bringing-a-pet-from-australia-to-berlin): Good news: Australian pets don't need a rabies blood test or quarantine in Germany. Here's the paperwork, the timing and what Berlin expects once your dog lands. - [Seeing a doctor in Berlin: finding a Hausarzt, booking specialists and calling 116117](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/seeing-a-doctor-in-berlin): There's no Medicare and no bulk-billing clinic on the corner. Here's how Australians in Berlin find a GP, get a specialist and get help at 2am. - [Kita in Berlin: how Australian families get a free childcare place](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/kita-in-berlin-childcare-for-australian-families): Berlin childcare is free, but you need a voucher, a place and some patience. Here's how Kita works for Australian families, step by step, with 2026 figures. - [Schools in Berlin: public, bilingual and international options for Aussie kids](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/schools-in-berlin-for-australian-kids): Berlin's state schools are free, but the system looks nothing like home. Here's how primary, secondary, welcome classes, bilingual and international schools work. - [Learning German in Berlin: VHS classes, integration courses and the exams that count](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/learning-german-in-berlin): Berlin lets you get by in English, until the LEA, the landlord or the Kita teacher doesn't. Here's how to learn German cheaply and which exams count for PR. - [Driving in Germany on an Australian licence: the six-month rule and converting in Berlin](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/driving-in-germany-on-an-australian-licence): Your Australian licence works in Germany for six months after you move. Then you swap it. Most Australians can convert without a driving test. Here's how. - [Getting around Berlin: the Deutschlandticket, fare zones, bikes and flights home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/getting-around-berlin-deutschlandticket-and-bikes): No Opal or Myki taps here. Berlin runs on the honour system, a €63 monthly ticket and a lot of bikes. Here's how it works and where Australians get caught out. - [Moving to Berlin from Australia: visas, first weeks and where to land](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/moving-to-berlin): Australians get an easier run into Germany than most. Here's how to pick a visa route, survive the first fortnight and choose a Berlin neighbourhood. - [Renting in Berlin: cold rent, the rent cap and how to win a flat](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/renting-in-berlin): Berlin's flat hunt is competitive, but the rules lean towards tenants. Here's how rent, deposits, agents and the rent cap actually work. - [Cost of living in Berlin: cheaper than Sydney, but not the bargain it was](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/cost-of-living-berlin): Berlin still undercuts Sydney and Melbourne on rent and transport, but German deductions and a few surprise fees change the picture. Here's the real comparison. - [Aussie life in Berlin: where to find footy, cricket and your people](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/aussie-life-in-berlin): Berlin has a footy club that keeps winning premierships, cricket on an old Olympic field and plenty of Aussies. Here's how to find them. - [German paperwork for Australians: Anmeldung, tax ID and health insurance](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/german-paperwork-for-australians-registration-tax-id-and-health-insura): Germany runs on forms. Here's the paperwork chain every Australian in Berlin goes through, in the order it actually happens, with 2026 figures. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Berlin: flat whites, big brekkies and a 6am grand final](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-berlin): Berlin's coffee scene owes a fair bit to Australians. Here are the Aussie-run cafés, brunch spots and the footy bar we could confirm are still going in 2026. - [Nightlife in Berlin: no closing time, long queues and trains all night](https://expatcooee.com/cities/berlin/nightlife-in-berlin): Berlin has no official closing time and clubs that run all weekend. Here's where to go, what a beer costs in 2026, the rules that trip up Aussies and how to get home. ## Tokyo - [Your residence card in Tokyo: the ward office, My Number and the Christmas trip home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/tokyo-residence-card-ward-registration-my-number): Two cards, one 14-day deadline and a little box on a departure form. Get these right in your first month in Tokyo and the rest of Japanese admin falls into place. - [Phone and internet in Tokyo: getting connected without a credit history](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/japan-phone-sim-internet-tokyo): Japan wants ID before it gives you a phone number, and fibre can take a month to arrive. Here's how to stay connected in the gap and which plans make sense in 2026. - [Earthquakes in Tokyo: the alerts, the kit and the plan Australians never needed at home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/earthquake-preparedness-tokyo): Australia gets bushfires and floods. Tokyo gets earthquakes. Here's how the phone alerts work, what to stockpile, where to go and how to tell your family you're OK. - [Japanese tax for Australians: why year two hits harder than year one](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/japan-income-tax-resident-tax-australians): Your first Tokyo payslip looks generous. Then June of year two arrives with a resident tax bill. Here's how Japanese tax works and how it fits with the ATO. - [Japan's nenkin pension: take the refund or keep the years?](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/japan-nenkin-pension-refund-australians): Every Tokyo payslip carries a pension deduction. When you leave, you can claw part of it back, or keep the years under the Australia–Japan agreement. Here's how to choose. - [Opening a bank account in Tokyo: the hanko, the six-month rule and you](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/bank-account-hanko-tokyo): Your salary needs somewhere to land. Here's which Tokyo banks will take a new arrival, what the six-month rule really means, and whether you need that little red stamp. - [Rubbish in Tokyo: sorting rules, collection days and the sticker of shame](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/tokyo-rubbish-sorting-rules): No wheelie bins, no kerbside Tuesday. Tokyo rubbish is sorted into six-plus streams, put out by 8 am on the right day, and returned to sender if you get it wrong. - [Moving your dog or cat from Australia to Japan: the 40-day deadline and the trip home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/bringing-pets-from-australia-to-japan): Australia is rabies-free, so your pet can skip Japan's long quarantine. Miss the 40-day notice or the microchip rules, though, and it could be held for months. - [Health insurance in Tokyo: shakai hoken, NHI and the 30% you pay](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/japan-national-health-insurance-tokyo): There's no Medicare deal with Japan. Join employer insurance or your ward's National Health Insurance, pay 30% at the counter and know the monthly cap that saves you. - [Bringing medication into Japan: ADHD meds, Sudafed and the Yunyu Kakunin-sho](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/bringing-medication-into-japan): Dexamphetamine is banned in Japan, codeine needs a permit and a box of Sudafed can get you stopped at Narita. Here's what to sort out before you pack. - [Schools in Tokyo: international school fees, free local schools and kindy](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/schools-in-tokyo-international-and-japanese): Tokyo international schools can top ¥3.8 million a year. Local ward schools are free. Here's how Australian families choose, enrol and keep kids on track. - [Learning Japanese in Tokyo: free ward classes, language schools and the JLPT](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/learning-japanese-in-tokyo): You can learn Japanese in Tokyo for free, for ¥100 a session, or as a full-time student. Here's what each route gets you and which JLPT level actually matters. - [Driving in Japan on an Australian licence: the IDP year and converting in Tokyo](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/driving-in-japan-australian-licence): Your Australian licence plus an IDP gets you one year on Japanese roads. After that you convert, and Australians get to skip the tests that sink everyone else. - [Moving to Tokyo from Australia: visas, first fortnight and where to land](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/moving-to-tokyo): Tokyo runs on paperwork, and the order matters. Here's how Australians pick a visa, survive the ward office and get set up in the first two weeks. - [Renting in Tokyo: key money, guarantors and what Australians pay to move in](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/renting-in-tokyo): Tokyo flats are small, tidy and surprisingly good value next to Sydney. The catch is the move-in bill, the guarantor and a few rules nobody explains. - [Cost of living in Tokyo: why your rent might halve and your pay might too](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/cost-of-living-tokyo): A small Tokyo flat costs a fraction of a Sydney unit. But Japanese wages and the yen change the maths. Here's how the numbers stack up in 2026. - [Aussie life in Tokyo: footy by the river, cricket up the line and your people](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/aussie-life-in-tokyo): Tokyo has a footy club older than some of its players, cricket an hour up the line and grand finals at lunchtime. Here's how to find your Aussie crowd. - [The Japan working holiday visa: how Australians get it and find work in Tokyo](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/the-japan-working-holiday-visa-and-finding-work-in-tokyo): Free, once only and open to Australians aged 18 to 30. Here's how to apply for Japan's working holiday visa and what work in Tokyo actually looks like. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Tokyo: Sydney roasters, Melbourne brunch and a grand final at lunch](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-tokyo): Single O from Surry Hills, bills from Darlinghurst, CIBI from Collingwood: our checked list of Australian cafés and bars in Tokyo, and where to watch the footy. - [Nightlife in Tokyo: tiny bars, big clubs and the last train home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/tokyo/nightlife-in-tokyo): Tokyo's nights run from six-seat bars in Golden Gai to 1,000-person clubs in Ginza. Here's where to go, what it costs and how to get home after the last train. ## Amsterdam - [Registering in Amsterdam: the address, the number and the login that run your Dutch life](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/amsterdam-brp-registration-bsn-digid): No address, no BSN. No BSN, no bank, salary or health insurance. Here's how Australians get registered in Amsterdam, get the number and set up DigiD. - [Banking in Amsterdam: iDEAL, Tikkie and the card that won't work](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/dutch-bank-account-ideal-tikkie-amsterdam): Your Aussie Visa card will get declined at the supermarket and your mates will send you Tikkies. Here's how to open a Dutch account and pay like a local. - [Working in Amsterdam: contracts, holiday pay and the kennismigrant route](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/working-in-amsterdam-contracts-and-pay): Dutch job offers come with holiday pay in May, strict probation rules and a salary test for your visa. Here's how contracts and pay work for Australians in 2026. - [Freelancing in the Netherlands: ZZP, the KvK and the self-employed permit](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/freelancing-zzp-netherlands-australians): Going ZZP in Amsterdam means a points test for your permit, a KvK number, quarterly VAT and a tax office watching for fake freelancers. Here's how it works for Australians. - [Bills in Amsterdam: energy, water and the municipal tax letters nobody warns you about](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/amsterdam-utilities-and-municipal-taxes): In Australia the landlord pays the council rates. In Amsterdam, renters get their own tax letters. Here's what lands in your letterbox and what it costs in 2026. - [Staying for good in the Netherlands: PR, naturalisation and your Australian passport](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/dutch-permanent-residence-and-citizenship): After five years in Amsterdam you can go permanent or go Dutch. One lets you keep your Australian passport, the other usually doesn't. Here's how to choose. - [Dutch health insurance: the basic policy, eigen risico and the four-month deadline](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/dutch-health-insurance-basisverzekering): Live or work in the Netherlands and you must buy Dutch health insurance within four months. Here's how the basic policy, the €385 excess and the allowance work. - [Finding a GP in Amsterdam: the huisarts gatekeeper and the paracetamol advice](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/huisarts-gp-system-amsterdam): In Amsterdam the huisarts is the gate to almost all care. Here's how to register before you're sick, get a referral and reach a doctor at night or on weekends. - [Having a baby in Amsterdam: midwives, home births and kraamzorg](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/having-a-baby-in-the-netherlands-kraamzorg): In the Netherlands a midwife runs a low-risk pregnancy, home birth is normal and a kraamzorg nurse moves in afterwards. Here's what Australians should know. - [Schools in Amsterdam: international, DIS or a Dutch local school?](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/schools-in-amsterdam-international-and-dutch): Private international, subsidised DIS or the free Dutch school around the corner? How school choice works in Amsterdam for Australian families, and how to keep the way home open. - [Learning Dutch in Amsterdam: when you must, and when you needn't](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/learning-dutch-inburgering-amsterdam): Most Australians in Amsterdam never have to learn Dutch. Some do, and almost everyone who stays needs A2 eventually. Here's who, when, and how to learn when everyone answers in English. - [Cycling in Amsterdam: the rules, the fines and keeping your bike](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/cycling-in-amsterdam-rules-and-theft): No helmet, two locks and a bell you'll actually use. What Australians need to know about Amsterdam's bike rules, the 2026 fines and how not to lose your bike in the first month. - [Driving in the Netherlands on an Australian licence: the 185-day clock](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/driving-netherlands-australian-licence): Your Australian licence works for 185 days after you move to the Netherlands. After that you either swap it via the 30% ruling or sit Dutch tests. Here's how both routes work. - [Moving to Amsterdam from Australia: visas, paperwork and your first month](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/moving-to-amsterdam): The flight is the easy part. Here's how Australians pick a Dutch visa route, get registered and insured, and land somewhere liveable in Amsterdam. - [Renting in Amsterdam: how to find a flat without getting burned](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/renting-in-amsterdam): Amsterdam's rental market is tight and full of rules that actually protect you. Here's how deposits, contracts and the points system work in 2026. - [Cost of living in Amsterdam: dearer rent, cheaper wheels, surprise insurance](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/cost-of-living-amsterdam): Amsterdam rent rivals Sydney's, but a bike replaces the car and a few Dutch costs catch Aussies out. Here's the 2026 comparison, line by line. - [Aussie life in Amsterdam: where to find footy, cricket and your people](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/aussie-life-in-amsterdam): There's no Aussie quarter in Amsterdam, but there is footy, a historic cricket ground and a solid community. Here's where Australians find each other. - [Dutch tax basics for Australians: brackets, boxes and the 30% ruling](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/dutch-tax-basics-for-australians-including-the-expat-ruling): The Netherlands taxes income in boxes, and the 30% ruling can make a big difference. Here's how it works for Australians in 2026, and what changes in 2027. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Amsterdam: Melbourne brunch, Sydney mates and a dawn grand final](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-amsterdam): Amsterdam has no Aussie strip, but it does have Melbourne-style brunch, a café started by two mates from Sydney and a bar that opens at dawn for the grand final. - [Nightlife in Amsterdam: brown cafés, all-night clubs and the 2026 drinking bans](https://expatcooee.com/cities/amsterdam/nightlife-in-amsterdam): Amsterdam's nights run from cosy brown cafés to clubs open till 6am. Here's where locals go, what a pint costs in 2026 and the rules that trip up Aussies. ## Dublin - [Getting a PPS number in Dublin: beating the proof-of-address catch-22](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/dublin-pps-number-mygovid): No PPS number, no proper pay. Here's how Australians in Dublin get one fast, what counts as proof of address when you've just arrived, and why MyGovID matters. - [Irish tax for Australians: why your first Dublin pay packet looks so small](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/irish-tax-paye-revenue-australians): Your first Dublin payslip can lose 40% to emergency tax. Here's how PAYE, USC and PRSI work, how to fix it fast and claim your money back, and where the ATO fits in. - [Opening a bank account in Dublin: the Irish IBAN and the address problem](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/opening-a-bank-account-in-dublin): Irish banks want an Irish address, and landlords want an Irish account. Here's how Australians in Dublin break the loop, and why a non-Irish IBAN is still legal tender. - [Heating a Dublin home: read the BER before you rent, then tame the bills](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/dublin-home-energy-ber-bills): Irish electricity was the dearest in the EU in late 2025. The BER on a rental ad tells you how much of that you'll pay. Here's how to read it, switch supplier and stay dry. - [Critical Skills Employment Permit: how Australians go from Stamp 1 to Stamp 4](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/critical-skills-employment-permit-ireland): Too old for the working holiday, or ready for a real career in Dublin? The Critical Skills permit is the fast lane to Stamp 4. Here's how it works in 2026. - [Bringing your dog or cat from Australia to Ireland: EU rules, the tapeworm window and the trip home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/bringing-pets-from-australia-to-ireland): Getting a pet into Ireland is the easy half: chip, rabies jab, EU certificate and a tapeworm dose for dogs. Getting them back into Australia later is where planning pays off. - [Seeing a doctor in Dublin: GP fees, the HSE and what the Australian agreement covers](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/irish-health-system-gp-hse-australians): There's no bulk billing in Dublin. Here's what a GP visit and A&E cost, which cards and schemes cut the bill, and what the Australia–Ireland health agreement really covers. - [Private health insurance in Ireland: dodge the late-entry loading in your first nine months](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/irish-private-health-insurance-late-entry-loading): Ireland charges late joiners 2% extra for every year over 34. New arrivals get nine months to avoid it. Here's how the loading works, what your Australian cover counts for, and how to compare. - [Schools in Dublin: enrolment queues, patronage and the Irish exemption](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/schools-in-dublin-enrolment-irish-exemption): Dublin schools fill fast and most are run by a church. Here's how admissions work, which Aussie kids can skip Irish, and how the Leaving Cert counts back home. - [Childcare in Dublin: crèche costs, free preschool and the National Childcare Scheme](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/childcare-in-dublin-ecce-and-nct): A full-time Dublin crèche place is now capped at €280 a week before subsidy. Here's how free preschool and the NCS cut that, and how to apply as a new arrival. - [Getting around Dublin: the Leap card, the 90-minute fare and when to take the DART](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/dublin-transport-leap-card-dart-luas): Dublin runs on the Leap card. Get one, learn the 90-minute fare and the €6 daily cap, and buses, Luas and DART suddenly make sense. Here's how it all fits together. - [Driving in Ireland: how to swap your Australian licence at the NDLS without ending up automatic-only](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/driving-ireland-australian-licence-exchange): Ireland recognises Australian licences, so there's no test. But one missing letter can leave you with an automatic-only Irish licence. Here's how to do the swap properly. - [Gaelic football in Dublin: how Aussie Rules players join the GAA](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/gaelic-football-gaa-dublin-australians): If you grew up kicking a Sherrin, Gaelic football will feel half familiar. Here's how to join a Dublin GAA club, what you'll need to unlearn, and why it's the best way to make Irish mates. - [Moving to Dublin from Australia: visas, paperwork and your first month](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/moving-to-dublin): Dublin is small, friendly and expensive to live in. Here's how Australians get the right to work there, which paperwork comes first and where people actually settle. - [Renting in Dublin: what Australians need to know before handing over a deposit](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/renting-in-dublin): Dublin's rental market is tight and pricey, but tenants have more protection than ever after the March 2026 changes. Here's how leases, deposits and rent rises work. - [Cost of living in Dublin: how it stacks up against Sydney and Melbourne](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/cost-of-living-dublin): Dublin rent will sting, the pint will sting a bit less and the bus is a bargain. Here's what life in Dublin costs in 2026 and how it compares with Sydney and Melbourne. - [Aussie life in Dublin: where to find footy, a dawn service and your people](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/aussie-life-in-dublin): Dublin feels half familiar from the first pint. Here's where Australians play footy, mark Anzac Day, meet other expats and find a taste of home in the Irish capital. - [Irish citizenship by descent: how Australians with an Irish nan can work in Dublin](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/irish-citizenship-by-descent-and-working-in-dublin): An Irish-born grandparent could be your ticket to living and working in Dublin with no visa, no age limit and no permit. Here's who qualifies and how the process works. - [Australian cafés, restaurants and bars in Dublin: a short list, honestly told](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-dublin): Dublin has no Aussie pub and only a handful of Australian-run spots. Here's the short list we could verify, plus where to buy Tim Tams and how to find the footy. - [Nightlife in Dublin: pints, trad sessions and the 11.30pm surprise](https://expatcooee.com/cities/dublin/nightlife-in-dublin): Dublin does the pub better than anywhere. But pubs close earlier than you'd think and drinking on the street can cost you. Here's how a Dublin night out really works. ## Paris - [French paperwork for Australians: apostilles, sworn translations and the fresh birth certificate](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/french-paperwork-birth-certificate-apostille): France runs on paper. Here's which Australian documents you'll need, how to get them apostilled by DFAT, who can translate them and why an old birth certificate won't do. - [Opening a French bank account: the RIB, the right to an account and moving money from home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/opening-a-bank-account-in-paris-rib): No RIB, no flat, no salary, no phone plan. How Australians open a French account, what to do if a bank says no, and how to keep your Australian accounts working. - [French income tax for Australians: withholding, your first paper return and the treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/french-income-tax-first-declaration-australians): France takes tax from your pay each month, but you still owe a return every spring, and the first one is on paper. Here's how it works for Australians in Paris. - [Working in Paris: CDI or CDD, the 35-hour week and reading your French payslip](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/working-in-paris-contracts-and-payslips): French salaries are quoted gross, contracts come in two flavours and the payslip runs to a page of acronyms. Here's what Australians need to know before signing. - [Freelancing in France: how the micro-entrepreneur regime works for Australians](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/micro-entrepreneur-france-australians): The micro-entreprise is France's simplest way to freelance: register online, pay a flat share of turnover. The catch for Australians is having the right residence card. - [Setting up a Paris flat: home insurance, electricity, the internet box and the syndic](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/paris-utilities-home-insurance): You've got the keys. Now comes compulsory home insurance, a 14-digit meter number, a box for the internet and a building with its own rulebook. Here's the order to do it in. - [Bringing a dog or cat from Australia to France: the easy way in, the hard way home](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/bringing-pets-from-australia-to-france): Getting a pet into France from Australia takes weeks, not months. Bringing it home again takes at least six months. Plan both before you book the flight. - [French healthcare for Australians: Carte Vitale, PUMa and the mutuelle explained](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/french-health-system-carte-vitale-mutuelle): France has no reciprocal health deal with Australia, so Medicare won't help you here. How to join PUMa, get your Carte Vitale and stop paying full price at the doctor. - [Having a baby in Paris: maternity booking, leave and Australian citizenship](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/having-a-baby-in-paris): Paris maternity wards fill up fast, and the paperwork starts before the baby does. Booking, costs, leave, the five-day birth declaration and making your baby Australian. - [Schools in Paris: French public school, international sections and crèches](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/schools-in-paris-international-and-french): French school is free, compulsory from age 3 and organised by your address. How enrolment works in Paris, where the bilingual options are, and how to get a crèche place. - [Learning French in Paris: OFII classes and the level you need to stay](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/learning-french-in-paris-cir-language-level): French is no longer optional if you want to stay. A2 for a multi-year card, B1 for the 10-year card, B2 for citizenship, and where to learn it in Paris. - [Getting around Paris: the Navigo pass, strikes and the RER](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/paris-transport-navigo-pass): One Navigo pass covers the whole Paris region for €90.80 a month in 2026, and your employer pays half. Which pass to buy, how strikes work and how to reach CDG. - [Swapping your Australian licence in France: which states qualify](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/exchanging-australian-licence-in-france): Every Australian state's car licence can be swapped in France in 2026, but the one-year clock is strict. The documents, the ANTS process and what trips people up. - [Moving to Paris from Australia: visas, paperwork and your first months](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/moving-to-paris): Paris rewards people who arrive organised. Here's the order to do things in, from the visa you lodge in Australia to the health card you wait months for. - [Renting in Paris: the dossier, the deposit and the rent cap](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/renting-in-paris): In Paris the best flat goes to the best file, not the first caller. How leases, deposits and the rent cap work, and how to build a dossier that wins. - [Cost of living in Paris: where it beats Sydney and where it bites](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/cost-of-living-paris): Paris rents per square metre are steep and French pay looks low next to Australia's. But transport, lunch menus and cheap trains change the maths. - [Aussie life in Paris: footy, a Somme dawn service and your people](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/aussie-life-in-paris): Paris has fewer Aussies than London, which makes finding them more rewarding. Footy in France, a dawn service on the Somme and grand final with croissants. - [French visas for Australians: the working holiday and what comes after](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/french-visas-for-australians-working-holiday-and-beyond): Australians get one of France's best working holiday deals: up to 35, no quota. Here's how it works, plus the visas that let you stay longer. - [Australian cafés and bars in Paris: flat whites, pancakes and footy at dawn](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-paris): Paris has fewer Aussie venues than you'd hope, but the ones that exist are good. An Australian-founded coffee chain, Melbourne-style pancakes and a bar showing AFL. - [Nightlife in Paris: wine bars, techno and the last metro at 2.15am](https://expatcooee.com/cities/paris/nightlife-in-paris): Paris nights start late, run long and are kinder to your wallet than you'd think. Here's where to go, what a pint costs in 2026 and how to get home after the last metro. ## Bali - [Your phone in Bali: IMEI registration and the 90-day block](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/indonesia-phone-imei-registration-bali): Your Aussie phone works on a local SIM in Bali for a while, then it doesn't. Here's how IMEI registration works, what customs charges and how to keep your 2FA. - [Tax in Indonesia for Australians: the 183-day rule, the NPWP and the treaty](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/indonesian-tax-residency-npwp-australians): Spend more than 183 days in Bali and Indonesia may want a tax return from you. Here's how residency, the NPWP and the Australia–Indonesia tax treaty actually work. - [Starting a business in Bali: the PT PMA, the capital rules and the nominee trap](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/setting-up-a-pt-pma-in-bali): Want to run a café, villa or agency in Bali? Foreigners need a PT PMA. Here's what the 2025 capital rules say, how OSS licensing works and why nominees are a bad idea. - [Banking in Bali: local accounts, QRIS and moving money from Australia](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/banking-in-bali-for-australians): Bali runs on rupiah and QR codes. Here's how to open a local account with a KITAS, get by without one, dodge ATM skimmers and carry cash legally. - [Running a Bali villa: PLN tokens, water, internet and surviving the wet season](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/bali-villa-utilities-pln-water-internet): Your Bali villa runs on a prepaid power meter, a water pump and a hopeful internet line. How it all works, what it costs in 2026 and who pays for what. - [Hiring household staff in Bali: fair wages, the THR bonus and doing it properly](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/hiring-household-staff-in-bali): Hiring a pembantu, driver or nanny in Bali? Here's what to pay against the 2026 minimum wage, how the THR bonus works, BPJS cover and the new domestic workers law. - [Pets and Bali: why your dog probably can't come, and why getting home is harder](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/bringing-pets-from-australia-to-bali): Bali has been closed to dogs and cats since rabies arrived in 2008, and Australia won't take pets straight from Indonesia. Plan both directions before you fall in love. - [Hospitals in Bali: emergency care, evacuation and insurance that actually pays](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/hospitals-and-medical-evacuation-bali): Medicare stops at the airport. In Bali, hospitals want proof you can pay before they treat you. Here's which hospital does what, and the insurance that covers it. - [Dengue, rabies and Bali belly: staying healthy when you live on the island](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/dengue-rabies-and-bali-belly): Bali's real health risks aren't sharks. They're a stray dog, a day-biting mosquito, a dodgy cocktail and the ice. Here's how residents stay well. - [Schools in Bali: Australian curriculum, IB, Green School and what it all costs](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/international-schools-in-bali): Bali has an Australian-curriculum school, several IB and Cambridge schools and the famous Green School. Here's what they cost in 2026 and how to choose. - [Riding a scooter in Bali: the licence, the police checks and the insurance trap](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/scooter-licence-and-driving-in-bali): Your Aussie car licence won't cover a scooter in Bali, and your insurer knows it. What you need to ride legally in 2026, and what the proposed rental ban means. - [Getting around Bali without a scooter: apps, drivers, buses and the airport run](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/getting-around-bali-without-a-scooter): You can live well in Bali without ever riding a scooter. Here's how Australians get around with apps, drivers, the red buses and a smarter airport run. - [Living with the banjar: Nyepi, ceremonies and community fees in Bali](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/living-with-the-banjar-bali): Your villa sits inside a banjar, Bali's village council. Here's how registration, community fees, ceremonies and Nyepi work, and how to be a neighbour they like. - [Moving to Bali from Australia: visas, first weeks and where to land](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/moving-to-bali): Bali is close, cheap to fly to and easy to love. Moving there properly takes the right visa, a few online forms and a healthy respect for local law. - [Renting in Bali as an Australian: villas, upfront leases and what to check](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/renting-in-bali): Renting in Bali is cheap by Sydney standards, but the rules are looser and the money often goes upfront. Here's how to rent without getting burnt. - [Cost of living in Bali vs Sydney and Melbourne: cheaper, until it isn't](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/cost-of-living-bali): Bali is much cheaper than Sydney or Melbourne for rent, food and transport. Imported cheese, insurance and visas are where the savings leak away. - [Aussie life in Bali: footy with the Geckos, a meat pie and a lot of mates](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/aussie-life-in-bali): Bali might be the most Australian place outside Australia. Here's where to find footy, cricket, a decent flat white and the people who'll help you settle in. - [Living in Bali as an Australian: long-stay visas, villa leases and staying legal](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/living-in-bali-as-an-australian-long-stay-visas-and-villas): Want more than a holiday? The visas Australians use to live in Bali long term, what they cost in 2026 and how to lease a villa without losing your shirt. - [Australian restaurants, cafés and bars in Bali: Aussie coffee, a Mildura pie and the footy by the pool](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/australian-restaurants-cafes-and-bars-in-bali): Bali feels Australian everywhere, but venues change fast. Here are the Aussie-founded cafés, a pie shop and the footy venues we could actually confirm for 2026. - [Nightlife in Bali: beach clubs, clifftop sunsets and the arak warning](https://expatcooee.com/cities/bali/nightlife-in-bali): Bali's nights start at a beach club at sunset and end anywhere from a Canggu dance floor to a clifftop in Uluwatu. Here's where to go and how to stay out of trouble. ## Living abroad - [Leaving Australia: the checklist to tick off before you board](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/leaving-australia-checklist): Tax, bank, super, Medicare, HELP, the electoral roll and the mail. What to sort before you fly out, and what can safely wait until you land. - [Are you still an Australian tax resident once you move? How the ATO decides](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/australian-tax-residency-after-moving): Your passport doesn't decide it and neither does your flight. Here's how the ATO's residency tests work for Australians who move overseas, and what changes if you're out. - [Your super while you live overseas: what happens, and how to keep it in shape](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/super-while-living-overseas): Your super doesn't come with you, and you usually can't cash it out early. Here's how to keep track of it, stop fees nibbling at it and tidy up from abroad. - [Medicare when you live abroad: what's covered, what isn't and how to get back on](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/medicare-when-you-live-abroad): Your green card stays in your wallet but it won't pay a cent in Berlin or Bangkok. Here's what Medicare does and doesn't do once you live overseas. - [Voting from overseas: how Australians abroad stay on the roll and vote](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/voting-from-overseas): You can keep voting in federal elections from London, Dubai or Bali, but only if you tell the AEC before the roll quietly forgets you. Here's how it works. - [Sending money home: how to stop fees and bad rates eating your transfer](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/sending-money-home): The fee you see is rarely the fee you pay. How to compare international transfers properly, what AUSTRAC needs to know, and when the ATO starts asking questions. - [Your Australian driver's licence abroad: drive, swap or renew?](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/australian-drivers-licence-abroad): Your Aussie licence can get you a long way overseas, but not forever. When to carry an IDP, when to swap for a local licence, and how to renew from abroad. - [Babies born overseas: how to make your little one an Aussie](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/citizenship-by-descent-babies-born-overseas): A baby born overseas to an Australian parent isn't automatically on the books. How citizenship by descent works, what it costs in 2026, and how to get that first passport. - [Keeping your Australian bank, number and accounts: what to hold on to](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/keeping-australian-accounts-while-abroad): Close too much and you'll be locked out of myGov from a hotel in Lisbon. Keep too much and you'll pay for nothing. What to hold on to back home, and why. - [Moving back to Australia: the return checklist, from packing to Medicare](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/moving-back-to-australia-checklist): Coming home is a move too, and it's often the harder one. A month-by-month checklist covering customs, pets, Medicare, tax and the bits everyone forgets. - [HECS-HELP debt overseas: the loan that follows you through customs](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/hecs-help-debt-when-you-live-overseas): Your HELP debt doesn't stay in Australia when you do not. Here's how overseas reporting works, what you'll repay on a foreign salary, and why ignoring it costs more. - [Centrelink and the Age Pension abroad: what keeps paying and what stops](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/centrelink-and-the-age-pension-abroad): The Age Pension can follow you overseas, but often at a smaller rate. JobSeeker and Family Tax Benefit generally can't. Here's how portability works in 2026. - [Renewing your Australian passport overseas: fees, timing and the traps](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/renewing-your-australian-passport-overseas): Renewing from overseas costs more, takes at least six weeks and cancels your old passport the moment you apply. Here's how to time it, what it costs and what to do if it's lost. - [Wills and power of attorney abroad: who decides when you can't](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/wills-and-power-of-attorney-when-you-live-abroad): Assets in two countries means two legal systems with a say in your estate. Here's how Australians abroad usually handle wills, enduring powers of attorney and witnessing. - [Bringing a foreign partner home: how the Australian partner visa works](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/bringing-a-foreign-partner-home-to-australia): Which partner visa fits, what it costs from July 2026, why offshore applications wait longer, and the evidence that makes or breaks a case. - [Private health insurance when you move overseas: suspend, cancel or keep?](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/private-health-insurance-when-you-move-overseas): Suspend, cancel or keep paying? How your Australian hospital cover, Lifetime Health Cover loading and the Medicare levy surcharge work once you live abroad. - [Bringing your pet home to Australia: permits, rabies tests and Mickleham](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/bringing-your-pet-home-to-australia): Country groups, the rabies test, the 180-day wait and 10 or 30 days at Mickleham. How to bring your cat or dog home, and what the government fees add up to. - [Shipping your belongings home: getting through customs and biosecurity](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/shipping-your-belongings-home-and-customs): The B534 form, the 12-month rule, what biosecurity opens, what never gets in, and how to choose between a container, shared shipping and air freight. - [Schooling Australian kids abroad: choosing a school and getting back in](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/schooling-australian-kids-abroad-and-coming-home): International school, IB or an Australian curriculum overseas? How to pick, how the IB converts to an ATAR-style rank, and how kids slot back in at home. - [Consular help abroad: what the Australian embassy will and won't do](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/consular-help-and-smartraveller-for-australians-abroad): The embassy can replace your passport and visit you in jail. It can't get you out, pay your hospital bill or give legal advice. Here's the real list. - [Your Australian credit score while overseas: keep the file alive](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/your-australian-credit-score-while-overseas): Your credit history doesn't follow you overseas, and it doesn't come home with you either. How to keep your Australian file healthy from abroad. - [The inner move: the part of moving abroad nobody packs a box for](https://expatcooee.com/living-abroad/the-inner-move): The removalists move your furniture. Nobody moves your friends, your routines or your kids' best mates. Here's how families get through the inner move. ## Property back home - [Home loans for Australians abroad: yes, you can still borrow back home](https://expatcooee.com/property/home-loans-for-australians-abroad): Living overseas doesn't shut you out of an Australian mortgage. Here's what lenders look at, which rules apply to citizens abroad and how to get ready. - [Foreign income and Australian lenders: why your salary shrinks on paper](https://expatcooee.com/property/foreign-income-australian-lenders): Your overseas salary rarely counts in full with an Australian lender. Here's how currencies, discounts, exchange rates and payslips shape what you can borrow. - [Deposit and LVR as an expat borrower: how much cash you really need](https://expatcooee.com/property/deposit-and-lvr-expat-borrowers): Expat borrowers usually need a bigger deposit than locals. Here's how LVR works, why lenders cap it lower for you, what LMI is and the costs on top. - [Buying an investment property from overseas: the step-by-step playbook](https://expatcooee.com/property/buying-investment-property-from-overseas): From pre-approval to handing over the keys to a property manager: how Australians abroad buy an investment property back home, and the 2027 tax changes to know. - [Using the equity in your Australian home: buying again without a cash deposit](https://expatcooee.com/property/using-equity-to-buy-again): The house you left behind may be your next deposit. How usable equity is worked out, how to structure the loans and the tax traps to dodge while overseas. - [Renting out your home while you're overseas: the loan, the tenant and the tax](https://expatcooee.com/property/renting-out-your-home-while-abroad): Your home becomes a rental the day you hand over the keys. Here is what that means for your loan, the tenant and the ATO, and the CGT trap most expats miss. - [Buying the home you'll move back into: planning your return from overseas](https://expatcooee.com/property/buying-the-home-you-move-back-into): Buying before you fly home sounds tidy. The timing of settlement, the move-in rules on first home concessions and the gap in between all need a plan. - [Buying sight unseen: how to inspect, check and settle an Australian property from abroad](https://expatcooee.com/property/buying-property-sight-unseen): You can buy a house in Brisbane from a desk in Berlin. The trick is replacing your own eyes with people, reports and paperwork you can trust. - [Your home loan health check while overseas: is your mortgage still pulling its weight?](https://expatcooee.com/property/home-loan-health-check-overseas): A loan you set up years ago and haven't looked at since is probably costing you. Here is a simple once-a-year check you can run from anywhere. - [Why expats use a mortgage broker: what they do, how they're paid and what to ask](https://expatcooee.com/property/why-expats-use-a-mortgage-broker): More than 80% of Australian home loans go through a broker. For expats juggling time zones and foreign income, here is what a broker actually does and how to pick one. ## Compare - [Buying in London vs back home: what Australians really pay](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-london-vs-australia): Own a place in Australia? London's stamp duty treats you as a second-home buyer. Here's how a London flat compares with buying back home, cost by cost. - [Buying in Athens vs back home: cheap to buy in, for now](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-athens-vs-australia): Greece's 3.09% transfer tax looks tiny next to NSW duty, but a planned 15% rate for non-EU buyers could change that. Here's how Athens compares with home. - [Buying in Los Angeles vs back home: the cheap entry and the long tail](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-los-angeles-vs-australia): Los Angeles charges almost nothing to buy in, then sends a property tax bill every year. Here's how that stacks up against stamp duty back home. - [Buying in New York vs back home: co-op boards, mansion tax and the mortgage tax nobody mentions](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-new-york-vs-australia): In New York, the type of apartment decides your tax bill as much as the price. Here's how a co-op or condo compares with buying back home. - [Buying in Hong Kong vs back home: where the duty is lighter now](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-hong-kong-vs-australia): Hong Kong dropped its extra duties for non-permanent residents in 2024. We compare what Australians pay to buy, hold and sell a flat there versus a home back in NSW. - [Buying in Auckland vs back home: no stamp duty, no permission slip](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-auckland-vs-australia): New Zealand lets Australian citizens buy homes without approval and charges no stamp duty. Here's what Auckland costs instead, and how it compares with home. - [Buying in Toronto vs back home: two transfer taxes, a ban and a 35% catch](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-toronto-vs-australia): Until you're a Canadian permanent resident, buying in Toronto can cost 35% of the price in extra tax. Here's how it compares with buying back home. - [Buying in Rome vs back home: where the tax hides in the cadastre](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-rome-vs-australia): In Rome, purchase tax is often worked out on an official cadastral value, not the price. Here's how a Roman flat compares with buying back home in NSW. - [Buying in Valletta vs back home: permits, duty and the AIP catch](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-valletta-vs-australia): Malta's 5% stamp duty is simple. The AIP permit, its minimum prices and its no-renting rule are not. Here's how a Valletta flat compares with buying in NSW. - [Buying in Ho Chi Minh City vs back home: a 50-year key or a freehold one](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-ho-chi-minh-city-vs-australia): Vietnam's purchase costs are low, but foreigners get a 50-year term inside a building quota. Here's how Ho Chi Minh City compares with buying back home in NSW. - [Buying in Dubai vs back home: no income tax, but plenty of fees](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-dubai-vs-australia): Dubai has no stamp duty surcharge and no income tax on your rent, but the 4% DLD fee, agent commission and service charges add up. Here's how it compares with NSW. - [Buying in Singapore vs back home: what Australians really pay](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-singapore-vs-australia): Singapore's 60% foreign buyer duty changes the maths completely. Here's how a condo in Singapore stacks up against buying back home in NSW, cost by cost. - [Buying in Bangkok vs back home: condos, quotas and the cash you need](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-bangkok-vs-australia): In Thailand you can own a condo but not the land under a house, and you'll likely pay cash. Here's how buying in Bangkok compares with buying back home, cost by cost. - [Buying in Beirut vs back home: cash, family papers and a lot of patience](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-beirut-vs-australia): In Beirut you'll likely pay cash, register through the cadastre and buy as a Lebanese if you hold the passport. Here's how it compares with buying back home in NSW. - [Buying in Seoul vs back home: permits, taxes and loans compared](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-seoul-vs-australia): Since 2025, foreigners need a permit to buy a home in Seoul and must live in it. Here's how Seoul compares with buying back home in NSW, cost by cost. - [Buying in Shanghai vs back home: one flat, many conditions](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-shanghai-vs-australia): Shanghai's deed tax is tiny next to NSW stamp duty, but foreigners can usually buy only one home, to live in. Here's the full side-by-side for Australians. - [Buying in Berlin vs back home: what Australians really pay](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-berlin-vs-australia): No foreign buyer tax in Germany, but Berlin's 6% transfer tax plus notary and agent fees add up fast. Here's how a Berlin flat compares with buying in NSW. - [Buying in Tokyo vs back home: what Australians really pay](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-tokyo-vs-australia): Japan lets foreigners buy freehold with no surcharge, but the buyer pays the agent. Here's how a Tokyo apartment stacks up against buying back home in NSW. - [Buying in Amsterdam vs back home: what Australians pay to own](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-amsterdam-vs-australia): Live in it and Dutch transfer tax is 2%. Buy to let and it's 8%, if Amsterdam lets you rent it out at all. Here's how it compares with buying back home. - [Buying in Dublin vs back home: the costs Australians compare](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-dublin-vs-australia): Ireland charges 1% stamp duty on most homes and no foreign surcharge. The catch is getting the mortgage. Dublin vs buying back home, cost by cost. - [Buying in Paris vs back home: notaires, taxes and loans compared](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-paris-vs-australia): In Paris, 'frais de notaire' add about 7% to 8% to an older flat, foreigner or not. Here's how buying in Paris compares with buying back home, cost by cost. - [Buying in Bali vs back home: what your villa money really buys](https://expatcooee.com/compare/buying-property-in-bali-vs-australia): Foreigners can't hold freehold in Bali, but there are legal routes. We compare the rights, taxes and fees of a Bali villa with buying a home back in Australia.