Moving to Australia From the USA in 2026: Visa Guide
An American can visit Australia on an electronic authority that costs AUD20, and Americans aged 18 to 30 can spend a year working there on a Work and Holiday visa that has no annual cap for US passport holders. Staying longer means an employer-sponsored visa, a points-tested skilled visa, a student visa or a partner visa, each with a published charge and processing time. This guide sets out the routes from the Australian Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force, with the US tax rules that follow a citizen abroad, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
US passport holders can visit on an Electronic Travel Authority for up to 3 months at a time, for a service charge of AUD20. The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is open to Americans aged 18 to 30, costs AUD840.00, lasts 12 months and needs about AUD5,000 in funds. A Skills in Demand visa costs AUD4,015.00 and requires a salary of at least AUD79,423. A Skilled Independent visa costs AUD6,135.00. US citizens remain subject to US tax on worldwide income.
Step 1: Visiting
The United States of America is on the list of ETA-eligible passports. You apply through the Australian ETA app. There is a service charge of AUD20 and no other charge. In most cases Home Affairs tells you the result immediately. An ETA lets you stay up to 3 months each time you enter, to visit family or friends or have a holiday.
Step 2: A year on the Work and Holiday visa
| Feature | Subclass 462, first visa |
|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 30 years old, inclusive, when you apply |
| Passport | From an eligible country. The United States of America is on the list |
| Cap | Home Affairs limits first visas for each eligible country except the United States of America |
| Stay | 12 months |
| Cost | AUD840.00 |
| Funds | Usually about AUD5,000 for your initial stay, plus the fare onward |
| Where you apply | From outside Australia, on your own. Family members cannot be included |
| Children | You must not be accompanied by dependent children |
| Processing | 50% of applications in 3 Days, 90% in 44 Days |
With the visa you can do short-term work to help pay for your holiday and study for up to 4 months. Doing 3 months of specified work makes you eligible for a second visa, which costs AUD1,000.00. Home Affairs says it is normalising processing for working holiday applications, with an average expected to be around three months, and advises against booking flights until the visa is granted.
Step 3: Longer-term routes
| Visa | Main condition | Charge, main applicant | Processing, 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Core Skills | An employer nominates you for an occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, with at least 1 year of relevant work experience | AUD4,015.00 | 4 Months | 9 Months |
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189) | Points tested stream | AUD6,135.00 | 61 Days | 8 Months |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | A suitable skills assessment, an invitation to apply and the points test | AUD6,140.00 | 4 Months | 16 Months |
| Student (subclass 500) | Enrolment in a course of study | AUD2,500.00 | — |
| Partner (subclass 309/100 or 820/801) | The spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen | AUD11,710.00 | — |
The salary rule for sponsored workers
In the Core Skills stream you must be paid the annual market salary rate for the occupation and no less than the Core Skills Income Threshold: AUD79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. The Specialist Skills stream has a threshold of AUD146,576. The visa allows a stay of up to 4 years.
Step 4: Shipping your belongings
- Arrange the shipment before you arrive. Goods are eligible for the unaccompanied personal effects concession only if their transport was arranged before your arrival.
- 12 months of ownership and use is required for furniture, household goods and personal effects. Personal clothing and footwear have no such requirement.
- Lodge the B534 form with a packing list and shipping documents.
- Biosecurity: every shipment is assessed. Wooden furniture and items that have touched soil, such as golf clubs, get particular attention, and any cleaning or treatment is at your expense.
Step 5: First weeks
- Tax file number: your employer will ask for it, along with your bank account details.
- Medicare: the federal health service. Home Affairs says you may be eligible to join it, with free public hospital care and help with other costs.
- Pay: the National Minimum Wage is $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026, and average weekly ordinary time earnings for full-time adults were $2,083.70 in May 2026.
- Qualifications: some occupations require registration or licensing with a government authority.
Step 6: US tax does not stop at the border
The IRS states that a US citizen is subject to tax on worldwide income from all sources, and that the filing rules are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad.
- Reliefs: many Americans abroad qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit, but only by filing a US return.
- Foreign accounts: a US person must file an FBAR if the aggregate value of foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year.
Frequently asked questions
Can a US citizen move to Australia?
Yes, with a visa. Options include the Work and Holiday visa for ages 18 to 30, the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa, points-tested skilled visas, student visas and partner visas.
Do Americans need a visa to visit Australia?
They need an Electronic Travel Authority, applied for in the Australian ETA app for a service charge of AUD20. It allows stays of up to 3 months at a time.
Can Americans get a working holiday visa for Australia?
Yes. The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) is open to US passport holders aged 18 to 30, costs AUD840.00 and lasts 12 months.
How much money do I need for the Work and Holiday visa?
Usually about AUD5,000 for your initial stay, plus the fare to where you are going after leaving Australia.
What salary do I need for an Australian work visa?
At least AUD79,423 in the Core Skills stream of the Skills in Demand visa, for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Can I ship my household goods to Australia duty-free?
Furniture and household goods owned and used for 12 months can qualify for the unaccompanied personal effects concession, if you arranged the shipment before you arrived.
Do I still file US taxes if I live in Australia?
Yes. US citizens are subject to tax on worldwide income and must file. Foreign accounts above $10,000 in aggregate require an FBAR.
Official sources
- Department of Home Affairs — Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)
- Department of Home Affairs — First Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
- Department of Home Affairs — Current visa pricing table
- Department of Home Affairs — Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
- Department of Home Affairs — Visa processing times
- Australian Border Force — Unaccompanied personal effects
- Fair Work Ombudsman — Minimum wages
- Australian Bureau of Statistics — Average weekly earnings
- IRS — U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad
- FinCEN — Report foreign bank and financial accounts (FBAR)
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Processing times are readings from the Home Affairs tool on that date and are a guide only. Information, not legal or tax advice.