Returning to Australia Guide
Coming home after living abroad? Here's what changes — tax residency, Medicare, Centrelink, super, and bringing your money back.
10-Step Return Checklist
Re-establish AU tax residency
Once you return with intent to stay, you generally become a tax resident from your arrival date. Notify the ATO and update your address via MyGov. You'll be taxed on worldwide income from that date.
Understand CGT Event I1
When you become an AU tax resident again, you're deemed to have acquired your foreign assets at market value on arrival. This becomes the cost base for future CGT calculations. See our CGT Event I1 calculator.
Re-enrol in Medicare
Visit a Medicare office or use MyGov to re-enrol. If you've been away for 5+ years, you may face a waiting period before coverage starts (up to 2 months for returning citizens). Get interim travel insurance.
Private health insurance — LHC loading
If you're over 31 and don't have PHI, you'll pay a Lifetime Health Cover loading of 2% per year over 30 on your premiums. Time spent overseas is generally exempt — get a Lifetime Health Cover certificate from your overseas insurer or Medicare.
Centrelink / Services Australia
Notify Services Australia you've returned. JobSeeker, FTB, and other payments may restart — but you'll need to re-apply and may face waiting periods (1–4 weeks for newly arrived residents, longer for some payments).
Update financial institutions
Notify your bank, super fund, and share registry that you're an AU resident again. Withholding rates revert to resident rates. You may be able to claim back over-withheld tax in your next return.
Transfer foreign savings to Australia
Use a specialist FX provider (Wise, OFX) rather than your bank for large transfers — saves 2-4% on exchange rates. There's no tax on bringing money into Australia, but any FX gains on foreign currency held overseas may be taxable.
Foreign pension / super transfer
If you have a foreign pension (UK SIPP, NZ KiwiSaver, etc.), consider whether to transfer to AU super. Each country has different rules and tax implications. See our Foreign Super Transfer tool.
Lodge your final non-resident return
For the year you return, you'll likely need a part-year return — non-resident for the period before return, resident for after. Income is split between the two periods.
Electoral and government services
Re-enrol with the AEC if your enrolment lapsed. Update your address on MyGov, Medicare, Centrelink, and state/territory services (driver's licence, registration).
Typical Return Timeline
Week 1–2: Arrival
Re-establish bank accounts, apply for Medicare, notify ATO. Get temporary accommodation sorted. Start job search if needed.
Week 2–4: Government Services
Centrelink application (if needed), driver's licence renewal, TFN update. Enrol children in school.
Month 1–3: Financial Setup
Transfer overseas savings, start super contributions, arrange private health insurance, lodge any outstanding returns.
Month 3–6: Settling In
Tax return for year of return, transfer foreign pension if applicable, full financial review with adviser.