NewStats: 3,261,678 , 8,174,751 topics. Date: Friday, 30 May 2025 at 05:52 AM 6f5j4m

You’ve heard about work holiday visa ?

Kinboe:


NO. Your port does not matter. Visitors visa to Australia is not for working.

Wrap46:
You’ve heard about work holiday visa ?

That is not a visitors visa. It is a special visa for specific countries to come and work on their rural farms and such. Different visa

blackbriar:
Please i have a tax related question.

If a migrant leaves the country, say for 2 years.
Would said migrant need to pay tax for the 2 years that they are out of the country?

You only pay tax on income earned in Australia.

Only the US taxs its citizens everywhere they go.

megastu:
So if you want to keep eating the same palm oil found in Naija why don't you just remain in Naija?

This was a mean and unecessary response. Don't be a bully

It’s called work holiday visa, and a temporary visa that allows you to work while you explore Australia and abeg it’s not a must to work in a farm. 👀

Kinboe:


That is not a visitors visa. It is a special visa for specific countries to come and work on their rural farms and such. Different visa

Please house, I am an experienced midwife with practicing license.
Does Australia accept Nigeria midwives as skilled worker?

My husband is an HND in electrical/telecom engineer, can someone please put us through on how to go about the process of Coming down to Australia.

[quote author=Mcslize post=127561266]

I love keeping records. Here you have it.

WHERE TO RENT & GET ACCOMMODATION IN AUSTRALIA

https://flatmates.com.au/

https://www.gumtree.com.au/

You can also check Facebook market place if you have a Facebook . Just click on the 3 horizontal lines, then click marketplace, select your region and type in whatever you need and search. There are so many houses for rent there as well in any region of Australia you desire.

Thanks

blovesther:
Please house, I am an experienced midwife with practicing license.
Does Australia accept Nigeria midwives as skilled worker?

My husband is an HND in electrical/telecom engineer, can someone please put us through on how to go about the process of Coming down to Australia.

You will find answers to most of your questions on here

Hope that helps.

Happy New year to everyone, please I just moved to South Australia. Infact it feels like I am in the middle of no where and forgotten. Have not seen any Nigerian, have met few people from other African countries. Please can someone here help with a group I can atleast to help me integrate and possibly get other information.

victor54:
Hello, please I'm looking for a room to rent in Melbourne. Does anyone here have a room to rent in Melbourne?

Have you found the accomodation?

geee213:
Hello All,
Coming to Australia in January, I need a room to rent. Can someone help? Thanks

Still searching for a room?

ChikeGreat:


Still searching for a room?

Yes, still searching. You have any?

Thanks

geee213:


Yes, still searching. You have any?

Thanks

Yeah. I have a room in Strathulloh, just around Melton south. Where do you live at the moment.

ChikeGreat:


Yeah. I have a room in Strathulloh, just around Melton south. Where do you live at the moment.

Thanks for your message. Still in Nigeria, flight is feb 7 and my university is australia catholic university. I'm female by the way.

Thanks

lauv23:
Happy New year to everyone, please I just moved to South Australia. Infact it feels like I am in the middle of no where and forgotten. Have not seen any Nigerian, have met few people from other African countries. Please can someone here help with a group I can at least to help me integrate and possibly get other information.

Google and check popular Nigeria churches in South Australia, visit them and mingle.

Please is there any WhatsApp group for Nigerians in Perth? A newbie in Perth

geee213:


Thanks for your message. Still in Nigeria, flight is feb 7 and my university is australia catholic university. I'm female by the way.

Thanks

Welcome to Australia in advance, please post in the Nigerian student survival page and give us tips regarding the travel process and what you were allowed to carry into the country.

Thanks. Will surely do that.

AussieJoan:

Welcome to Australia in advance, please post in the Nigerian student survival page and give us tips regarding the travel process and what you were allowed to carry into the country.

momamorgz:
Please is there any WhatsApp group for Nigerians in Perth? A newbie in Perth

Where about in Perth are you?

momamorgz:
Please is there any WhatsApp group for Nigerians in Perth? A newbie in Perth

Yes there is an association for Nigerians living in Perth and also a whatsapp group.
Chat me up on telegram @Kingsyze

To students coming to Sydney, if you would want a private car to pick you up at the airport and drop you off at your place of residence (for a price). Hit me up as I will be free most of next month.

Hi,
I sent a message too to the melbourne group.

kory:


Yes there is. Reach out to tyosho. Or send me a message. I can send your number there.

tyosho:
It will be nice if this thread is restricted to info about life in australia.Not questions on how to secure visa or gain ission.

My family and I made use of IOM to secure our travel tickets.We went with emirates and had a stopover in Dubai.Nothing special about the travel experience.We were entitled to 40kg per adult,40kg for a child and 23kg for infant.We also paid for 2 extra bags of 32kg each but i hear prices have gone up so cargoing is cheaper.You can cargo through certain airlines like saa,emirates and etihad.
All in all we had like 12 luggages.
I went with ALL kinds of food stuffs except beans(becos of weavils).With my food items,i put them individually in transparent bags and labelled them.Fish,egusi,dry pepper,garri,amala etc.
Got to melbourne,declared i had food items but was not searched and was allowed to go through.

We opened accts with NAB and commonwealth bank but didnt transfer any money from nigera.We went with some cash and left the remaining in a GT dom acct and transferred from there to our OZzy acct when we arrived.We also opened a dom acct in OZ(commonwealth bank was seamless) for ease of transfer.There might be a cheaper way to transfer funds but this is what we did.

We stayed with family in Northern suburbs initially but got our own place in the Eastern suburbs,somewhere not far from Dandenong.We settled for the East because its quite busy,more factories and industries in these areas.If i dont live in the East,I will go for the North and West in that order.West is cheapest but people say it has a history of crime.I however have friends who have lived in the West over 10years and have never had any incidents.Anyhow,wherever you decide to stay is fine.Just get somewhere close to the train station and mall.

In melbourne,you can use your naija license for 6months.My husband ed his victoria drivers test on first attempt,i havnt tried yet for my drivers license.People say though that it can be quite tough cos i know someone who failed 5times!I was able to start driving within 2months of getting here.Just ,you drive on the left always.

No ideas on how mortgages work but when choosing a neighborhood,also consider ones with good schools if you have kids.If your kids are still of daycare age(below 5),use careforkids.com.au to compare prices,reviews etc.

Settling in was not bad for me cos i had friends and family here already.My kids settled fine as well.

Upon arrival;
Get a mobile sim(i use lebara)
Apply for TFN(tax file no)
Open a bank or go and activate the one you opened from Nigeria
Go to centerlink and medicare for registration
Get a travel card(MYki card if in melbourne).

Update your linkedin profile and make it very appealing to recruiters.You can also search for recruiters on Linkedin.

With regards to work,there is always something to do.It might not be want you want initially but there is work.Some people start off working at factories,aged care homes,disability and centres etc until they eventually get what they want.Some people also end up going into nursing,community welfare,policing etc.But like i said,if you dont mind chopping humble pie to start somewhere earning money with these blue collar jobs,you will be okay.I know people who have houses with money earned from these blue collar professions.
There is dignity of labour here so people dont care what job you do to earn money.

For transportation,if you can afford it,pls plan to buy a car asap(carsales.com.au,gumtreee.com.au).please buy cars with roadworthiness and valid registration(at least 6months).If no car,you can use the metro system until you can afford to get a car here.

For housing,a friend referred us to her agent who leased us an apartment even though we didnt have jobs at the time.She accepted our bank statements as proof of income.We pay just a little below 2k monthly as rent.

Then i also just found out about NRAS housing scheme from a colleague days back.Its for families who fall within a certain income threshold.IF your rent was like 350,you would pay like 260 and the govt will pay the balance.I dont have much info as i dont qualify anymore since hubby and I both work now.But im certain most freshbies would qualify.

With furnishing the house,we went across gumtree.com(for people who were selling their furniture due relocation or other reasons),kmart stores( for kitchen items),bestbuy.com(this is a company that sells new electronics at reduced prices because they have scratches or marks on them;there are plenty stores like that but this is the one i patronised) and ikea stores(for kitchen and beddings)

For people that dont mind as well,in order to save costs,you can patronise Salvos stores(its a charity shop that all kinds of household items in great condition).

To get the best energy providers,internet providers,insurance etc,you can make use of iselect.com.au

During cold weather,you wear jacket and use heater(we paid almost 200 a month for heating during this past winter)

I do most of my shopping at Dandenong Market as food stuffs there is cheaper than everyother place I know.There is also Marmara market at Dandenong(all kinds of food items including shaki,cowleg,cow tongue etc) and an African store not far from the market(cant rememeber the name).At noble park is SUR african shop where i get dry fish,palm oil,egusi and stuff like that.

With departmental stores,woolworths is most expensive and aldi is cheapest.Coles is in between.
I know of only one nigerian restaurant that recently opened in the city and i have never been there before.
There is also another popular naija shop in the West called Fatimoh"s shop

With centerlink link claims,we were paid family tax benefit part A and B,family rebate and child care assistance.This all sumed up to $621 forthnightly for the first 4months,it came down to 550 and then now sits at $89 fortnightly.It reduces with every income increase.
Childcare rates was $113 for two kids initially (5days a week) and now is $370 a week.

We also got a concession card which has now been cancelled since we both have jobs.With the concession card,we paid discounted electricity and waterbills,half price for transportation,free ambulance cover,susbsizied fees if we had done any studies at the time and my first kid who is in kinder got 15hours free of daycare weekly .

With jobs,for me,it was just God.I got a job in the Tier 1 team of an IT company with no technical knowledge whatsover.It was my 3rd video interview and i got the job two months after arrival.I commute 54mins by train to the CBD which is quite a distance by OZ standard.But i dont mind really.I got the job through indeed.com which i prefer to seek.com
There a couple of recruitment agencies i know and i will list as i .

Strategy one(blue collar)
Adecco
Hoban
Ozstaff(blue collar)
Randstad
Sharp &carter
Hays
Smaart



cc Bellong,vinsmuft,funkjo,oknee,hordunayo,incemay,abeg you guys should come and add o

please guys I want of someone living in new Zealand because I am planning to apply for New Zealand visitors visa

Does anyone have any information about name change on port ( middle name was used as last name and vis visa).
Can it be done in Canberra?

@tunlex01, @bellong and others

momamorgz:
Please is there any WhatsApp group for Nigerians in Perth? A newbie in Perth

Which suburb are you?

Does any one have any idea of jobs one can get that the payment is cash within Queensland? This new restriction of working 24hrs per week is not helping matters and considering the fact that Australia is strict on student visa these days. If you have any advise considering the working hours restriction please don't hesitate to share . Thank you

AussieJoan:
Does anyone have any information about name change on port ( middle name was used as last name and vis visa).
Can it be done in Canberra?

@tunlex01, @bellong and others

No idea. Call Canberra or email them.

damose12:
Does any one have any idea of jobs one can get that the payment is cash within Queensland? This new restriction of working 24hrs per week is not helping matters and considering the fact that Australia is strict on student visa these days. If you have any advise considering the working hours restriction please don't hesitate to share . Thank you

I have changed my name previously but unfortunately not here in Australia but in Sweden.

You need to fill a form and pay and write a letter to the comtroller general in Abuja. I think that’s what I did not very sure as it was years back.

Please any one in Queensland?
Please what is Rockhmapton Like?

blackbriar:
Please any one in Queensland?
Please what is Rockhmapton Like?

Just like most central Queensland and of one the oldest cities and beef capital of Australia .....nothing extra extra spectacular besides National parks, zoo, Capricon caves etc.
Yeppoon which is also not too far have very good beaches.
The vibe is, well, very "Australian".

5-10 minutes read.

This post is a breakdown of my arrival story from Nigeria, my MOTHERLAND, to Adelaide, my new home in Australia.

Note:
1. Events here are from my POV.

2. I am a first-time traveler.

3. to take this information as something other than a living document; events stated here could have changed or discarded when you read it.

4. Nonetheless, you can use these instructions to guide your next journey. I'll include as much information as needed to help anyone with a similar situation.

Documents I prepared from Lagos, Nigeria:

1. My international port.

2. Visa grant, printed one document containing 4 pages. (I made 3 extra sets of photocopies, which wasn't required, as I found out later, but I just wanted to be safe than sorry.)

3. Yellow Fever Vaccination Card. The officials at the point of entry into Australia asked me for it.

4. My Covid vaccination card. The officers didn't request it either in Nigeria or Australia.
Airline ticket

5. Receipt for extra legroom on the plane (entirely optional).

6. Receipt for my lounge in Doha (entirely optional).

Departure experience from MMIA (New Terminal)

We were told that Qatar Airways had relocated to the new terminal at the airport. So, that was where I eventually boarded.

My flight was scheduled to depart at 21:10 hrs, but I arrived 5 hours earlier at the airport. Leaving the house was a personal decision as Qatar only required me to be there 3 hours earlier.

Only travelers were allowed at this new terminal, so my brother and mum were told to stay outside. But one of the officers changed her mind and later said Mumsy could follow me.

Customs
The first people I met were officers of the Nigerian customs who asked me a few questions. I politely responded to all their inquiries, and they let me go without much hassle.

Staff of Qatar Airways
Qatar Airlines officers were the next to screen me. They weighed my luggage and tagged it. Me wey get sense federal government, I'd already bought a portable luggage scale at home.

With the scale, I ensured everything I packed was 2-3kg less than the airline's requirement. And because I arrived early, I was the first in line when boarding was announced.

Then, I went through the airline check-in, where they inspected my port and a print-out of my e-ticket. They also re-weighed my bags and didn't give me plenty wahala because I met the weight requirements.

I did not make the mistake of packing any local food with me on this trip because I can't speak grammar. This decision saved me lots of headaches in MMIA and at Adelaide airport.

Immigration experience and rules to follow
Before I got to the immigration desk, I filled out a piece of paper with several questions (can't the name of that document again).

When I got to their desk, the screening was quite thorough.
- My port and visa grant were reviewed

- The piece of paper I filled was checked

- All my items (bags, jacket, phones, etc) were scanned with a machine

- Then, there was a metal detector (i.e., magnetometer) that I had to walk through with my shoes off.

Omo, it was thorough.

As per the extortion that most travelers had experienced and complained about, it was very subtle. Only one mama immigration officer jokingly asked me to "bless" her. But I tipped the others that screened me out of my volition.

Nobody per se compelled me to give them anything, not even the customs official. I almost didn't believe I was at MMIA because the atmosphere was very professional.

For a moment, I almost attributed that experience to the new sheriff in town - Keyamo. But that's a discussion for another day.

Quick Tip: MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED WHILE ALL OF THESE EVENTS/INSPECTIONS ARE GOING ON.

Final Check-in
After scaling all these hurdles, the last lap of my journey was the last check before I boarded the plane.

My people, i no go lie for you, IT WAS EVERY LETTER OF THE WORD: SURREAL.

Like, "na me dey comot for Naija so?"; "Abi dem go announce say the flight has been canceled." ; "what if one DSS officer just con meet me say they 'have questions'?"

Just crazy things were going through my coconut head, and I didn't know why.

Omo!!!

Anyways, I was saying.

There was a big area where all the travelers were waiting for the boarding call. At this point, I still had over 2 hours to play around that part of the airport wing.

So, I went to eat Indomie noodles in one of the restaurants at a price that would buy two cartons.

But it's all good.

When it was time to board, the announcement was made, and the staff of Qatar Airways commenced the final check of all our hand luggage.

Then, we were ushered to our various seats by beautiful and very polite air hostesses.

The journey from MMIA Lagos to Doha International Airport took over 8 hours. Omo, I watch films tire; especially when the turbulence started.

The only thing that consoled me during that tense period was that I didn't watch ANY movie about plane crashes, and I increased the volume of the movies so much it was only the vibration of the plane I felt.

Don't blame me; local man never traveled before, especially at 39K feet in the air.

Here are the answers to the set of questions below:

Stopover experience? When did you land at the airport?

We landed in Dohar at night, I can't the time now. But my stopover was for 14 hours, 55 minutes. Luckily, my uncle had purchased a lounge for me to rest. The payment lasted only six hours, which I renewed for $75 because I had about $900 cash. That ensured that I had 12 hours of access and spent the remaining 2 hours locating my boarding gate.
ABEG, QATAR AIRPORT IS BEAUTIFUL.


How did you carry all that cash with you?
I only had $900, which I didn't declare because it was not up to $10K.


Can you open a bank while still in Naija?

I tried, but I could not because the banks I tried had changed their policies.

Which State/suburb did you settle in and why?

I settled in Adelaide for two reasons: 1. my uncle lives there, and it is a regional area where my visa permits me to stay.

Driving in Australia? How long can you use your Naija driving license before you get Aussie license?

According to the Department of Driving in SA, till it expires or you become a citizen. https://www.mylicence.sa.gov.au/my-car-licence/international-drivers

Where you live and why you like it or don't like it? Tips on choosing the right neighborhood, mortgage plans, proximity to work etc.

I have no idea about mortgages and the right neighborhood. Sorry! I am living with my uncle for the foreseeable future till I get my place.
However, my office is not far from where I live in Adelaide.

How easy was it to settle in, with your kids? How did you go about finding the right schools for them? What is their school system like for toddlers (age 5 and below)?

I don't have children at the moment.

Can a mother combine work and taking care of the kids?
I do not have any answer to this question at the moment.

What culture shock have you experienced?

1. My boss addresses me as "mate". And during my final interview, he asked if I drink alcohol. Omo, I shook!!!

2. They obey traffic laws as if their lives depend on it.

3. It gets dark after 8 pm. I nearly had a panic attack the first time I experienced it.

4. The people are generally friendly, contrary to what I had read about from some posts on NL.

5. They don't joke with their road markings.

There are a few others I can't now.

Tips on how to cloth and cope with the cold weather.

When I posted this message, I had just marked my 8th day in Adelaide, and it's been summer all through. I'm talking about 31-42 degree Celsius type of summer. E shock you ba? However, my uncle told me there's a type of underwear people wear mostly here during winter -"Long-john." He said people wear it before wearing everyday clothes, e.g., formal or official.

Are there Nigerian food/restaurants etc? Are they very expensive?

Nah! None That I have heard about.

Can one start a business (exportation, consultancy) in Australia?
Sorry, I cannot help with any valid answers in this regard.

How much does your family survive on in a month?
My uncle still handles all my feeding and housing till I earn enough and move out. So, I really can only say a little in this area.


Stay tuned for more info as I experience them and pictures coming up.

PICTURES:

lauv23:
Happy New year to everyone, please I just moved to South Australia. Infact it feels like I am in the middle of no where and forgotten. Have not seen any Nigerian, have met few people from other African countries. Please can someone here help with a group I can atleast to help me integrate and possibly get other information.

Google RCCG or Deeper Life in South Australia, attend their services and you will meet Nigerians and get connections to meet others living in the community .