Lauren

What is the Skilled Occupation List and why do you need to know about it? To be eligible to apply for certain Australian visas, you...

Interactive map of catchment zones for all government primary schools in Sydney with contact information, location of school, and if the school offers preschool too.

Are you wondering what your cost of living in Sydney will be? Here is a Guide to Rents in Sydney by Neighborhood that will help with your monthly budget.

How expensive it is to living in Sydney? To help you estimate your cost of living in Sydney, here is a breakdown of daily and monthly expenses.

Sixty-five of the best BYO restaurants in Sydney listed by suburb with corkage fees and recommendations on what to order. This is the most complete list of BYO restaurants in Sydney you will find online.

Part of moving to Australia is opening your bank accounts. Here are the top five Australian banks that allow you to do open an account before arriving in Australia.

Open your Westpac Bank account before you arrive in Sydney will be one of the easiest parts of your relocation. You don't even need an approved visa! It will take you no more than three minutes.

As a US expat, your taxes just got more complicated. Not filing your taxes correctly can result in some very large fines. Here's what you need to know plus I clear up several misconceptions.

All US expats living abroad need to know what an FBAR is and if they are required to file one. Chances are, if you have any financial accounts overseas like a bank account, you will have to file an FBAR depending on the maximum value of your accounts during the year. Here's what you need to know.

What is FATCA and how does it affect taxes of US expats living in Australia. This post covers Form 8938 Filing Thresholds Values, the Physical Presence Test, How to Figure the 12-month Period for the Physical Presence Test and the Bona Fide Residence Test.

If you do not qualify for Medicare in Australia, and are a taxpayer, you can claim a Medicare Levy Exemption at the end of the year and get any tax you paid back. The percentage of tax back ranges from 1% to 2% of your income tax. Here's how to get that tax back.

Here's what you need to know about filing a tax return in Australia plus Australian income tax tables and how to file your taxes online. I also list all the due dates you need to know.

Are you transferring money to Australia?Fantastic Promotion Offer from OFX just for SMG readers Get Free Money Transfers for LIFE! No promo code needed,...

Many expats transfer large sums of money to Australia when they move. Is that money going to be taxed after it's transferred? What about money you bring with you on the plane to Australia?

How to report your Australian Superannuation when you file your US tax return is very confusing. Here are the basics to what you need to know.

Getting an Australian Tax File Number (TFN) is something that everyone moving to Australia needs to do. If you are moving to Australia, and plan on working, you will need a TFN. If you don't have a TFN, you cannot file a tax return. Here's how to get your TFN without having a permanent address in Sydney.

SMG readers wrote in with their questions about paying tax in Australia as an expat. Questions range from transferring money to tax deductions and more. Answers provided by H&R Block Australia.

What every expat needs to know when transferring money internationally.Be sure to check out my post on how to open your Australian bank account...

When shipping a container from the USA to Australia, you will need to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Here is a step-by-step tutorial for how to get your EIN for your shipment to Australia.

There are several charges you will be responsible for in Australia when your shipping container arrives. In this post, I list the charges and fees, and include our final invoice for our shipment from Seattle to Sydney.

A detailed breakdown of what was included in our shipping quote from Seattle to Sydney, Australia. I also discuss the different packing options, the difference between LCL shipments and FCL shipments and list out everything included in our Australia shipping quote.

Are you wondering what the cost of shipping a container from USA to Australia is going to be? Here is our shipping quote for Sydney from Seattle. I also go through what you need to be sure to get in writing when you get your shipping quote for Australia.

It is essential you understand what insurance your shipment qualifies for and how the cost is determined for replacing or repairing any damaged items. The type of insurance is dependent on who is doing the packing. In this post, I'll break down the difference in insurance and what each covers.

What are Salaries like in Sydney? The cost of living in Sydney is always a shock to anyone considering moving. The only way to offset...

One of my favourite things about living in Australia as an expat is my morning commute. I know it sounds crazy, but you just can't beat it. Here's our commute in Sydney by ferry from the Lower North Shore with photos each step of the way.

Finding an Apartment in Sydney Without Knowing the City When we arrived in Sydney we had no idea where to begin looking for an apartment.In...

I use to send this story in an email to my newsletter subscribers but I got so many replies saying that the photo alone gave...

Once you are familiar with the different suburbs of Sydney and have given your budget some thought, do a few searches on Domain.com.au to...

Should you move to Sydney? I think it is safe to assume that you are visiting SMG because you are either planning a move to...

"Why did you move to Australia?" I get asked this question a lot when I go back home to Seattle for a visit.The easy answer...

Best Sydney suburbs for expats with small children that are close to Central Station. "What neighbourhood in Sydney should we live?" has to be the...

Dog-Friendly Budget Rental in SydneyToday's post is a question for a SMG email subscriber. Hi Lauren, I too, am moving to Sydney in September from...

Do private schools in Sydney also have an age cutoff? How much does tuition cost at a private school? Click here for the answer plus resources for parents.

Expert advice on what you need to know to find job sponsorship in Australia plus access to over 1500+ jobs that offer visa sponsorship hiring now. 

Are You Moving to Sydney with Your Cat or Dog?This week's Mailbox Monday post is about finding Pet-Friendly Rentals in Sydney.Today's Question:My husband...

This Sydney Walking Tour will take you from the Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park down to the Opera House then on to the Royal Botanic Gardens to enjoy a lazy afternoon picnic in the park. After exploring the gardens, we’ll continue through the gardens on to Woolloomooloo followed by the NSW Art Gallery in The Domain. The walking tour is not meant to be done in a hurry. Instead, take it slow and enjoy all the different views of the harbor and city. Throughout the tour, I’ll point out places to eat and other facilities plus spots to stop for a photo or two.

Temporary visa holders moving to Sydney for work need to think about other expenses besides the cost of shipping and flights. Today's Email If everything goes...

They speak English in Australia, right? So why is it so hard to understand what the heck everyone is saying?When we were making our...

Not only do you need to budget for the cost of shipping your household to Australia but you also need to think about how...

Interactive map of catchment zones for all government secondary schools in Sydney with contact information, school specialty, if it's coed, and more.

How many times have you entered “Sydney” or “Australia" into Google today? Be honest. Hmmm, I have a feeling that just might be the reason why...

Spring in Sydney is my absolute favourite time of year and it has nothing to do with the weather. Well, almost nothing.It all starts...

The red lanterns have been hung, the bamboo steam baskets are stacked ready for action, and the scent of lemongrass, cumin and fresh squeezed...

Your resume is the first impression a potential employer has of you. This is why it’s so important to make sure your resume is optimised...

You'll never miss a public transport connection in Sydney again. Having the ability to know what’s going on with the buses, trains, and ferries...

For many, 457 visa sponsorship leads to a more permanent visa such as a 186 visa. But the trick is finding a job that...

Today's reader question post is a little different.Instead, of me answering a question from my inbox, I'm going to post an email from an...

The team at Pacific Dunes provided Sydney Moving Guide the content for this post. Pacific Dunes is an 18-hole championship golf course and residential...

The team at Removalists Sydney provided Sydney Moving Guide the content for this post.Your rights as a tenant when renting in New South Wales.For...

This is a guest post from Sydney based blogger and expat AJ. AJ is the chief editor at Best Sydney Walks, an online guide...

This is a guest post from Sydney based blogger Travel with Joanne. Joanne is exploring suburban Sydney by visiting one suburb each fortnight. Three Sydney...

So, you’ve decided to move to Australia.You’re looking to start your exciting new life here, soaking in the sunshine. That’s awesome!While you do...

The team at Network Infinity provided Sydney Moving Guide the content for this post.Not too long ago, living in a house was the ultimate...

The main reason moving to Australia is different is the strict quarantine policy. Australia has a strict policy to protect its unique flora and fauna...

Finding an International Moving Company You Can Trust with Your Move to Australia Almost everyone is familiar with online review sites like Yelp or Tripadvisor....

Are you moving to Sydney? We moved from Seattle to Sydney in 2008 and packed way too much! Please learn from our mistakes. Tips for moving to Australia.

Are you moving to Australia from the US? Are you considering getting rid of your small kitchen appliances instead of shipping them to Australia? This week's...

This week's Mailbox Monday post is about what you can and cannot import into Australia. Laura has searched all over about shipping her wicker and...

Choosing an International Shipping Company That is Not Qualified or Does Not Have Experience with Australian Relocations Will Be a Costly Mistake You Cannot...

Are you thinking of shipping your car to Australia? Today's Monday Mailbox post is from someone thinking of shipping their car to Australia.They didn't say...