How to Transfer Money from Canada to Australia
Canada to Australia Guide
Summary
As members of the British Commonwealth, Canada and Australia have many shared interests, as well as reciprocal agreements in place for trade, investments and educational opportunities. Currently, there are no restrictions on transferring money from Canada to Australia either as an individual or a business.
Visas, work permits and residency
If visiting Australia, Canadian citizens must first apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) visa before entering the country. An electronic document that can be applied for online, the ETA is appropriate for tourism or business purposes of up to three months. Canadians who plan to work in Australia for longer than three months must obtain a Visitor Visa, which allows for stays of three, six, or 12 months. Canadians who plan to live permanently to Australia must apply for permanent residency visa. The Australian embassy in Canada can supply further information on the types of visas available and the necessary documentation.
Buying property in Australia
Australia has strict regulations governing the purchase of real estate or land by non-Australian citizens, so it is advisable to consult with a local real estate expert before you transfer money from Canada to Australia to fund a purchase. These regulations often make it difficult for foreigners to purchase property without first acquiring approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). Failure to meet the established FIRB guidelines or to obtain FIRB approval, if necessary, on a property purchase can lead to prosecution. It can also be detrimental to the chances of obtaining a visa or of being permitted to visit or live in Australia in the future. In some cases, it may be used as a reason to deny entry into Australia.
FIRB approval is no longer required on certain types of property purchases if the purchaser has already obtained a temporary residence. Purchasing an established dwelling for a primary residence, purchasing a new dwelling, or purchasing a single block of vacant residential land does not require FIRB approval at this time. Grants are available for first-time home buyers in Australia. These include the First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) and a number of state-based grants and stamp duty concessions. Migrants with permanent residency are eligible for these grants and concessions.
Taxation
Canadian residents living abroad must declare their earnings and file tax forms annually. They must pay Canadian taxes on their worldwide earned income, although they will receive credit via a foreign income tax offset for any taxes paid in Australia, due to a tax treaty between Australia and Canada. This treaty helps citizens of both countries to avoid double taxation. There are no restrictions when sending money from Canada to Australia; however, Canadian law requires that the government be notified when transferring funds from a foreign account into a Canadian bank account.
Studying in Australia
Currently there are 310 reciprocal agreements in place between Canadian and Australian universities. Australia requires Canadian citizens to first apply and be approved for a student visa before entering Australia to study. There are different levels of student visas in Australia, and the type is dependent on the course of study chosen. Australia provides a type of health insurance coverage for Canadian students called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which can help pay for medical or hospital costs incurred while studying in Australia.
Healthcare
There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Canada and Australia. Canadian citizens who are only temporarily visiting Australia are strongly advised to take out travel insurance to cover any overseas medical costs. To take part in Australia’s government-funded healthcare, Medicare, Canadians must have obtained or applied for a permanent resident visa. Medicare provides for medical consultation fees, tests and examinations needed for treating diseases, most surgical procedures, even including many cosmetic procedures, and will cover the cost of supplies for chronic disease management.
However, the Australian government recommends taking out private medical coverage to supplement public healthcare, as Medicare does not cover all medical expenses. Costs such as ambulance fees, routine dental care, or physiotherapy are not covered under Medicare and are paid for out-of-pocket by residents who do not have additional private coverage.
Voting
In order to be eligible to vote in a Canadian federal election, you must be a Canadian citizen and 18 years or older. Canadian citizens living abroad were granted voting rights in 1993, but there is a five-year time limit to these voting rights. Unlike Australian citizens, Canadians cannot renew their voting status by simply expressing an intent to return to their home country after living abroad for more than five years. A Canadian citizen must return and resume residency within Canada before being re-granted voting rights.
Importing from Australia to Canada
International trade and investment account for a significant portion of money transfers from Canada to Australia. As members of the British Commonwealth, the two countries have a close economic relationship. Both are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and work closely together in global organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the G20. Under the Canada-Australia Trade Agreement (CANATA), preferential tariffs are guaranteed on a limited range of products, and both countries are currently in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, which seeks to eliminate remaining trade barriers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the money transfer companies shown above safe to use?
Yes, all the companies are safe and fully-regulated money transfer services.
Each are authorised and regulated by the relevant authority such as the Financial
Conduct Authority(FCA) in the UK, FinCEN in the US, FinTRAC in Canada or ASIC in Australia.
How long does an international money transfer take?
The speed of delivery will depend on where the money is being from and to and how
you are sending and receiving the money. Transfers sent using bank to bank transfers
can depend take anywhere from minutes to days and you should check the time estimates
from the relevant provider. Debit and credit card payments sometimes allow for faster
transfers for smaller amounts.
How do I use FXcompared?
First review the comparison results (such as for a table above) for a given amount
of money sending from Canada to Australia. Then select a provider based on
factors such as price, speed, their rating and click the green button to be taken to
their website. From there, you can register and sign up for an account. Once you have
done that and the provider has verified your identity to ensure the money can be send
safely, you will be ready to transfer money.
What payments methods can I use to send money overseas?
The results shown above are typically for bank to bank transfers. It is possible
via some providers to pay in your funds for the transfer via cash, debit or credit
cards as well but this is usually reserved for smaller amounts. Some providers also
give you different options for how the money will be received - to a bank account
(most common), to a debit card, to cash or to a digital or mobile wallet.
What if the price shown above isn’t exactly what I am offered when I try to transfer money?
There can be a number of reasons why the final price you are offered may be different
to that shown in the table above. Exchange rates between two currencies change all
the time and is the most common reason. Additionally, some providers offer different
pricing depending what method you are using to send funds or how the funds will be
received. Others may offer you a premium service for faster payments. In some cases
FXcompared has a special rate with a provider and this is reserved for first time
customers who sign up to the provider starting from FXcompared’s website.
As prices do change often, be sure to confirm the total cost with the provider
before transferring money.
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