Australia has an open environment for sending money to Australia and to transfer money out of Australia. The Australian dollar (AUD) is a fully convertible currency and has freely floated since 1983.
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The central bank does not target a specific value for the AUD. Instead, it works to achieve price stability by setting an annual inflation target.
Foreign exchange dealing is regulated in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), as are overseas money transfer providers.
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (AUSTRAC) oversees the compliance of Australian businesses and their requirements under anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and general financial transactions.
When it comes to transferring money into and out of Australia, there are no limits. However, any transactions that include notes and coins over the value of $10,000 must be reported to AUSTRAC within ten business days. This also applies to any transactions that appear suspicious.
The AUD is the fifth most traded currency in the world with a daily trade volume of $174m.
Australia is an important destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), and the government welcomes foreign investors. Investments over a value of AUD248m (or over AUD1.078bn for investors from the US and New Zealand in non-sensitive sectors) must be pre-screened, but all other capital inflows are unrestricted. This value is indexed each year. Outgoing capital transfers related to investment proceeds, loans or lease payments in Australia are also unrestricted.
No restrictions exist for Australian citizens or permanent Australian residents regarding property purchases. Restrictions do exist for foreign non-residents, and in most cases, a foreign non-resident can only purchase new-build properties and land that they then develop – they may not purchase existing residential units. The Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) oversees the approval of these purchases, and approval is also required when selling the property if leaving Australia. Non-residents are obligated to sell their property upon leaving the country. The rules governing the FIRB approval can be complex and we recommend that you seek additional specialist advice in the area before committing to purchase a property in Australia if you are a non-resident and before you send money to Australia to fund the purchase.
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Australia offers a variety of visas to be able to move to Australia permanently. If you are not sponsored by your employer or a family member to move over, the largest category of immigrant is by way of Skilled Independent Migration. This is typically for professionals such as accountants, engineers and dentists. The Employer Nomination Scheme is for those moving with their existing employer. There is also an entrepreneurial and investor category called Business Migration.
If you are of retirement age, then you might be eligible for a retirement visa. You need to be self-sufficient, which means having assets of at least AUD$750,000, or AUD$500,000 if you are moving to regional Australia. You will also need to have access to a minimum income of AUD$65,000 per annum, which can be derived in a number of different ways, including pensions and investments.
Non-residents in the country are liable for Australian tax only on income earned within Australia. Temporary residents are typically exempt from Australian tax on foreign-source income (including foreign investment income, but not foreign employment income) and capital gains realised on assets that are not taxable Australian property. Australian residents are subject to Australian tax on worldwide income.
Australia’s tax year runs from 1 July. Australia has entered into double tax treaties with a large number of countries, including the UK, the US and Canada.
Australia’s monetary unit is the Australian dollar (AUD). It is divided into 100 cents. Banknotes come in denominations of A$5, A$10, A$20, A$50 and A$100 notes, and coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and A$1 and A$2.
Our money transfer guides below help provide guidance on the specifics of moving, retiring and studying if you transfer from Australia to each specific country. We also provide information related to transferring money to or from Australia as well as doing business on each trade path.
Money Transfer Australia to Canada
Money Transfer Australia to Germany
Money Transfer Australia to India
Money Transfer Australia to New Zealand
Money Transfer Australia to Thailand
Money Transfer Australia to UK
Money Transfer Australia to USA
In addition to mainland Australia and Tasmania, the Australian dollar is also the official currency for the Pacific Island states of Nauru, Tuvalu and Kiribati.
All of the money transfer companies and services listed above are fully safe to use. Each of the above are authorised and regulated by the relevant financial authorities in each jurisdiction and are licensed to provide transfer services.
The length of time it takes to fully complete a money transfer will depend entirely on the service used and what currency you want to transfer. Transfers sent using banks — such as bank to bank transfers — will typically be quite quick, often taking between 1–2 working days. For more precise estimates, you should always check the estimated time with the relevant provider. Debit card and credit card payments might also take less time.
To use FXCompared to make a money transfer from UK to USA, the first step is to use the above table to compare the rates from the various providers. To find the best provider to transfer GBP to USD, consider factors including price, speed and its overall rating. Once you have made a decision, simply click the green button to get taken through to the provider’s website. From there, you will be able to sign-up and register for an account. Once the verification process is complete, you can initiate the transfer.
The majority of transfers overseas will be made using a bank to bank transfer, although there are a number of other methods available. This includes cash, debit and credit card, as well as digital wallets. The methods available to you will depend on what provider you chose to make the transfer with.
Although the prices shown above are generally accurate with market rates in real time, there may be some slight differences when you finalise your order. Exchange rates will fluctuate over the course of the trading day based on real-time market data. As such, when you are looking to transfer money to UK from US, for example, there may sometimes be a delay in how they are reported. Price fluctuations may also be caused by the individual site in question, depending on what services they have available.
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All the providers listed are regulated by the relevant authority (e.g. the FCA in the UK, FinCEN in the US, ASIC in Australia) and have been vetted by FXcompared.
FXcompared.com is an fx money comparison site for international money transfer and to compare rates from currency brokers for sending money abroad. The website and the information provided is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, solicitation or advice on any financial service or transaction. None of the information presented is intended to form the basis for any investment decision, and no specific recommendations are intended. FXC Group Ltd and FX Compared Ltd does not provide any guarantees of any data from third parties listed on this website. FX compared Ltd expressly disclaims any and all responsibility for any direct or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from (i) any error, omission or inaccuracy in any such information or (ii) any action resulting therefrom.
