How Much Does It Cost to Move to Australia from Hong Kong?
Migratio Editorial · Last updated
TL;DR: Budget HKD 40,000 to HKD 120,000 (AUD 7,500 to AUD 22,500) depending on pathway. Hong Kong has no outbound capital transfer restrictions, making financial planning simpler. Many HK migrants arrive with substantial savings. Chatswood and Box Hill rents are moderate by Hong Kong standards.
Moving from Hong Kong to Australia involves visa charges, skills assessments, English testing, health exams, and settling-in costs. The total ranges from HKD 40,000 to HKD 120,000 depending on your pathway. This guide breaks down every category in both HKD and AUD.
All conversions use an approximate rate of 5.3 HKD = 1 AUD (mid-2026). Check the live rate when you budget. For visa pathway details, see our Hong Kong to Australia visa options guide.
No capital transfer restrictions
Hong Kong has no government-imposed limits on transferring money overseas. This is a major advantage over mainland China, where the SAFE quota caps personal transfers at USD 50,000 per year.
You can move your savings to an Australian bank account in a single transfer if you choose. Banks may flag large transactions under anti-money laundering reporting rules, but there is no cap. If you are selling Hong Kong property, you can send the full proceeds to Australia without staged transfers or family quota pooling.
Many Hong Kong migrants — especially finance and IT professionals — arrive with significant savings. Combined with the fact that Australian housing costs less than Hong Kong for equivalent space, the financial transition is often smoother than expected.
Visa application charges
The visa application charge is the largest upfront cost. Fees index annually on 1 July, so check the schedule before you lodge.
Australia introduced Hong Kong-specific streams within several visa subclasses in March 2022. These streams sit inside subclass 189, subclass 191, subclass 482, and subclass 485. The base application charges are the same as the standard subclass fees. For full details on these pathways, see Hong Kong to Australia visa options.
| Visa subclass | Base charge (AUD) | Approx. HKD |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Independent (189) | 6,135 | 32,516 |
| Skilled Nominated (190) | 6,140 | 32,542 |
| Skills in Demand (482) | 4,015 | 21,280 |
| Employer Nomination (186) | 6,140 | 32,542 |
| Temporary Graduate (485) | 5,750 | 30,475 |
| Student (500) | 2,500 | 13,250 |
| Partner — offshore (309/100) | 11,710 | 62,063 |
Adding family members increases the bill. On skilled visas, expect AUD 3,070 (HKD 16,271) per additional adult and AUD 1,535 to 1,540 (HKD 8,136 to 8,162) per child under 18. Figures are the charges in force from 1 July 2026 — check the Home Affairs fee schedule before you lodge. Use Migratio's visa cost calculator for a quick estimate.
Skills assessment fees
Skilled migration pathways require a positive skills assessment before you can lodge. Fees depend on your occupation and assessing body.
| Assessing body | Typical occupations | Fee (AUD) | Approx. HKD |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPA Australia (offshore) | Accountants, auditors, finance professionals | 514 | 2,724 |
| Engineers Australia (CDR) | Engineers (civil, mechanical, electrical, etc.) | 963–1,170 | 5,104–6,201 |
| ACS (Australian Computer Society) | IT professionals, software engineers, data analysts | ~550 | ~2,915 |
| VETASSESS | Trade and non-trade occupations across 350+ roles | ~1,240 | ~6,572 |
Hong Kong's large finance sector means many applicants go through CPA Australia. IT professionals use ACS. Processing takes 6 to 16 weeks depending on the body. For a detailed explanation, read what is a skills assessment.
English testing costs
BN(O) passport holders do not receive the automatic English language exemption that applies to UK, US, Irish, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders. Budget for an English test regardless of your fluency.
| Test | Fee in Hong Kong | Approx. AUD |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | HKD 2,380 | 449 |
| PTE Academic | ~HKD 2,300 (USD 295) | ~434 |
PTE Academic results arrive within 48 hours, making it popular with applicants on tight timelines. Most skilled visas require Competent English (IELTS 6.0 per band). Higher scores add points on a skilled visa application — 7.0 per band adds 10 points and 8.0 adds 20. Budget for two attempts in case your first score falls short.
Health exams and police clearances
### Health examination
All visa applicants must attend a panel-approved clinic. Hong Kong has Bupa Medical Visa Services panel clinics. Expect AUD 350 to AUD 500 (HKD 1,855 to HKD 2,650) per person for a medical exam and chest X-ray. Results go directly to Home Affairs.
### Hong Kong Police clearance (CNCC)
You need a Certificate of No Criminal Conviction (CNCC) from the Hong Kong Police Force. The fee is HKD 283 (AUD 53). Processing takes approximately 15 calendar days. Applications can now be submitted online, which saves a trip to Police Headquarters in Wan Chai. Keep in mind Home Affairs requires the clearance to be recent — apply within the timeframe your agent or the department advises.
Document costs
### High Court apostille
Hong Kong documents for Australian visa applications need an apostille from the High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The fee is HKD 125 (AUD 24) per document. Allow 2 working days. A typical application involves three to five apostilled documents. Total apostille costs run HKD 375 to HKD 625 (AUD 71 to AUD 118). For a full walkthrough, see our Hong Kong document authentication guide.
### Certified translation
Documents in Chinese need NAATI-certified English translation for your visa application. Expect AUD 100 to AUD 250 (HKD 530 to HKD 1,325) per document. Many Hong Kong applicants have bilingual documents already, which can reduce translation costs. Budget HKD 1,500 to HKD 5,000 (AUD 283 to AUD 943) total depending on how many documents need translating.
Travel costs
Direct flights from Hong Kong to Sydney and Melbourne run HKD 3,000 to HKD 8,000 (AUD 566 to AUD 1,509) one way. Cathay Pacific, Qantas, and Virgin Australia operate direct routes. Budget flights via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur can cost less. Book three to six months ahead for the best fares. Budget HKD 300 to HKD 800 (AUD 57 to AUD 151) per person for one-way travel insurance.
Shipping and freight
Excess baggage only. Most Hong Kong apartments are small. Many migrants sell furniture and ship only personal items. Sending a 30 kg box via international parcel post costs roughly HKD 800 to HKD 1,500 (AUD 151 to AUD 283).
Shared container (groupage). You share a container with other customers. Expect HKD 12,000 to HKD 25,000 (AUD 2,264 to AUD 4,717) for 100 to 200 cubic feet. Transit time is 3 to 6 weeks from Hong Kong.
Full container. A 20-foot container runs HKD 25,000 to HKD 50,000 (AUD 4,717 to AUD 9,434). This makes sense only if you are shipping a full household.
Personal effects owned and used for 12 or more months are generally exempt from Australian customs duty and GST. New items may attract duty.
Settlement costs — cheaper than Hong Kong
This is where Hong Kong migrants often get a pleasant surprise. Australian rent is significantly cheaper than Hong Kong for equivalent space. A two-bedroom apartment in Sydney's Chatswood costs roughly what a studio costs in Causeway Bay.
| Expense | Sydney / Chatswood (AUD) | Melbourne / Box Hill (AUD) | Brisbane / Sunnybank (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rental bond (4 weeks) | 2,400–3,200 | 1,800–2,400 | 1,600–2,200 |
| Rent in advance (2 weeks) | 1,200–1,600 | 900–1,200 | 800–1,100 |
| Groceries (first month) | 400–600 | 350–500 | 350–500 |
| Public transport (monthly) | 200–250 | 170–220 | 150–200 |
| Mobile plan (monthly) | 30–60 | 30–60 | 30–60 |
| Subtotal (AUD) | 4,230–5,710 | 3,250–4,380 | 2,930–4,060 |
| Subtotal (HKD) | 22,419–30,263 | 17,225–23,214 | 15,529–21,518 |
These suburbs have large Cantonese-speaking communities, Asian supermarkets, and familiar dining options. Chatswood and Box Hill in particular have strong Hong Kong expat networks.
No Medicare reciprocal agreement. Hong Kong does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Until you hold a permanent visa, you need private health insurance. Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) for a single person starts around AUD 100 to AUD 150 (HKD 530 to HKD 795) per month.
For a full guide to housing, banking, and everyday life, see our settling in Australia guide.
Migration agent fees
If you use a MARA-registered migration agent, expect AUD 2,000 to AUD 8,000 (HKD 10,600 to HKD 42,400) depending on visa complexity. Some agents specialise in Hong Kong stream applications. Compare quotes through Migratio's agent directory — free for applicants. Read our guide to choosing an agent before you commit.
Total budget summary
| Pathway | Estimated total (HKD) | Estimated total (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled visa (single, no agent) | 40,000–65,000 | 7,500–12,300 |
| Skilled visa (single, with agent) | 50,000–100,000 | 9,400–18,900 |
| Skilled visa (couple, with agent) | 80,000–145,000 | 15,100–27,400 |
| Partner visa (couple, with agent) | 90,000–155,000 | 17,000–29,200 |
| Hong Kong stream 189/191 (single, with agent) | 50,000–100,000 | 9,400–18,900 |
These ranges include visa charges, assessments, health and police checks, English testing, document costs, flights, modest shipping, and first-month settlement. They do not include ongoing rent or living expenses beyond the first month.
Saving tips
- Use Migratio's points calculator before paying for a skills assessment — there is no refund if your occupation is not on the relevant list.
- Transfer your savings in one go. Unlike mainland Chinese applicants, you have no quota to manage.
- Book your English test early. Retakes cost HKD 2,300 to HKD 2,380 each.
- Book flights midweek and outside school holiday periods for the best fares.
- Ship light. Selling furniture in Hong Kong and buying secondhand in Australia is almost always cheaper than a container.
- If you are a finance professional, check whether your employer offers relocation support before you pay out of pocket.
Next steps
1. Review the visa options available to Hong Kong residents, including the Hong Kong streams.
2. Use Migratio's points calculator to estimate your skilled-migration score.
3. Get your Hong Kong documents ready — apostille, CNCC clearance, NAATI translations.
4. Book your IELTS or PTE test early — BN(O) holders are not exempt.
5. Read our guide to choosing a migration agent.
6. Browse MARA-registered agents on Migratio and request quotes — free for applicants.
7. Start settlement planning.
Related resources
- Hong Kong to Australia — 2026 Overview
- Visa Options for Hong Kong Residents
- Hong Kong Document Authentication
- Settling in Australia from Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Finance Professionals — Australia Pathway
- How to Choose a Migration Agent
- What Is a Skills Assessment?
- Find a Skilled Visa Agent
Frequently asked questions
Is Australia cheaper than Hong Kong to live in?
Housing is generally cheaper in most Australian cities compared to Hong Kong, which has some of the world's highest property prices. However, other costs like food and transport may be comparable. Sydney is the most expensive Australian city but still typically cheaper than Hong Kong for equivalent housing.
Do I need to pay for an English test with a BN(O) passport?
Yes, in most cases. BN(O) passport holders do not receive the automatic English exemption that UK passport holders get. Budget approximately HKD 2,000-2,500 for IELTS or PTE Academic.
How much can I transfer from Hong Kong to Australia?
There is no government-imposed limit on transferring money out of Hong Kong. Banks may have their own reporting thresholds for large transactions under anti-money laundering rules, but there is no equivalent to mainland China's $50,000 USD annual SAFE limit.
Compare MARA-registered migration agents — free
Related: Your Complete Guide to Moving from Hong Kong to Australia in 2026 · Australian Visa Pathways for Hong Kong Citizens: What's Available in 2026 · Getting Your Hong Kong Documents Ready for Australian Immigration · Life After Landing: Settling in Australia from Hong Kong