Moving from India to Melbourne

India is Melbourne's largest overseas-born community

The 2021 Census counted 242,635 India-born residents in Greater Melbourne — 4.9% of the city's total population, and the single largest country-of-birth group in Melbourne after Australia itself (59.9%). It's well ahead of the next-largest overseas group, China (166,023, 3.4%), and England (132,912, 2.7%), Vietnam (90,552, 1.8%) and New Zealand (82,939, 1.7%). Victoria's own share of India-born residents (4.0%) is lower than Melbourne's, meaning the Indian community in Victoria is concentrated in the capital rather than spread through regional Victoria.

Victoria's nomination programme has a rule that surprises people

Victoria nominates through Live in Melbourne, and unlike Queensland or Western Australia it publishes entirely separate criteria for onshore and offshore applicants. The rule most likely to catch someone out: applicants already living in an Australian state or territory OTHER than Victoria are not eligible for Victorian nomination at all — moving interstate specifically to qualify doesn't work. Onshore applicants who do already hold a temporary visa must be living and working in a skilled role in regional Victoria (not Melbourne) to be considered. Offshore applicants can apply for either the subclass 190 (anywhere in Victoria, including Melbourne) or the subclass 491 (regional Victoria only) without first working in the state, but must show a genuine intention to settle there after the visa is granted.

A direct verification note: Victoria's own nomination site (liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au) returns a blocked response from this research environment, so this section relies on Migratio's own already-verified state-facet entry for Victoria (dated 19 Aug 2026) rather than a fresh fetch in this pass. Confirm current criteria directly with Live in Melbourne before applying.

An Indian driving licence in Victoria

India is not on Australia's recognised-country list under the Austroads Recognised Overseas Licences Scheme — the same roughly 28-country list that does include the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and most of Western Europe. That means an Indian licence holder moving to Victoria must sit the same knowledge test and practical driving test that a first-time Australian driver sits, rather than a straight transfer. In the meantime, an Indian licence remains valid to drive on (with a NAATI-certified English translation or an International Driving Permit) for the length of a temporary visa; once permanent residency is granted, each state sets its own conversion deadline, commonly a few months, after which driving on the Indian licence stops being legal. Migratio's dedicated guide to converting an Indian driving licence in Australia covers the document checklist, timeline and both tests in full.

No Reciprocal Health Care Agreement for India

Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreement covers 11 countries — Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. India is not one of them, and neither are South Africa or the Philippines. That means an Indian arrival's only health cover is whatever their visa requires — OSHC for a student visa, OVHC or adequate cover for most temporary visas — with no reciprocal Medicare access available purely on the basis of citizenship the way it is for a New Zealand or UK citizen.

What this page can't tell you

It can't tell you whether your occupation is on Victoria's eligible skilled occupation list, or whether you'd be invited under its nomination programme — those depend on individual circumstances and a list that changes. It can't assess whether Melbourne specifically suits your situation better than another city; Migratio's Melbourne living guide covers rent, transport and jobs without a nationality angle, because there isn't one for those questions. If the visa pathway is the open question — especially the state-nomination residency rule above — Migratio can match you with a MARA-registered agent who works with Indian applicants and Victorian nominations.

How many Indians live in Melbourne?

The 2021 Census counted 242,635 India-born residents in Greater Melbourne — 4.9% of the city and the largest overseas country-of-birth group in the city after Australia itself, ahead of China and England.

Can I apply for Victorian state nomination if I already live in Sydney?

No. Victoria's nomination programme specifically excludes applicants already living in an Australian state or territory other than Victoria — this is one of the clearest differences from Queensland's or Western Australia's programmes.

Do I need to pass a driving test to use my Indian licence in Victoria?

Yes. India is not on Australia's recognised-country driving licence list, so an Indian licence holder must pass both the knowledge test and the practical driving test to get a full Victorian licence, the same requirement as in every other state.

Does India have a health care agreement with Australia?

No. India is not one of the 11 countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia. Whatever health cover your visa requires — OSHC, OVHC or adequate cover — is the only cover you'll have until permanent residency and standard Medicare eligibility apply.

How long can I drive on my Indian licence in Victoria before converting?

You can drive on a valid Indian licence (with an English translation or IDP) for the length of a temporary visa. Once you become a permanent resident, each state sets its own conversion deadline, commonly a few months — check the current Victorian deadline directly.

Is Melbourne's Indian community concentrated in the city or spread across Victoria?

Concentrated in Melbourne. The 2021 Census recorded a 4.9% India-born share for Greater Melbourne against 4.0% for Victoria as a whole, meaning the state figure is pulled up by the capital rather than reflecting a spread through regional Victoria.