A British woman living in Australia has revealed some of the biggest shocks she encountered after moving to the country, including the difficulty of obtaining permanent residency. Imogen, who moved to the Gold Coast last year, shared her experiences in a TikTok video posted in April.
Staying in Australia Is Harder Than It Seems
In her video, Imogen explained that many people assume getting Permanent Residency (PR) is straightforward, but the reality is different. "When you come over people are like, 'yeah, you're going to get Permanent Residency,'" she said. "Actually, when it comes to it, it's very expensive, it's very hard and the Australians don't want you to stay in their country."
She elaborated: "They don't want to be inundated with UK people so they make it challenging, they make it hard for you."
Record Numbers of British Backpackers
Australia issued over 321,000 Working Holiday Maker visas in the last financial year, with a record number of British visitors. This surge followed a new deal between the UK and Australia in 2024, which removed the requirement for British backpackers to complete regional work to qualify for a full three-year visa. In 2024-2025, 28,600 second-year visas were granted to Brits, compared to just 6,300 the previous year.
To stay permanently, backpackers must first obtain a different temporary visa—such as employer sponsorship—before applying for PR, a process Imogen described as expensive and challenging.
Cultural Differences Between Brits and Aussies
Imogen also highlighted cultural differences. "Even though Aussies speak the same language as us, it's not the same culture," she said. "I think that the Australians have a different sense of humour. I think they have a different work life balance. I think they have a different confidence level."
However, many Australians pushed back in the comments. One viewer wrote: "I think you're totally wrong about the English here. (There is) absolutely nothing but love for you poms, and some sporting rivalry." Another commented: "We love having poms here."
Imogen concluded that while moving to Australia is an exciting adventure, it comes with significant hurdles. "Yes you can pack up your entire life and move to the other side of the world but actually it's finite, there's only so many years you can stay here before s**t gets serious," she said.
