Moving to Sydney or Melbourne from the US or Canada

A move from the United States or Canada to Australia means a new role, seasons that run the other way, a time difference of 14 to 19 hours and, for families, a school year that starts in late January rather than September. Westprecinct offers managed serviced residences in Sydney and Melbourne, exquisitely furnished and presented to The Westprecinct Standard: corporate housing arranged as a home rather than a hotel room. You arrange it before you fly, move in when you land, and keep the feeling of home while you choose where to settle.

Arranged before you fly. Choose your residence by email, phone or video call. A Sydney or Melbourne morning is the previous afternoon or evening in North America, so a call is easy to arrange.

Try the neighbourhood first. A few months in Balmain or Barangaroo, or in Toorak or Brighton, shows you the commute, the schools and the weekends before you sign for anything long-term.

Live well while your shipment travels. Furniture, a full kitchen, premium linen and a proper place to work are ready on arrival, so the wait for your belongings does not decide how you live.

Corporate housing, arranged as a home. What North American companies call corporate housing, Australians often call a serviced apartment. One point of contact, and itemised invoices if your employer is covering the stay.

Time to settle properly. If the home search or the school start takes longer than planned, your stay can continue by arrangement, subject to availability and the guest terms.

Visas. The Department of Home Affairs sets visa rules. Canadian passport holders aged 18 to 35 can apply for a Working Holiday visa, and US passport holders aged 18 to 30 for a Work and Holiday visa. For employer-sponsored and family visas, speak to a registered migration agent.

Health care. Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with the US or Canada. Unless you are a permanent resident or have applied for permanent residency, you are generally not eligible for Medicare. Home Affairs strongly recommends private health insurance for anyone not covered, and some visas require it.

Driving. Car licences from any US state or Canadian province are recognised in NSW, so a current licence can be transferred without a knowledge or driving test. Australian citizens and permanent residents can drive on it in NSW for three months before transferring. In Victoria, you can drive on a current overseas licence for your first six months of living there, then convert it with VicRoads.

Pets. The US and Canada are Group 3 countries, so allow at least six months for tests and paperwork, and dogs from the US also need a canine influenza vaccination. Pets fly directly into Melbourne and complete quarantine at Mickleham, usually for 10 to 30 days depending on the paperwork. Hawaii and Guam are Group 2, with different rules. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry sets the rules.

School year. Australian school years run in four terms from late January or early February to mid-December. In 2027, Victorian government school students start on Thursday 28 January, and NSW students in the Eastern division on Wednesday 3 February. A child finishing a grade in June will join partway through the Australian year.

We do not advise on visas, tax or health cover. We look after where you live while you settle.

In Sydney, our residences sit in harbourside and inner-west neighbourhoods: Barangaroo, a walk from CBD offices; Balmain and Rozelle, with village streets and a ferry into the city; and Drummoyne, Cabarita and Breakfast Point, quiet waterfront living popular with families. In Melbourne, they sit in Toorak, Armadale and Malvern, leafy and close to well-regarded schools, and in Brighton, by the bay.

Sydney stays are from around three months, and Melbourne stays are 30 days and beyond. Higher rates may apply for under 6 months. Your stay can continue by arrangement, subject to availability and the guest terms. Through The W Circle, Westprecinct’s recognition programme, paid stays from now count towards standing from 1 January 2027, carried across Sydney and Melbourne.

Send us your flight date, the city and the suburb or school you would like to be near, the household (including any pets) and how long you expect to stay. We come back to you with suitable residences and a clear proposal, and can speak by phone or video call at a time that suits North America.

Over 20 years of looking after residents who are new to the city. A residence with the feeling of home, ready when you land.