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Original poster

PIL want to move to Australia

118 replies

PILinOz · 19/03/2023 20:04

I posted this on the living overseas board but I don't think it's particularly active so reposting here for traffic.

My parents in law have just come back from visiting their daughter, her husband and kids in Melbourne. They have told us that due to the health benefits of living in a warmer climate they want to move over there permanently and are seriously looking into making it happen.
We are very close to them and my kids absolutely adore them. Whenever they leave to visit, usually for a few months at a time, my kids are incredibly upset and miss them terribly. If PIL move away permanently they will be absolutely devastated.

They are in their late 60s and financially comfortable. They suffer from some health conditions. How realistic is it that they would be granted permanent residency?

OP posts:
ItsSuchACryingShame · 19/03/2023 22:12

it’s possible if they have enough money I suppose.

British citizens require a visa to enter Australia, with a specific visa for those who wish to emigrate there. Retirement visas are available for those over the age of 55. In addition, you must have more than $500,000 in assets and an income of $65,000 (this can include a pension) to qualify for one.
www.moneycorp.com/en-gb/personal/reasons-for-transfer/emigration/australia/

Neodymium · 19/03/2023 22:16

retirement age I think you have to pay into Medicare. How much you pay depends on how old you are. My friends parents came over from South Africa and they had to pay about $60k I think in their 60s.

I do find it funny someone would love to melb for the climate though. I live in qld and to me melb is freezing in winter. Plus the weather there Varys wildly. 4 seasons in one day is Melbourne. I’d suggest they visit in winter before they decide.

mrstumblet · 19/03/2023 22:21

My in laws did similar, yes the visa is designed for people to invest heavily , basically paying their way in. It's controversial, you have to keep so much in an investment fund and reinvest I believe.

Sadly my child has zero relationship with them, but that's due to the sort of people they are not the distance. Would they come back? Do they have any plans for what would happen if one was left alone? Those would be the kind of things I would be asking in a nice way. Plenty of families relationships do survive the distance but it is tough for all from my experience. Has their daughter put pressure on them?

Original poster
PILinOz · 19/03/2023 22:25

Thanks for the replies. I don't know their exact financial position but I don't think they'd be too far off those thresholds mentioned.

Yeah I think it's a bit weird that they are saying they want to move purely for the health benefits of the climate as I know Melbourne gets cold. In fact, FIL stated some years back that he'd never go in winter because of the weather. I suspect it's got a lot to do with wanting to be near to SIL and her family which is a bit gutting really.

OP posts:
Original poster
PILinOz · 19/03/2023 22:34

mrstumblet, yes my DH did gently ask them a few questions today about what would they do if one of them got really sick or passed away, about how they'd fund medical expenses or carers or a care home. He reminded them that if anything happened to them, over there they'd only have SIL to help out whereas here, they have lots of family around to help out.

I really don't think my SIL has put any pressure on them at all. I just think they really really miss her and her children. They've just come back from 3 months there with them and said they felt so much better for the nice climate and that the symptoms of their health conditions have vastly improved. It's given them food for thought

OP posts:
notacooldad · 19/03/2023 22:34

If that is what they want, I hope they get it. There is only one life to have and I hope they have the one they want.
They can't live their life to suit other people.
I agree Ozzie weather is not always as awesome as some may think, I had to buy a thick coat when I was there but I would move there in a blink if I could!
Good luck to them and if you get chance to go out there - Go!

milkyaqua · 19/03/2023 22:40

Melbourne is hardly a warmer climate! They experienced one (markedly cooler for the most part) nice enough summer. They really do need to look into the actual weather conditions there year round.

Original poster
PILinOz · 19/03/2023 23:05

Of course, I understand that they can't live their lives to suit other people. They have to do what's best for them and if that means moving to Australia then fair enough. We, and especially my children will just miss them terribly and I know it's selfish of me to not want them to go.

As for us going there too that's not really an option although they do keep telling us that we should move out there too. We are happy and settled here and enjoy the life we have. Also, having gone through a pretty rotten time recently and relying heavily on family for support, I realise just how much having a "village" around us means and I wouldn't want to move away from that or deny my kids it either.
My DH actually lived over there for just over a year in his late twenties and although he enjoyed his time there has always said he wouldn't want to go back.

I do think it's a bit odd that they are saying that this desire to move is motivated purely by the climate and health reasons though. They know it's cold there in winter but don't seem to have considered that!

OP posts:
Lefteyetwitch · 19/03/2023 23:10

How cold is it in Australia in the winter?
I just googled and it can back with around 5/6 C

So a lot warmer than a UK winter.
Would that be accurate?

underneaththeash · 19/03/2023 23:10

i’m not sure. My BF at school moved over after uni, her sister followed and then her parents tried and failed. They were quite well off at the time too. Her sister ended up coming back though as it was too hot at times,

milkyaqua · 19/03/2023 23:16

Lefteyetwitch · 19/03/2023 23:10

How cold is it in Australia in the winter?
I just googled and it can back with around 5/6 C

So a lot warmer than a UK winter.
Would that be accurate?

Australia is a very big country. Melbourne is notoriously grey, grim, cold, and damp for much of the year. Colder than a witch's tit in winter, etc. Can be stinking hot in summer. Prone to thunderstorm asthma outbreaks due to the bowl it sits in, which also traps smoke and pollution at times. Melbourne is a beautiful city, but not one most people move to for health reasons.

snitzelvoncrumb · 19/03/2023 23:17

Lefteyetwitch · 19/03/2023 23:10

How cold is it in Australia in the winter?
I just googled and it can back with around 5/6 C

So a lot warmer than a UK winter.
Would that be accurate?

It does get cold in the winter. Not as cold as the uk, but Melbourne is not known for nice weather.

snitzelvoncrumb · 19/03/2023 23:20

They aren’t moving there for the climate. There are much nicer places in Australia to live. If your pil want to move it’s up to them. Focus on the other relationships they have with family members.

notacooldad · 19/03/2023 23:21

I wasn't suggesting you move out there permanently, how ever it would be good to visit when you can.
I know you talk about a village raising your family but if your PIL were wiped out tomorrow for what ever reason you would still survive and move on.
It is not only the climate that is different out there but lots of other things. Personally I would wish them well ands start planning to seem them, same as I did with my SIL who was also DS1's child minder and incredibly close to him. Despite SIL moving there 18 years ago there is still an incredible bond between them. DS is an adult now but they still talk often via Skype and DS goes out to visit her every couple of years and she comes to ours for two months at at time.
It's not all about you and your kids.

ClarasZoo · 19/03/2023 23:21

If they don’t have an Aus passport they won’t be going. Most retirement visas are closed now.

Florenz · 19/03/2023 23:22

Is Melbourne colder than the UK in winter? It never looked cold on Neighbours!

milkyaqua · 19/03/2023 23:22

snitzelvoncrumb · 19/03/2023 23:20

They aren’t moving there for the climate. There are much nicer places in Australia to live. If your pil want to move it’s up to them. Focus on the other relationships they have with family members.

The SIL, and as OP stated:

They have told us that due to the health benefits of living in a warmer climate they want to move over there permanently

StartupRepair · 19/03/2023 23:26

I live in Melbourne. It is not colder than the UK but it can be grey, chilly, dreary and rainy in winter. Houses are often cold as they are built for summer. A bit like northern Portugal or Spain.

wandawaves · 19/03/2023 23:33

Lefteyetwitch · 19/03/2023 23:10

How cold is it in Australia in the winter?
I just googled and it can back with around 5/6 C

So a lot warmer than a UK winter.
Would that be accurate?

Maybe gets down to that overnight, but winter days are about 15C at their coldest. On average of course. It does vary a lot.

OP I daresay they want to move there to be closer to their daughter, and are using "the weather" as a more polite excuse. It's understandably hurtful to you guys, but nothing you can do about it unfortunately.

ijustwannahaveagoodnight · 19/03/2023 23:37

good for them!

Original poster
PILinOz · 19/03/2023 23:41

"OP I daresay they want to move there to be closer to their daughter, and are using "the weather" as a more polite excuse. It's understandably hurtful to you guys, but nothing you can do about it unfortunately*"
*
Yeah, I think you've hit the nail on the head. I can understand them wanting to be closer. My MIL and SIL were and are still incredibly close. Still speak just about everyday. My MIL put a brave face on but was absolutely devastated when they left and has never really got over it.

OP posts:
Florenz · 19/03/2023 23:43

I know two families who moved to Australia and both moved back to the UK after a few years. It wasn't what they thought it was (UK with better weather). The people I know who moved there and stayed there went there as single people at a young age.

Original poster
PILinOz · 19/03/2023 23:48

My SIL does get very very homesick and I think she'd move back in a heartbeat. The trouble is that her DH and her kids absolutely love it so she's stuck between a rock and a hard place. Having her parents over there would definitely help alleviate her homesickness.

OP posts:
Longdarkteatimeofthesoul · 19/03/2023 23:49

Melbourne never really gets below freezing and an 11 degree day is a cold one in Melbourne in Winter. Yes it can be overcast and a bit depressing on those days but you get a lovely separation of seasons that the warmer states dont quite get and yes you can get some warm days but I would prefer here to Qld. New houses are also generally better insulated.

Doggydarling · 19/03/2023 23:49

I doubt they are thinking of moving for health reasons but are using this as an excuse in order to not appear to put one set of gc ahead of another. For health it'd be far easier to move to Spain etc where it'd be easier for you to visit them (but not your sil of course)