Destinations

Fifteen destinations Australians actually move to

Each hub below is rendered from the same dated rules modules that power the tools, not marketing copy. That means the tax summary, treaty position, visa pathways and cost figures on a destination page are the exact numbers the Tax Savings Simulator, Break-Even Calculator and Visa Checker will use when you run them for that country.

Two things to hold onto while you browse. First, a destination’s headline tax rate is the least important number on the page: what matters is which of your income streams escape Australian tax on departure, and whether a treaty exists to break a tie if the ATO says you never really left. Second, every cost figure here is an indicative default for a typical expat household, good enough to compare cities, not good enough to budget on.

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Zero personal tax, big expat machine, but no treaty safety net.

Zero personal taxNo AU treaty

Visas: Employment visa · Golden visa (investor/professional) · Virtual working programme

~14h flight from Sydney

Singapore

Treaty partner, no CGT, 8 hours from Sydney, if you can get a pass.

Territorial taxAU tax treaty

Visas: Employment Pass · ONE Pass · EntrePass

~8h flight from Sydney

Portugal

EU lifestyle and a real nomad visa, but no AU treaty and 48% on worldwide income.

Worldwide taxNo AU treaty

Visas: D8 digital nomad visa · D7 passive income visa · Golden visa (fund route)

~26h flight from Sydney

Malaysia

Territorial tax, treaty cover and half-price living, 8 hours from Sydney.

Territorial taxAU tax treaty

Visas: MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) · DE Rantau nomad pass · Employment Pass

~8.5h flight from Sydney

Thailand

Ten-year visas and half-price living, but the tax-free era ended in 2024.

Remittance basisAU tax treaty

Visas: LTR (Long-Term Resident) visa · DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) · Thailand Privilege (Elite) visa

~9.5h flight from Sydney

Bali

Indonesia

Six hours from Sydney and half the cost, but the legal tax story is 35% worldwide.

Worldwide taxAU tax treaty

Visas: E33G remote worker KITAS · Second Home visa · Retirement KITAS (E33F)

~6.5h flight from Sydney

Vietnam

Cheapest cost base in Asia and 5% on dividends, but no visa built for you.

Worldwide taxAU tax treaty

Visas: Work permit + TRC · Investor visa (DT1, DT4) · E-visa runs (90 days)

~9h flight from Sydney

Georgia

One-year visa-free, 1% small-business tax, maximum reward, no treaty safety net.

Territorial taxNo AU treaty

Visas: One-year visa-free entry · Individual entrepreneur + 1% Small Business Status · HNWI tax residency programme

~20h flight from Sydney

Cyprus

17 years of tax-free dividends and a 60-day residency rule, minus a treaty.

Worldwide taxNo AU treaty

Visas: Digital nomad visa · BCS/foreign-interest company employment · Permanent residency (fast-track investment)

~21h flight from Sydney

Malta

English-speaking EU remittance haven with a real Australia treaty.

Remittance basisAU tax treaty

Visas: Nomad Residence Permit · Global Residence Programme · Malta Permanent Residence Programme (MPRP)

~23h flight from Sydney

United States

The E-3 makes America uniquely accessible to Australians, for careers, not tax savings.

Worldwide taxAU tax treaty

Visas: E-3 visa (Australians only) · E-2 treaty investor visa · L-1 intracompany transfer

~13.5h flight from Sydney

United Kingdom

Four tax-free years on foreign income for new arrivals, then full 45% worldwide.

Worldwide taxAU tax treaty

Visas: Skilled Worker visa · Youth Mobility Scheme · Global Talent visa

~22h flight from Sydney

New Zealand

Walk in with no visa, no CGT, and 4 tax-free years on foreign income, 3 hours away.

Worldwide taxAU tax treaty

Visas: Trans-Tasman travel arrangement · Transitional resident election (tax, not visa) · Active Investor Plus visa

~3h flight from Sydney

Philippines

English-speaking, territorial tax, and a retirement visa from US$10k.

Territorial taxAU tax treaty

Visas: SRRV (Special Resident Retiree's Visa) · Extended tourist stay (9a) · Digital nomad visa

~8.5h flight from Sydney

Mexico

Half the cost of Sydney, a real treaty, easy visas, and worldwide tax from day one.

Worldwide taxAU tax treaty

Visas: Temporary resident visa (economic solvency) · Permanent resident visa (higher solvency) · Work visa (employer sponsored)

~16h flight from Sydney

Not sure where to start? The Destination Matchmaker ranks all fifteen against your income, family and passport, or jump straight to a side-by-side comparison.