Brits Are Flocking to Australia in 2025
The end of summer is always a busy time for international moves, and 2025 is no exception. So far this year, the number of people planning to move abroad has risen by 11% compared to the first half of 2024, according to Compare My Move.
What’s changed is where Brits are choosing to go. Australia has surged in popularity, becoming the top choice for working abroad and now the second most popular country to relocate to overall.
In 2025, 10.19% of British international movers have headed to Australia, up from 7.63% in 2024. That jump has pushed Australia from the fourth most popular destination to the second, overtaking other long-time favourites.
| Rank | Rank Change from 2024 | Country | Percentage of British Movers 2024 | Percentage of British Movers 2025 |
| 1 | – | Spain | 15.51% | 14.42% |
| 2 | ↑2 | Australia | 7.63% | 10.19% |
| 3 | ↓1 | United States | 10.05% | 6.91% |
| 4 | ↓1 | France | 8.03% | 6.49% |
| 5 | – | Italy | 5.38% | 6.06% |
Australia has now overtaken both the U.S. and France at the start of the year. Both countries have dropped below 7% of the share of international movers from the UK. Spain still holds the top spot, but its share has fallen. Many movers who might previously have chosen Spain, the U.S., or France are now opting for Australia instead.
But although Spain tops Australia for all international moves. Australia comes in top when it comes to Brits working abroad, with 3100 P85 forms submitted from Austrlia at the start of 2025 according to HMRC.
| Rank | Country | P85 Forms 2025 (Up to Apr 25) |
| 1 | Australia | 3100 |
| 2 | India | 1800 |
| 3 | Spain | 1700 |
| 4 | United Arab Emirates | 1100 |
| 5 | Usa | 1100 |
| 6 | France | 900 |
| 7 | Poland | 900 |
| 8 | Uzbekistan | 700 |
| 9 | Ireland | 600 |
| 10 | Italy | 600 |
A P85 form is a tax form filled in when leaving the UK to work abroad for at least a full tax year. At the start of 2025, an estimated 1,300 more P85 forms were filled out for Australia than the second most popular country, India.
We asked Dave Sayce, co-founder and managing director of Compare My Move why so many people want to work in Australia and if this has influenced it’s popularity in 2025.
“Australia’s rise in popularity in 2025 is closely linked to work opportunities. It’s an attractive option for Brits because of the shared language and cultural similarities.
On top of that, Australia is actively seeking young, skilled workers in key industries, making it one of the most accessible destinations for those wanting to work abroad while experiencing life on the other side of the world.
While both Australia and the U.S. share language and cultural ties with the UK, the difference lies in politics. Australia’s immigration policies are currently more welcoming, whereas the U.S. has been tightening its rules. This friendlier climate is likely one of the reasons more Brits are choosing Australia over America in 2025.”
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