Moving to Australia from Timor-Leste

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Timor-Leste to Australia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Timor-Leste to Australia, and you’d need to navigate life in English.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Timor-Leste to Australia, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
26 ↑ 117% vs 2022

people moved from Timor-Leste to Australia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Australia?

Top countries of origin for Australia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Timor-Leste to Australia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

TL
4.1
AU
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

TL
12.0
AU
4.5

Australia performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

TL
$461
AU
$7,691
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

TL
7.7
AU
39.8

Timor-Leste generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

TL
61.0
AU
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

TL
0.5t
AU
14.1t

Timor-Leste generally does better on environment, though Australia leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

TL
0.0
AU
35.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

TL
28.3%
AU
4.6%

Australia performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

TL
1.5%
AU
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

TL
$4,600
AU
$59,500

Australia generally does better on employment & economy, though Timor-Leste leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

TL
69.9 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

TL
33.7
AU
3.0

Australia performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Timor-Leste and Australia. To live, work, or study long-term in Australia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Australia's immigration authority.

Timor-Leste passport

Timor-Leste passport holder visiting Australia

Visa Required
Timor-Leste passport holders need a visa to enter Australia.
Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting Timor-Leste

Visa on Arrival
Australia passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Timor-Leste.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Australia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Australia has 35.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Australia safe for expats?

Australia performs significantly better than Timor-Leste across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Australia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.1 in Timor-Leste.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Timor-Leste?

Timor-Leste generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 39.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Australia, compared to 7.7 in Timor-Leste. Australia scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Timor-Leste: 52).

What language do they speak in Australia?

The official language in Australia is English. In Timor-Leste, the official languages are Portuguese and Tetum.

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At a Glance

TL AU
Population 1,445,006 26,141,369
Currency United States Dollar ($) Australian Dollar (A$)
Languages Portuguese, Tetum English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +670 +61
Time zones 1 8
Emergency number 000