I’m looking to start a discussion for those of us planning—or currently navigating—the 2-year Australian residency requirement to qualify for pension portability.

As many here know, if you have been living in Thailand and want to return to Australia to claim the Age Pension and eventually take it back to Thailand permanently, you generally need to re-establish your residency and stay in Australia for a continuous period of at least 2 years. This applies whether you do those 2 years before you apply, while your claim is processing, or after it's granted.

Please Note: I know you can briefly leave Australia during this time, and I know there is ongoing talk about pension tax changes for non-residents. Please save those topics for another thread so we can keep this one focused solely on living strategies.

It’s great if you already have a network, a family home to stay in, or a solid job lined up for that 2-year period. But for the benefit of other members who are in this situation and have neither a place to stay nor employment, how can someone actually manage those 2 years in Australia in a cost-effective way?

For those who have been through this, or are planning it now:

• Where are the most cost-effective areas to base yourself?

• What are your best suggestions for finding cheap, long-term accommodation from scratch?

• What can someone do for those 2 years to stay occupied or earn a bit of extra cash without burning through their savings?

Please share your real-world strategies, tips, and experiences to help other members planning on going back.

I've read on here previously that someone purchased a camper van to travel around and save on rent etc.

I'd suggest it will be a long 2 years if someone hasn't got a family or network of friends there.

@Nemises just to clarify a paragraph from your post

As many here know, if you have been living in Thailand and want to return to Australia to claim the Age Pension and eventually take it back to Thailand permanently, you generally need to re-establish your residency and stay in Australia for a continuous period of at least 2 years. This applies whether you do those 2 years before you apply, while your claim is processing, or after it's granted.

The 2 years starts the day you arrive in Australia to stay as a resident. You can then apply for the OAP and when granted is back payed from your application date.

You the need to stay continuously for 2 years from the day you arrived in Australia to be granted portability

2 hours ago, Will27 said:

I've read on here previously that someone purchased a camper van to travel around and save on rent etc.

I'd suggest it will be a long 2 years if someone hasn't got a family or network of friends there.

Yeah, I reckon it could be a bloody long two years if you had no family or friends in Australia.

On the other hand, if you’re in that position, doing a lap or two of the country could turn it into a pretty decent adventure rather than just sitting somewhere watching your savings disappear on rent.

Ideally, if that particular lonely bugger had a useful trade — carpenter, plumber, electrician, mechanic, welder, painter, landscaper or even a good handyman — he could pick up bits of work as he travelled around, meet people, cover some of his fuel and living costs, and see a hell of a lot of Australia along the way.

Two years is a long time, but it doesn’t necessarily have to feel like two years in the same place.

How many threads about the 2 years / portability has there been? Yet, here's another one. There will be nothing new in this thread that hasn't already been discussed, several times over.

If you've burnt your bridges in Australia, Eg. sold everything and put it into Thailand, then you are going to have to pay large to rent a place, if you can find one, or rely on the good will of friends / family, and why should they accommodate one's Thailand fantasy?

I know a guy who did the campervan thing, and flew the Thai missus out a couple of times, but at the price of fuel now, and no free camping, this idea is not what it used to be.

Cash in hand work is not as readily available as it used to be because employers fear the worker getting injured, and they risk losing their business. That said, there's probably still some seasonal fruit picking for cash available, with some including accommodation. You will probably be working along Thai's. 🙂 You would need a decent car to get between the orchards / states.

I don't know when you were last in Australia, but a carton of regular beer is now $56.95. Just to let you know what you will be facing by way of cost of living.

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_64866/tooheys-new-bottles-375ml?isFromSearch=true&isPersonalised=false&isSponsored=false&state=2&pageName=category_page&spPageId=viewSearch_API_desktop&pageNumber=1

Prices at Coles and Woolies are through the roof. You can check the prices of groceries on their websites.

If you go on to live into your 80's, returning for the 2 years, so you can get your $1000AUD a fortnight, would be worth it. Returning for the 2 years and dying a few years later would not be financially beneficial. Yes, none of us know when we will go, but life expectancy is something to consider. You have to weigh up money lost in that two years, against how many years you have to live for to recoup it, and then be ahead. Morbid subject, but it's just a fact.

You could probably try to do house sitting, over several platforms, using a friend or relative's address for Centerlink, but then they might have questions from the tax man in relation to whether you are paying them rent, especially if you are claiming rent assistance. Once again, why involve others in your own problems?

There's only a minority that could rough it, and go off grid, camping in the bush, which could include parking up a caravan. This would not be for everyone.

On a positive, you could get all your medical done, hopefully in the second year, because that's how long the waiting list is in the public system.

Basically, if one has sold their property/s in Australia, there's no easy answers, and it will not be an easy and cheap time doing the 2 years in Australia.

You have to weigh up cost versus reward.

33 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

How many threads about the 2 years / portability has there been? Yet, here's another one. There will be nothing new in this thread that hasn't already been discussed, several times over.

The difference with this thread is that it’s specifically intended to stay focused on the practicalities of actually getting through the two years — accommodation, work, locations and ways of keeping costs down.

The previous threads you’re referring to inevitably got derailed into a bloodbath over speculation and arguments about tax residency and pension changes, which ultimately resulted in them being shut down.

So perhaps let this one run its course and see if anyone comes up with something useful that hasn’t been covered before.

50 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You could probably try to do house sitting, over several platforms, using a friend or relative's address for Centerlink, but then they might have questions from the tax man in relation to whether you are paying them rent, especially if you are claiming rent assistance. Once again, why involve others in your own problems?

If you’re house-sitting and using a friend or relative’s address purely as your Centrelink mailing/residential contact address, you’re obviously not living at that person’s house and therefore wouldn’t be claiming Rent Assistance for it.

The whole point of the house-sitting suggestion is to avoid paying rent while having a legitimate place to live during the two years. No need to involve anyone in a fictitious rental arrangement.

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

If you go on to live into your 80's, returning for the 2 years, so you can get your $1000AUD a fortnight, would be worth it

Agree. 20 years of the Australian Age Pension would be worth nearly $600,000 at today’s rates — plus indexation. That goes a bloody long way in Thailand. 😎🇹🇭

5 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

I don't know when you were last in Australia, but a carton of regular beer is now $56.95.

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_64866/tooheys-new-bottles-375ml?isFromSearch=true&isPersonalised=false&isSponsored=false&state=2&pageName=category_page&spPageId=viewSearch_API_desktop&pageNumber=1

Thanks for the Australian beer costs link. 👍

Could you also provide a link to the cost of wine in Australia? It’d be interesting to compare Australian wine prices here in Thailand with what Australians pay for the same Aussie wines back home. 🍷😂

6 hours ago, Nemises said:

The difference with this thread is that it’s specifically intended to stay focused on the practicalities of actually getting through the two years — accommodation, work, locations and ways of keeping costs down.

Already been covered, many times.

Accommodation - if you do not own a property in Australia, rent is expensive, and do you a housing shortage, you will be lucky to find a rental.

Work - good luck securing employment at age 65 / 67, or older.

Keeping cost down - check it out for yourself in the below links.

https://www.coles.com.au

https://www.woolworths.com.au

https://www.aldi.com.au

The cost of electricity is a national shame in Australia. You can compare retailers in the below link.

https://www.canstar.com.au/lp/energyswitch/?gad_campaignid=23988069018

Due to the Iran war, fuel costs are high, which has a flow on effect throughout the economy for goods and services. You can see the latest prices in the below link.

https://www.fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au/app

Insurance is up. (car insurance) You can compare in the below link.

https://www.canstar.com.au/car-insurance/?gad_campaignid=23881912501

Last time I was in Australia I paid just short of $10 for a schooner of regular beer in a pub, and your average bistro meal in that pub was $38.

6 hours ago, Nemises said:

The previous threads you’re referring to inevitably got derailed into a bloodbath over speculation and arguments about tax residency and pension changes, which ultimately resulted in them being shut down.

No, they didn't. They were about "do you have to do the 2 years" and "is there any way out of it" and "are you allowed to go overseas at all in the 2 years." Once these questions were answer, the thread was done.

6 hours ago, Nemises said:

So perhaps let this one run its course and see if anyone comes up with something useful that hasn’t been covered before.

It's all been covered before. The government's policy has not changed.

6 hours ago, Nemises said:

If you’re house-sitting and using a friend or relative’s address purely as your Centrelink mailing/residential contact address, you’re obviously not living at that person’s house and therefore wouldn’t be claiming Rent Assistance for it.

Technically illegal, IF you are claiming rent assistance, but the chances of getting caught are slim. The other issue is, the ATO may hit up whoever you are staying with for tax on rent and / or loss of their pension. As I said, best to leave other people out of your own problems.

When house sitting, no utilities are in your name. You are not connected to the property in an way except on the house sitting platform. If you are not claiming rent assistance, because you state you are living at a friend's / relative's place for free, no law broken.

6 hours ago, Nemises said:

The whole point of the house-sitting suggestion is to avoid paying rent while having a legitimate place to live during the two years. No need to involve anyone in a fictitious rental arrangement.

Yes, but it should not be relied upon. You will need a base, as you may not get regular gigs house sitting, particularly as there so many working homeless people in Australia now. There will be a lot of competition.

5 hours ago, Nemises said:

Agree. 20 years of the Australian Age Pension would be worth nearly $600,000 at today’s rates — plus indexation. That goes a bloody long way in Thailand. 😎🇹🇭

Sure, or you spend a lot of money over those 2 years chasing $1000 a fortnight, die a couple of years after receiving portability, and the whole exercise ran at a loss.

One must weigh up things such as their health, amount of savings they have, amenities available to them in Australia etc.

The elephant in the room is the Thai missus. If she's never been to Australia, she can't work, and the cost of living, asa couple, goes up even further, and if she has, and was granted PR / citizenship, and she works, you will probably lose some of the pension.

Everyone's circumstances are different. For some, it's not worth it to return to Australia for the 2 years, for others, they basically have no choice as they have run out of money.

1 hour ago, Nemises said:

Thanks for the Australian beer costs link. 👍

Could you also provide a link to the cost of wine in Australia? It’d be interesting to compare Australian wine prices here in Thailand with what Australians pay for the same Aussie wines back home. 🍷😂

Same link.

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/dm/home

9 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Same link.

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/dm/home

Thanks for the Dan Murphy’s link. 👍 You’ve demonstrated the Australian beer price — fair enough.

Now let’s see the same comparison with an Australian wine that’s sold here in Thailand. 🍷😂 Unless, of course, the comparison only works when you pick the prices that suit your argument?

26 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

$1000 a fortnight,

As of 20 September 2026, the maximum single Age Pension basic rate, excluding both the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement, is $1,122.87 per fortnight.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by Nemises

40 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Sure, or you spend a lot of money over those 2 years chasing $1000 a fortnight, die a couple of years after receiving portability, and the whole exercise ran at a loss.

Or you could go back at 65, before pension age, and spend those two years working and earning rather than “chasing $1,000 a fortnight”. 😉 There’s more than one way to look at it.

14 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Thanks for the Dan Murphy’s link. 👍 You’ve demonstrated the Australian beer price — fair enough.

Now let’s see the same comparison with an Australian wine that’s sold here in Thailand. 🍷😂 Unless, of course, the comparison only works when you pick the prices that suit your argument?

Go ahead and use the link and do your own comparison.

There's no argument from me, wine is cheaper in Australia, so is cheese,

The tax on wine in Thailand is so ridiculous they do not allow you to photograph the prices on the shelves here. 😂

Is this what your thread is really about, comparing prices, and living as cheaply as possible in Australia for 2 years?

19 minutes ago, Nemises said:

As of 20 September 2026, the maximum single Age Pension basic rate, excluding both the Pension Supplement and Energy Supplement, is $1,122.87 per fortnight.

Great.

You'll next every cent of that extra $122.87 a fortnight living in Australia. 😂

8 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Or you could go back at 65, before pension age, and spend those two years working and earning rather than “chasing $1,000 a fortnight”. 😉 There’s more than one way to look at it.

What occupation / industry would you be seeking employment in?

What is your advice to others that may seek to return home and and find work, at the age of 65?

Ask yourself this, "would I employ a 65 year old, with no recent work history in Australia?"

Could one even pass an aptitude test and medical to even secure an interview?

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by KhunHeineken

3 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

What occupation / industry would you be seeking employment in?

What is your advice to others that may seek to return home and and find work, at the age of 65?

Ask yourself this, "would I employ a 65 year old, with no recent work history in Australia?"

I’m not suggesting everyone aged 65 should return to Australia and suddenly look for a full-time job. 😂 My point was simply that your example assumes those two years are necessarily an expensive exercise with no financial benefit.

Some people may work, some may have savings or other income, some may already have a job or business they can continue with, and some may simply decide the cost is worthwhile for their own circumstances. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

1 minute ago, Nemises said:

I’m not suggesting everyone aged 65 should return to Australia and suddenly look for a full-time job. 😂 My point was simply that your example assumes those two years are necessarily an expensive exercise with no financial benefit.

Without a job, there would be no financial benefit. Without having a property, and a job, the whole thing runs at a loss for 2 years.

2 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Some people may work, some may have savings or other income, some may already have a job or business they can continue with, and some may simply decide the cost is worthwhile for their own circumstances. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Did you see the post where I said, "everyone's circumstances are different?"

You forgot another demographic. Some who have burnt all their bridges in Australia and have no where and no one to go to. They haven't had a job in years. Have used up all their savings. They don't even have a drivers license anymore. What's your advice to this demographic?

18 minutes ago, Nemises said:

I’m not suggesting everyone aged 65 should return to Australia and suddenly look for a full-time job.

Just on this point, if one hasn't reached the age of retirement, that would mean going on the dole. (Job Seeker) It only pays $833.70 per fortnight.

12 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You forgot another demographic. Some who have burnt all their bridges in Australia and have no where and no one to go to. They haven't had a job in years. Have used up all their savings. They don't even have a drivers license anymore. What's your advice to this demographic?

You’re now creating increasingly extreme hypothetical circumstances and asking me to provide a solution for each one. 😂 My original point was simply that returning before pension age isn’t necessarily “chasing $1,000 a fortnight at a loss”. What makes sense depends entirely on the individual’s circumstances.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Nemises

18 minutes ago, Nemises said:

You’re now creating increasingly extreme hypothetical circumstances and asking me to provide a solution for each one.

No. It's quite a large demographic. They over invested in Thailand.

19 minutes ago, Nemises said:

My original point was simply that returning before pension age isn’t necessarily “chasing $1,000 a fortnight at a loss”. What makes sense depends entirely on the individual’s circumstances.

I did say, three times now, "everyone's circumstances are different" but you paint the picture, or should I say, create an increasingly extreme hypothetical circumstance, of one returning to Australia, renting a property soon after arriving, furnishing said property, buying a car, and picking up a job, like it's all so easy, at the age of 65.

There is a housing crisis and rents are expensive, if one can even secure a property.

Job offers are not easy to find when 65 years of age.

In my state, NSW, if one's driving license is expired by more than 5 years, you have to sit ALL the tests again.

Utility bills means a credit check. Any black marks, no gas, no electricity, no internet.

Re-enrolling in Medicare requires documentation.

Some people may not even be able to accrue 100 points of ID to apply for things. The Australian passport is only 70 points.