Six to twelve weeks somewhere warm, then home for summer and Christmas. Nothing at home changes.
Five ways to retire overseas, from a winter away to moving for good
Moving for good is only one of them. Each way is a step up a ladder, and you can stop on any step.
Start at the bottom, and go only as far as suits you
What changes with your pension, house and visa on each step
| Start hereThe winter away | The long stay | The trial year | Two bases | The move for good | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time away | 6 to 12 weeks, home for summer and Christmas | 3 to 6 months in one base | Up to 12 months | About half the year in each | Living there for good |
| Your house | Stays your home | Stays your home | Rented out; exempt for the first 12 months | Stays your home; you pay for two | Often sold; tax rules change as a foreign resident |
| Age Pension | Keeps paying; after 6 weeks the Energy Supplement stops and your Concession Card is cancelled | Pension Supplement stops at 12 weeks; past 26 weeks it can be reduced if you have under 35 years of working-life residence | The 12 and 26-week changes apply, and rent from your home counts as income | Keeps paying; Pension Supplement stops at 12 weeks, and past 26 weeks it can be reduced if you have under 35 years of working-life residence | Base rate from the day you leave; past 26 weeks it can be reduced if you have under 35 years of working-life residence |
| Visa | Often a visitor stay is enough | Usually a longer-stay visa | A long-stay or retirement visa | One that allows long, repeated stays | A retirement visa with age, income or deposit rules |
| Easy to undo? | Very easy | Easy | Fairly easy | Fairly easy | Hardest |
The winter awayStart here
- Time away
- 6 to 12 weeks, home for summer and Christmas
- Your house
- Stays your home
- Age Pension
- Keeps paying; after 6 weeks the Energy Supplement stops and your Concession Card is cancelled
- Visa
- Often a visitor stay is enough
- Easy to undo?
- Very easy
The long stay
- Time away
- 3 to 6 months in one base
- Your house
- Stays your home
- Age Pension
- Pension Supplement stops at 12 weeks; past 26 weeks it can be reduced if you have under 35 years of working-life residence
- Visa
- Usually a longer-stay visa
- Easy to undo?
- Easy
The trial year
- Time away
- Up to 12 months
- Your house
- Rented out; exempt for the first 12 months
- Age Pension
- The 12 and 26-week changes apply, and rent from your home counts as income
- Visa
- A long-stay or retirement visa
- Easy to undo?
- Fairly easy
Two bases
- Time away
- About half the year in each
- Your house
- Stays your home; you pay for two
- Age Pension
- Keeps paying; Pension Supplement stops at 12 weeks, and past 26 weeks it can be reduced if you have under 35 years of working-life residence
- Visa
- One that allows long, repeated stays
- Easy to undo?
- Fairly easy
The move for good
- Time away
- Living there for good
- Your house
- Often sold; tax rules change as a foreign resident
- Age Pension
- Base rate from the day you leave; past 26 weeks it can be reduced if you have under 35 years of working-life residence
- Visa
- A retirement visa with age, income or deposit rules
- Easy to undo?
- Hardest
General information, checked 19 October 2026 against Services Australia and the ATO. Your situation may differ.
2. The long stay3 to 6 months
One base for a season. Long enough to have a favourite cafe, short enough to keep your life at home.
3. The trial yearUp to 12 months
Up to a year living overseas, with the house rented out and a way back if it does not suit you.
4. Two basesAbout half the year in each
About half the year overseas and half at home. Warm weather twice, and the family close for the moments that matter.
5. The move for goodLiving there for good
Living overseas for good. The biggest step, and the one that is hardest to undo, so it usually comes last.
Not sure which way suits you?
That is what the free planning session is for. Tell us about your situation and we will help you work it out on Zoom.
No pressure and no card details. You decide what comes next.