Indian professionals moving to Australia are increasingly arranging their finances before leaving home, with most planning to settle with family and maintain financial links with India, according to research commissioned by National Australia Bank.About 70% of prospective Indian migrants surveyed are moving on working or skilled visas, while 85% are migrating with children, family or relatives, the research by RFI Global found. More than a third ranked managing money and finances among their top concerns before moving.The findings underline the growing importance of financial planning in migration decisions as geopolitical tensions and changing immigration policies reshape the appeal of traditional destinations such as the US and Canada.“Indian migrants are not just thinking about the logistics of moving countries. Many are already planning how they will build long-term financial lives in Australia before they arrive,” NAB Executive, Personal Everyday Banking, Sweta Mehra said.“They’re thinking about work, family, savings, sending money home, buying a home and building stability for the next generation. People want confidence they're making the right financial decisions before they arrive, not after.”Australia has also become a larger destination for Indians in recent years. India became the country’s largest overseas-born population group in Australia for the first time in 2025, with more than 971,000 Indian-born residents, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.The research suggests migrants are seeking to establish banking relationships even before they land. About 91% said they would value banking information from Australian banks before moving, while 70% would want to open a savings account before arrival. Some 71% said help opening an Australian bank account before arrival would have a significant or decisive impact on their choice of bank.“The first banking decision is increasingly being made before a migrant boards the plane. Banks have an important role to play in making practical banking information available easier to access before people arrive, not just after they land,” Mehra said.The cross-border financial relationship is also likely to remain important. About 81% of prospective Indian migrants plan to make overseas transfers from Australia, with most expecting to do so at least monthly.“For many Indian migrants, their financial lives span two countries. They are building a household in Australia while continuing to support family in India, which is why simple, reliable ways to manage money across borders matter from the outset,” Mehra said.RFI Global conducted online surveys of prospective and recently arrived migrants in May and June 2025, examining financial decisions before and after migration.