Australian visa with formal cannabis warning

[karket]

Hi, first time posting on this so go easy. I am looking to move with my job to Australia, I have a formal cannabis WARNING from the UK. I am wondering if this will form part of my police certificate and ultimately stop me from moving to Aus. Any advice would be massively appreciated.

Thanks.

[Anderson22]

Hi mate, welcome to the forum — no worries, everyone’s been new here at some point.
I actually went through the UK → Australia move myself a couple of years back, so I’ll share what I know from personal experience and research.
A formal cannabis warning in the UK is not the same as a conviction. It’s more like a caution — it's recorded by the police but it’s not a criminal conviction and doesn't usually show up on basic disclosure checks. However, it can appear on an enhanced police certificate (like the ACRO Police Certificate), especially if it’s recent.
When you apply for a visa to Australia — especially a work visa or permanent residency — you’ll be asked to provide a police clearance (often ACRO). The key thing is how Australia interprets your record. In most cases, minor drug warnings that didn’t result in conviction aren’t an automatic bar to entry, especially if you’ve had no further trouble.
The Department of Home Affairs mainly looks at whether someone passes the character test under Section 501 of the Migration Act. They’re more concerned about things like:

• Serious criminal convictions
• Repeated offences
• Time served in prison
• Threats to public safety

If your cannabis warning was a one-time thing and you’ve kept your record clean since, you’re likely not going to be disqualified — especially if your job offer is solid and you meet the other visa requirements.
Still, I’d recommend:

1. Ordering your ACRO Police Certificate ASAP to see exactly what shows up.
2. Speaking to a migration agent in Australia who can give advice specific to your visa type and situation.
3. Preparing a short written explanation in case they ask you about the warning — just be honest and take responsibility.

Hope this helps — I know how stressful it can be, but don’t let it discourage you. Australia’s a fantastic place to live and work, and plenty of people have made the move with minor issues in their past.
Good luck with everything — feel free to message if you’ve got more questions.