Settling-in Manual
Things to do after arriving in Australia, organized chronologically.
1. First Week
✈️ First-week action checklist — tick as you go (auto-saved)
Finding Accommodation
Stay at a backpackers or Airbnb the first week while searching for long-term accommodation. Share housing is most economical.
- AUWith - AUWith housing/share board
- Flatmates.com.au (opens in a new window) - Share house specialist
- Domain (opens in a new window) - Rental/sales real estate
- realestate.com.au (opens in a new window) - Australia's largest real estate platform
Transport Cards
Transport cards differ by state. Purchase/top-up at convenience stores, station counters, or online.
2. First Month
TFN (Tax File Number) Application
Essential before starting work. Apply online at ATO, arrives by mail within ~28 days. Without TFN, highest tax rate (45%) applies.
ATO TFN Application (opens in a new window)Driver's Licence Conversion
You can drive on your home country licence plus an International Driving Permit during the grace period (3 months in NSW, 6 months in VIC, etc.). After that you must convert to that state's licence: only licences from recognised jurisdictions are exempt, and since 1 February 2026 'Experienced Driver Status' no longer applies, so everyone else sits knowledge and driving tests.
Medicare / OSHC
If your home country has no reciprocal health care agreement (RHCA) with Australia, WHV and students cannot access Medicare. Students need OSHC (mandatory), WHV holders should get private travel insurance. Nationals of RHCA countries should check their eligibility separately. PR/citizens can access Medicare.
Rental Contract
- Attend Inspection then submit Application
3. Daily Life Info
Supermarkets / Groceries
Australia's Big 3 supermarkets:
Largest chain, diverse PB products
2nd largest, similar to Woolworths
Budget prices, German discount chain
Groceries from home: most large cities have grocers stocking food from particular countries, and several run online delivery. Search the AUWith business directory by suburb.
Healthcare System
Australian healthcare is GP (General Practitioner) centered. See a GP first, then get a specialist referral if needed.
- Book a GP (Walk-in clinics available, Bulk Billing requires Medicare)
- After GP visit, specialist referral if needed
- Emergency: Call 000 or nearest hospital Emergency Department
Clinics with doctors who speak your language exist in the major cities. Finding one makes appointments much easier.
4. Your community
AUWith
Multicultural community portal for foreigners living in Australia. Exchange settling information through local jobs, housing, marketplace, and Q&A boards.
Go to AUWith HomeCommunity churches and temples
Most major cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane — have congregations that gather around a shared language and culture. Beyond worship they offer networking, settlement help and a place to speak your own language.
National community associations
Most states have associations for each national community that run new year and harvest festivals and cultural days. Don't forget to register with your own country's embassy or consulate as an overseas national.
Weekend language schools
If you have children, weekend community language schools teach your home language and culture. Many are run by community congregations or national associations.
The In-Depth Settling-In Manual — From Arrival Formalities to Your First Month of Admin
From the moment you step off the plane through to the end of your first month, this guide lays out the paperwork, accommodation, tax, insurance and government registrations in the practical order you'll actually tackle them. Specific rules can vary by visa type and state, so we recommend confirming the final details with the government agencies named here.
Arrival Paperwork and Customs (Just Before Landing to the First 72 Hours)
Filling Out the Incoming Passenger Card
On arrival in Australia you'll need to complete the Incoming Passenger Card handed out on the plane, covering customs and biosecurity declarations. On some routes an app-based digital declaration (Australia Travel Declaration) is being phased in to replace the paper card, so check with your airline. With anything food-, plant- or animal-related, the golden rule is: if in doubt, declare. Declaring costs you nothing, but getting caught with an undeclared item can mean an on-the-spot fine — or in serious cases, a cancelled visa.
Biosecurity — Declaring Food and Medicines
Biosecurity is handled by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and items such as meat, fruit, seeds, honey and traditional food ingredients all need to be declared. For prescription medicines, carry an English-language prescription or a letter from your doctor and bring only enough for personal use — the rules for specific ingredients are worth checking in advance on the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) website. All luggage goes through X-rays and detector dogs, so 'she'll be right, they won't notice' is the single most common mistake.