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.
Opening a Bank Account
Open with just a passport within 6 weeks of arrival. Big 4: CommBank, ANZ, Westpac, NAB. CommBank or ANZ recommended for app-based banking.
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
- ID, bank statements, income proof, references required
- Bond: Usually 4 weeks rent (held by government authority)
- Rent: Quoted weekly in Australia
- Lease term: Usually 6-12 months
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.
Duty-Free Concessions and Cash Declarations
For adults, the general duty-free concession is AUD $900 worth of goods and 2.25L of alcohol, with item-by-item limits listed on the Australian Border Force website. If you're bringing in AUD $10,000 or more in cash (including foreign currency), you're required to declare it to AUSTRAC — carrying the cash itself is perfectly legal; it's failing to declare it that lands you in trouble.
Timing Your Australian Mobile Number
You'll need an Australian mobile number for just about everything — applying for a TFN, opening a bank account, job hunting — so aim to get one sorted within 24–48 hours of landing. Airport kiosks are convenient, but the plan options can be narrower than at city stores or online (Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, or budget providers like amaysim and Boost). Even prepaid SIMs require ID checks, so bring your passport.
Applying for Your TFN Online — Accuracy Is Everything
You can only apply for a TFN online with the ATO (ato.gov.au) once you're physically in Australia, and the passport and visa details you enter are automatically cross-checked against immigration records. A single wrong letter in your name or passport number can delay or derail the application, so fill it in with your passport sitting next to you. The notification letter comes by post, so the safest order is to lock in an Australian address where you can reliably receive mail before you apply.
Your First-Week ID Bundle (100-Point ID Check)
Banks, real estate agents and telcos commonly use the 100-point check, where combinations of documents — your passport, Visa Grant Notice and so on — are each worth a set number of points. Save the PDF of your visa grant email to both your phone and the cloud so you can produce it anywhere. After six weeks in the country, banks may ask for additional ID to open an account, so it pays to sort your banking out in the first week.
From Temporary Digs to a Long-Term Place (Weeks One to Two)
Booking Temporary Accommodation (Flexible Cancellation)
Book your first one to two weeks with flexible cancellation so you're not out of pocket if you land a long-term place quickly. Many Airbnb hosts set a weekly discount for stays of seven days or more, and backpackers like YHA often have separate weekly rates. Picking somewhere with good public transport access — keeping inspections, bank visits and telco errands in mind — will save you an enormous amount of time in that first week.
Spotting Rental Scams
The classic scam runs: 'I'm overseas so I can't show you the place — transfer the deposit first and I'll post you the keys.' Never send money before you've inspected a property in person, and treat listings priced well below market, photos that look like stock images, or photos that a reverse image search shows are lifted from elsewhere as red flags. You can report scams and suspicious listings to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au), run by the ACCC.
Inspections and the Condition Report
When you move into a formal tenancy you'll receive a Condition Report — record every bit of existing damage (marks on walls, carpet stains, mould) and keep date-stamped photos and video alongside it, as this becomes your decisive evidence in any bond dispute when you move out. The deadline for returning the completed report varies by state, so check your lease and your state government's guidance. At inspections, it's also worth testing the water pressure, sniffing for mould, checking the window locks and even your mobile reception.
Bonds Belong with the Government (Bond Lodgement)
Your bond must be lodged with the relevant state body, not paid into the landlord's personal account — Fair Trading (Rental Bonds Online) in NSW, the RTBA (Residential Tenancies Bond Authority) in VIC, and the RTA (Residential Tenancies Authority) in QLD. Once it's lodged, the agency sends you a confirmation notice with a bond number — if that notice never turns up, it may be a sign your bond was never lodged at all. Informal share arrangements (sub-letting) often skip official lodgement, which can leave you with much weaker protection if a dispute arises.
Informal Share vs Formal Lease — Know the Difference in Rights
Share rooms arranged directly through community boards can be quick and cheap, but if your name isn't on the lease, your protections as a tenant can be limited. A formal tenancy gives you legal safeguards — bond lodgement, the right to request repairs, notice periods before eviction — in exchange for entry hurdles like proof of income and references. Free tenant advice is available from state tenant bodies such as the Tenants' Union of NSW, Tenants Victoria and Tenants Queensland.
Securing a Postal Address — for Your TFN Letter and Bank Cards
Your TFN letter and bank cards arrive by post, so lost mail is the most common mishap in a first month spent hopping between places. Options include using a trusted friend's address or renting a PO Box (for a fee) from Australia Post, and when you move, the Mail Redirect service can forward your mail to the new address for a set period. When opening your bank account, ask whether branch pickup is available for your card.
Setting Up Your Banking and Tax Bundle (Weeks One to Two)
TFN vs ABN — Employee or Business?
If you're an ordinary employee, a TFN is all you need; an ABN (Australian Business Number) is for working as a freelancer, sole trader or in some other business arrangement. If an employer tells a regular employee to 'go and get an ABN', it may be sham contracting — a way of dodging super and minimum wage obligations — so checking with the Fair Work Ombudsman is recommended. ABN registration is free through the ABR (abr.gov.au); steer clear of private agent sites that charge a fee.
Working Before Your TFN Arrives — the 28-Day Rule
You can start work before your TFN letter turns up in the post — you just need to give your employer your TFN within 28 days of starting. Miss that deadline and your pay can be taxed at the top marginal rate, so put the date in your calendar. In the end it all comes back to reliably receiving mail at the address you listed on your application.
BSB and Account Number — Setting Up Direct Deposit
Australian bank accounts are identified by a six-digit BSB (branch code) plus an account number, and you'll need to give your employer both to get paid. They're visible in your banking app as soon as the account is open, and setting up PayID (transfers linked to your mobile number) makes person-to-person payments far easier. Some accounts charge a monthly account keeping fee, so check whether you qualify for a student or new-resident waiver.
Claiming the Tax-Free Threshold — Working Holiday Makers Are the Exception
When you start a job you complete a TFN Declaration — ticking the tax-free threshold box can give residents a tax-free band on the first $18,200 a year. Working holiday visa holders (417/462) are the exception: a separate Working Holiday Maker tax rate applies, with different rules to ordinary residents, so check the rate for your own visa type on the ATO website. If you hold more than one job, you'd normally claim the threshold with your main source of income only.
Linking Your myGov Account to the ATO
Create a myGov account (my.gov.au) and link the ATO service, and you can lodge tax returns, view your Income Statement and check your super all online. Linking the ATO requires your TFN and identity details, so the right order is to do it after your TFN arrives. The annual Tax Return opens on 1 July, once the financial year ends, and if you lodge it yourself the deadline is normally 31 October.
Insurance and Registrations by Visa Type (First Month)
Working Holiday — How to Choose OVHC
Working holiday visa holders (417/462) generally aren't eligible for Medicare, so taking out OVHC (Overseas Visitors Health Cover) or travel insurance is strongly recommended. When comparing products, check the coverage for GP visits and emergency departments, the excess, and whether ambulance is included — ambulance costs are billed separately in some states. Major insurers including Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care and nib offer OVHC products.
From a Reciprocal Health Care Country? (RHCA)
Citizens of countries with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia — including the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia and Malta — may be able to access Medicare for essential medical care even during a temporary stay. Coverage and conditions vary from country to country, so check what applies to your nationality with Services Australia. If you're eligible, you can apply for Medicare enrolment with your passport and visa documents.
Student Visa — Switching or Refunding OSHC
Student visas come with a visa condition requiring OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) for the full length of your stay. Schools often sign students up with a particular insurer in bulk, but you can compare the cover and switch to a different OSHC provider, and if your visa type changes or you head home early, you can apply for a refund of the unused period. Keep your certificate as a PDF — you'll need it for visa extensions and hospital visits.
Permanent Residents and PR Applicants — Enrolling in Medicare
Permanent residents can enrol in Medicare online or at a Services Australia service centre, with a passport and visa evidence required. In some cases, people who have applied for permanent residency can also qualify for Medicare depending on their circumstances, so checking with Services Australia is recommended. You can see a doctor using your Medicare number even before the card arrives in the post, and the Express Plus Medicare app gives you a digital card.
Avoiding a Coverage Gap
When switching visas — student to graduate, working holiday to student — activate your new policy before the old one expires, so there's no gap between the end date and the start date. Any treatment during an uninsured period comes entirely out of your own pocket, and for some visas, maintaining health insurance is itself a visa condition. Put your policy expiry date and your visa transition date side by side in your calendar.
My Health Record — Automatic Creation and Opting Out
Once you're eligible for Medicare, a My Health Record — the national electronic health record run by the Australian Digital Health Agency — is created automatically on an opt-out basis. If you'd rather your records weren't shared, you can opt out, or restrict access and which organisations can view it in your account settings. Used well, though, it works in your favour: prescription history and test results are shared between providers, which makes settling in with a new GP much smoother.
Work and Income Reporting Setup (First Month)
Your Payslip Checking Routine
Australian employers are required to provide a payslip within one business day of paying you (Fair Work). Check every time that your hourly rate, hours worked, PAYG withholding and super contributions are all shown — and treat cash-in-hand jobs with no payslip as a red flag, since they can leave you without super or workers' compensation cover. You can check the minimum standards for your industry with the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (P.A.C.T.).
Building the Habit of Tracking Work-Related Deductions
Uniforms, tools, licence renewal fees and working-from-home costs may all be deductible at tax time, and working from home can be claimed using the hourly fixed rate method — the ATO sets the rate each financial year, so check ato.gov.au. The myDeductions feature in the official ATO app lets you photograph receipts as you go, sparing you the end-of-year scramble. Vague claims with no receipts to back them are the most common trigger for an audit.
Centrelink — Check the Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period
Most Centrelink income support payments such as JobSeeker come with residence requirements and a Newly Arrived Resident's Waiting Period, so temporary visa holders and freshly arrived permanent residents often can't access them straight away. Check your eligibility — based on your visa and residence history — with Services Australia. 'I can get unemployment benefits as soon as I land' is a common misconception.
Superannuation — Check Your Account and Avoid Duplicates
Employers must pay super at the legislated Super Guarantee rate, and opening a new account with every job change just means paying fees several times over. If you don't nominate a fund, you'll be connected to the existing account on file with the ATO (your stapled fund) — so once myGov and the ATO are linked, check your super account and contribution history. If you work on a temporary visa and later leave Australia, you can claim your super back through DASP (Departing Australia Superannuation Payment).
How Long to Keep Pay and Tax Records
The ATO generally advises keeping tax-related records for five years. Filing your payslips, Income Statements and deduction receipts into cloud folders by financial year sets you up for both tax time and any wage dispute. The fact that the Australian financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June — not from January — is what trips people up most in their first year.
Digital ID and Government Service Registrations (First Month)
myGov — the Central Portal for Federal Services
myGov (my.gov.au) is the portal that brings federal services — the ATO, Medicare, Centrelink, My Health Record — together under a single account. All you need to create one is an email address, but linking each service requires details from the relevant agency (your TFN, Medicare number and so on), so link them one by one as your documents arrive. Setting up stronger sign-in options (such as app-based codes) reduces the risk of your account being hijacked.
myID (formerly myGovID) — Digital ID Is Not myGov
myID is the government Digital ID app run by the ATO — by registering identity documents such as your passport to raise your identity strength, you can verify yourself remotely with government online services. The similar names make them easy to confuse, but they do different jobs: myGov is the service portal, myID is the means of proving who you are. It was renamed from myGovID to myID in 2024, so don't be thrown when older guides use the old name.
State Government Service Accounts (Service NSW / Service Victoria)
Driver licence conversions, vehicle registration (rego) and various state vouchers are handled through your state government account — Service NSW in NSW, Service Victoria in VIC — not through the federal myGov. The Service NSW app also supports the Digital Driver Licence. Not realising that federal and state services are separate, and rummaging through myGov for everything, is one of the most common rookie mistakes.
The Change-of-Address Checklist
When you move, you'll need to update your address separately with your bank, telco, Medicare (if applicable), the ATO (via myGov) and your state licence and vehicle registration — none of them sync with each other automatically. Adding Australia Post's Mail Redirect (paid) on top catches anything you've missed and forwards it to your new address for a set period. Moves come thick and fast in your first year, so we'd suggest keeping a 'change-of-address checklist' in your notes app.
Keeping Records for Your Next Visa
If skilled migration or another future visa is on your radar, keep your employment contracts, payslips, reference letters and qualification evidence organised from day one — gathering proof of work history retrospectively is far harder. Visa rules and points criteria change all the time, so go only by what the Department of Home Affairs publishes (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au). If you pay for migration advice, make sure you're dealing with a registered migration agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a TFN (Tax File Number)?▾
Apply online at the ATO (Australian Taxation Office) website. Your TFN arrives by mail within about 28 days. It's the most important first step after arriving. Without a TFN, the highest tax rate (45%) applies to your income.
How do I open a bank account in Australia?▾
Within 6 weeks of arrival, you can open an account with just a passport. After 6 weeks, additional ID (driver's licence, etc.) is needed. The Big 4 are CommBank, ANZ, Westpac, and NAB. CommBank is most popular among WHV/students for app convenience.
Can I get Medicare benefits?▾
If your home country has no reciprocal health care agreement (RHCA) with Australia, WHV and student visa holders cannot access Medicare. Student visa holders must have OSHC (mandatory). WHV holders are strongly recommended to get private travel insurance. Nationals of RHCA countries can enrol for limited Medicare access — check your eligibility with Services Australia. PR and citizens can access Medicare.
How much is share house rent in Australia?▾
Varies by city: Sydney AUD $200-$350/week, Melbourne AUD $180-$300/week, Brisbane AUD $150-$250/week. Bond is usually 4 weeks rent. Australia quotes rent weekly.
How does the healthcare system work?▾
Australian healthcare is GP (General Practitioner) centred. See a GP first, then get a referral to a specialist if needed. For emergencies, call 000 or go to a hospital Emergency Department. Clinics with doctors who speak your language exist in the major cities — search the AUWith hospital directory by language.
Can I drive in Australia on an overseas licence?▾
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.
How do I find my community in Australia?▾
Use AUWith (an Australia settlement community portal) for local jobs, housing, marketplace and everyday Q&A boards. Each city has congregations and national associations that are a big help for networking and information in your first months.