Your first 30 days in Australia
Settledin Team6 min readThe first month in Australia is mostly paperwork, and the order matters. Your tax file number is posted to an Australian address. Medicare needs you to be in the country. A rental application goes faster with a payslip. Do things in the right order and each step makes the next one easier.
This moving to Australia checklist covers what to sort before you fly and what to do in each of your first four weeks. Rules differ between states and between visas, so check the parts that apply to you.
Before you fly
- Health cover. If you are coming on a student visa, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is a condition of your visa. Buy it before you arrive and keep it for your whole stay. If you are from a country with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia, you may be able to use Medicare for some care. The 11 countries are Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
- A bank account. Some major banks let you open an account up to 14 days before you arrive. You then confirm your ID at a branch soon after you land. Check your bank's deadline, because the account can be closed if you miss it.
- Moving money. Compare the exchange rate and fees before you transfer savings. Bank transfers often hide a margin in the rate. Our guide to sending money to Australia with Wise explains what to look for.
- Your driver licence. Pack your overseas licence. If it is not in English, bring an official English translation or an International Driving Permit.
- Documents. Keep your passport, visa grant letter, qualifications and references together, with digital copies. You will be asked for them more than once.
Week 1: a number, an address and a tax file number
Get an Australian phone number. Banks, employers, agents and government services will send you codes and calls on it. Most of the steps below go faster once you have one.
Have a postal address. It can be temporary, such as where you are staying, as long as you can receive mail there. Your tax file number is posted to you.
Apply for your tax file number (TFN). If your visa lets you work and you are in Australia, you can apply online through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). It is free, needs no documents to be posted, and takes about 20 minutes. You will need your passport details, your name and date of birth exactly as they appear on your passport, and your Australian postal address. Your TFN arrives by post within 28 days.
If you start work before it arrives, tell your employer you have applied. They can then tax you at normal rates for 28 days. Without a TFN, your employer must take tax at the top rate.
Finish opening your bank account. If you opened one before arriving, take your passport to a branch to confirm your ID. If not, Moneysmart suggests going to a branch, asking for an everyday account with no monthly fees, and bringing your passport. ID requirements vary between banks.
Create a myGov account. myGov is the government's single sign in for online services. You can link the ATO, Medicare, Centrelink and other services to it, and government letters arrive in its inbox.
Week 2: health cover and study
Enrol in Medicare if you are eligible. You can enrol if you live in Australia and you are:
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen
- a permanent resident
- someone who has applied for permanent residency and meets the extra conditions, such as holding a visa with work rights
- covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, for the care that agreement covers
You must be in Australia to enrol. You can do it online through myGov with your passport or ImmiCard and your visa details, or by sending the enrolment form by mail or email. Your card is posted to you.
Students: create your Unique Student Identifier (USI). You need a USI for vocational training and higher education. International students can only create one after arriving in Australia, using their passport and visa.
Weeks 3 and 4: a home, a licence and your first job
Renting your first place
When you apply for a rental, expect to show ID, proof that you can pay the rent and any rental history or references. States limit what can be asked. In Victoria, for example, a landlord can ask for no more than two ID documents, and a foreign passport with an Australian visa counts as one.
The bond is held by a state authority, not by the landlord, and is returned at the end of the lease if there is no damage or unpaid rent.
| State | Usual maximum bond | Where it is lodged |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 4 weeks' rent | NSW Fair Trading, Rental Bonds Online |
| Victoria | 1 month's rent (rent up to $900 a week) | Residential Tenancies Bond Authority (RTBA) |
| Queensland | 4 weeks' rent | Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) |
Always get a receipt and a bond lodgement number, and complete the condition report carefully. Photos taken on move in day protect your bond when you leave.
Driving on your overseas licence
How long you can use an overseas licence depends on your state and, in some states, your visa.
| State | Permanent residents | Temporary visa holders |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 3 months from arrival, then a NSW licence | Up to 6 months. If you arrived on or after 1 July 2023 and will live in NSW for more than 6 months, get a NSW licence within 6 months |
| Victoria | Overseas licence only if you will live in Victoria for less than 6 months. Otherwise convert | Same rule as permanent residents |
| Queensland | After 3 months living in Queensland, get a Queensland licence | A valid overseas licence can be used |
Other states and territories have their own rules. Check your state's transport authority before your deadline passes.
Starting work
- Super. Your employer pays superannuation on top of your wages, at 12% from 1 July 2026. You can usually choose your own fund. If you do not, it goes into your existing (stapled) fund, or your employer's default fund if you have none.
- Minimum pay. The national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 for a 38 hour week, from 1 July 2026. Many jobs are covered by an award with a higher minimum.
- Your rights. Fair Work says visa holders have the same workplace rights and protections as every other employee. If you are underpaid, you can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman.
- If you leave Australia later. Temporary residents can usually claim their super after their visa ends and they have left. This is called the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment.
What do I need to sort in my first month?
- Before you fly: health cover, bank account, licence translation, documents.
- Week 1: phone number, postal address, TFN, bank ID check, myGov.
- Week 2: Medicare (if eligible), USI (students).
- Weeks 3 and 4: rental application and bond, licence deadline, super choice at your new job.
Plan the next step of your move
Settling in is the start. If you are working towards permanent residency, Settledin helps you see your visa pathway, check your points, search jobs with employers who can sponsor visas, and find professionals who can help.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a tax file number before I arrive in Australia?
The online application is for people already in Australia with work rights. Apply once you land and have a postal address.
Can I get Medicare on a temporary visa?
Usually only if you are from a country with a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement, or you have applied for permanent residency and meet the conditions. Student visa holders use OSHC.
How much is a rental bond in Australia?
Usually up to 4 weeks' rent in New South Wales and Queensland, and up to one month's rent in Victoria for most homes.
How long can I drive on my overseas licence?
It depends on your state and visa. In New South Wales and Queensland, permanent residents have about 3 months. In Victoria, you can only use it if you will live there for less than 6 months.
What is a stapled super fund?
It is your existing super account that follows you from job to job, so you do not end up with several accounts.
This article is general information and was checked against official sources on 3 October 2026. Rules change and differ between states and visas, so check the official source for your situation: the ATO, Services Australia, Fair Work and your state's transport and tenancy authorities.