Just Arrived to Australia
Woohoo! You made it! You just arrived down under and need to set up your life and get the life admin tasks done. Here are the 9 essentials you need to tick off on your moving to Australia checklist.
My tips will make your life a whole lot easier later on and set you up for success I promise.
Getting Organised
If you’re like me and love being organized, I strongly recommend you have a paper folder. Keep all the important documents you’ll need in it. Help yourself and set up a digital folder on your laptop for easy access when completing online forms.
Organisation is key for moving your whole life across the world and making that transition a little more seamless. You will need a lot of paperwork, like ID documents and proof of address. Different purposes will require you to provide this paperwork repeatedly. Save everything and file it away.
Moving to a new country is a HUGE life change and will take some time to set up. Be patient with yourself. Allow about 2-4 weeks to organise things. This includes setting up a bank account, tax number, and government services.
Disclaimer
I am not providing financial or tax advice. This is from personal experience what has worked for me. If you wish to seek financial or tax advice I recommend speaking with an accountant.
First Things First On Your Moving to Australia Checklist
1. Get A Sim Card
You can’t do anything without a sim card and internet. When you land in the arrivals hall, mobile phone operators are usually there. They will be ready and waiting for you to sign up. I signed up once I landed in Sydney Airport and have been with the same provider since.
Which Provider?
I’m with Optus. They are your average run of the mill provider not overly budget friendly or overly expensive.
Telstra is known for having the best coverage around Australia. This is important if you’re planning to travel in the rural and remote areas. However, they’re a bit pricier than Optus.
It all depends on what you need. If you’re going to be in one of the capital cities like Sydney or Melbourne, then Optus will be fine. But if you plan on camping in the outback, Telstra is the wiser choice. Either way, you can always change your mind.
Signing Up
To sign up with a provider, you will need your ID and proof of address. If you have likely just arrived, you can put down your temporary address. You can change it at a later date online.
Tip
I recommend getting your sim card first before anything else, then you can generate a utility bill for setting up other accounts eg: a bank account
2. Set Up Your Tax File Number
A TFN is the equivalent of a PPS number if you’re from Ireland. It is similar to a social security number if you’re from the U.S.
This is how the government identifies you and taxes you appropriately. You need to register for a TFN if you plan to work and have a visa with working rights. Tick this one off you moving to Australia checklist ASAP.
Registration is online via the IAR (Individual Auto Registration) form. You will need your valid visa and foreign passport.
This can take 28 days to process. The TFN will be sent via post.
As soon as you have your TFN, you will need to supply this to your employer. Provide it with your tax declaration form. Your employer will typically provide this form to you via email.
3. Set Up Your Bank Account
There are so many banks you can choose from. Personally, I’m with Commonwealth Bank. 90% of my friends are with it too. This makes it easier to transfer money to people when you go out to eat, etc. Other options are NAB and Westpac.
You can register for a bank account online before you arrive with many banks and then present in person to verify your identity. If you’re going to the bank anyways, do everything at once when you arrive. That way, you’ll be done with it.
You will need a form of ID. This can be a Birth Certificate, passport, or Foreign driver license. Additionally, a utility bill with proof of current address is required. That’s where that phone bill can come in handy.
4. Set Up Your Super
Super is an important thing to tick off your moving to Australia checklist, is setting up your superannuation.
“Super” as the Aussies call it is basically your pension.
It is a requirement that your employer pays into your super on your behalf.
The current amount the employer is required to pay into your super is 11.5% of your salary, this is set to increase to 12% in July 2025.
You need to pick the company you want your employer to give this money to and invest on your behalf.
The idea is this money compounds in investments over time and you have a little retirement package waiting for you.
Then, you can also add voluntary contributions. You can add as often or as little as you like or nothing at all, totally up to you.
My partner and I have been with HESTA since moving to Australia. They have been quite good with the return on our investments so far.
What Happens to my Super When I Leave the Country?
Note, that if you are on a WHV and leave the country, you will be taxed 65% on your super funds. For example, imagine you have 10,000 AUD in your super. This is at the end of your WHV, and you decide to go back home. You will only leave with 3,500 AUD.
Frustrating I know! But ,the Australian government doesn’t need to worry about your retirement because once you leave you’re not their problem anymore.
This 65% tax doesn’t apply to permanent residents and citizens. Personally I never added any money into my super until I knew I was a permanent resident.
5. Register With My Gov
MyGov is basically your account for all government services in Australia: including social welfare (centrelink), medicare and tax.
You can download the MyGov app on your phone for convenience. I recommend doing this within the first month of moving to Australia.
You Need an ATO Account
The ATO is the Australian Tax Office. You must submit a tax declaration form at the end of the financial year. The financial year in Australia runs from July 1st to June 31st. In order for you to submit your tax declaration form you need to have a MyGov account.
ATO App
I really recommend downloading the ATO app on your phone. It helps you keep track of your work related expenses throughout the year. Especially, when you’re new to a country you will have a lot of work related expenses setting yourself up.
Nurses can claim their registration fees, union fees and courses.
Whether, you’re a tradie and need tools or work in corporate and need a laptop, you can keep the receipts in the app. You can easily store the receipts there. They will be ready to go for tax time.
6. Medicare
This is another important one to tick off your moving to Australia checklist. Medicare is the Australian publicly funded healthcare system.
It covers or partially covers health expenses in Australia. Luckily for people from the UK they are entitled to medicare due to the commonwealth.
How to Enrol
You can enroll for medicare through MyGov and will need your British passport and valid visa.
Recriprocal Healthcare Agreements
Australia has reciprocal health agreements with other countries: Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Ireland and Slovenia.
For Irish passport holders we are entitled to emergency care in public hospitals. Just remember to bring your passport to the hospital and you wont need to pay.
7. Working With Children Check
If you plan to do any paid/volunteer work with children, you need to apply for a Working with Children Check. This costs 80 AUD and free if you’re a volunteer.
This can take around 4 weeks to be processed and is thankfully valid for 5 years.
As a Nurse I needed to tick it off my moving to Australia checklist before I could work in a clinical setting.
8. Responsible Sale of Alcohol
Moving to Australia many people choose to work in bars and restaurants as it can be easier to find short term jobs in the hospitality industry on a WHV.
Australia has strict rules to prevent bartenders giving drunk people even more alcohol. It’s mandatory that all hospitality workers serving alcohol complete an RSA course. They can be fined otherwise.
The course can be done online or in person in one day. Online it costs approximately 150 AUD or 175 AUD in person.
9. White Card
The White Card is important for tradies moving to Australia. It is also important for those intending to be on a building site. This is a safety course.
My partner is an electrician. He attended a one day course. He completed a test at the end, and hey presto, he was good to go. The white card costs 100 AUD and you must carry it with you at all times on site.
If you’re new, try to meet some like-minded Tradies. You can even ask them to go for a few drinks after. My partner did and they’re still friends 5 years later. In Australia you never know where you’ll meet your new best friend, say yes to everything.
Some Final Tips on Moving to Australia
When you arrive you will need to print documents and forms, Officeworks is really convenient. They have printers and collating stations that are super cheap to use. You can print from your phone.
Libraries are also a really helpful free resource to use. They have free Wi-fi and computers to use. You can even grab a book for the beach while you’re at it.
To Finish Up
I hope this list gave you an insight into the things you need to set up life in Australia. The majority of these can be completed within a month of your arrival. If you want to know where to start on finding accommodation, check out my post with tips to find the right place and how to furnish it.
Please comment below if you have any suggestions or what you would add to the list for fellow expats.
