First 30 Days in Australia: Where to Start

Buy it at the airport or in the city centre, either works. Carriers: Optus, Vodafone, Telstra. Prepaid from A$10–30/month with data. And don't underestimate this one: without an Australian number, you can't verify practically anything.

Most people arrive with the first weeks already sorted — hostel, a friend's place, an agency package. The trick is to keep an eye on the deadline of that initial accommodation, which usually runs 2 weeks to 1 month. It goes fast. Use that time to hunt for something more permanent on Flatmates.com.au, community Facebook groups or Gumtree. The complete renting guide helps with this part.

Do it on the ATO website as soon as you can — it takes 1 to 4 weeks to arrive. Many migration agencies help with the application; if you're using one, ask.

Got a job before the TFN arrived? Your employer will withhold the maximum tax rate (47%) until the number is registered. That money isn't lost — it comes back in full at the annual tax return. It just comes back around October of the following year, so better to avoid it. If the TFN runs late, keep working and hold on to your application receipt.

And a golden rule: the TFN doesn't go on your CV, doesn't go on WhatsApp. Employer only (via the TFN Declaration Form), bank and ATO. Any service asking for your TFN through other channels deserves suspicion.

The banks new arrivals use most: Commonwealth Bank (CBA), ANZ, Westpac, NAB. Bring your passport and an Australian address — the account opens on the spot. Wise also works as an Australian account, with lower fees for receiving Australian dollars. The complete bank account guide compares the options.

BSB + account number: there's no branch-plus-account format like some countries have. It's a BSB (6 digits, identifying bank and branch) plus your account number — those two together are what you give out to receive transfers.

One deadline to note: you have 28 days to give the bank your TFN after opening the account. Without it, they withhold maximum tax on any interest.

Each city has its own: Opal (Sydney), Myki (Melbourne), Go Card (Brisbane). In several cities you can also tap straight on the gate with a debit or credit card. Even so, the physical card helps — especially on long trips and for tracking your balance.

Not urgent, but it's easy and worth doing early — it saves you carrying your passport around everywhere. Each state has its own: NSW Photo Card (Service NSW), Photo Identification Card (QLD), Proof of Age Card (VIC). NSW and QLD have digital versions in the app. Costs A$0 to 77 depending on the state. Bring passport and proof of address.

In the first months you'll probably move more than once. A practical way out: use your migration agency's address for mail at the start — talk to them about it. Once you find somewhere more stable, update the address everywhere: ATO, bank, Medicare, super fund. People who don't update it lose important mail, and some of it matters.

Medicare is Australia's public health system, and it's mainly for permanent residents and citizens. Arrived as a PR? Enrol as soon as you can — passport, visa and proof of address at a Medicare service centre.

Temporary visas (student, 482, WHV) generally don't qualify for Medicare — the exception is if your country has a reciprocal agreement with Australia. The UK, Ireland, Italy, Norway and other Europeans do; many countries don't. Without access, you need private insurance: OSHC for students, private cover for other visas. The full list of eligible visas is in the Medicare guide.

myGov (my.gov.au) is the Australian government's central portal — from it you link the ATO, Medicare, Centrelink, myHealth Record and the rest. Create it in your first days: you'll need it to track your TFN, lodge tax and check your super.

To create it, you need an email and an Australian mobile number — the verification SMS won't reach a foreign number. One more reason the SIM card is item number 1 on this list.

myGovID ≠ myGov. myGovID is a separate digital identity app, used for business things like registering an ABN. myGov is the personal services portal. They're different things — and you don't need myGovID to create a myGov account.

Not urgent — your employer can open a fund in your name automatically. But it's well worth opening your own before you start working: that way you nominate your chosen fund from day one, instead of letting every job create a new fund for you.

Because that's what happens: every job without a nominated fund spawns a separate super account, each charging its own admin fee. You have the right to nominate your own super fund via the Super Choice Form — use that right.

Funds by industry:

• Hospitality, cafés, restaurants: Hostplus — very low fees for the sector
• Retail, supermarkets: Rest Super — built for the sector
• Any industry: AustralianSuper or Australian Retirement Trust — the country's two biggest

Keep your Member Number to give your employer.

When you sign the contract, two important forms arrive: the TFN Declaration Form and the Super Choice Form. The first sets the tax rate withheld from your pay — without it, the employer withholds 47%. The second is where you nominate the super fund you chose (the superannuation guide explains). And before handing out CVs, it's worth building one in the local format — the Australian CV guide shows how.

Each state has its own rules. In general, PRs have 3 months to convert; temporary visas like student and WHV get longer windows — in some states you can drive for the whole visa. Bring your original overseas licence, passport and proof of address to the state's transport department. State-by-state details are in the full licence article.

Students: OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) is a requirement of the student visa — if you hold a subclass 500 visa, you probably already have OSHC. Check the validity and coverage anyway.

Other temporary visas without Medicare access: get private insurance before you need it, not after. A consultation without cover runs A$100–300; an emergency easily reaches the thousands. The Australian health system guide explains the options.

No rush in the first weeks. Once you're more settled, look for a GP (General Practitioner) in your area — a professional who speaks your language makes communication much easier. The ArrivoAU directory lists doctors and dentists by city.

Facebook and WhatsApp groups for your city, community churches, local events. It sounds like a small thing, but few things speed up adaptation like this does.