Your First 30 Days in Australia: A Practical Arrival Plan

Prepare a short arrival file

Keep accessible copies of your passport, visa grant and conditions, travel records, accommodation details, job or study documents and emergency contacts. Store them securely; do not send your entire identity file to every business you contact. Make a separate list of the evidence each organisation actually requests.

Put immediate needs first: somewhere safe to stay, a way to communicate, access to money and necessary healthcare. An account application made overseas is not necessarily an opened or usable bank account. Check the bank’s own arrival and identity-verification process before arranging transfers; use our bank process comparison as a starting point.

Week one: make daily life workable

• Confirm accommodation, address access and how to contact the host or agent if a problem arises.
• Check that your exact phone model can make emergency calls on the Australian network before buying a long plan. Read the ACMA device warning.
• Complete the bank’s identification steps and verify how deposits and access work before relying on the account.
• Check work or study conditions in your actual visa record; a general guide cannot replace it.
• If starting employment, use the correct TFN application route and keep the receipt. Do not apply for a second TFN if you already have one.

Use official transport information for your city and test the journey you will actually make. Keep travel and parking in the budget even when the destination has free entry. For an emergency requiring police, fire or ambulance, call 000.

Week two: health cover and government accounts

Check Medicare eligibility under the route that applies to you: permanent residence, an eligible application, an RHCA or a specified temporary-visa arrangement. Private insurance alone does not create Medicare eligibility. The official enrolment guidance explains the routes and evidence.

You may be able to apply online through myGov or use a form, depending on the case. Approval and processing are separate steps; do not assume an interim number will be issued immediately. If you need treatment while an application is pending, ask the provider about charges and ask Services Australia what evidence or reimbursement rules apply.

Create or recover your own myGov account and link only the services you need. myID is a Digital ID app and is different from myGov. Use the account-linking guide for a service-by-service checklist.

Check your first pay and benefit assumptions

Employer super guarantee is generally 12% from July 2025, subject to eligibility and the relevant earnings rules. Since July 2026, Payday Super changes payment timing. Check the ATO rate and Payday Super guidance, then compare your payslip and fund records rather than treating a salary-package headline as take-home pay.

Creating a Centrelink account or obtaining a CRN does not start the NARWP clock. The relevant payment’s residence, visa, application and physical-presence rules determine what time counts. Check the DSS payment-by-payment rules. Other eligibility tests still apply after a wait is served.

Put assessed payments in your main budget and unapproved payments in a separate scenario. Keep your first month’s irregular setup costs separate from recurring rent, bills and groceries.

Weeks three and four: housing, school and transport decisions

For housing, check the state tenancy rules, advertised rent, bond, lawful advance payments and the agreement before paying. Do not offer extra rent automatically to compensate for a short local history. Use accurate evidence and the agent’s requested process. Our first-rental guide helps organise the application.

For children, check the state education authority’s visa-fee and enrolment rules and the actual catchment address. The school directory tool routes you to official resources; it does not reserve a place. Keep childcare booking and CCS approval as separate tasks.

Driving-licence conversion periods differ by jurisdiction, licence and residence status. Check your state transport authority promptly rather than waiting for a generic three- or six-month deadline. Use the state-by-state licence guide before driving on an assumption.

Keep one short progress record

Use four statuses: not started, waiting for information, submitted and confirmed. Add the responsible organisation, receipt/reference, next action and date. This prevents a saved form from being mistaken for a completed application.

At the end of each week, resolve the most important dependency. For example, the missing bank identity check may block wage deposits; the uncertain school fee may affect a housing choice; an unconfirmed childcare subsidy may affect whether a booked pattern is affordable. Ask the organisation responsible for that specific decision.

Leave time to build a support network through a library, council activity, workplace or community organisation. Availability and membership rules vary. A manageable routine and one verified next step are more useful than trying to complete every possible registration in a month.

Frequently asked questions

Does registering with Centrelink start my waiting period?

No. The applicable residence, visa, application and physical-presence rules determine what counts. An account or CRN alone does not start a waiting period.

Will I get a Medicare number immediately?

Do not assume that. Follow the applicable enrolment route, provide evidence and wait for Services Australia’s approval and next-step instructions.

Is every overseas licence valid for six months?

No. The deadline and conversion process depend on the jurisdiction, status and licence. Check the official transport authority promptly.

Are the week labels legal deadlines?

No. They are an example planning order. Official visa, tax, licence, claim and enrolment deadlines take precedence.

Source review: 1 October 2026. General planning information. Confirm current rules and your individual circumstances with the linked official service before acting.