Get started in Australia

1. 1
   Before you fly

   Sort your phone and data

   You need a working Australian number for ID checks, job callbacks, and bank verification.

   Buy a prepaid SIM or eSIM before you land, or pick one up at the airport. Prepaid mobiles require ID verification in Australia (ACMA rules).

   Read the SIM guide→
2. 2
   Before you fly

   Book your first nights

   You need a fixed address for bank ID checks, TFN mail, and Medicare enrolment.

   Book a hostel or short-stay for your first week. Use that address on bank and government forms; you can update it later.

   Find a hostel→
3. 3
   Day one

   Open an Australian bank account

   Employers pay by BSB and account number. You cannot get paid without one.

   CommBank or Westpac can be started online up to 14 days before arrival; all four majors need a branch visit to verify your passport. Visit a branch in your first two days.

   Read the banking guide→
4. 4
   Day one

   Apply for your Tax File Number (TFN)

   Without a TFN, your employer must withhold 45% tax. With one, you pay 15% on your first $45,000.

   Apply free at ato.gov.au once you are in Australia with an Australian postal address. You have 28 days after starting work to give it to your employer.

   Read the tax guide→
5. 5
   Week onePassport dependent

   Enrol in Medicare (if eligible)

   Only for citizens of the 11 RHCA countries (e.g. UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Belgium). All other nationalities should hold travel insurance instead.

   RHCA passport holders get public healthcare for medically necessary treatment. Everyone else pays full private rates.

   If your passport country has a reciprocal agreement (UK, Ireland, and nine others), enrol through Services Australia with your passport and visa grant.

   Read the healthcare guide→
6. 6
   Week one

   Prepare your CV and start job hunting

   Most casual and hospitality jobs are filled through online listings and walk-ins, not agencies.

   Print a one-page CV at Officeworks, a library, or a hostel business centre. Set up a Seek profile and apply to roles in your arrival city before you move on.

   Search jobs on Seek→
7. 7
   Week one

   Find longer-term accommodation

   Hostels get expensive fast. A share-house cuts rent and puts you closer to work.

   Browse rooms on Flatmates.com.au and local Facebook groups. Inspect in person before paying any bond; never transfer money before you have seen the room.

   Browse rooms on Flatmates→

Sources: ato.gov.au · servicesaustralia.gov.au · commbank.com.au · acma.gov.au. Last verified 2026-06-11.