New to Australia guide 2026
Here's Exactly What to Do First and in the Right Order.
Most new arrivals do not fail because information is missing; they struggle because the steps are out of order. This guide gives you a practical sequence for your first days, weeks, and months in Australia.
“By the time most people realise they've taken the wrong steps in the wrong order, weeks have passed — and some of those mistakes are expensive to undo.”
Entel Dajsmaili, arrived January 2001. Australian citizen by 2004.Before You Land
Use this section before you leave, not after. The most expensive mistakes happen when people arrive with the wrong paperwork, no short-term setup, or no plan for the first few days.
Carry these in print, not just on your phone.
These bookings reduce pressure in your first week.
Pro tip: Need short-term accommodation while you find your feet? I always recommend booking at least 3–4 weeks before committing to a suburb. Search by distance to your workplace first not by price or city centre.
Dos and Don'ts
Things That Most New Arrivals Get Wrong
You have no Australian rental history that's the reality for every new arrival. An employment contract plus a letter from your manager replaces rental references with most private landlords. Target private landlords over large real estate agencies. They have more flexibility and fewer box-ticking requirements.
Every Australian employer is legally required to contribute 11% of your salary into a superannuation fund on top of your salary, not from it. Most migrants only find out years later that a previous employer didn't pay it. The ATO has a free tool to check. Use it from the start.
Your overseas credit history means nothing here. You start at zero and that affects post-paid phone plans, car financing, and eventually a mortgage. A secured credit card linked to your bank account, used for small purchases and paid off in full every month, is the fastest way to build it.
Go prepaid first. Coverage and pricing vary significantly depending on where you end up living. Lock yourself into a plan on day one and you may be paying for coverage you don't get where you actually live.
If you leave Australia permanently, you are legally entitled to claim your super back. It's called the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). Most migrants walk away, leaving thousands behind simply because they didn't know this existed. It does. Claim it.
If your visa doesn't qualify you for Medicare immediately, you need private cover before you land. One unplanned emergency visit costs $800–$2,000 out of pocket without it. Don't arrive uncovered.
Your First 7 Days
Here's what no government website tells you: these steps depend on each other. Get the sequence wrong and you'll find yourself trying to rent a flat without a bank account, or applying for Medicare without a registered address. This is the order that works.
You need an Australian number for every form, callback, and verification
Takes up to 28 days. Start this before anything else. Your employer legally needs it.
Most banks require your TFN, or at least proof you've applied
Requires your bank account for rebate deposits
Requires bank statements which require an active bank account
Requires a permanent address
Do this after your Australian account is active not before
"Most people try to rent first and open a bank account second. That's backwards. Without an Australian bank account you have no transaction history and agents will reject your application. Get the bank account first, even if you're still in temporary accommodation." Entel Dajsmaili
Your Australian mobile number is the key that unlocks everything else. Every form, every callback, every bank verification uses it. Get one before you do anything else.
Go prepaid — Woolworths Mobile runs on Telstra towers at a fraction of the price. Don't sign a 24-month plan before you know your suburb and what coverage you actually get there.
Go to ato.gov.au right now. The application takes 20 minutes. Your TFN card arrives by post within 28 days however, you get a receipt number immediately, and most employers accept that.
Don't wait for the physical card before telling your employer you've applied. Without a TFN on file, you'll be taxed at 45% on everything you earn until you provide one.
Two options that work for new arrivals with no Australian credit history:
Commonwealth Bank — you can open an account before you land, using just your passport. Walk into any branch on arrival to activate it. Your card is waiting.
Airwallex — no monthly fees, built for people moving money internationally. Good option if you're receiving payments from overseas or need multi-currency access.
Not every visa qualifies, and some have a waiting period. Check your visa conditions at homeaffairs.gov.au before you go. Take your passport and visa grant letter; you will need both. Show up without one, and they'll turn you away.
Your Australian bank charges 3–5% on every international transfer, buried inside the exchange rate. You won't see it on the confirmation screen it's hidden in the rate they give you.
Wise shows you the exact fee before you confirm the transfer. I've used it for years. On a $5,000 transfer, the difference between using your bank and using Wise can be $150–$300.
FAQ
No, you can legally start work without one. But apply the day you arrive. Without a TFN on file, your employer will tax you at 45% on everything you earn until you provide it. The online application takes 20 minutes at ato.gov.au.
Yes. Commonwealth Bank allows you to open an account online up to 12 months before you arrive, using your passport. Your card will be waiting at a branch when you land. This is one of the most useful things you can do before you fly.
No, and this surprises almost everyone. Medicare covers GP visits, public hospital stays, and partial specialist costs. Dental, optical, and physiotherapy are not covered. Budget for these separately, or look at private health insurance that includes extras cover.
It depends on your visa pathway. Employer-sponsored (482 → 186): typically 2–4 years. Skilled independent (189 points-tested): 6 months to 2 years from invitation. Family/partner visa: 1–3 years. State nomination can speed up a skilled application significantly.
Yes. Offer to pay 4 weeks' rent in advance instead of 2. Use your employer as a character reference. Target private landlords over large real estate agencies they have more flexibility. Get a rental reference letter from your previous landlord overseas, translated into English if needed.
You can claim it back. It's called the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). You apply online through the ATO after your visa expires and you've left the country. Tax is withheld on the payment, but you receive the balance. Most migrants leave thousands behind simply because they don't know this process exists.
Use the same checklist from this page in a format you can keep open during your first week in Australia.
If you want support with pre-arrival planning, arrival day, housing, banking order, or your first 90 days, explore the settlement services page for the structured support path.
Get the free SettleANZ Starter Guide, everything you need for your first 90 days.
Submit your details and we'll be in touch to confirm your booking.
Ask about migration, housing, banking, healthcare, guides, and next steps.