Migration succeeds or stalls on sequencing. Australian systems chain together — you need a phone number to open the bank account, an address for the tax number, the bank account for the rental application — and doing things in the wrong order costs weeks. This is the master checklist, in three phases, built from official government guidance and the collective scar tissue of thousands who've done it.
Phase 1 — Pre-departure: before you board
Focus: secure your legal right to enter, organise documents, and set up what can be set up remotely.
Visas and passports
- Passport validity: at least 6 months remaining beyond your travel dates — renew before you fly if it's close, as renewing from abroad is slower.
- Visa fully granted, not just applied for: read your grant letter's conditions line by line — initial-entry dates, "must not arrive before/after" clauses, and work limitations differ by subclass. Keep the grant notice with your travel documents; visas are electronic but airlines and officers may ask.
- VEVO check: verify your own visa status with the free VEVO tool on the Home Affairs site so you know exactly what's recorded against your passport.
Document digitisation
- Carry certified physical copies of the crucial set: birth and marriage certificates, academic transcripts and qualifications, employment references, vaccination records (including children's), police clearances, and your overseas driver's licence.
- If documents aren't in English, get NAATI-certified translations — Australian institutions will ask, and certified translation is cheaper and faster to arrange before you're paying Australian prices.
- Store secure digital copies in the cloud (and a copy with someone you trust at home). Photograph the physical set before packing it.
Financial preparation
- Open an Australian bank account online before you arrive — the big four (CBA, Westpac, NAB, ANZ) accept applications up to weeks before landing (commonly from 14 days to 3 months out, varying by bank); you verify ID at a branch after arrival.
- Transfer initial funds ahead of travel using a comparison of rates (specialist transfer services usually beat banks significantly on exchange margins). Landing with weeks of living money already in AUD removes real stress.
- Bring a small amount of cash for day one, but know Australia is heavily card-first — even market stalls tap.
- If moving permanently, gather evidence of your assets' value at migration date — useful later for tax cost-base purposes. Complex affairs justify one session with a tax professional spanning both countries.
Health and insurance
- If your visa requires it, purchase the right cover before travel: OSHC (students) or OVHC (working/visitor visa holders) — it's a visa condition, not an option.
- Schedule final medical and dental check-ups at home prices; bring prescriptions as generic (chemical) names, plus a doctor's letter for any ongoing medication.
- Carry vaccination records; transferring childhood immunisation history into the Australian Immunisation Register is far easier with documents in hand.
The biosecurity check
Australia's customs and biosecurity laws are famously strict — and enforced. Before packing, review the Australian Border Force and biosecurity guidelines: many foods, seeds, plant and animal products, untreated wood items and soil-contaminated gear (hiking boots!) are prohibited or must be declared. Some medications need permits or a doctor's letter. Cash of AUD $10,000+ (or equivalent) must be declared. The golden rule at arrival: when in doubt, declare — declaring is free; failing to declare brings fines starting in the thousands and can affect future visas.
Phase 2 — Immediate arrival: the first 1–2 weeks
Focus: communication, legal and financial foundations. The order below is deliberate.
- Get a local SIM (day one): airport kiosks or any supermarket sell prepaid SIMs/eSIMs (Telstra for best rural coverage; Optus and Vodafone cheaper in cities). You'll need your passport as ID. Almost every registration that follows needs an Australian mobile number.
- Activate your bank account: visit a branch with your passport to verify identity and collect your debit card. Do it within 6 weeks of arrival — inside that window your passport alone usually suffices; after it, banks require 100 points of ID, which new arrivals struggle to assemble.
- Apply for your Tax File Number (TFN) — free: online at the ATO the day you have an address (even a hostel or friend's place works). Without a TFN, employers must withhold tax at the top marginal rate. It arrives by post within 28 days; you can start work while waiting. Never pay a website for "TFN assistance".
- Enrol in Medicare (if eligible): permanent residents, most partner-visa applicants and citizens of Reciprocal Health Care Agreement countries can enrol at a Services Australia centre with passport and visa grant letter. Your Medicare card is also 25 ID points — it unlocks the next phase.
- Create a myGov account and link the ATO, Medicare and (if relevant) Centrelink. Every future government interaction lives behind this one login.
- Secure a public transport card: transit runs on state-specific smart cards, bought at stations and convenience stores — though Sydney, Brisbane and a growing list of systems now also accept contactless bank cards directly. The map:
| City / region | Transport card |
|---|
| Sydney & regional NSW | Opal (or tap a contactless bank card) |
| Melbourne & regional VIC | myki |
| Brisbane & regional QLD | Go Card (or tap a contactless bank card) |
| Perth & regional WA | SmartRider |
| Adelaide (SA) | Metrocard |
| Canberra (ACT) | MyWay+ |
| Hobart (TAS) | Greencard |
Phase 3 — Settlement: months 1–3 and beyond
Understand the "100 points of ID" system
Renting, post-paid phone contracts and state licences all require proving identity to 100 points, combining documents. Typical values (they vary slightly by institution): passport ~70 points, Australian driver's licence ~40, Medicare card ~25, bank card/statement ~25, utility bill in your name ~20. Strategy for new arrivals: bank account first (done in Phase 2), Medicare card if eligible, then a utility bill or phone plan in your name — and the points problem solves itself within weeks.
Superannuation
- Choose one super (retirement) fund — compare fees and performance on the ATO's YourSuper tool — and give its details to every employer, who must contribute 12% of your earnings on top of wages.
- One fund forever: multiple accidental accounts mean multiple fee sets. If you've worked before choosing, consolidate through myGov in minutes.
Transfer your driver's licence
- Most states let you drive on a valid overseas licence (with English translation or IDP) for a grace period — typically 3–6 months from arrival for permanent residents — after which you must convert to a local licence.
- Licences from "recognised countries" (much of Europe, UK, Canada, Japan, Singapore and others) usually swap without tests; others require the knowledge test and a practical. Book early — test waits stretch in the big cities.
Secure long-term housing
- Expect to provide: ID (the 100 points again), proof of income (payslips or an employment contract/offer), rental or character references, and a bond of 4 weeks' rent — held by the state bond authority, never by the agent personally.
- No local rental history? Counter with bank statements showing savings, an employer letter, and offering a slightly longer lease. A furnished share room first (Flatmates.com.au) builds the paper trail.
- Full week-one-to-lease detail in our first 30 days guide, and budget numbers in cost of living.
Establish a healthcare network
- Register with a local GP clinic before you need one; look for clinics that bulk bill (Medicare covers the whole standard consultation) if you're Medicare-eligible.
- Know the system's shape: GP first for everything non-urgent (they refer to specialists), pharmacists for minor advice, 000 for emergencies, and healthdirect (1800 022 222) for free 24/7 nurse triage.
Build your professional and social network
- Update LinkedIn to your new city the week you land — recruiters filter by location, and "arriving soon" reads worse than "here".
- Join your industry's professional association and go to meetups; Australian hiring leans heavily on networks and local referees.
- Get qualifications recognised early if your profession is regulated (nursing, engineering, teaching, trades) — assessments take months and gate real jobs.
- Community: libraries run free settlement and English programs; your nationality's local groups solve everything from cheap furniture to first friendships. Say yes to invitations for the first year — the network compounds.