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Settle in Australia

GETTING STARTED IN AUSTRALIA

Please read your visa grant letter carefully. It sets out your visa validity period, whether you can travel in and out of Australia, and the conditions on your visa. Where family members were also granted visas, their conditions may be different to yours. You can check your current visa details and conditions at any time through VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) in your ImmiAccount, and your employer, landlord or bank may ask you for a VEVO check.

In addition to the information about your visa, VisaEnvoy would like to welcome you to Australia and give you some basic information to help you get started.

YOUR FIRST WEEK CHECKLIST
  • Check your visa conditions in VEVO and keep a copy of your visa grant letter.
  • Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) online.
  • Open an Australian bank account (you can often start this before you arrive).
  • Enrol in Medicare if you are eligible, or arrange private health insurance.
  • Get an Australian mobile number and create a myGov account.
  • Check how long you can drive on your overseas licence in your state or territory.
  • Tell VisaEnvoy your Australian address and phone number.
RELOCATION

If you need relocation assistance please see our relocation partners.

TAX FILE NUMBER (TFN)

If your visa has work rights you will need a tax file number. You can apply online through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) once you have physically arrived in Australia and it is a simple process. Without a TFN, your employer must withhold tax from your pay at the highest rate, so it is worth applying in your first week.

Please note that VisaEnvoy is not registered to provide taxation advice. If you need taxation or accounting advice we suggest you contact an accountant of your choice. If you would like us to refer you to an accountant who understands visa related matters, please let us know (VisaEnvoy may receive a referral fee).

SUPERANNUATION

If you work in Australia, your employer must also pay superannuation (retirement savings) into a super fund for you, on top of your wages. The superannuation guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary earnings. You can choose your own super fund. If you are a temporary resident and later leave Australia permanently, you may be able to claim your super back as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP).

MEDICARE

Medicare is Australia’s public health care scheme and is run by Services Australia. It covers Australian citizens and permanent residents, and some people who have applied for a permanent visa. You can enrol at a Services Australia service centre or online once you have arrived.

Australia also has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with 11 countries: the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden. If you are from one of these countries, you may be able to get limited Medicare cover for medically necessary treatment while you are in Australia on a temporary visa.

If you hold a subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa (formerly Temporary Skill Shortage) or most other temporary visas, condition 8501 requires you to keep adequate health insurance for your whole stay. Medicare cover under a reciprocal agreement may help, but it does not usually meet this condition on its own, so most temporary visa holders still need private overseas visitor or overseas student health cover. Please check your Medicare eligibility directly with Services Australia once you have arrived, because it is not available to everyone.

Am I eligible to apply for Australian Citizenship?
BANK ACCOUNT

If your visa has work rights you will need an Australian bank account to receive your salary. Most banks let new migrants open an account online up to a few months before arriving, and you then verify your identity in a branch with your passport once you land. The choice of bank is yours and VisaEnvoy does not recommend or refer clients to any particular bank. If you would like to compare, the migrant banking pages of the four largest banks in Australia are below:

Bank Name Website
Westpac Bank LINK
National Australia Bank LINK
ANZ Bank LINK
Commonwealth Bank LINK
REGISTRATION, LICENSING OR OTHER OCCUPATION SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

If you hold a subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa, there is a condition on your visa which states that you must start work with your sponsor within 90 days of arriving in Australia or, if you were already in Australia when the visa was granted, within 90 days of the grant. Since December 2024, if your employment ends you generally have up to 180 days at a time (and up to 365 days in total over the visa) to find a new sponsor, apply for a different visa or leave Australia.

If your occupation has mandatory licensing or registration requirements you must obtain your licence or registration before you start work. Please discuss any licensing requirements with your employer to avoid delays to your start date. Your occupation may also require tools or protective clothing to be arranged, so please discuss this directly with your employer.

YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK

All workers in Australia, including visa holders, have the same workplace rights. You must be paid at least the minimum wage or the award rate for your job, receive payslips, and work in a safe workplace. Under the Assurance Protocol, temporary visa holders who report workplace exploitation are generally not at risk of visa cancellation for having breached a work condition because of that exploitation. If you have concerns about your pay or conditions, please contact VisaEnvoy before making any change to your employment.

DRIVER’S LICENCE

In Australia you must have a driver’s licence to drive and the vehicle must be registered. It is illegal to drive without a licence or to drive an unregistered vehicle. Driver’s licences and car registration are issued by state and territory governments.

If you are a temporary visa holder you can usually drive on your current overseas licence while it stays valid (carry an English translation or an International Driving Permit if it is not in English). If you hold a permanent visa, you generally need to convert to a local licence within 3 to 6 months of arriving, depending on the state or territory. Licence holders from many countries can convert without a driving test. Please check the requirements with the licensing authority in the state or territory where you will live:

State or Territory Licensing authority Phone number
ACT Access Canberra 13 22 81
NSW Service NSW 13 77 88
NT Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR)
QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads 13 23 80
SA Service SA 13 10 84
TAS Service Tasmania 1300 135 513
VIC VicRoads 13 11 71
WA Department of Transport 13 11 56
CHANGE OF STATUS

If your circumstances change you should notify VisaEnvoy as soon as possible. This may include for example a new address, a new passport or a change in relationship status of any visa holder. If you are considering changing jobs (including a new role with the same sponsor) please contact VisaEnvoy before any changes are made.

TRAVELLING OVERSEAS AS A PERMANENT RESIDENT

A permanent visa usually lets you travel in and out of Australia for 5 years from the date of grant. After that, you need a Resident Return visa (subclass 155 or 157) to come back as a permanent resident. Time spent overseas also counts towards the citizenship residence requirement, so plan longer trips with care.

WHAT CAN BE BROUGHT INTO AUSTRALIA?

Australia has very strict rules about what can be brought into the country, and what you can take back home with you when you leave. Please visit this page to understand more.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

In an emergency, for police, ambulance or the fire department call 000 (you can also dial 112 from a mobile phone). For non-urgent police matters, ring 131 444 or your local police station. If you need an interpreter, the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) can be reached on 131 450. Local numbers are also listed in the White Pages directory.

The VisaEnvoy Team.

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