Flights, money and your first days

A simple checklist for getting here and getting set up in your first week.

Booking your flight

• Book after your visa is granted, or choose a flexible ticket you can change.
• Plan to arrive 1–2 weeks before your course starts, so you have time to settle in and find accommodation.
• Check the baggage allowance – it's often cheaper to bring essentials than to buy them here.

What to carry in your hand luggage

• Passport and visa grant letter (printed and on your phone)
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and offer letter
• OSHC policy details
• Address of your first accommodation
• Some money in AUD or a card that works in Australia

Money

• Bank account: many Australian banks let you open an account online before you arrive and activate it in a branch with your passport.
• Sending money from home: compare international transfer services – fees and exchange rates vary a lot.
• Budget: plan for rent in advance, a bond, transport and the first weeks before you start earning. See Cost of living.

Your first week

• Phone: get a local SIM or eSIM – prepaid plans are cheap and easy.
• Tax File Number (TFN): apply free of charge on the Australian Taxation Office website before you start working.
• Transport: in Sydney, pay for trains, buses and ferries with an Opal card or a contactless bank card.
• Address: tell your college your Australian address and phone number within 7 days of arriving.
• Work: you can start working once your course has started – see Work while studying.