Your first week in Australia: the setup checklist

Before you land

A few things are easier to sort from home, so you hit the ground running.

• Check your visa grant email and save a copy offline.
• Get travel insurance that starts the day you fly.
• Set up an eSIM so you have data at the airport.
• Open a Wise account so you can move money in without big fees.
• Book your first 3–5 nights. Day one is not the day to hunt for a bed.

Day 1–2: phone and bank

Most Aussie banks let you open an account online up to a few months before arrival and collect your card at a branch with your passport. You need an Australian account to get paid.

If you didn’t set up an eSIM, prepaid SIMs from the big networks are sold at the airport and every supermarket. If you’ll be in the bush for farm work, coverage matters more than price — Telstra generally reaches furthest outside the cities.

Day 2–3: Tax File Number (TFN)

Apply for a TFN online with the ATO as soon as you have an address. It’s free — never pay a website to do it. Without a TFN your employer has to withhold tax at the top rate.

You’ll also be asked for a super fund when you start work. Your employer pays super on top of your wages, and you can claim it back when you leave Australia.

Day 3+: tickets that get you hired faster

An RSA (to serve alcohol) or a White Card (to work on construction sites) can be done in a day and open up a lot more jobs.