- Messages
- 16,058
- Points
- 113
Below is a list of 7 important things that you should do as soon as possible after arriving in Australia.
1. Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)
Do this first. To receive an income in Australia, you need a Tax File Number (TFN). Income includes wages or salary from a job, payments from the government, and money earned from investments including interest on savings accounts.
In Australia, you can telephone the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and have a TFN application form sent to you. Alternatively, you can apply for a TFN over the internet.
The Australian Government provides help with basic medical expenses through a scheme called Medicare. You may be eligible to join Medicare and gain immediate access to health care services and programs. These include free public hospital care, help with the cost of out-of-hospital care, and subsidised medicines.
To enroll in Medicare, you should go into a Medicare office 7 to 10 days after your arrival in Australia and bring your passport or travel documents. There are also many different private health insurance options you may wish to consider, as Medicare does not provide for all services.
Examples: Medicare does not cover dental care, most optical care or ambulance services.
Telephone: 13 2011
In person: Medicare Australia office locations
Homepage: Medicare Australia
Medicare Welcome Kit: Medicare Australia Welcome Kit - Choose your language
3. Open a bank account
In Australia, most income including salary or wages and government benefits are paid directly into a bank account.
You should open a bank account within six weeks of your arrival, as you usually need only your passport as identification. After six weeks you will need extra identification to open an account.
Further information: Smarter Banking
4. Register with Centrelink
Centrelink contributes to the social and economic outcomes set by government by delivering services to assist people to become self-sufficient and supporting those in need.
Centrelink can help you find a job, arrange for recognition of your skills and qualifications, and to access certain courses. Centrelink can also help you with Family Assistance payments to help with the cost of raising children.
As a newly arrived migrant, you are not immediately eligible for social security (unless you are a refugee or humanitarian entrant). You do not have access to the full range of government employment services. If you are a permanent resident, you may be eligible to access some services.
Homepage: Welcome to Centrelink
For newly arrived migrants: Have you recently moved to Australia to settle?
Information in other languages: : Centrelink assistance - we speak your language
How to contact Centrelink: Centrelink - contact details
5. Register for English Classes
Communicating in English is very important and the key to your successful settlement.
English languages courses for new arrivals in Australia are provided under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). As a new resident, you may be entitled to receive free English language tuition of up to 510 hours. Register as soon as possible or you could lose your entitlement.
See: Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
6. Enrol Your Children in School
Under Australian law, children must attend school until they are 15 years old. You should enrol your children in a school as soon as possible.
See: Education
7. Apply for a Driver's Licence
If you want to drive in Australia, you will need to have the appropriate driver's licence. In Australia, drivers' licences are issued by state and territory governments. You may be required to pass a knowledge test, a practical driving test, and an eyesight test.
If you are a permanent resident visa holder and have a current driver's licence from another country, in English or with an official translation, in most states and territories you are allowed to drive for your first three months after arrival.
In Tasmania, the three month period begins from when you are granted your permanent residency visa, not from when you arrive in Australia. If you were granted a permanent visa 3 months or more before your arrival in Australia you will have to apply for an Australian licence before you can drive in that state.
Below provides contact details for each state and territory licensing authority.
New South Wales (NSW): Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
Victoria (VIC): Vic roads
Queensland (QLD): Licensing & registration
South Australia (SA): Welcome to Transport SA
Western Australia (WA): Licensing services
Tasmania (TAS): Transport - TAS
Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Road transport information management
Northern Territory (NT): Driver licensing
1. Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN)
Do this first. To receive an income in Australia, you need a Tax File Number (TFN). Income includes wages or salary from a job, payments from the government, and money earned from investments including interest on savings accounts.
In Australia, you can telephone the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and have a TFN application form sent to you. Alternatively, you can apply for a TFN over the internet.
- Telephone: 13 2861
- In person: ATO shopfront locations
- Apply for a TFN online: Online individual Tax File Number (TFN) registration
- Homepage: Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
The Australian Government provides help with basic medical expenses through a scheme called Medicare. You may be eligible to join Medicare and gain immediate access to health care services and programs. These include free public hospital care, help with the cost of out-of-hospital care, and subsidised medicines.
To enroll in Medicare, you should go into a Medicare office 7 to 10 days after your arrival in Australia and bring your passport or travel documents. There are also many different private health insurance options you may wish to consider, as Medicare does not provide for all services.
Examples: Medicare does not cover dental care, most optical care or ambulance services.
Telephone: 13 2011
In person: Medicare Australia office locations
Homepage: Medicare Australia
Medicare Welcome Kit: Medicare Australia Welcome Kit - Choose your language
3. Open a bank account
In Australia, most income including salary or wages and government benefits are paid directly into a bank account.
You should open a bank account within six weeks of your arrival, as you usually need only your passport as identification. After six weeks you will need extra identification to open an account.
Further information: Smarter Banking
4. Register with Centrelink
Centrelink contributes to the social and economic outcomes set by government by delivering services to assist people to become self-sufficient and supporting those in need.
Centrelink can help you find a job, arrange for recognition of your skills and qualifications, and to access certain courses. Centrelink can also help you with Family Assistance payments to help with the cost of raising children.
As a newly arrived migrant, you are not immediately eligible for social security (unless you are a refugee or humanitarian entrant). You do not have access to the full range of government employment services. If you are a permanent resident, you may be eligible to access some services.
Homepage: Welcome to Centrelink
For newly arrived migrants: Have you recently moved to Australia to settle?
Information in other languages: : Centrelink assistance - we speak your language
How to contact Centrelink: Centrelink - contact details
5. Register for English Classes
Communicating in English is very important and the key to your successful settlement.
English languages courses for new arrivals in Australia are provided under the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP). As a new resident, you may be entitled to receive free English language tuition of up to 510 hours. Register as soon as possible or you could lose your entitlement.
See: Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP)
6. Enrol Your Children in School
Under Australian law, children must attend school until they are 15 years old. You should enrol your children in a school as soon as possible.
See: Education
7. Apply for a Driver's Licence
If you want to drive in Australia, you will need to have the appropriate driver's licence. In Australia, drivers' licences are issued by state and territory governments. You may be required to pass a knowledge test, a practical driving test, and an eyesight test.
If you are a permanent resident visa holder and have a current driver's licence from another country, in English or with an official translation, in most states and territories you are allowed to drive for your first three months after arrival.
In Tasmania, the three month period begins from when you are granted your permanent residency visa, not from when you arrive in Australia. If you were granted a permanent visa 3 months or more before your arrival in Australia you will have to apply for an Australian licence before you can drive in that state.
Below provides contact details for each state and territory licensing authority.
New South Wales (NSW): Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
Victoria (VIC): Vic roads
Queensland (QLD): Licensing & registration
South Australia (SA): Welcome to Transport SA
Western Australia (WA): Licensing services
Tasmania (TAS): Transport - TAS
Australian Capital Territory (ACT): Road transport information management
Northern Territory (NT): Driver licensing
