The Ultimate Moving to Australia Checklist: 90 Days Before, During and After Arrival
Everything worth sorting out before you land, in the first week, and in the first month — in the order it actually needs doing.
Moving countries is mostly a paperwork problem wearing a bigger, scarier costume. Nothing on this list is hard on its own — the difficulty is sequencing: a few things (like a Tax File Number) can't be started until you're actually in Australia, while others (like your visa) need to be locked down months out. Here's the order that avoids the common bottlenecks.
90–60 days before you leave
- Visa. Confirm your visa subclass and conditions are locked in before you book anything irreversible — work rights, study rights and any waiting periods all vary significantly by visa type.
- Health checks and vaccinations. Some visas require a medical exam through an approved panel physician; book this early since appointments can take weeks to secure.
- Health insurance. If you're not covered by Medicare from day one (most temporary visa holders aren't), arrange private health cover — some visas require proof of this before they'll even be granted.
- Housing research. You don't need a lease signed yet, but get a realistic read on rental prices and bond requirements in the suburb you're targeting — Australian rental bonds are typically four weeks' rent, held by a state government authority, not the landlord.
60–30 days before you leave
- International moving/shipping quotes. If you're bringing furniture or a significant amount of belongings, get quotes now — sea freight in particular needs weeks of lead time.
- Pet relocation. Australia's biosecurity requirements for importing pets are genuinely strict and slow (often 10 days minimum in quarantine, sometimes longer) — start this process now if it applies to you, not later.
- School enrolment. If you're moving with children, most states require enrolment applications well ahead of term start, and public school placement is often zoned by address.
- Notify your current bank and tax authority of your departure and update your mailing address for anything that still needs to reach you.
30 days out — the final countdown
- Confirm temporary accommodation for your first 1–2 weeks — short-stay serviced apartments are a common choice while you house-hunt in person, since most landlords want to meet tenants before signing a lease.
- Set up international roaming or a travel SIM for the transition period before you get an Australian number.
- Scan and cloud-back-up every important document — passport, visa grant letter, birth certificate, marriage certificate, academic transcripts, vaccination records. You'll be asked for several of these repeatedly in your first month, and originals can take time to arrive if shipped separately.
- Currency. Arrange to bring or transfer enough AUD to comfortably cover 4–6 weeks of expenses before your first local income lands.
Your first week in Australia
- Get an Australian SIM card — you'll need a local number for almost everything below.
- Open a bank account. Several major Australian banks let you start this online before you even land, which speeds up the in-branch identity verification once you arrive.
- Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN). This is free, done online through the Australian Taxation Office, and you generally need to already be in Australia to apply. Do this in week one — you're taxed at a much higher emergency rate on any income earned before your employer has your TFN.
- Enrol in Medicare, if your visa entitles you to it (this depends on your visa subclass and, for some countries, a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement).
Your first month settled in
- Convert or apply for an Australian driver's licence. Rules vary by state — some accept a straight conversion from your home country's licence, others require a local test.
- Set up superannuation. If you're employed, your employer is legally required to pay a percentage of your wage into a retirement (superannuation) fund on top of your salary — choose a fund rather than defaulting to whatever your employer nominates, since fees and performance vary widely.
- Register your address with the Australian Electoral Commission if you become eligible, and update it with your bank, visa records and any ongoing services.
- Find a GP (doctor) and register with a local medical practice before you need one urgently.
If any of this — SIM card, bank account paperwork, finding a rental, sourcing a removalist, setting up utilities — starts eating more hours than you have, this is exactly the kind of thing Alina handles. Message us on WhatsApp what you're stuck on and we'll get a vetted local provider onto it, the same way we would for a dinner booking or a same-day delivery.
| Timing | Priority tasks |
|---|---|
| 90–60 days before | Visa confirmation, medical checks, health insurance, housing research |
| 60–30 days before | Shipping quotes, pet relocation, school enrolment, bank/tax notifications |
| Final 30 days | Temporary accommodation, travel SIM, document backups, currency |
| First week | Local SIM, bank account, Tax File Number, Medicare |
| First month | Driver's licence, superannuation, electoral roll, GP registration |