Congratulations on your decision to move to Australia! While moving to a country so far away can be daunting, especially a massive, isolated island, being prepared helps. I’ll be walking through a quintessential pre-checklist for moving to Australia, especially for working holiday visa holders. This way, you can be expect fewer surprises during your transition. You’re in for the best beaches of your life, incredible experiences, and a whole new lineup of slang to learn.
1. Print your materials
Print your visa, application materials, and any applicable information from your Immi account. Make sure you have copies of your passport, and pictures too, just in case. I always like to have at least three extra passport photos, and copies saved on my Google Drive.
2. Arrange insurance
Study the best travel insurance that suits you, if you feel you will need any. Many Commonwealth countries receive basic medical coverage, so check what you should anticipate.
I went with WorldNomads, which provides fair rates for long periods of time, and did cover my only claim I filed – you can read about it here.
3. Open a bank account
Study which bank, and why, you should select to open an account with. I wanted a flex bank in case I went to New Zealand, so I went to Commonwealth Bank, although I later realized their NZ branch is different. ANZ bank is a great flex bank for both countries, with Westpac and NAB also having a large presence. These four represent the biggest banks in Australia, but you should also see where you can have access to many ATMs, especially wherever you plan to stay.
The blessing about Australian banking, is services like Venmo serve literally no purpose. Transferring money between accounts is extremely easy through your account to another Australian account, and you will just need their BSB number (Bank-State-Branch) and account number. You can also use PayID, which is setup by user, identifying them by connected phone number or email.
The easiest way to transfer money internationally will be through TransferWise, which also charges low fees and great exchange rates compared to wire transfers and other methods!
4. Prep for phone changes
Ensure you have rights to your phone from home, usually meaning you’ve paid it in full. This enables you ownership of the phone, so you can switch out the SIM card to the country you’re in.
Once you land in Australia, you should make your way to the phone carrier you’ll choose. If you plan to travel around the country, including more desolate or rural areas, Telstra is highly recommended for best coverage. Many Australians use Opus because it’s good value, and decent coverage for cities. I paid $150 AUD for 50 GB that expires in six months (this was in 2019-2020). I didn’t even use this up, but if you plan to use Navigation a lot, that eats data the most. Overall, prepaid is very reasonable.
5. Research and develop a blueprint plan
Decide where you may want to live, and if you have a one, two, or three year plan to stay.
If you know you’ll want to extend your visa for a second year, you will need 88 days of approved work, meaning you need to start your work 3 months before your expiration. Many people do this straightaway to get it solved.
Think you’ll want to stay in Sydney or Melbourne? Check out backpacker or Local Loops on Facebook to connect with others, and source housing or even road trip buddies. Research prospective neighborhoods that suit your lifestyle well too.
Wishing you a great transition to your new home with this checklist for moving to Australia! Please comment your experiences below!
Read more about my experience and adjustments to lifestyle in Australia here.
