Migration guide · Settling in
Your first weeks in Australia: a practical settling-in checklist
By XINGO teamUpdated 4 min read
The first weeks after you arrive are full of small, important tasks. Most can be done online, many are free, and doing them early makes everything that follows easier: getting paid, seeing a doctor, renting a home.
This checklist covers the common steps with links to the official pages. It's general: what applies to you depends on your visa, so check each page, and use a free interpreter if you need one. Information checked in October 2026.
At a glance
- Medicare: permanent visa holders (and many people who've applied for one) can enrol. Some visitors are covered by reciprocal agreements.
- Tax file number: apply free online through the ATO if your visa has work rights.
- Work rights: visa holders have the same workplace rights as everyone else. The Fair Work Ombudsman can help in your language.
- Interpreting: call TIS National on 131 450, any time. Most of its interpreting is free to non-English speakers.
- English: you may be eligible for free classes through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).
1. Enrol in Medicare
Medicare is Australia's public health insurance. According to Services Australia, you can generally enrol if you hold a permanent visa or have applied for one (parent visas are an exception). You can enrol online through myGov or with a form, using your current passport or ImmiCard and evidence of your permanent residence.
If you're on a temporary visa, you may not be eligible. Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with some countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand, which can cover some care. Otherwise, check what health insurance your visa requires.
2. Get a tax file number
You need a tax file number (TFN) to be taxed at the right rate when you work. If you're in Australia on a visa with work rights, the ATO says you can apply online for free. It arrives by post, so make sure your address is right. Be wary of websites that charge to apply: the ATO service is free.
3. Open a bank account
You'll need an Australian bank account to be paid and to pay rent. Banks have their own identity requirements, so bring your passport and visa details. Fees and features vary. Moneysmart, the government's money guidance website, explains everyday accounts and how to compare fees, and it has money tips for new migrants in several languages.
4. Know your rights at work
The Fair Work Ombudsman says visa holders have the same workplace rights as everyone else in Australia, including minimum pay. It also says your visa won't be cancelled because you contact it for information or help. For help in your language, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask for the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94.
Before you start a job, check your visa's work conditions. If an offer seems too good to be true, or someone asks you to pay for a job, get advice first.
5. Use a free interpreter when you need one
You don't have to manage important conversations in English while you're still learning. TIS National, run by the Department of Home Affairs, offers phone interpreting 24 hours a day, every day, on 131 450. Most of its services are free to non-English speakers; usually the organisation you're contacting pays. Read more in free interpreter services.
6. Start English classes
If you speak little or no English, the Adult Migrant English Program offers free classes in person, by distance and online. For many visa holders there are deadlines to register and start, so look into it early.
7. Other things to sort out
- Translate key documents. The Free Translating Service can translate up to 10 personal documents for eligible new arrivals. See translating documents.
- Driver licence. Licences are managed by each state and territory, and the rules for converting an overseas licence differ. Check your state's transport authority.
- Settlement information. Home Affairs' settling in pages point to the MyAus app, which brings together information for new arrivals.
- Qualifications and registration. If you work in a regulated profession, such as nursing or medicine, you'll need registration before you can practise. See our guides for nurses and doctors.
How XINGO helps
Once the essentials are sorted, many people start planning their next step: an English test for permanent residence, registration in their profession, or work that uses their languages. XINGO helps with the speaking parts: IELTS and OET Speaking with an AI examiner or patient, and NAATI-style interpreting dialogues in your language pair.
Every account gets free practice minutes each month, no card needed. XINGO is independent and doesn't give migration advice.
Questions
What should I do first when I arrive in Australia?+
Common first steps are enrolling in Medicare (if eligible), applying for a tax file number, opening a bank account and checking your visa's work conditions. The order depends on your situation.
Is applying for a tax file number free?+
Yes. The ATO says applying for a TFN is free. Be careful of websites that charge a fee to apply for you.
Can I get an interpreter for free?+
Often, yes. TIS National says most of its interpreting services are free to non-English speakers, with the organisation you're contacting usually paying. Call 131 450, 24 hours a day.
Do I need certified copies to enrol in Medicare?+
Services Australia says the documents you provide to enrol as a permanent resident don't need to be certified. Check its website for the current list of documents.
Official sources
- Services Australia — Enrolling in Medicare if you're a permanent resident
- Services Australia — Documents to enrol in Medicare as a permanent resident
- Services Australia — Reciprocal health care agreements
- ATO — TFN for permanent migrants and temporary visitors
- Moneysmart — Transaction accounts and debit cards
- Fair Work Ombudsman — Visa holders and migrants
- TIS National — Interpreting services for non-English speakers
- Home Affairs — Settle in Australia
- Home Affairs — Adult Migrant English Program
Checked 3 October 2026. Rules, fees and requirements change, so check the official source before you act. XINGO is independent and isn't affiliated with Home Affairs, NAATI, Ahpra or any test provider.