International Students Pre-Arrival Checklist
In this post, we unveil the essential steps and considerations for international students arriving in Australia, ensuring a seamless transition from travel arrangements to accommodation logistics. We’ve set it up as a checklist of items you need to cross off before you depart for Australia.
Visa
You’ll need a valid student visa to enter and study in Australia. You can apply for the Subclass 500 visa either online or through an agent of your choosing. Before you apply, ensure you meet all of the eligibility requirements and gather the necessary documentation required to apply for the visa.
Student visas are usually processed within 75 days but you can ensure there are no delays by getting your visa application right. To check how long your visa application may take to process in line with the current processing duration you can use the visa processing time guide tool. Once your student visa is granted double-check the dates to ensure the visa is valid for the duration of your study before planning travel. Visit the Department of Home Affairs website for the most up-to-date information.
Documents
Before you plan your travel and book flights ensure your passport is valid for at least six months before you arrive in Australia. Keep both a physical and digital copy of all your visa documentation on your flight (Confirmation of Enrolment letter (CoE), passport, OSHC, driver’s license, etc). It’s also a good idea to make copies of essential documents and get them notarized. I would suggest leaving a copy of these documents with your family for backup.
Accommodation
If you have friends or family with whom you will be staying upon your arrival that's wonderful. Otherwise, you need to plan and confirm your accommodation arrangements before arriving in Australia. When you land, you'll be asked to provide your intended address on your incoming passenger card so you’ll need to have a place to stay at least for the first couple of days.
You can opt for on-campus, off-campus, or a temporary stay until you find more suitable accommodation. On-campus and student accommodations tend to be pricey so students usually prefer to rent a room in private rental residences close to uni or the city.
If you are planning to stay in a private rental, it’s a good idea to arrange a temporary stay at a Hotel, Homestay or an AirBnB and then look for rental accommodations later. Photos on the website aren’t always accurate and can often be misleading so always inspect the property in person before signing the lease (the rooms might be smaller than depicted in the photo, not all the furniture shown might be available at the property, or the advertised photo can be an old one that doesn’t represent the current condition of the property).
I would recommend booking student accommodation for the first semester and looking for a private rental during that time. It’ll give you peace of mind as you have a place to stay for the first six months and usually all amenities and utilities are included in the rent. This will also give you more time and opportunities to look for places and you can consider renting the whole house with your friends or renting single rooms in shared accommodation. Some of the most popular student accommodation providers are UniLodge, Iglu and Scape and each city has popular local student accommodations as well.
Health Insurance
Arrange for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your stay. You’ll need to ensure your Health Cover start date is when you arrive in Australia and not when the course starts. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with what health services are covered and what are exempt. If there are any changes to your visa status you will need to inform the OSHC provider and update the cover accordingly.
Finances
Understand the banking process as you’ll have to rely on yourself to handle your finances. You can carry cash with you but it’s safer to have most of it in a foreign exchange (forex) travel card that can be topped up when needed.
Before choosing who to go with, inquire about the travel card benefits and its restrictions, and ensure you are allowed to withdraw money from ATMs in Australia and any associated withdrawal fees. If the cards offered by your home bank have high transaction fees, and bad exchange rates or aren’t to your liking you can also get travel cards from foreign exchange retailers like Western Union, and Travelex or from financial technology companies like Wise (TransferWise) and Revolut. These companies will provide competitive rates and benefits to users compared to traditional banks and are easy enough to set up.
Carry a little bit of cash in Australian dollars so you can get around and use for emergencies. I would recommend only carrying small amounts of cash and the rest in your travel card, usually about $1000 should suffice for the first couple of days. There’s no limit to how much you can carry when arriving in Australia but keep in mind that you will need to declare amounts greater than 10,000 AUD (or equivalent currency).
Flight and Transportation
Only book your flight tickets once you’ve been granted your student visa. The earlier the better, booking your flights in advance will save you money on the airfare. If possible, also arrange for transportation from the airport to your accommodation, especially if you are landing outside of the usual business hours (late at night or early in the morning). You can use a Taxi, Rideshare service (Uber, Didi, Ola), bus or the airport train to go to your accommodation.
Your university might also offer you airport pickup, this could be from the airport terminal to your accommodation or the university. It’s usually at no additional cost but you will need to register for this in advance so that your place is confirmed.
Aim to arrive at least one week prior to orientation week so you can familiarise yourself with the city and get used to the new atmosphere. You can also visit your university and explore the campus.
Essential Packing
Documents Folder/Case
Carry an office folder or case to store your essential documents (acceptance letter, visa, etc.). I recommend you pack the folder in your carry-on luggage. Keep your passport, letter of offer, and confirmation of enrolment (CoE) with you at all times.
International Roaming
Once you are on your flight your mobile network will no longer work. You will need to enable international roaming while travelling or consider purchasing an international SIM plan till you switch to an Australian SIM. The Airports and accommodation will usually have Wi-Fi as well so you are covered for emergencies.
Travel Adapter
The standard for Australian plug points is Type I, to describe what this looks like it has three flat pins in a triangular pattern. You will need to bring any necessary electronic travel adapters and chargers to use in Australia. You can also purchase them at the airport, but these are usually more expensive.
Clothing for the season
Being down under the season is the other way around, meaning winter is in the middle of the year and summer is during Dec-Feb. So bring appropriate clothing for the climate depending on when you plan to travel, and consider clothing for both urban and outdoor activities. It does get quite chilly during the winters so bring a few good hoodies or coats to keep you warm.
Food Items
Pack any food items you want to bring from home but ensure it is within your weight allowance and are acceptable to bring to Australia. You can find out what is allowed in Australia on the Australian Border Force website. Keep the items you might need to declare at customs easily accessible. If you are not sure what you need to do, ask an official for help and they will assist you.
Emergency Preparedness
Stay updated on any travel and border requirements in Australia. Follow the government and your university's recommendations for a safe arrival. You can find more information by visiting the Department of Home Affairs website.
Prepare and keep any emergency notes that you need, these include contact information from your home country and in Australia (University International Office, etc), prescriptions and medications, health conditions, etc.
It’s good to keep physical copies with you in the event you lose your phone or wallet and need to call for help. Australians are kind and will help you if you are in need, and you can ask an official for assistance as well. Carry any essential medications and a basic first aid kit with you for emergencies.
Additional items (optional)
Travel Insurance
Though not essential it’s good to have travel insurance as you might be travelling with a lot of items or it might be your first time flying abroad for study. Having insurance that covers things like cancelled flights, medical expenses, lost and stolen belongings, and so on will give you peace of mind and will ensure you are covered for any unexpected situations.
Australian Bank Account
Most Australian banks allow you to set up an account prior to arrival. Once you arrive in Australia you can to visit a branch and provide your identification and tax residency details to start using the account. See our guide on how to choose the right bank for you.
Mobile Apps
Though these are usually already regularly used by all it’s a good idea to install and update any essential apps like Google Maps, Rideshare Apps (Uber, Didi, Ola), and your OSHC insurance apps.
Prepare for O week
Prepare for orientation week by booking into sessions and faculty events. Here’s a guide on how to make the most of your O-week.