Your first steps after arriving in Australia as an international student: TFN, bank account, OSHC, enrolment and finding accommodation, explained simply.
In your first few weeks in Australia you’ll want to do five practical things: complete your enrolment and get your student ID, apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) online through the ATO, open an Australian bank account, make sure your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is active, and sort stable accommodation. None of these are hard on their own, but doing them in a sensible order saves stress. You can apply for a TFN for free on the ATO website once you’ve arrived, using your passport and Australian address, and it’s the one thing many students forget until they need it for work or their bank. This guide walks through each step so you land on your feet.
Settling in is mostly about ticking off admin early, so the rest of your time is about study and life.
Your Confirmation of Enrolment got you the visa, but you still need to complete enrolment with your provider once you’re here. That usually means confirming your subjects, attending orientation, collecting your student ID card, and setting up your student email and online learning accounts. Orientation is worth attending in full, because it’s where you learn how attendance is tracked, how to get academic support, and who to talk to if something goes wrong. Your student visa comes with conditions on course progress and attendance, so staying enrolled and engaged is not optional.
If your course or provider isn’t the right fit once you arrive, don’t just stop attending. Talk to your provider and get advice first, because changing providers has visa implications.
A TFN is your personal reference number in Australia’s tax system. You’ll need it to work, to be taxed correctly, and often to finish opening a bank account. It’s free, and you should never pay a third party to get one for you.
Here’s how to apply for a TFN as an international student:
1. Wait until you’ve arrived in Australia, as the online application is for people already in the country with a valid visa. 2. Go to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website and find the online TFN application for foreign passport holders and visa holders. 3. Enter your passport details, your visa information and your Australian residential address. 4. Submit the application. The ATO checks your details against your visa record. 5. Your TFN is posted to the Australian address you provided, usually within a few weeks.
Keep your TFN private. You only give it to your employer (after you start), your bank and the ATO. If anyone else asks for it, be cautious.
An Australian bank account lets you get paid, pay rent, and avoid overseas card fees. Many banks let you open an account online before you arrive and then verify your identity at a branch once you’re here with your passport. To finish setup you’ll usually provide your passport, your Australian address, and often your TFN so your interest is taxed correctly.
Bring your passport to the branch for identity checks, and ask about student accounts, which often waive monthly fees. Once the account is open you can set up your phone’s digital wallet and start receiving pay or transfers from home.
Overseas Student Health Cover is a condition of your student visa, and it needs to cover you for your whole stay. You most likely arranged a policy before your visa, but you should confirm it’s active, note your start and end dates, and download your membership card or digital card. If your policy is about to lapse or doesn’t cover your full course, renew it before it expires, because a gap can breach your visa condition.
Learn the basics of how OSHC works: how to see a doctor, what’s covered, what you claim back, and what a gap payment is. Our OSHC Guide explains the essentials. If you brought family on your visa, check they’re covered too.
Most students start in short-term or temporary accommodation, then move to something longer term once they know the area. Common options include university-managed student accommodation, purpose-built student housing, a private rental, a share house, or a homestay with an Australian family. Each suits a different budget and comfort level.
A few practical tips:
Give yourself a couple of weeks in temporary accommodation so you’re not signing a year-long lease on your first day.
Student visas allow limited work, with a cap on hours while your course is in session and usually more freedom during scheduled breaks. You’ll need your TFN before your first payday so you’re taxed correctly. When you start a job, give your employer your TFN and complete a tax declaration. Know your rights: there’s a legal minimum wage, and you’re entitled to be paid properly regardless of your visa. If an employer offers cash to avoid the rules, that’s a red flag for you, not a favour.
Most of this you can do yourself, and that’s the point of a checklist. It’s worth getting professional advice if you’re planning what comes after study, such as a graduate visa or a pathway to permanent residency, if you want to change course or provider, or if anything about your enrolment or visa condition is unclear. Getting the study-to-visa pathway right from the start saves expensive corrections later. See our International Students page for how BYD supports students through the whole journey.
Once you’ve arrived, apply free on the ATO website using the online application for foreign passport holders. Enter your passport, visa and Australian address details, and your TFN is posted to that address within a few weeks. Never pay anyone to get one for you.
You can start work without one, but you’ll be taxed at the highest rate until you provide it. Apply as soon as you arrive so your TFN is ready before your first payday.
Many banks let you open an account online, then verify your identity at a branch with your passport. Bring your Australian address and your TFN, and ask about fee-free student accounts.
Overseas Student Health Cover is your health insurance as a student, and it’s a visa condition for your whole stay. Confirm your policy is active, cover your full course, and renew before it lapses to avoid breaching your visa.
There’s a cap on work hours while your course is in session, with more allowed during scheduled breaks. The exact limit changes, so confirm the current rule. Course progress and attendance conditions still apply.
Start in temporary or short-term accommodation, then choose longer-term housing once you know the area. Options include student accommodation, share houses, private rentals and homestays. Always inspect before paying a deposit.
Sometimes, but it has visa implications, so don’t just stop attending. Talk to your provider and get advice before making any change.
Never pay for a place you or a trusted person hasn’t inspected, use your provider’s official accommodation service, and be wary of listings that ask for money before a viewing.
There are graduate and skilled pathways, but they depend on your course, occupation and circumstances. Plan early, because your first course choice can affect later options. A registered migration agent can map it out with you.
If you want help settling in and planning what comes after study, book a consultation with BYD. We combine qualified education advice with registered migration guidance, so your first steps support your longer plan. Call 0434 893 901 or contact us online, and see our International Students page for more.
