What to do when arriving in Australia?

[Milada (Ms Maritz)]

I am busy doing research for hubby on what to do when arriving in Australia. Here are the results of the search. And I am not including obvious things like getting short term accommodation when you arrive, finding work and things like that. I am only including official things my husband needs to do! Oh yes, we are on a PR visa, and I don't know if everything is applicable to temporary visas:

You should have done the following (or leave it for your wife to do )

http://www.saaustralia.org/index.php?showtopic=16

On the plane - complete the incoming Passenger card. Make sure you have a pen, your passport number and flight number with you:

http://www.saaustralia.org/index.php?showtopic=3702&st

Apply for a Tax File Number. You may apply online, but only once you are in Australia.

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...ply-for-tfn.htm

Register with Medicare. To enrol in Medicare, you should go into a Medicare office 7 to 10 days after your arrival in Australia and bring your passport or travel documents.

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...er-medicare.htm

There is also a nice booklet to read on the above website. Medicare does not cover dental care, most optical care or ambulance services. So get your teeth and eyes checked out while still in South Africa.

Open a Bank Account. There is also a nice booklet to read. You can very easily open a bank account online from South Africa.

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...ank-account.htm

If you want to exchange money so that you have CASH when arriving in Australia, remember that some banks takes about 7 days to get the foreign currency! So if you want to do that, do that as soon as possible. It is also useful to have coins with you as well. "Currency: Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. The bank notes in use are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins used are the silver coloured 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent and the gold coloured $1 and $2 coins."

Register with Centrelink.... I don't understand the purpose of Centrelink so clearly, maybe because South Africans are not used to Allowances and Benefits from the government. It also seems to me there is a 2-year waiting period for some of the Allowances. Maybe somebody (skimp skimp manlief) can do more research!

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...-centrelink.htm

Apply for a Driver's Licence. "If you are a permanent resident visa holder and have a current driver's licence from another country, in English or with an official translation, you are allowed to drive for your first three months after arrival. After the three months, if you want to drive, you will need to have the appropriate driver's licence. "

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...ply-drivers.htm

Enrol kids for school. "Under Australian law, children must attend school until they are 15 years old. You should enrol your children in a school as soon as possible."

This is going to be a difficult one, because you have to know where you are going to live before enrolling them into school. You have the option of Private or Public schooling. I think the best way of doing this for us is to get a job and rental house first, then look into nearby schools. The new school year only starts in beginning of February, so it gives husband some chance to investigate this.

Rent a house: From what I've read here, this can be a very time consuming process!! Be prepared by having all your documents ready beforehand. Follow these steps:

http://www.saaustralia.org/index.php?showtopic=12704

Buy a car: This is the one my husband enjoys the most researching!! Just a tip that I've read on the internet: You need to create a credit record for yourself in Australia. Even if you intend buying a car using cash, finance a small portion of it – it will help building a credit record.

Read this booklet: The official booklet about some of the points listed above and for a specific state:

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...ets/english.htm

And while my husband is doing all of this, I will be holidaying in the Kruger national park :ilikeit:

Edited November 20, 2008 by Mrs Maritz

[Mara]

You are one very smart cookie, Mrs Maritz!

[Avatar]

This will definitely help!

[Bren&Nick]

Wow, Thanks

This is a great help and so organised - I am going to print it and add to my very long list still of things to do.

Thanks

Brenda

[Springbok]

Register with Medicare.

If you have PR, then register with a Private Health Fund too, e.g. Medibank Private.

Apply for a Driver's Licence.

make sure your go for at least 1 driving lesson, before you attempt your driving test!

Trust me, it's very easy to fail the driving test on simple things, so the driving lesson will prepare you for that.

[Sharon]

Thanks so much for this - I've saved it for later use.

[lyall]

excellent...and well planned on your side..by the time you get there everything should(??) be done .

There is a man working with my husband from Richards bay, whose wife is arriving end of the month, three months after him, and all he has done is rent a house which the company sorted out for him...I think you have got the right idea!!!!

[KarinaPer]

Mrs Maritz

So when does the honeymoon period fit into all of this?

Karina

[LeeInOz]

Register with Centrelink.... I don't understand the purpose of Centrelink so clearly, maybe because South Africans are not used to Allowances and Benefits from the government. It also seems to me there is a 2-year waiting period for some of the Allowances. Maybe somebody (skimp skimp manlief) can do more research!

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...-centrelink.htm

Great post . A comment on Centre link http://www.centrelink.gov.au/ is realy only applicable to PR and citizens.

http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/inte...duals/index.htm has all the detail

Centrelink can help if you are a single parent, or a family on a low income. You must be a registered tax payer first. It pays for subsidy of child care, rental assitance etc. We get a small amount back each year (bigger the less you earn)

Also if you cant find a job, but have been here and working for 2 years you can get Dole money.

They also have offices where you can look for work on a terminal.

rather than links to what others think or feel which is sometimes so off the mark I rather point ot the actual organisation where the facts are. Exactly what you have done

Edited November 21, 2008 by LeeInOz

[LeeInOz]

Rent a house: From what I've read here, this can be a very time consuming process!! Be prepared by having all your documents ready beforehand. Follow these steps:

http://www.saaustralia.org/index.php?showtopic=12704

Buy a car: This is the one my husband enjoys the most researching!! Just a tip that I've read on the internet: You need to create a credit record for yourself in Australia. Even if you intend buying a car using cash, finance a small portion of it – it will help building a credit record.

Renting is for me the most UNFUN thing to do. Especially if you are in a place in high demand. You scurry around hunting down a place, then submit your request. We saw one and were first to submit. We figured home and dry, but had no history here so the owner ignored us. We were sent to a hovel and told by the agent " I am sure you will get this one" after we had applied for many. I would not let my enemies live there. It was inhabited by fillthy people on dole who were destroying the place and being evicted. We eventualy found a place by word of mouth. Once you are in you are good. bring rental refernces if you have.

When you move in take dated photos of every single mark, dirt, tears dents in walls, check the oven, all lights and plug outlets. Report any problems as fast as possible. RTA (google rta qld) hold your deposit (known as a bond), and you get it back after the letting agent signs off on it. they use any reason to hold back your money.

Buy a car and pay it off fast, we did this to get a reference for homeloan. The bank send oyu a letter after it is paid off, that you are a good payer.

Apply for a credit card after you have been here a short while was what I did. After 3 months they phoned and sent me one. When they offer you one it happens quick. When they dont, you know home loan will be tricky. Use the card but control it, and make the limit small. when you apply for a homeloan they offest the credit card amount even when paid off as a liability.

[Danie]

Hi All,

I were very fortunate to participate with the Gladstone Multicultural Reference Group. This group was formed with people from various cultures and backgrounds.

The main aim was to identify the issues migrants are having in our town and to develop strategies to assist those people.

One of the identified items is "not sure what to do on arrival".

In conjunction with Gladstone Regional Council, Gladstone Multicultural Association, local industries and community members a booklet called "Action guide for Newly Arrived Residents" was created.

I have loaded a copy, please feel free to have a look.

Any comments or proposal would be appreciated.

D

Action_Guide.pdf

[Heather]

If I can add my penny's worth......

Don't need credit history to get car loan or get home loan. Dont commit yourself to a credit card just to get credit history. You dont need that at all, everyone comes here with that in mind and it is more a hindrance when applying for home loans. I work with home and car loans every day of my life and it is easier to get you a bigger home loan without a car HP payment and credit cards.

Bring all references that you can with you - one from a real estate agent if you have been renting, one from your bank manager and that will help you a great deal.

If you are moving to QLD and you cannot do your license straight away, then go to the licensing bureau and get yourself an 18+ card - that will give you Australian ID straight away until you get your Aussie license sorted out.

Hope this helps

Oh ...one more thing....I think look at schools before finding house to rent - as most of the schools are area zoned and then you could be stuck in an area with the wrong school and no option....

Heather

[goFly]

This is really helpful! Thank you.

[Eva]

Great thread!!

Thanks...

[niemeerhier]

Open a Bank Account - Check

Was a pretty painless process with Commonwealth Bank online they phoned me 4 days later with all the details. I arranged for AUD and today I am arranging for cash transfer to my Bank Account.

[KimH]

Excellent post - thanks!!

Will be sure to pass it on to my hubby!!

[Anni]

thanxs for the inputs

Anni

[niemeerhier]

Register with Medicare - Check! Their office is located in the Rockingham City Mall for those living in Rockingham City.

I get the idea that the kids will get separate card once they arrive or perhaps they will reissue with them added?

Edited December 24, 2008 by Trekker

[Pieter & Rene]

Thank you very much for this very helpful thread and all related posts. We are printing this out!

[Nes]

Thanks Mrs Martiz!!

As we, and I am sure many others are far from need this info I have saved the official booklet you metioned on my computer for later use. Just wondering if there is a way of getting it to a place where people will be able to access it in the future as it will help everyone when they get there, no matter where they are going and needs to be kept. Thanks again

nes

[Tex]

Thanks for all the useful info.

Tex

[ColsM]

I am busy doing research for hubby on what to do when arriving in Australia. Here are the results of the search. And I am not including obvious things like getting short term accommodation when you arrive, finding work and things like that. I am only including official things my husband needs to do! Oh yes, we are on a PR visa, and I don't know if everything is applicable to temporary visas:

You should have done the following (or leave it for your wife to do )

http://www.saaustralia.org/index.php?showtopic=16

On the plane - complete the incoming Passenger card. Make sure you have a pen, your passport number and flight number with you:

http://www.saaustralia.org/index.php?showtopic=3702&st

Apply for a Tax File Number. You may apply online, but only once you are in Australia.

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...ply-for-tfn.htm

Register with Medicare. To enrol in Medicare, you should go into a Medicare office 7 to 10 days after your arrival in Australia and bring your passport or travel documents.

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...er-medicare.htm

There is also a nice booklet to read on the above website. Medicare does not cover dental care, most optical care or ambulance services. So get your teeth and eyes checked out while still in South Africa.

Open a Bank Account. There is also a nice booklet to read. You can very easily open a bank account online from South Africa.

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...ank-account.htm

If you want to exchange money so that you have CASH when arriving in Australia, remember that some banks takes about 7 days to get the foreign currency! So if you want to do that, do that as soon as possible. It is also useful to have coins with you as well. "Currency: Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. The bank notes in use are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Coins used are the silver coloured 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent and the gold coloured $1 and $2 coins."

Register with Centrelink.... I don't understand the purpose of Centrelink so clearly, maybe because South Africans are not used to Allowances and Benefits from the government. It also seems to me there is a 2-year waiting period for some of the Allowances. Maybe somebody (skimp skimp manlief) can do more research!

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...-centrelink.htm

Apply for a Driver's Licence. "If you are a permanent resident visa holder and have a current driver's licence from another country, in English or with an official translation, you are allowed to drive for your first three months after arrival. After the three months, if you want to drive, you will need to have the appropriate driver's licence. "

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...ply-drivers.htm

Enrol kids for school. "Under Australian law, children must attend school until they are 15 years old. You should enrol your children in a school as soon as possible."

This is going to be a difficult one, because you have to know where you are going to live before enrolling them into school. You have the option of Private or Public schooling. I think the best way of doing this for us is to get a job and rental house first, then look into nearby schools. The new school year only starts in beginning of February, so it gives husband some chance to investigate this.

Rent a house: From what I've read here, this can be a very time consuming process!! Be prepared by having all your documents ready beforehand. Follow these steps:

http://www.saaustralia.org/index.php?showtopic=12704

Buy a car: This is the one my husband enjoys the most researching!! Just a tip that I've read on the internet: You need to create a credit record for yourself in Australia. Even if you intend buying a car using cash, finance a small portion of it – it will help building a credit record.

Read this booklet: The official booklet about some of the points listed above and for a specific state:

http://www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia...ets/english.htm

And while my husband is doing all of this, I will be holidaying in the Kruger national park :ilikeit:

I should have got some pointers from you before we came here....I am newly married to a MR Maritz......

[candivw]

We got car finance on a 457 no problems ! ANother thing to add to the list is getting a GPS, it helps heaps and lets u have the freedom to explore without the hassles.

[CindyB]

Thanks for a GREAT post!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Very usefull info.

YOU ARE A

Edited April 10, 2009 by Cinderella