Australia · Relocation guide
Australia first 90 days: a staged arrival plan
The first 90 days are an administration sequence, not a new visa period: verify status, establish a home and complete state and federal tasks.
Content updated 11 September 2026. Individual source-check dates are listed below.
First week
Keep the grant notice and passport available, confirm entry and work conditions, arrange a phone and a safe temporary address, and record emergency contacts. Open a bank account only through a regulated provider and protect identity documents.
If health cover is required or Medicare eligibility is uncertain, keep cover active while Services Australia assesses the relevant category.
Weeks two to four
Move from temporary housing only after checking lease, bond, transport, commute and local risks. Start tax and employment onboarding, retain payslips and confirm superannuation details.
Contact the state or territory authority about driving, school enrolment and childcare. These are local rules, not a single national relocation form.
Months two and three
Review whether the job, address and family arrangements still comply with visa conditions. Arrange longer-term utilities and insurance, complete pet or school requirements, and keep a calendar for visa, passport, licence and tax obligations.
If circumstances change, check Home Affairs before changing employer, occupation, study or location.
Your moving checklist
Tick off the tasks that apply to you. The timing is a planning order, not a substitute for the deadlines on your permission or an official instruction.
0 of 13 tasks completed
Sources and checks
The linked authorities set the rules. VisaAtlas explains how the steps fit together; planning suggestions are not a decision on your immigration status, tax residence or entitlement to services.
- Australian visa and citizenship guidanceSource checked 11 September 2026
- Australian Government services and MedicareSource checked 11 September 2026
- Australian Taxation Office: new residentsSource checked 11 September 2026
- Australian state and territory driver licensingSource checked 11 September 2026