The first week in a new country is always the most unfamiliar stretch of time. Settling into life after moving to Australia is not just about finding a place to stay, but also about completing a series of administrative, financial and health-related procedures so you can begin living and working legally. This guide has been compiled by the My Second World team in the practical order of events, to help you know exactly what to do on each day of that first week.
Each task has its own order of priority. Doing things in the right order avoids a situation where “one task is stuck waiting on another”, saving you a great deal of time and effort.
Preparing before leaving Vietnam
Thorough preparation back home largely determines how smoothly your first week will go. Before your departure date, you should complete the following list:
- Make certified copies and notarised translations of important documents: passport, visa, birth certificate, marriage certificate, qualifications, and your children’s school records.
- Bring vaccination records and medical history (if any), together with any current prescriptions.
- Prepare a sufficient amount of cash for initial expenses and an international payment card.
- Keep a record of your first temporary address, as many procedures will require this information.
In addition, you should scan all your documents and save them to a cloud service. When you need to fill in online forms in Australia, having soft copies ready makes everything much faster.
Things to do as soon as you arrive at the airport
As soon as you land at the airport in Australia, you will go through immigration clearance via the SmartGate system or a manual immigration counter. Your visa is electronically linked to your passport, so no paper visa label is needed.
Declare honestly on the Incoming Passenger Card any food, medicine and biological items. Australia enforces very strict biosecurity controls. As a result, if you are unsure whether an item is allowed in, you should proactively declare it to avoid being fined.
After clearing customs, you should immediately buy a prepaid SIM card at a counter inside the airport. Having an Australian phone number is a prerequisite for most subsequent procedures.
Finding accommodation to settle into life after moving to Australia
Stable accommodation is the foundation for everything else. The process of settling into life after moving to Australia usually begins with renting temporary accommodation for the first few weeks, before moving on to a long-term lease.
During the temporary stay period, you may choose extended-stay accommodation, serviced apartments, or short-term room rentals. This time allows you to explore the area, schools and transport network before committing to a long-term lease.
When looking for a formal rental, you need to prepare a rental application package including:
- Identity documents (passport, visa).
- An employment confirmation letter or evidence of income and finances.
- A reference letter from a previous landlord (if any).
- Reference contact information.
Rental agreements in Australia typically require a bond and rent paid in advance. The bond is lodged with a state government-managed fund, so it is protected and refunded at the end of the tenancy provided the agreed terms are met. In addition, each state has its own rental tenancy authority where you can check your rights.
Opening a bank account and applying for a tax file number
Opening a domestic bank account is something you should do within the first few days. Many Australian banks allow you to open an account online before you even arrive, then simply visit a branch with your passport to activate it.
To open an account, you typically need your passport, visa, an Australian address, and a domestic phone number. Once you have an account, you can then receive your salary, pay bills, and link up other public services.
At the same time, you need to apply for a personal Tax File Number (TFN). This is a mandatory tax identification number if you want to work legally and avoid being taxed at the highest rate. You can apply for a TFN online via the tax authority’s website as soon as you have an Australian address.
You should therefore prioritise completing your bank account and TFN before starting your first job.
Registering for Medicare and health insurance
The public health system, Medicare, is an important entitlement for people migrating on a permanent basis. If your visa allows access to Medicare, you should register as soon as possible to receive assistance with medical costs.
To register, you take your passport, visa and proof of residency to a Services Australia service centre. After registering, you receive a temporary number, and a physical Medicare card will later be sent to your address.
You can refer to official information on migration entitlements on the website of Department of Home Affairs, which brings together support services for newcomers.
In addition to Medicare, some families choose to purchase additional private health insurance to shorten waiting times for specialist services. This depends on each household’s needs and budget.
Registering essential services for the family
Once you have accommodation and an account, you need to connect the services that keep daily life running. This is the group of tasks that makes a house truly “liveable”:
- Set up electricity, water, gas and internet for your home.
- Buy a state public transport card for getting around.
- Look into converting your Vietnamese driving licence to a state driving licence.
- Register with a general practice (GP) clinic near your home.
If you are travelling with young children, enrolling them in school is a top priority. Each state has its own rules on school zoning based on residential address, so you should contact the state department of education or the local school to find out what documents are needed.
In addition, families with children below school age may look into childcare services and family payments they may be eligible for.
Integrating into the community and building a long-term life
Settling in does not stop at paperwork. To put down lasting roots, you need to gradually build a network of relationships and get used to the new rhythm of life.
Migrant resource centres and local libraries often offer free English classes, orientation sessions and job information. You should take the initiative to join in, both to improve your English and to expand your network.
To better understand the population, employment and cost of living picture in each state, you can look up official statistics from Australian Bureau of Statistics. This source helps you choose a place to settle that suits your family’s work and finances.
Finally, give yourself time to adjust. That initial sense of unfamiliarity is normal and will pass as everything gradually falls into place.
Suggested schedule for the first week
To make things easier to picture, the My Second World team has summarised the sequence of tasks in the table below:
| Time | Priority task |
|---|---|
| Ngày 1 | Enter the country, buy a SIM, move into temporary accommodation |
| Ngày 2–3 | Open a bank account, apply for a TFN |
| Ngày 3–4 | Register for Medicare, find a GP clinic |
| Ngày 4–5 | Find long-term rental accommodation, prepare rental application documents |
| Ngày 5–7 | Set up electricity, water and internet; enrol children in school |
The table above is for reference only. Depending on each family’s circumstances, you may adjust the order to suit your appointments and the processing times of each authority.
Summary
The first week in Australia is a chain of tasks in sequence: entering the country, getting a SIM, renting accommodation, opening a bank account, applying for a TFN, registering for Medicare, and connecting essential services. Once you complete these foundational steps, you will have established a solid footing for your new life.
As a next step, you should make a medium-term plan: settling into employment, converting your driving licence, enrolling your children in school, and looking into the pathway to citizenship if you intend to settle long-term. Each milestone requires its own documentation and timeline.
If you need a clear migration pathway and close support right from when you are still in Vietnam, My Second World’s team of migration consultants is always ready to support you at every stage.
