6-12 months before
Use Home Affairs to narrow visa pathways, check whether skills, English, sponsor or relationship evidence may be relevant, and start document collection early.
Moving to Australia Checklist
Plan the move in order: choose the right official visa pathway, prepare evidence, arrange money and health cover, then complete the first-week and first-90-day setup tasks after arrival.
Start with the official decision points
The most important moving tasks are not paperwork hacks. First confirm which visa category to investigate on Home Affairs, then build a document file that matches that visa, and only then book services that depend on your visa, arrival date, address or work rights.
Interactive moving checklist
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Timeline by stage
3-6 months before
Research jobs, study obligations, city trade-offs, health cover and housing markets. Avoid signing contracts that depend on an uncertain visa outcome.
Final month
Confirm travel documents, temporary accommodation, travel insurance, overseas licence translation needs and how you will access money on arrival.
Arrival to first week
Set up phone access, bank identity checks, TFN application, Medicare enrolment if eligible, and records for your employer or education provider.
First 30 days
Move from temporary to stable routines: rental applications, transport cards, school or childcare planning, local registrations and emergency contacts.
Days 31-90
Review visa conditions, address updates, tax and super records, health cover, driving rules and long-term settlement plans.