Relocating to Australia

Woooow!!! Congratulations on your big step of relocating to Australia !!

Australia is not just a continent but also a country! Here are some of the tips that you might need when you change base your location to Australia.

• What not to bring to Australia

Australian authorities have some strict rules in place for the items that can be imported or that one can carry in their bags. Bags will be thoroughly inspected upon arrival. Do not panic if a sniffer dog comes near you or your bag. It is common in Australian airports. Below is the list of some of the items that are not allowed:

1. Fruits and Vegetables (I was not allowed to carry an apple for my toddler too). Discard any fruits or vegetables in the aeroplane itself
2. Live plants
3. Seeds
4. Pet animals (allowed only if you have a permit)

For detailed list please visit Australian Agricultural website.

• Buy SIM Card

SIM Cards are available for purchase at the airport. Telstra, Optus, Amaysim are some the well know service providers in Australia. Look for the one which suits you (Home Country calling, Data plan etc).

• Open a Bank Account

Some of the banks allow opening account before entering Australia. Check Bank websites to know more about the details of the type of account and service they are providing. NAB, ANZ, Commonwealth are some of the well known banks in Australia. If you open an account before entering Australia then make sure to go to the bank with passport and other original documents for collecting cheque books, debit card etc.

• Buy public transport Smart Card

Public transport is very good in Australia. One can take train, bus, metro or ferry to commute between suburbs. Public transport smart card is known by different names in different cities. These smart cards can be bought at any kiosks near train stations. Recharge can also be done online or using their App. Some of the Smart cards in major cities of Australia are as below.

1. Opal Card : Opal is the smart card ticketing system used to pay for travel on public transport in Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra regions.
2. myki : myki is smart card ticketing system to travel on trains, tram and buses in Melbourne and many parts of regional Victoria.
3. go Card : If you are commuting by TransLink bus, train (including Airtrain), ferry or tram services in greater Brisbane, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast regions, go Card is accepted.

• Search for an apartment/house for rent

Visit domain or realestate websites to look for houses for rent. Make a list of all the houses along with inspection timings. Make sure to be at the house location at the time of inspection. Inspection time will generally be 10-15 mins. It is advisable to record the house in your phone as it gets overwhelming after visiting many houses for inspection. If the inspection time mentioned is not suitable for you then call the leasing agent and check if they can show the house at any other time. Make sure to check the laundry area in the apartment. There are 3 types of laundry system.

1. In house laundry : House has separate laundry area. Usually houses have dryer but you should buy a washing machine.
2. Shared laundry area : laundry area is shared between multiple units in apartment. This Area could be in the same floor as your unit or in ground floor. There will be separate laundry space allocated for each unit i that area where you can keep your washing machine.
3. Shared Washing machine : Shared washing machine in a common laundry area.

If you like a house then apply for it with relevant documents asked by the agent. Also include a cover letter explaining your situation as you do not have any rental history in Australia.

• Apply for Medicare if you are relocating on Permanent Resident (PR) Visa

Fill Medicare Enrolment form and visit nearby service centre. You can check nearby service centre using this link. Carry below documents for applying along with filled enrolment form.

1. Original Passport
2. Proof of permanent residency from the Department of Home Affairs
3. Carry VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online system)

• Buy Groceries, Furnitures, Electronic goods

Coles and Woolworths are the major market player for groceries in Australia. Electronic items can be purchased at JB Hi-fi, good guys. Furniture can be bought at Ikea. If you are relocating during November or December then wait for boxing day(Dec 26) sale as you can get major discounts on all the products.

• Install Trip View App for public transport in Sydney and Melbourne Area

Trip view is an essential app to know the schedule, status of public transport like trains, buses and ferry. Install Trip view app as it comes very handy while commuting using public transport.