02 / YOU’VE LANDED
Compare SIM cards, transport, banking and the essentials for your first week.
START SMALL. GET SETTLED.
Arriving tired with a backpack is enough for one day. Here’s what to sort first.
Save your hostel address, check-in instructions and the journey there before leaving airport Wi-Fi. If reception closes early, arrange late arrival now.
Choose a local number if you’ll be applying for work. Then sort an everyday bank account and start your free TFN application using the official route.
Check the role’s tickets, agree your start date and ask how payroll works. Keep the employer’s name, workplace address and agreed pay in writing.
Confirm your bed, address and check-in time. Keep the booking handy for when you land.
Compare places to stayGet online, and decide whether you need an Australian number for calls and texts.
Compare SIM optionsCheck your city before buying a card—you might be able to use your bank card or phone.
See transport by cityCompare fees and ID requirements, then get your account ready for wages and daily spending.
Compare banking optionsUse the official free application route. If you already have a TFN, find that number rather than applying again.
How to sort your TFNFind your existing fund or compare your options, then give payroll the details they need. Super is separate from the account your wages go into.
Understand super and payrollAdd your contact details and availability. Check the job requirements before paying for courses.
Choose your type of workChoose your role first. Check its requirements and arrange any training you actually need before paying for extra courses.
Check role requirementsConfirm your role, start date and worksite before travelling. If you need specified work for your visa, check the duties and location against your visa rules.
Explore regional workYour choices stay in this browser. Restore skipped tasks using “My trip checklist” at the top of any page.
BEFORE YOUR FIRST PAYDAY
Once you’ve accepted a job, ask for their onboarding instructions. Keep application details and payroll details separate: your public CV only needs a way to contact you and the experience relevant to the role.
Your account name, BSB and account number tell payroll where to send your wages. You can usually find these in your banking app. Your password, PIN and card security code are not payroll details.
Compare everyday accountsThis is the form your employer uses to work out tax withholding. Applying for a TFN and completing a declaration are separate steps. If you’re waiting for your number, tell payroll and follow the declaration instructions for your situation.
Apply for your TFN: full instructionsSuperannuation is money paid into a retirement fund, separate from your everyday bank account. If you already have a fund from an earlier Australian job, find its details before opening another one.
If you’re eligible to choose a fund, compare fees, insurance, investment options and performance. Give your employer the required fund and membership details through their super choice process.
Sort your super: the full guidePayroll guidance checked 17 October 2026 against Fair Work, myGov and Moneysmart.
ONE LESS THING TO PAY FOR
A tax file number is your personal tax reference. Applying is free. Use the official guidance to choose the application route for your circumstances; overseas visitors should check the foreign-passport application requirements.
Already had one on an earlier trip? Find your existing TFN. Keep the number private—don’t put it on your public CV or in a saved note here.
How to get your TFN, step by stepFind the supermarket, test your route to work and ask what’s happening at your hostel. The practical stuff is there to make the rest easier.
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