Plan your arrival

Once you have been accepted to study at an institution and have received confirmation of your student visa, the next step is to start planning for your arrival.

Here is a checklist to help you plan your departure:

• Passport and Visa – Check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months prior to your entry into Australia, and that you have all your visa documentation. It is also a good idea to make copies of your passport in case you lose your passport.
• Student enrolment and orientation documents – You will need your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) and student information pack, which you will have received from your institution.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) – This is a requirement for entry to Australia, so make sure you have your health cover policy arranged before you leave home.
• Travel Insurance – You should also consider travel insurance, which covers things your OSHC may not – such as cancelled flights, lost documents, dental or optical care, etc.
• Airfares – Make sure you are aware of the date and time of your flight. Keep your flight details in a safe and secure place, with your passport and visa.
• Contact details – You may want to have a list of emergency contact details for family, as well as your embassy, accommodation and institution details. If you have used an education agent, keep their contact details on you, in case you need to contact them once you arrive in Australia.
• Australian currency – There are money exchange places available at Australian airports and in cities, but it is recommended to have some Australian currency on you prior to leaving your home country.
• Transport from the airport – Whether you are taking public transport, a taxi, or you are being picked up from the airport by your education provider, it is important that you have all the details including the time, the route and, if your travel has been arranged by your institution, their contact details. If you need a map to assist you in getting to your accommodation from the airport, they will be available at the airport, or you can print one prior to leaving.
• Accommodation details – Make sure you have the address of where you will be staying as well as their phone number and payment confirmation (if you have already paid for your accommodation).

Customs and Border Protection

You need to be aware of what you cannot bring into Australia and therefore what you should not pack. It is illegal to carry (or use) drugs including marijuana, cannabis, heroin, cocaine and amphetamines in and out of Australia. There are a number of items that you must declare upon your arrival in Australia including:

• Firearms, weapons and ammunition.
• Currency amounts of A$10,000 (or foreign equivalent).
• Some medicines.

You should also be aware that as a routine part of their work, Australian Border Force officers may question travellers at any time, and trained dogs may also be used to detect illegal drugs or prohibited imports. If you are in doubt, declare your goods or ask an Australian Border Force officer for advice. Declaring goods does not necessarily mean your baggage will be examined.

People who deliberately break Australian Customs and Border Protection regulations could be fined or taken to court. You can also find information at the Department of Home Affairs website.

Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture is responsible for protecting Australia’s unique environment and agricultural industries from unwanted pests and diseases by regulating imported products including certain food, plant material and animal items.

It is important to check Australia’s biosecurity requirements when packing your personal items. Do not bring fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, poultry, pork, eggs, dairy products, live plants or seeds. Some products are not allowed into the country while other products need to meet strict import conditions. You can search the department’s database at Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) to find detailed import conditions under which various commodities may be brought into Australia.

If you are unsure of an item, declare it on the Incoming Passenger Card which you will receive on the plane, or don’t bring it at all. Failure to declare items can result in an on-the-spot fine or potential prosecution.

You can find more information on what you can bring or send to Australia on the Department of Agriculture website.