Plan your arrival checklist

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. Use the pre-flight checklist below.

1. 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. Read more on visa information and visa compliance.
2. 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. Read more on entry requirements or contact your education institution.
3. 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. Read more on insurance.
4. 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. Talk to your education or travel agent for more information.
5. Airfares – Make sure the date of your flight arrival gives you plenty of time to settle into your new city and institution. Keep your flight details in a safe and secure place, with your passport and visa.
6. 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 your phone in case you need to contact them once you arrive in Australia.
7. 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. Once you arrive in Australia you might also want to visit a bank or open a bank account.
8. 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. All Australian cities have many different transport options available for getting around. 
9. Accommodation details – Make sure you have booked and confirmed accommodation before you arrive noting the address and contact phone number of where you will be staying.
10. Phone and internet - Your mobile phone provider may not allow you to make calls or connect to internet once you arrive in Australia. Or it may allow global roaming which is very expensive.
    Getting an Australian SIM card when you arrive will provide you with the cheapest option. Purchase one at your destination airport, otherwise once you arrive at your destination. If you will be renting while you study, Australia has many phone and internet services available.
11. Planning to work - You may choose to work in Australia while you are studying. This can help to earn some extra spending money, and gain valuable language and cultural experience. Make sure that your visa permits you to work in Australia. Find out what you need to know about working in Autralia as an international student.
12. What you can (and can't) bring into Australia - Australia has strict border controls and you need to be aware of what you cannot bring into Australia. Australia's biosecurity laws have have been strengthened with increased penalties for all travellers who fail to truthfully declare high risk biosecurity goods at the Australian border. This means that when you arrive in Australia you must declare;
    
    - Any food, plant material and animal items
    - Firearms, weapons and ammunition
    - Currency amounts of A$10,000 (or foreign equivalent)
    - Some medicines