Moving to Australia in 2026: Visas, Costs and First Steps
Moving to Australia starts with the visa, because the visa decides whether you can work, how long you can stay and whether you can use Medicare. After that it is a short list of jobs in your first weeks: a bank account, a tax file number, health cover and a lease. This guide takes them in order, using Australian Government sources as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
To move to Australia you need a visa that fits your purpose: the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa (from AUD 4,015, up to 4 years), a Student visa (AUD 2,500, with AUD 29,710 in living funds), a skilled permanent visa (AUD 6,135 to 6,140), a Working Holiday visa (AUD 840) or a Partner visa (AUD 11,710). Median processing in August 2026 was 22 days for students, 134 days for temporary skilled visas and 8 months for permanent skilled visas. On arrival, open a bank account within six weeks, while your passport is the only identification you need, apply online for a tax file number, and enrol in Medicare seven to 10 days after arriving if your visa makes you eligible.
Step 1: choose the right visa
| Visa | Who it is for | Charge for the main applicant (AUD) | Processing: 50% decided in / 90% decided in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Core Skills stream | Workers nominated for a skilled position by an approved sponsor | 4,015 | 4 months / 9 months |
| Skills in Demand (subclass 482), Specialist Skills stream | Nominated workers whose salary meets the Specialist Skills Income Threshold | 4,015 | 37 days / 78 days |
| Skilled Independent (subclass 189), points-tested | Skilled workers applying for permanent residence without a sponsor | 6,135 | 61 days / 8 months |
| Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) | Skilled workers nominated by a state or territory | 6,140 | 4 months / 16 months |
| Student (subclass 500), higher education | People enrolled in a course of study | 2,500 | 16 days / 4 months |
| Working Holiday (subclass 417) | Young adults, 18 to 30 or 35 for some countries, who want an extended holiday and to work to fund it | 840 | 2 days / 58 days |
| Partner (subclass 820/801 or 309/100) | Spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens | 11,710 | 21 to 22 months / 30 to 32 months for the temporary stage |
Each family member on an application pays an additional charge. The full tables are in our guides to Australia visa fees and processing times, and the requirements are in the guides to work visas, the Student visa and partner visas.
Which route fits you
- You have an Australian employer: the Skills in Demand visa. You must be nominated by an approved sponsor, have the skills for the job and meet the English requirement.
- You are skilled but have no employer: the points-tested Skilled Independent visa, which needs no sponsor or nominator but requires an invitation to apply, or the Skilled Nominated visa. Both are permanent visas.
- You want to study: the Student visa. You must show the minimum living costs of AUD 29,710 for 12 months, plus AUD 10,394 for a partner and AUD 4,449 for a child, on top of course fees and travel.
- Your partner is Australian or settled there: the Partner visa, which you apply for in Australia or overseas depending on where you are.
Step 2: understand what approval does not give you
The Department of Home Affairs is direct about two things that surprise new arrivals.
- A visa is not a job. Approval to migrate, permanent residency or citizenship does not guarantee you work. The labour market can be very competitive, and Australian work experience is valuable. Some occupations also need registration or licensing before you can practise.
- Welfare has a waiting period. Generally you cannot receive social security payments until you have lived in Australia as a permanent resident for up to four years. Refugees and humanitarian entrants do not have to wait.
Step 3: your first weeks
Open a bank account within six weeks
Nearly all employers pay wages straight into a bank account. If you open an account within six weeks of arriving, your passport is the only identification you need. After six weeks you need at least two items of identification, and one of them must show a photograph or signature.
Apply for a tax file number
You register with the Australian Taxation Office for a tax file number (TFN) shortly after arriving. You need it to receive income from an employer and to claim government benefits. The fastest way to apply is online, with your passport details and an Australian address, and you should receive the number by mail within 28 days. You give it to your employer when you start a job; only certain organisations can legally ask for it.
Enrol in Medicare if you are eligible
Medicare is the public health scheme. It provides free public hospital care, help with the cost of seeing a doctor and subsidised medicines. Migrants generally have immediate access depending on their visa, while other temporary migrants may have to hold private health insurance. To enrol, visit a Medicare service centre seven to 10 days after you arrive, with your passport. Medicare does not cover dental care, optical care or ambulance transport, and you pay a fee if an ambulance takes you to hospital. The emergency number is 000.
Find somewhere to live
Many new arrivals rent in the short term, and you can also find places to share with one or more other people. Always inspect a property before you commit, and read the lease before you sign it; each state and territory publishes its own tenancy advice. If you are not a permanent resident living in Australia, you need permission from the Foreign Investment Review Board to buy a house or land.
Sort out driving
To drive you must hold a valid driver licence. Licensing, registration and insurance are handled by each state government. A licence from one state lets you drive in any other, but you must change it if you move to another state permanently.
What to leave out of your luggage
Australia's border rules on food are strict. The Australian Border Force's guidance says not to bring fresh fruit or homemade food. Duty-free items such as alcohol and tobacco, and prescription medicines, must be declared; medicines for personal use are allowed with restrictions.
What daily life costs
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Consumer price inflation, 12 months to August 2026 | 4.0% |
| Average weekly ordinary time earnings, full-time adults (May 2026) | AUD 2,083.70 |
| National Minimum Wage, from 1 July 2026 | AUD 26.44 an hour |
| Median weekly rent, new lettings, metropolitan Melbourne | AUD 580 |
| Tax-free threshold for residents | AUD 18,200 |
Your employer also pays superannuation, a set percentage of your pay, into a retirement account that you can access only after the legislated retirement age. Tax returns are due by 31 October each year unless you use a registered tax agent. The detail is in our cost of living in Australia guide.
A simple order of operations
- Pick the visa and read its page on the Home Affairs website.
- Lodge a complete application online. Home Affairs says complete applications avoid delays.
- Do not book flights early. Home Affairs tells working holiday applicants not to book flights or make commitments until the visa is granted, and the same caution makes sense for any visa.
- Check whether your occupation needs registration, licensing or a qualifications assessment to work in Australia.
- Soon after arriving, get an Australian address and apply for your TFN.
- Within six weeks, open a bank account with your passport.
- Seven to 10 days after arriving, enrol in Medicare if eligible, or arrange private health insurance.
Frequently asked questions
How can I move to Australia?
You need a visa. The main routes are the employer-sponsored Skills in Demand visa, points-tested skilled visas that give permanent residence, the Student visa, the Working Holiday visa and the Partner visa. Which one applies depends on whether you have an employer, a course, or an Australian partner.
How much does it cost to move to Australia?
The visa charge alone is AUD 4,015 for the Skills in Demand visa, AUD 2,500 for a Student visa, AUD 6,135 for the Skilled Independent visa, AUD 840 for a Working Holiday visa and AUD 11,710 for a Partner visa. Family members pay additional charges.
Can I move to Australia without a job offer?
Yes, on a points-tested skilled visa, a Student visa, a Working Holiday visa or a Partner visa. The Skills in Demand visa requires nomination by an approved sponsor.
How long does it take to get a visa for Australia?
Home Affairs' medians for August 2026 were 22 days for Student visas, 134 days for temporary skilled visas, 8 months for permanent skilled visas and 23 months for Partner visas.
What should I do first when I arrive in Australia?
Apply online for a tax file number, open a bank account within six weeks while your passport is enough identification, and enrol in Medicare seven to 10 days after arriving if your visa makes you eligible.
Is health care free in Australia for migrants?
Medicare provides free public hospital care and help with doctors' fees and medicines. Migrants generally have immediate access depending on their visa; other temporary migrants may have to hold private health insurance. Dental care and ambulances are not covered.
Can new migrants get welfare payments in Australia?
Generally not until they have lived in Australia as a permanent resident for up to four years. Refugees and humanitarian entrants do not need to wait.
Sources (official only)
- Department of Home Affairs — Key settlement topics
- Department of Home Affairs — Managing your finances
- Department of Home Affairs — Health and wellbeing
- Department of Home Affairs — Employment
- Department of Home Affairs — Housing
- Department of Home Affairs — Current visa pricing table
- Department of Home Affairs — Visa processing times
- Australian Border Force — Can you bring it in?
- Fair Work Ombudsman — Minimum wages
- Australian Bureau of Statistics — Consumer Price Index
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Charges and processing times change, so check the official page before you apply. Information, not legal advice.