Once you have received your confirmation of your student visa, the next step is to start planning for your arrival in Australia. Use the pre-flight checklist below to make sure you’re ready!

1. Passport – Check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months prior to your arrival in Australia. It is also a good idea to make hard copies of your passport in case of an emergency.

2. Visa – Make sure you have a valid visa for entering and studying in Australia well before your departure date and that you have all of your visa documentation (including Confirmation of Enrolment, or eCoE) with you before you get ready to fly.

3. Proof of vaccination – From 6 July 2022, people entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status.

4. Flights – Make sure the date of your flight arrival gives you plenty of time to settle into your new city and institution before the start of your study period. Keep your flight details in a safe and secure place, together with your passport and visa information.

5. Check the requirements of your arrival city in Australia and your study destination – You will need to understand, and be prepared to meet, the requirements for arrival in Australia and at your study destination (if you plan to transit within Australia). Requirements may include further COVID-19 testing or quarantine. If you are unsure, please check with your education provider.

6. Pre-departure testing (evidence of a negative COVID-19 test)

The Australian Government no longer requires people travelling to Australia to have a COVID-19 test before travel. However, you will still need to check that you meet the requirements of your airline and any countries you transit through.

7. Digital Passenger Declaration – If you are arriving after 6th July, 2022, you no longer need to complete Ditial Passenger Declaration (DPD).

8. Travel Insurance – In addition to your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), you should also consider travel insurance, which covers things such as cancelled flights, and some medical costs. Talk to us for more information and for advice on the best travel insurance policy for you.

9. Contact details – It’s a good idea to carry with you when you travel a list of emergency contact details for family, any personal contacts in Australia, as well as your embassy, accommodation and institution details. Keep our contact details on your phone as well in case you need to contact them once you arrive in Australia.

10. Australian currency – There are money exchange counters in Australian airports and cities, but it is recommended that you have some Australian currency with you when you land in Australia.

11.  What to expect on arrival –You will also need to complete an incoming passenger card. Information on what to expect at border clearance can be found on the Australian Border Force website.

12. What you can (and can’t) bring into Australia – Australia has strict border controls and you need to be aware of what you can and cannot bring into Australia. Australia’s biosecurity laws have been strengthened and penalties will apply if you fail to truthfully declare  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

13. Airport pickup – Some universities offer free airport pickup. Talk to us to organise your airport pickup to ensure there is someone to pick you up and take you to the accommodation.

14. Accommodation – make sure you have booked and confirmed your accommodation before you arrive, making note of the address and contact number of the place where you will be staying.

15. Inform provider of your address – As per visa condition 8533, you are required to inform your education provider of your residential address within seven (7) days of arriving in Australia.

16. Planning to work? – Your student visa allows you to work alongside your studies. This can help to earn some extra spending money, and help you gain valuable language and cultural experience.

17. Enjoy your Australian study experience (have fun!) – After you’ve arrived and have finished settling in to your new home and surrounds, your Study Australia adventure begins. Remember it is not all about just the study. Travel around Australia to visit the cool places, tourist hotspots, meet the lovely Aussie native animals and have fun.

You’re now part of a cohort that make an immense contribution to Australian society. Australia is now home to incredible citizens who started out as international students.