Moving to a foreign country can be a stressful experience, but we want to make it as enjoyable as possible for you! Therefore we have put together a list of frequently asked questions to help you before your big move to Australia.
We have a lovely international team who have shared personal recommendations on certain topics. So, if you are from the Netherlands or the UK, we have even more info for you! But worry not, all our tips and tricks can be helpful wherever you're from.
What will we talk about?
- How to arrange your visa?
- Do I need Australian health insurance?
- Cash, card, bank accounts
- Is it a good idea to get a sim card?
- Do I need to get an international drivers licence?
- What is the Australian Retirement fund?
How to arrange your visa
Your visa is one of the most important documents you need to acquire when moving to Australia. When you want to work alongside exploring this beautiful country, you need a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417). Travellers from all countries are able to apply for their visa via the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Here, select “work” and then answer the proceeding questions.
1. What kind of work will you do?
Working holiday or seasonal work
2. What is your country of passport?
Choose your own country, matching the country of your passport
After this you will get the option for three visa types. If this is your first time applying for a Working Holiday visa then choose the “First Working Holiday visa” if you apply for a second time choose the “Second Working Holiday visa” and so on. If your country does not provide any options, please contact the Australian Embassy in your country for more information.
For Dutch citizens, we recommend arranging your visa via ANWB/VisumCentrale for an easier application procedure when you do not have all of your personal documents translated into English. Via ANWB/Visum Centrale you can easily apply for your Working Holiday visa (Werk Vakantie visum).
Do I need Australian (health) insurance?
If you are from Europe your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid in Australia, do check with your insurance company if they still cover you when you are living abroad for your chosen amount of time. It is recommended to get additional insurance because healthcare costs can be more expensive in Australia and your home insurance does not always cover all abroad expenses. You can often get international insurance in your home country or arrange one here in Australia.
If you are from the Netherlands it is possible that from the day that you will get paid your insurance stops working. Check your insurance status at the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB) to make sure. If this is the case or if your insurance will only cover you for three months overseas, we recommend getting a Globetrotter Reisverzekering from Allianz.
Cash, card, bank accounts
Often all Credit Cards work in Australia, and it's debit cards that can more often have problems with paying in Australia. Generally, if your debit card has a Visa, MasterCard, or Plus logo on it you can use it at any ATM machine for cash withdrawals. We recommend bringing a decent amount of cash with you upon arrival to make sure that you have money if your card does not work at any ATM or store. Cash is generally accepted everywhere in Australia even though many Australians do pay with card.
The easiest way to pay in Australia is by getting an Australian bank account and card. You can apply for a card at the Commonwealth bank 14 days before your arrival, by doing this you only need to verify your identity at a Commonwealth location and you can get your new card sorted.
Other commonly used banks are National Australia Bank (nab) and Westpac.
Is it a good idea to get a SIM card?
When going on vacation you often would not mind just using WIFI, to get a bit of a rest from the online world. However, when travelling and working in Australia for a longer period of time you might prefer to have some 4G to communicate with your family at home, or to use Google Maps while travelling. There are a lot of different providers that offer SIM cards. We recommend you not to buy your SIM card at the airport since this can be a lot more expensive than buying one at a store in the city.
Australia's strongest and most reliable network is provided by Telstra. This provider has the most reach of all Australian providers. Do keep in mind though that not everywhere in Australia the reach will be great, especially in the outback you can often have parts where there is no service at all, take a look at this coverage map to see where there is reach and the quality of it. Other providers can be Vodafone or Optus, just take a look at their offers and what works best for you!
If you want some cheaper options take a look at Felix, Lebara, Superloop, or Catch Connect.
Do I need an international driver's licence?
Do you want to travel through Australia with a rental car or campervan? Then you would be wise to apply for an international driver’s licence. Many rental companies require you to have a valid international driver's licence. In addition, this is sometimes also asked by the police in the event of accidents or checks.
Also, do keep in mind that the minimum age to rent a car is 21 years old, however, those that are under 25 years old will pay a lot more because they will only be able to reduce their damage liability to A$950. In addition, a ‘young driver surcharge’ of A$23,50 per day might be applied. The minimum age to drive a car is 17-18 years old depending on the state.
What is the Australian Retirement Fund?
When you start working in Australia and you want to receive your paycheck you most likely will be asked about your Australian Retirement Trust information. This is a Retirement trust that a small portion of your paycheck goes to just like you would have when working in your home country at your part-time or full-time job. You can easily apply for this fund via The Australian Retirement Trust website, which will take around two minutes to complete. However, do not worry about it too much since this is arranged very fast and is not one of the most important things for you to arrange before your big move.
