Documents to bring when you move to Australia
Which documents to pack in your carry-on before you move to Australia: passports, visa, certificates, licence, children's records and more.
In short
Many of your first tasks in Australia, such as a rental application, a tax file number, Medicare and school enrolment, ask for proof of who you are and your visa. Keep the key documents in your carry-on bag, not your checked luggage, and keep digital copies backed up too.
What to do
Home Affairs says to bring a current, valid passport and any expired passports linked to your visa, because your visa is electronically attached to the passport you used to apply.
What you need to know
- Your passport, plus any expired passports linked to your visa
- Your visa grant notice. Read it and your visa conditions (VEVO) before you book flights, including any date for your first entry to Australia
- Birth certificates, and marriage (or divorce) documents, for everyone travelling
- Your overseas driver's licence, with an English translation or an International Driving Permit if it is not in English. Rules differ by state: see the driver's licence step
- Children: school reports and vaccination records. Records in English can be added to the Australian Immunisation Register by a GP
- If you will look for work: qualifications, your CV and job references
- Prescriptions or a doctor's letter for any medicines you are bringing
- A recent arrival's tip: keep a dated record of key dates, such as your visa grant, first arrival and last day of work overseas. Tax and residency questions can depend on them
The document list follows the South Australian Government's post-arrival checklist and Home Affairs guidance. Your visa may need other documents, so check your own visa conditions.
Crossing the border (Home Affairs) ↗Post-arrival checklist (SA Government, PDF) ↗