So I looked into this alot before arriving last month as I had 1 week between arriving and starting a full-time job. I arrived at 9am Monday and checked into my hotel at about 11.30am by the time I'd cleared customs and got a taxi. Make sure you get a stamp in your passport at customs if its your validation trip as the banks want to see it to complete bank account opening - this bit took the longest at the airport. I then put my head down for a quick nap and proceeded to fall asleep for 9 hours!! I second the concept of chilling out that first day, maybe not quite as chilled as mine but I felt pretty good day 2 and got loads done.
Here's what I ended up doing (in order) over my first 6 days;
- Applied for TFN online (pretty much the only thing I did on day 1 and it arrived after only 7 days at my work address)
- Went to both banks to collect cards and open savings accounts (booked appointments before leaving, for the morning of my 2nd day)
- Got a prepaid SIM card for my phone and a topup and credited it to my card
- Got a normal metrocard ($5) and a 2-section metrocard ($5) as I use both to get the best possible deal for using public transport. Set up autotop up's on both.
- Found a rental property and signed the paperwork
- Updated both address's held with bank - got them to print statements as proof of address
- Medicare card
- Updated my 457 medical insurance with new address and medicare number, able to downgrade insurance to lowest category by doing this
- Sorted electricity for property, switched within 3 days
- Sorted 'naked ADSL' for property, installed 10 days later
- SA Drivers Licence - 4 years cost approx $180
- Found a tax accountant that I will use come next July
- (In my 2nd week) Updated my banks with my TFN
I have to say that I'm very glad I opened 2 bank accounts, as my employer is struggling to credit my "main" account with my salary as they couldnt find the BSB number on their system (not a problem at my end) and as i had another account they credited it to that one for the time being.
It was a mad first week, but nothing majorly went wrong and I have loved it ever since.
Nat