Travel and pre-departure checklist (studyaustralia.gov.au)
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. Our Frequently Asked visa questions page has more information about visas.
3. Proof of vaccination – Ensure you retain proof of your vaccination against COVID-19. There are currently eight (8) vaccines for non-Australian citizens overseas that are recognised by the Australian Government. They are Covaxin, BBIBP-Corv Sinovac, Covishield (made by AstraZeneca) and Jannsen. Pfizer, Moderna Spikevax and AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), are also administered inside Australia. International students must travel no earlier than seven days after receiving a completed dosage of a COVID-19 vaccine. For regular updates on vaccine recognition, keep checking our COVID-19 vaccine information page for more details.
4. Flights – International students must travel no earlier than seven (7) days after receiving a completed dosage of a vaccine approved or recognised by the TGA, provide proof of their vaccination status, and present a negative result taken from a recognised test (see Point 6. below), taken within 3 days of departure (unless an exemption applies). 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 PCR test) – You will need to provide evidence of either a negative Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) taken under medical supervision in the 24 hours prior to scheduled departure OR a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or other Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) taken in the 3 days prior to your scheduled departure unless you have evidence that you are exempt from standard pre-departure testing.
7. Digital Passenger Declaration – All passengers arriving by air into Australia should complete the Digital Passenger Declaration. You can start a DPD seven days before your flight to Australia, but you can only submit a DPD within 72 hours before your departure. This is because you must provide your health information and declaration within 72 hours before your flight.
The DPD contains declarations that are considered to be critical health information. You must be able to provide evidence that you made this declaration before boarding the aircraft. If you fail to comply with the requirement, a financial penalty may apply (currently $6,660 AUD). If you do not make the declaration before you board your flight, you may be delayed when arriving in Australia.
See ‘Latest travel advice‘ for more details or visit the Digital Passenger Declaration page on the Home Affairs website.
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 your education or travel agent 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. If you have used education agent services, keep their contact details on your phone 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. See our page ‘After your arrival’ for more information on accessing funds and opening a bank account.
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
For more on what you can (and can’t) bring into Australia, see our web page ‘What can I bring in?‘.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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. Find out what you need to know about working in Australia as an international student.
16. 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. The community, locations of our cities and all there is to see and do – alongside your studies – will set you up for an experience like no other.
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.
Welcome to our community, we are glad you can join us.