The visa is the hard part. The first two weeks in Australia are mostly administrative, and getting the order right means your first pay lands cleanly and at the correct tax rate. Four things matter in week one: a tax file number, a bank account, a superannuation fund, and knowing your rights at work. None is difficult, and the cost of skipping them is tax withheld at the top rate and a delayed first paycheque.
Start with a tax file number
A tax file number (TFN) is your identifier in the Australian tax and superannuation system, and it is the first thing to sort out. It is free, you apply online through the Australian Taxation Office once you are in the country, and it is yours for life (Australian Taxation Office, accessed 2026-06-14). You need it to be taxed correctly, to lodge a tax return, and to earn bank interest without the top rate withheld. Apply in your first days, not your first month.
Open a bank account
Most Australian employers pay wages into a local bank account, so open one early. Many banks let you open an account online before you arrive and activate it with identification afterwards. Give the bank your TFN once you have it: without it, the bank must withhold tax on any interest at the highest marginal rate (Australian Taxation Office, accessed 2026-06-14). Have your passport and an Australian address or phone number ready for the identity checks.
Superannuation, the money your employer pays
Superannuation, or super, is Australia's compulsory retirement-savings system. Your employer must pay a set percentage of your earnings into a super fund on top of your wage (Australian Taxation Office, accessed 2026-06-14). You choose a fund, or your employer's default applies. Give your fund details to a new employer so contributions do not scatter across multiple accounts. If you later leave Australia on a temporary visa, you can usually claim the balance back through the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment.
Know your workplace rights
Visa holders have the same workplace rights as Australian citizens: minimum award wages, paid breaks, and protection from underpayment. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes pay rates by award and keeps a record of employers that have underpaid staff (Fair Work Ombudsman, accessed 2026-06-14). Check the award rate for your job before you sign on, especially in hospitality, farm work and construction, where underpayment of new arrivals is common.
A first-fortnight order of operations
- Days 1 to 3: apply for your tax file number online with the ATO.
- Days 1 to 5: open an Australian bank account, and add your TFN once it is issued.
- Week 1: choose a super fund, or note your employer's default, and keep the details.
- Week 1: give your TFN, bank and super details to your employer for payroll.
- Before your first shift: check the award pay rate for your role on the Fair Work website.
