Checklist for moving to Australia from Asia 2026: visa, housing, jobs and legal requirements step by step

If you're planning to move to Australia from Asia in 2026 or 2027, this checklist for moving to Australia from Asia 2026 (visa, housing, jobs) will help you organise every step: from legal requirements and visas to housing, employment, healthcare and cultural adaptation. Australia is a popular destination for Asian professionals and students, but deadlines, costs and requirements can vary depending on your country of origin (e.g., India, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia or South Korea). This list is designed so you don’t miss any details, with concrete actions and real deadlines for 2026-2027.

What this checklist includes

This guide covers: 1) Legal requirements and visas (subclass 189, 190, 491, student or temporary work visas), with official links and processing times for 2026; 2) Housing search (renting, buying or temporary accommodation), with recommended areas for Asian expats and average costs in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane; 3) Employment (how to validate your qualifications, job search platforms and high-demand sectors); 4) Healthcare (mandatory health insurance, vaccinations and how to register for Medicare if eligible); 5) Cultural adaptation (key differences in work hours, public transport and social life). Each task is designed to be imported directly into Foco, where you can assign dates, priorities and reminders based on your personal timeline.

In Foco, use Panorama mode to see all your relocation tasks (visas, housing, jobs) in one place, each with its own colour. If you want to focus only on legal requirements, switch to Foco mode and filter by that project. Use the Kanban view to move tasks between columns like 'To research', 'In progress' and 'Completed', or the Calendar view to see key deadlines (e.g., embassy appointment or lease start date). With voice capture, you can dictate tasks like 'Call the Australian embassy in Tokyo to book a subclass 189 visa appointment on 15 August', and Foco will automatically detect the date and priority. If you have Plus, use Ráfaga to dictate multiple tasks at once (e.g., 'Find rental agencies in Melbourne, compare flight prices for October, and book a health centre appointment to register for Medicare').

• Check the official Australian Department of Home Affairs website (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) to determine which visa applies to your profile (e.g., skilled visa 189, 190, 491, student or temporary work visa) and review the updated requirements for 2026 (points, age, English proficiency, occupation on the SOL or MLTSSL list)
• Calculate your points using Australia’s official points system (SkillSelect) and confirm if you meet the minimum required (65 points for skilled visas)
• Prepare visa documents: passport with at least 6 months validity, apostilled police clearance certificate, medical exam results (panel 501 or 502 depending on the visa), English test results (IELTS, PTE or TOEFL with minimum scores per visa), and skills assessment for your profession (e.g., Engineers Australia, VETASSESS, or the relevant assessing authority)
• Book an appointment at the Australian embassy or consulate in your country (e.g., New Delhi, Manila, Tokyo or Jakarta) to submit your visa application or send documents by certified mail (check if your country requires in-person appointments or accepts online submissions)
• Pay the visa application fee on the ImmiAccount website (costs vary by visa type; e.g., AUD 4,640 for subclass 189 in 2026) and save the payment receipt
• If applying for a student visa, choose a CRICOS-registered educational institution in Australia, pay the tuition fee (or at least the deposit) and obtain the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) to attach to your visa application
• If applying for a temporary work visa (e.g., subclass 482), secure a job offer from a sponsoring employer in Australia and have them initiate the nomination process (the employer must be approved by the Department of Home Affairs)
• Arrange temporary accommodation for the first 1-2 months (e.g., Airbnb, hostels or expat residences in cities like Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane) and compare prices on platforms like Flatmates.com.au or Domain.com.au
• Research areas to rent or buy based on your budget and needs (e.g., for families: Parramatta in Sydney or Box Hill in Melbourne; for young professionals: Surry Hills or Fitzroy; for students: near universities like UNSW or Monash)
• Contact local rental agencies (e.g., Ray White, LJ Hooker or First National) or use platforms like realestate.com.au to find properties, and prepare the required documents for renting (passport, visa, employer or previous landlord references, and proof of income or savings)
• Open an Australian bank account before arrival (banks like Commonwealth Bank, ANZ or Westpac allow online account opening for new migrants with an approved visa) and transfer funds to cover initial expenses (it’s recommended to have at least AUD 5,000-10,000 for the first few months)
• Validate your professional qualifications in Australia if your occupation requires it (e.g., doctors, engineers, accountants or teachers must register with bodies like AHPRA, Engineers Australia or CPA Australia)
• Search for jobs on platforms like Seek.com.au, LinkedIn Australia or Indeed Australia, and adapt your CV to the Australian format (maximum 2 pages, no photo, verifiable references and keywords from the job posting)
• Register for Medicare if your visa grants access (e.g., permanent visas or some temporary visas like the 491) to obtain basic healthcare coverage, or purchase private health insurance (e.g., Bupa, Medibank or Allianz) if you don’t qualify for Medicare
• Schedule medical appointments for required vaccinations (e.g., yellow fever if coming from a risk country) and a general check-up at a local health centre (GP) upon arrival, and bring your medical records translated into English
• Get an Australian phone number (SIM from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone) and register for a Tax File Number (TFN) on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website to work legally
• Learn about the public transport system in your city (e.g., Opal card in Sydney, Myki in Melbourne or Go card in Brisbane) and download apps like Google Maps or Citymapper for navigation
• Research local customs to adapt: work hours (typically 9 AM to 5 PM), coffee culture (socialising in cafés is common), and community norms (e.g., proper recycling, respecting quiet hours in residential areas)
• Join Asian expat groups on Facebook (e.g., 'Indians in Sydney', 'Filipinos in Melbourne') or Meetup to network and get advice from people who have already gone through the relocation process
• Check the weather in your destination city and buy appropriate clothing (e.g., Melbourne has variable weather; Brisbane is hot year-round; Sydney has mild but humid winters)