Departure checklist — 60 days to touchdown in Australia

1. 1

   Lock in your CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment)

   Your Confirmation of Enrolment is the document your visa is built on. Check the course name, start date and provider CRICOS code match your offer exactly — errors here delay everything downstream.

2. 2

   Buy Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

   OSHC is mandatory for the entire visa duration. Compare Bupa, Medibank, Allianz Care and nib — a family or single policy costs roughly A$500–700 per year. Some universities bundle it into fees; confirm before double-paying.

3. 3

   Confirm your visa grant letter in writing

   Download the PDF the moment it arrives, read every condition (especially work-hour and course-progress conditions), and save copies to your email, phone and a USB drive.

4. 4

   Prepare financial evidence properly

   Keep bank statements, education loan sanction letters or sponsor affidavits consistent with what you declared. Do not make large, unexplained deposits close to your visa application — this is a common cause of scrutiny.

5. 5

   Apply for police clearance

   A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) from Bangladesh takes 2–4 weeks. Apply early — many students discover this requirement too late.

6. 6

   Complete any required medical examinations

   Book through a Home Affairs-approved panel physician in Dhaka. Results are submitted electronically — don't assume a regular hospital check-up counts.

1. 1

   Book your flight

   Ask for the student fare with extra baggage. See our flights guide for routing and timing.

2. 2

   Sort your foreign currency and banking

   Bangladesh Bank rules cap the foreign exchange you can carry or endorse against your passport for travel — check the current student quota with your bank, since it is separate from and usually larger than the standard travel allowance, and keep the encashment certificate.

3. 3

   Arrange your first 2–4 weeks of accommodation

   Student accommodation, a homestay, or a short-term Airbnb/hostel booking. Never sign a 12-month lease from Bangladesh sight unseen.

4. 4

   Get prescriptions and a doctor's letter

   Bring up to three months of any regular medicine in original packaging with a signed prescription. Check the Therapeutic Goods Administration rules — some common South Asian medicines are restricted or banned in Australia.

5. 5

   Notify your university of your arrival date

   Many universities run free or discounted airport pickup and orientation for international students who register in advance.

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  Print the document folder

  Passport, visa grant letter, CoE, OSHC certificate, tuition receipts, accommodation booking, academic transcripts, PCC, medical records.

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  Pack for real Australian seasons

  Melbourne and Adelaide get genuinely cold in winter (June–August); Brisbane and Perth summers are hot and dry. Pack layers, not just one climate.

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  Weigh your bags at home

  A ৳500 luggage scale prevents a costly excess-baggage surprise at check-in.

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  Carry A$300–500 in cash

  For transport, a SIM and food before your Australian bank card is active.

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  Set up an eSIM or international roaming

  So you can contact family from the transit airport and arrange an Australian SIM on arrival.

• ✓
  Tell your bank you're travelling

  Prevents your Bangladeshi card being blocked on first use overseas.

Passport with visa grant letter printed, the full document folder, CoE and OSHC certificate, laptop and charger, all medicines with prescriptions, A$300–500 cash, a change of clothes, your accommodation address and phone number written on paper, a universal travel adapter (Australia uses Type I plugs, 230V), and your university's international student office contact number.

1. 1

   Declare everything on the Incoming Passenger Card

   Australia runs one of the strictest biosecurity systems in the world. Declare all food, plant material, seeds, spices, nuts, dairy and meat products, even sealed or commercially packaged items — declaring costs nothing, but an undeclared item found in your bag brings an on-the-spot fine of several hundred dollars and can affect future visas.

2. 2

   Expect your bags to be X-rayed

   Detector dogs and X-ray screening are routine for all international arrivals, not just those who tick 'yes' on the card.

3. 3

   Buy a SIM at the airport

   Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all have arrivals-hall kiosks — get a local number before anything else.

4. 4

   Get to your accommodation, then rest

   Don't try to open a bank account or enrol on day one — jet lag makes every task twice as slow and error-prone.

5. 5

   Day 2–3: bank account, then Tax File Number (TFN)

   Open your Australian bank account first; you'll need the details for payroll once you start working.

6. 6

   Week 1: enrol, get your student ID, register with a GP

   The student ID often unlocks transport concessions in some states, and a registered GP saves a scramble later.