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The short answer
Do it in this order: open an Australian bank account (some banks allow this before you arrive), apply for a tax file number in your first week, set up myGov, give your TFN and fund details to your employer, then sort phone, bond and bills in your own name, check your credit file after a few months, and set up how you will send money home.
The first three months set the pattern for years. A bank account opened late delays your salary; a TFN applied for late means more tax withheld; a final bill sent to the wrong address can sit on your credit file for five years. None of this is hard if you do it in the right order.
Before you fly
- Open a bank account early if your bank allows it. Commonwealth Bank says (page updated 23 October 2026) migrants can open an account up to 14 days before arrival or within 12 months after, with an original passport, and must verify identity at a branch within 20 days; until then, no purchases or withdrawals. It does not accept visitor visas 600, 601 or 651. See opening an account as a new arrival.
- Keep Nigerian accounts active that you will still use, and update your contact details with each bank.
- Gather documents: passport, visa grant, degree certificates, licence, recent Nigerian bank statements and tenancy references.
Week 1
- Verify your bank account at a branch so you can use it.
- Apply for a TFN. The ATO says you can apply online if your visa has work rights and is linked to your passport, that no documents are sent, and that the TFN is posted to your Australian address within 28 days. It is free. Do not apply twice within 28 days.
- Get a phone number. A prepaid SIM avoids a credit check; see phone plans without credit history.
- Create a myGov account and link the services you are eligible for. See setting up myGov.
Weeks 2 to 4
- Starting work: give your employer your TFN and bank details. The ATO says without a TFN your employer must withhold more tax.
- Super: nominate a fund or confirm your existing stapled fund. Moneysmart explains stapled funds follow you between jobs. Give the fund your TFN.
- Housing: when you sign a lease, keep the bond confirmation from the state body; see how bonds are lodged.
- Bills in your name: power, internet and phone, set to direct debit so nothing is missed.
Months 2 and 3
- Check your credit file. Moneysmart says you can get a free report every three months. Look for errors and anything you did not open.
- Build a buffer of one to three months' costs before taking on credit.
- Sort health cover to fit your visa: Medicare if eligible, otherwise the cover your visa requires.
- Plan your first tax return: the ATO publishes end-of-financial-year exchange rates at 30 June, the end of the Australian tax year. See lodging your first tax return.
Mistakes we see most often
- Waiting weeks for a TFN to start work, when the application could have gone in on day two.
- Using a relative's Australian address for the TFN letter, then moving and never receiving it.
- Joining a new super fund with every short job, ending the year with three small accounts.
- Leaving the Nigerian SIM linked to bank alerts and losing access after it lapses.
- Sending money home in a rush through whatever route is nearest, without checking the rate against the mid-market rate.
The whole list at a glance
| Task | When | Why it cannot wait |
|---|---|---|
| Bank account | Before arrival or day 1 | Salary, rent and bond need it |
| TFN | Week 1 | Avoid extra tax withheld; needed to lodge online |
| myGov | Week 1 | Tax, Medicare and Centrelink in one place |
| Super fund | First payday | Avoid duplicate accounts |
| Phone plan | Week 1 | Banks and employers need a local number |
| Bond receipt | When you lease | Proof for getting it back |
| Credit report | Month 3 | Catch errors early |
| Sending money home | Before the first request | Avoid rushed, costly transfers |
Sending money home
Requests from home often start in the first month. Set up a route before you need it, and understand the costs: the transfer fee, the exchange rate margin against the mid-market rate, speed and payout method. See sending money from Australia to a Nigerian bank account. On the Nigerian side, if you have not yet got a BVN or need one from abroad, the Nigeria library explains the NRBVN for Nigerians abroad.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Personal account can be opened from Australia and holds naira, US dollars, pounds and euros with local details for each. Money stays in the currency it arrived in, and Swap converts only when you choose; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. See the multicurrency account and sending money.
Questions people ask
What should I do first when I arrive in Australia?
Verify your bank account and apply for a TFN in your first week. Both affect your first pay.
How long does a TFN take to arrive?
The ATO says it is posted to your Australian address within 28 days.
Can I open an Australian bank account before arriving?
Some banks allow it. Commonwealth Bank says up to 14 days before arrival, with a branch ID check within 20 days.
When should I check my credit report in Australia?
After a few months, then regularly. Moneysmart says a free copy is available every three months.
Sources
- Commonwealth Bank: Moving to Australia (updated 23 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- ATO: Foreign passport holders, permanent migrants and temporary visitors TFN application (updated 22 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- ATO: What is a tax file number? (updated 22 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Moneysmart (ASIC): Credit scores and credit reports (updated 9 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Moneysmart (ASIC): How super works (updated 29 Sep 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- ATO: Foreign exchange rates overview (updated 14 Aug 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.