Before you arrive in Australia: Pre-departure checklist

Your trip to Australia is coming? Then it’s time to check out some important information before your departure.
Perhaps you’re not sure what is allowed to bring to the country? Maybe your documents checklist is a bit incomplete? Don’t worry! We have put together essential items that can’t be missed in your luggage and some other valuable tips before arriving in Australia, check them out and have a great flight!

1. Packing your luggage

Clothing

Organizing your luggage can be a bit overwhelming. Checking the weather in the city you are going to stay is a great starting point to choose your clothes.
Students usually wear casual comfy clothes and shoes, but it’s important to take a couple of formal items for job interviews or events. Although Australia is known for the stunning beaches and sunny vibes, there are cities where winter can be stronger, so consider to not only pack your swimmers but also jackets and hoodies.

Items not allowed or allowed with limits in Australia

The Australian border is very serious and strict about the entry of products in the country.
It is not allowed to bring perishable foods such as fruits, vegetables and meats; weapons in general, including those for self-defence; items made of wood, leather and skin; steroids and drugs.

Items allowed with limits:

• Medications are permitted accompanied by a medical prescription in the passenger’s name translated into English and in quantities not exceeding three months;
• 2.25 litres duty free alcohol (including Brazilian cachaca, Peruvian/ Chilean pisco or Argentinian fernet) and
  50 units of cigarettes, both only for people over 18 years old;
• Typical food from other countries: quantities of 10 kg (solids), 10 liters (liquid), 2 kg (dry/ powder) or 2 liters (concentrated liquid) are permitted. E.g. 2 kgs pack of mate herb, coffee or tapioca. You can find the complete list of what is permitted or not here.

It is important to always declare what you take to the country. In case you declare items that are banned (excluding illegal or criminal items), the airport agents will discard them. However, if you have not declared them, a fine that varies from AUS $360 to AUS $66.000 will have to be paid straight away.

Hand luggage

You are allowed to bring extra hand baggage with you on the aeroplane, not exceeding 7 kilos. However, be aware of the rules:

• Liquids: it is allowed to take a maximum of 1 litre divided into 100 ml packs. The containers must have a maximum capacity of 100 ml, never more than that even if it is not full.
• Money: it is permitted to carry any amount of money. Amounts above AUD $10,000 must be declared.
• Sharp objects: tools and other items with sharp edges are not permitted.

Be careful with the weight of your checked luggage! The limits vary between airline companies, the country you are flying from and the fare you bought. Usually is permitted from 1 to 2 items of luggage of 23 kilos each. Make sure to check that info before packing to not have problems later on in the airport.

2. Documents checklist

Now that your luggage is ready to go, it’s time to pick all the documents needed to arrive safe and sound in Australia and enter the country without any problem.

• Passport: original and valid, which means not more than 6 months of the expiry date.
• Australian Visa: we recommend you to print your visa (student, work & holiday, tourist) and take it with you. As soon as you get to the airport in Australia, you will have to pass through the immigration sector, where they will ask for it to enter the country.
• Yellow fever vaccination: if you have come from or have recently visited yellow fever infected country, you will need to provide a yellow fever vaccination. Here you can find the complete information provided by the Australian Health Department.
• CoE (Confirmation of Enrollment): if you are going to Australia to study, you will receive the CoE from the school you are applying to study. It is an official document issued to international students that confirms you have accepted a place in a course and have paid your tuition fees and health insurance. Again, it can be required by immigration agents at the moment you arrive in Australia, so it’s important to have it with you.
• Address of your Accommodation in Australia: another requirement from the Immigration sector to permit you entering in the country is the address where you are going to stay. Make sure to bring that info with you.
• Credit card: we recommend you to take some cash with you when travelling, it can save you when you least expect. But remember to exchange it to the local currency and bring it on a safe spot close to your body.
  However, if you don’t want to take cash, make sure that your credit card is unlocked for international transactions. Another option is to have a Travel money card, a specially designed debit card that you load up with foreign currency prior to travelling.
• Flight tickets: last but not least, don’t forget your flight tickets, it can be printed or saved electronically on your phone to make the check-in process faster. Checking-in online is incredibly easy and can be done 24 hours before your flight takes off, plus you can avoid unnecessary queues and save a lot of time.

3. Arriving in Australia

Ok, so your luggage and documents are all good and you just arrived in Australia. What comes next?
As already mentioned, when you get to any city in Australia, you will have to pass through the Immigration session as you come from another country. The immigration agents will ask you for your passport, visa and other documents to allow your entry in Australia.
Once you have passed this process, you will be able to take all your luggage and leave the airport.

Transport

From now on, your life just started in Australia. Yay! The first step is how can you go to your homestay/accommodation from the airport?

• Public transport: every city in Australia has its own public transport system, it’s good to get informed before going to Australia and know how to proceed when you arrive there. The public transport passes are Opal Card (Sydney), Myki (Melbourne) and Translink (Brisbane and Gold Coast), so it is recommendable to acquire one and go to your new place. You can check the average prices of public transport per city here. Puravida Study students in Sydney will receive AUD $20 Opal Card, SIM cards with AUD $30 credit, a welcome bag kit, and free pick up from the airport (in Sydney). If you would like these services, please get in touch with us.
• Transfer: there are some companies that provide transfer services from the airport to your address. Usually, you can book it online giving your name, date and flight arrival time.
• Taxi or Uber: normally both have their own pick-up points in the airports. Stay alert for signs in airports or go to an information centre to discover.

Once you are on the streets and need to locate yourself or find information about public transport, there are great apps that will help you out a lot! Find out a list of Useful Apps to download before you arrive in Australia.

We hope that now you are more prepared to go to Australia and land in peace on one of the best countries to live in nowadays!
Puravida Study supports you in the whole process of making it come true: visa advice and application, schools and course selection, tips about the cities and surf trips!

We are located in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney:
Level 1, 23 Belgrave Street
Manly, 2095, NSW

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@puravidastudy.com.au .

We see you in Australia, mate!