What to Do After Arriving in Australia as a Nepali Student: Complete 2027 Guide

After months of selecting a university, preparing paperwork, getting your Confirmation of Enrolment and making preparations for your journey, it's a thrilling time when you arrive in Australia.

But this is just the start of your student's journey in Australia.

In your first few days and weeks, you will need to complete various tasks, such as settling in, completing university enrolment, getting an Australian phone number, opening a bank account, understanding your visa conditions and preparing for your daily life as a student.

If you are still preparing for your journey, our guide on how to apply to Australian universities from Nepal explains the earlier stages of the process.

This is a guide to the essentials that a Nepali student should do once they arrive in Australia in 2027.

Once you have landed, you will typically proceed through immigration, collect your bags and complete the required customs and biosecurity procedures.

Always carry important documents in your hand luggage, such as:

Be sure to have a place of accommodation in mind.

Border officers may ask questions about your travel or circumstances. Answer any questions accurately and keep important travel and study information accessible.

Australia has strict biosecurity regulations.

This is especially important if you are coming from Nepal and bringing food, spices, dried products, medicines or traditional items.

Items that may need to be declared, inspected or disposed of include certain foods, seeds, plant products, animal products, herbal products and wooden items.

The Australian Border Force explains which food items must be declared when entering Australia .

After completing airport procedures, go to your confirmed accommodation.

Your accommodation may include:

Before travelling, know the exact address, check-in time, accommodation contact, transport route from the airport and how you will access the property.

Avoid arriving without a confirmed place to stay.

Upon arrival at your accommodation, carefully check the property, including your bedroom, furniture, kitchen appliances, bathroom, heating or cooling, doors, locks and internet connection.

Take photos of any existing damage. If you are renting privately, keep copies of your rental agreement, bond information, rent receipts, property condition report and landlord or agent contact information.

Rental and bond requirements vary between Australian states and territories, so check the official tenancy authority where you live.

This is an important step that students can easily overlook.

Study Australia's first-week guide for international students also explains this requirement.

Make sure your university or college has your current residential address, Australian phone number, email address and emergency contact details. Keep your details updated if you later move.

One of your first priorities should be completing your university's enrolment process.

Your institution may ask you to provide or confirm your passport, CoE, visa information, Australian address, contact details, academic documents and tuition information.

Once enrolment is complete, you may receive access to your student ID card, university email, learning management system, library, campus facilities, class timetable and student support services.

Orientation is particularly useful for students who are new to Australia.

During orientation, universities commonly explain campus facilities, academic expectations, class registration, student services, library access, career services, health and wellbeing support, clubs and societies, international student support, academic integrity and emergency procedures.

Having an Australian mobile number will make daily life much easier. You may need it for university communication, bank verification, job applications, accommodation, deliveries, medical appointments and government services.

You pay for a set amount of calls, messages and data in advance.

You pay regularly for a set phone package.

Compare data allowance, coverage, price, contract length and international-call options before choosing a plan.

Opening a local bank account can make it easier to receive wages, pay rent and bills, shop, receive refunds and manage everyday expenses.

Bank requirements vary, but international students may typically need documents such as a passport, Confirmation of Enrolment and Australian address.

Study Australia explains that a Tax File Number is not required simply to open a bank account, although providing one can be important for Australian tax purposes.

If you plan to work in Australia, you should apply for a Tax File Number (TFN). A TFN is your personal reference number in Australia's tax and superannuation systems.

Eligible temporary visitors and overseas students with appropriate work rights can apply after arriving in Australia, and applying for a TFN is free. The Australian Taxation Office explains the TFN application process for foreign passport holders and temporary visitors .

Keep your TFN private. Do not casually share it with friends, accommodation providers, random recruiters or people on social media.

Receiving your visa does not mean you can forget about its conditions after arriving in Australia. Review your visa grant information and understand your obligations.

Check the latest requirements through the official Student visa subclass 500 information .

Many Nepali students look for part-time work after settling into their studies in Australia.

Students may find opportunities in hospitality, retail, restaurants, cafés, supermarkets, customer service, warehouses, university jobs and administrative work.

Part-time work can provide useful experience and additional income, but your studies should remain your main priority.

Do not rely on part-time work to cover all of your living expenses. Finding suitable employment can take time, and work availability is not guaranteed.

International students are protected by Australian workplace laws. Visa holders have workplace entitlements and protections, including rules relating to minimum pay, payslips, workplace conditions, breaks and unlawful deductions.

If you work while studying, read the Fair Work Ombudsman's information about workplace rights for international students .

Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is an important part of preparing for your studies in Australia.

Once you arrive, make sure you know your insurer, policy number, how to make a claim, where to find healthcare providers, what your policy covers and which expenses may not be covered.

Most Student visa holders are required to maintain adequate health insurance, usually OSHC, subject to applicable exemptions and visa conditions. You can learn more from the Australian Government's OSHC information .

Find out where your nearest General Practitioner, pharmacy, hospital and university health service are located.

For non-emergency health concerns, students will often seek advice from a GP or appropriate healthcare provider first.

Public transport systems vary across Australian states and cities and may include buses, trains, trams and ferries.

Find out which transport card or payment system your city uses, whether student concessions apply to you, your route to university, last service times and how much regular travel will cost.

Before your first class, practise travelling from your accommodation to campus so you know how much time to allow.

Create a realistic budget for rent, groceries, transport, phone, internet, utilities, study costs, personal expenses, entertainment and emergency savings.

Do not rely on part-time work to cover all of your expenses.

If you are still preparing financially, our guide to the cost of studying in Australia from Nepal and scholarships for Nepali students can help you estimate the broader cost of your study journey.

To control your grocery expenses, compare supermarkets, look for weekly specials, cook at home, buy suitable products in larger quantities, share household items with flatmates and avoid relying heavily on food delivery.

Nepali and South Asian grocery stores may also be useful for ingredients you regularly use at home.

Keep secure electronic and, where useful, hard-copy records of your passport, visa grant, CoE, university offer, OSHC information, rental agreement, academic documents, bank information, TFN information and emergency contacts.

Keep important original documents in a secure place at your accommodation and carry them only when necessary.

International students can be targeted by scams because they may be unfamiliar with Australian systems.

Verify organisations through their official contact details rather than using contact information contained in a suspicious message.

Australia's international education system provides protections for overseas students.

The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework sets standards for providers and provides protections for international students.

The Tuition Protection Service can also assist eligible international students in certain circumstances when their education provider defaults.

Starting life in a new country can be distracting, but your university studies should remain your main focus.

Attend required classes, submit assignments on time, read university emails, understand academic-integrity rules, check your timetable, ask questions when you are confused, use university support services and monitor important deadlines.

Academic integrity is taken seriously at Australian universities.

Students should understand rules relating to plagiarism, referencing, collaboration, contract cheating, use of AI tools and exam conduct.

Guidelines for AI tools may vary depending on the course or assessment. Check your university and lecturer's guidance before using AI in academic work.

Joining university clubs can help you make friends, improve communication skills, build professional networks, meet people from different cultures, participate in events and gain leadership experience.

Consider joining both Nepali student groups and other university clubs so you can stay connected with your community while also participating in Australia's multicultural student environment.

Moving from Nepal to Australia can involve major changes in culture, food, weather, teaching style, transport, work environment, independence and communication.

It is normal for the first few weeks to feel unfamiliar. Build a routine around sleep, classes, cooking, exercise, study, work and social activities.

Use your university's student-support or wellbeing services if you need assistance adjusting.

During your first week, try to complete the most important tasks:

You do not need to complete every task on your first day.

Useful items can include your student ID, passport if specifically required for registration, phone, laptop or tablet, charger, notebook, water bottle, university timetable and campus map.

You usually will not need to carry all of your immigration documents every day once enrolment is complete. Keep important originals in a secure place.

You do not need to start searching for work the moment you land.

Give yourself time to complete enrolment, understand your timetable, learn your area and settle into your accommodation.

Once you understand how much free time you realistically have, you can begin applying for suitable jobs.

Your study schedule should determine your work availability—not the other way around.

The first few weeks after arriving in Australia can be busy, but completing the important tasks in the right order makes settling in much easier.

Start by safely reaching your accommodation, updating your education provider, completing university enrolment and learning how your campus works.

Then organise practical necessities such as your Australian phone number, bank account, Tax File Number, health insurance access, transportation and budget.

If you plan to work, understand both your Student visa work restrictions and Australian workplace rights before accepting a job.

If you are still earlier in the process, read our guide to Australia Student visa requirements for Nepali students before preparing for your departure.

Planning to study in Australia from Nepal? Raffles Educare can support you from university and course selection through applications, scholarships, Student visa preparation and pre-departure guidance.