Life After Landing: Settling in Australia from China

First week essentials

Your first few days set the pace for everything that follows. Four tasks sit at the top of your list.

Tax File Number. Apply for a TFN through the Australian Taxation Office as soon as you arrive. Without one, your employer withholds tax at the highest rate. Processing takes 10 to 28 business days, so don't wait.

Bank account. Open an account within your first six weeks. During this window, your passport alone verifies your identity. After six weeks, you need the full 100-point ID check — difficult without an Australian licence or utility bills. The four major banks are Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ, and NAB. Link your TFN once it arrives to avoid withholding tax on interest. At current rates (roughly 4.8 CNY per AUD), an AUD 2,000 rental bond is about 9,600 CNY.

Mobile phone. Pick up a prepaid SIM from Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone at the airport. You need an Australian number for bank verification, health insurance, and job applications. Bring an unlocked phone — it will work on Australian networks.

Health insurance. This is the most urgent task. China does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. You cannot access Medicare on a temporary visa. Arrange Overseas Health Cover (OVHC) or Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) before you arrive. Many visa subclasses make this a condition — your visa can be cancelled if cover lapses. Budget AUD 1,200 to 2,500 per year for a single person.

Healthcare: no Medicare reciprocal agreement

The Services Australia reciprocal healthcare page lists countries with agreements. China is not on the list.

Temporary visa holders need private health insurance. OVHC covers GP visits, hospital treatment, and some specialist care. Compare policies carefully — cheaper plans often exclude dental, optical, and physiotherapy.

Permanent visa holders can enrol in Medicare. Visit a Services Australia centre with your passport, visa grant letter, and proof of address. Medicare covers bulk-billed GP visits, public hospital treatment, and subsidised prescriptions under the PBS.

What OVHC typically covers: GP visits, hospital treatment as a private patient, emergency ambulance, and some specialist consultations.

What it does not cover: dental, optical, physiotherapy, and pre-existing conditions (waiting periods apply).

In suburbs with large Chinese communities, you can find GPs who consult in Mandarin or Cantonese. Being able to describe symptoms in your first language makes a real difference.

Housing and suburbs: where Chinese migrants settle

Three cities have the strongest Chinese community infrastructure in Australia.

### Sydney

Chatswood on the North Shore is Sydney's main Chinese community hub. Chinese supermarkets, restaurants, clinics with Mandarin-speaking staff, and weekend language schools line the main streets. A two-bedroom apartment runs AUD 600 to 800 per week (roughly 2,900 to 3,850 CNY). Budget for four weeks' bond plus two weeks' rent in advance.

Hurstville in Sydney's south has a well-established Cantonese community. Rents are lower than Chatswood. Burwood, Eastwood, and Rhodes also have strong Chinese communities.

### Melbourne

Box Hill is Melbourne's Chinese community centre. Box Hill Central has Asian supermarkets, bubble tea shops, Chinese bookstores, and clinics with bilingual staff. A two-bedroom apartment costs AUD 450 to 600 per week.

Glen Waverley attracts Chinese families drawn by its strong public schools. Clayton, near Monash University, has a younger community of students and recent graduates.

### Brisbane

Sunnybank is Brisbane's Chinese community hub. Sunnybank Plaza and Market Square have dozens of Chinese restaurants, groceries, and services. Three-bedroom houses rent for AUD 500 to 650 per week. Brisbane's lower cost of living makes it attractive for families.

For a full cost breakdown by city, see our cost of moving to Australia from China guide.

Banking and payments

You need an Australian bank account for rent, bills, salary, and government payments. Chinese banking apps do not replace this.

WeChat Pay and Alipay. Some retailers accept these, especially in Chatswood, Box Hill, and Sunnybank. But they are not accepted for rent, utilities, or government services. Treat them as a convenience, not your primary payment method.

Transferring money. Chinese citizens face an annual USD 50,000 equivalent limit on overseas transfers. Plan ahead and compare rates — your Australian bank's rate is rarely the best option.

Working in Australia

Workplace culture. Australian workplaces are flatter than most Chinese corporate environments. First names are standard from day one, including with managers. The biggest adjustment is directness — Australian colleagues expect you to speak up in meetings, ask questions, and flag problems early. Staying quiet is often read as disengagement, not respect.

Superannuation. Your employer must pay 12% of your ordinary earnings into a super fund from day one. This is on top of your salary. You can choose your own fund or use your employer's default. If you leave Australia permanently, you may be able to claim your super as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment.

Skills assessment. Many skilled occupations require assessment before you can work in that field. Our guide on what a skills assessment involves explains the process.

Driving: right to left

China drives on the right. Australia drives on the left. Steering wheel position is on the opposite side. Roundabouts flow clockwise instead of anticlockwise. Right turns cross oncoming traffic.

Most states allow driving on a valid Chinese licence for a limited period, typically three months. You need a NAATI-certified English translation. After that, you must pass a knowledge test and a practical driving test in most states. A few lessons with a local instructor before the test helps with the adjustment.

Public transport varies by city. Most cities use a tap-on, tap-off card — Opal in Sydney, Myki in Melbourne, go card in Brisbane.

Schools and education: gaokao to ATAR

Australian schools run on a calendar year (late January to mid-December) in four terms. This differs from China's September-to-July academic year.

There is no gaokao. Year 12 students sit state-based exams and receive an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) for university entry. Assessment is continuous, not concentrated in a single exam. Competition for top universities is still real, but the system spreads the pressure across the year.

Government schools are free for permanent residents. Temporary visa holders may pay AUD 5,000 to 15,000 per year. Uniforms are standard. Many Chinese families in suburbs like Glen Waverley and Chatswood choose homes based on school catchment zones.

For international students on 485 visas, the pathway from study to work has its own considerations.

Chinese community and social life

WeChat groups. This is the primary community connector for Chinese migrants. Suburb-specific groups cover rental listings, restaurant reviews, school recommendations, and second-hand furniture. Ask at Chinese supermarkets or community centres for QR codes to join local groups. Many real estate agents and service providers in Chinese-heavy suburbs run WeChat accounts.

Community associations. Chinese community associations in every capital city organise cultural events, language classes, and support services. Regional associations (Cantonese, Fujianese, Shanghainese) are active in Sydney and Melbourne.

Chinese New Year. Sydney's Lunar New Year festival is one of the largest outside Asia, centred on Chinatown. Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth hold public celebrations. Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival are also marked in most cities.

Sport and recreation. Badminton and table tennis clubs are popular meeting points. Joining a club connects you to regular social activity outside work.

Food and daily life

Chinese supermarkets stock familiar ingredients — soy sauces, cooking wines, fresh tofu, and Chinese vegetables. Woolworths and Coles carry a growing range of Asian products, but for anything specific, Chinese grocers are the answer.

Eating out costs more than China. A bowl of noodles at a casual restaurant runs AUD 16 to 22 (roughly 77 to 106 CNY). Cooking at home is significantly cheaper. Tap water is safe to drink across Australian cities.

Cultural adjustment

Time zone. Australia is only 2 to 3 hours ahead of China. Evening calls to family are easy to schedule — one of the smallest time gaps for any migration corridor.

Internet. Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram all work without restriction in Australia. Most Chinese migrants keep WeChat alongside local platforms.

Sun safety. The Australian sun is stronger than most Chinese cities. Sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses are daily essentials. Slip, slop, slap is genuine health advice.

Homesickness typically peaks around three to six months. The short time difference helps. Building a local routine — gym, community group, weekend markets — is the best way through it.

Next steps

Get your TFN, bank account, health insurance, and phone sorted in week one. Join a WeChat community group and start exploring suburbs — it makes the transition faster than you'd expect.

If you're still working through the visa process, our visa options guide for Chinese citizens covers every subclass. For document preparation, see the China document authentication guide. For the business and investor pathway, that guide covers specific requirements.

Need help? Find a MARA-registered migration agent through Migratio, or browse agents who specialise in skilled visas or partner visas. Check your points with our points calculator or estimate costs with the cost calculator. For guidance on choosing the right professional, see how to choose a migration agent.

Related Migratio resources

- Moving to Australia from China — 2026 guide
- Visa options for Chinese citizens moving to Australia
- Cost of moving to Australia from China
- China document authentication for Australian immigration
- Chinese international students — 485 visa pathway
- How to choose a migration agent
- What is a skills assessment?
- Find a skilled visa agent

---

Can Chinese citizens get Medicare in Australia?

China does not have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Chinese citizens on temporary visas must arrange private health insurance. Those granted permanent residency can enrol in Medicare. Some visa subclasses require Overseas Health Cover (OVHC) as a condition.

Can I use WeChat Pay or Alipay in Australia?

Some Australian retailers, especially in areas with large Chinese communities, accept WeChat Pay and Alipay. However, you will need an Australian bank account and local payment methods for most transactions including rent, bills, and government services.

Where are the best Chinese community areas in Australia?

Chatswood and Hurstville in Sydney, Box Hill and Glen Waverley in Melbourne, and Sunnybank in Brisbane have the most established Chinese communities. These suburbs offer Chinese supermarkets, restaurants, medical practitioners who speak Mandarin or Cantonese, and Chinese-language community services.

Can I drive in Australia with a Chinese licence?

Most Australian states allow driving on an overseas licence for a limited period (typically three months). China drives on the right side of the road while Australia drives on the left, so adjustment is needed. You will need to pass a driving test for an Australian licence in most states.

How do I handle the time zone difference with family in China?

Australia is 2 to 3 hours ahead of China depending on the Australian time zone and daylight saving. This is one of the smaller time differences for migrants, making regular video calls with family straightforward compared to many other migration corridors.