“The plane has landed—now what?” Your first seven days in a new country can feel chaotic, but it’s also when you establish the foundations for your entire stay. This checklist breaks down the critical tasks by day: airport pickup, accommodation, banking, mobile phone, health insurance, tax registration, and university enrolment.
Pre-Departure Checklist (Final Review)
- Passport + visa vignette or eVisa printout (Student Visa 500, Student Visa UK, Ireland Stamp 2)
- Offer letter and/or Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE/CAS) — original and photocopy
- Vaccination records and medical reports (required by some countries at entry)
- First cash deposit: Local currency worth USD 650–1,300 (airport transfers, SIM card, emergency expenses)
- International student ID (ISIC): Optional but useful for transport and attraction discounts
- Basic medications: Cold remedy, pain relief, antidiarrheal, antihistamine (medication is expensive in UK/Australia)
- Two payment cards: One VISA, one Mastercard (protection against loss)
- Digital passport copy: Store in Google Drive and iCloud for emergency access
- Under 18s: Require certified parental consent letter and guardian agreement
Day 0: Arrival and First 6 Hours
1. Immigration and Customs
- Complete arrival card/eVisa registration (Australia SmartGate, Singapore MyICA, UK landing card)
- Declare cash over USD 13,000; declare medications, food, plant matter
- Australia: Strict biosecurity—do not pack any meat, eggs, seeds, or plants
- UK Student Visa: Present CAS, bank statement, and accommodation proof to border officers
2. Mobile Phone SIM (Complete at Airport)
- Australia: Amaysim, Vodafone, Optus, Telstra, Aldi. Student plans (AUD 30–40/month) include unlimited calls + 20GB data
- UK: Giffgaff (best value), EE, Three, O2. Many support pre-order to your accommodation
- New Zealand: Spark, One NZ, Skinny (NZD 30/month adequate for study)
- Singapore: Starhub, Singtel, Circles.Life (5 minutes at airport)
- Ireland: Three, Vodafone, Eir (student rates ~EUR 20/month)
- Malaysia: Hotlink, U Mobile, Celcom (MYR 35/month standard)
3. Airport to Accommodation
- Pre-arrange pickup (UNILINK provides free airport pickup for partner students)
- DIY options: Uber, Bolt, Grab, international Didi
- UK Heathrow: Elizabeth Line is fastest to central London
- Sydney Airport: Uber or airport rail link (quick but premium price)
Day 1–2: Accommodation Handover & University Enrolment
Move-In Inspection
- Photograph the entire space: Furniture condition, carpet stains, wall marks, appliance function — document everything
- Read meter: Note electricity, water, gas meter starting readings
- Report issues immediately to property manager via email (not verbal) — never communicate problems face-to-face only
- Confirm utilities: Ensure WiFi and included bills are active
University Enrolment
- Bring passport, CoE/CAS, and offer letter to International Student Office
- Collect Student ID Card (qualifies for transport discounts)
- Attend Orientation Week (mandatory — covers programmes, systems, regulations, visa obligations)
- Activate university email and review course timetable
UK Specific: BRP/eVisa
- Student Visas issued from 2025 are now digital eVisa (no physical card)
- Log in to your UKVI account within 7–10 days to confirm details
- eVisa appears in your immigration record, valid for employment and studies
Day 2–3: Bank Account Opening
Documents Required (All Countries)
- Passport
- Visa vignette or eVisa printout
- University enrolment letter (some banks require)
- Accommodation proof (tenancy agreement or landlord letter with address)
Australia
- Recommended: Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, Westpac, NAB
- Commonwealth Bank: Pre-open account in China (Migrant Account), activate within 7 days of arrival
- All offer student accounts with no monthly fees
United Kingdom
- Recommended: HSBC Advance, Barclays, Monzo, Starling, Revolut
- Fintech option (Monzo/Starling/Revolut): Open online in 5 minutes — fastest
- Traditional banks (HSBC/Barclays): Book appointment, complete in 2 weeks
New Zealand
- ANZ, ASB, Westpac, BNZ, Kiwibank
- Student accounts are fee-free; some waive international transfer fees
- PayNow system used nationwide for domestic transfers
Ireland
- AIB, Bank of Ireland, Revolut, N26
- Revolut and N26: Open digitally in 10 minutes
- Brick-and-mortar banks: Book appointment, receive card in 1–2 weeks
Singapore
- DBS, OCBC, UOB
- PayNow transfers work across all banks nationally
- DBS My Account offers seamless digital banking
Malaysia
- Maybank, CIMB, Public Bank
- Requires Student Pass + university letter
- DuitNow is the national instant transfer system
Day 3–5: Health Insurance Registration
Australia: OSHC
- Mandatory before arrival (Student Visa 500 requirement)
- Register policy number in your provider’s member portal upon arrival
- Four major providers: Bupa, Medibank, Allianz, NIB
- Related: OSHC Comparison Guide
United Kingdom: NHS
- IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) is paid upfront with visa application (£1,552/year)
- Register with a local GP (General Practitioner) immediately
- Bring passport, eVisa confirmation, and accommodation proof to nearest GP surgery
- Many GPs now allow online registration via NHS App
- Critical: Without a registered GP, you cannot access routine NHS care (only A&E emergency care)
New Zealand
- No free public health cover for international students
- Universities mandate Studentsafe or equivalent insurance (NZD 450–650/year)
- Insurance must be active before you visit a GP (privately funded)
Ireland
- Visa conditions require private health insurance (EUR 400–800/year)
- Registered GPs can offer direct billing through your insurance
- University health centre offers free or discounted care to enrolled students
Singapore
- University health insurance is mandatory (SGD 500–1,000/year, varies by institution)
- Campus health centre provides free or subsidised care
- International student medical plans cover overseas emergencies
Day 5–7: Tax Numbers, Student Benefits & Practical Setup
Tax File Number (Required for Work)
- Australia (TFN): Apply online via ATO, free, arrives by post in 10 days
- UK (NI Number): Apply via Gov.uk, free, processed in 2–4 weeks. You can work with a temporary number
- New Zealand (IRD): Apply online via Inland Revenue, 5–10 days
- Ireland (PPSN): Book appointment via MyWelfare, 2–3 weeks
- Singapore (FIN): Printed on back of Student Pass card
- Malaysia: International students don’t register proactively; employers handle it
Student Transport Concessions
- Australia: Opal Card (NSW) / Myki (VIC) / Go Card (QLD) — request transport concession proof from university
- UK: 16-25 Railcard (£30/year) / Student Oyster Card for London
- New Zealand: AT HOP or Metrocard — student discounts available
- Ireland: Leap Card (Student version) — purchase at university bookshop with student ID
- Singapore: Concession Pass — university applies on your behalf
- Malaysia: My50 monthly ticket (MYR 50) unlimited bus/train travel
Additional Setup
- Apply for International Student ISIC (optional, museum/attraction discounts)
- Join university Facebook student groups and WeChat study groups
- Memorise emergency numbers: Australia 000 / UK 999 / New Zealand 111 / Ireland 112 / Singapore 999 / Malaysia 999
Week One Critical “Do Nots”
- ❌ Avoid airport money changers — use ATM or official currency exchange
- ❌ Don’t skip accommodation handover photos — missing evidence makes deposit recovery difficult
- ❌ Never hand over passport/CoE to unofficial agents or “brokers”
- ❌ Don’t assume you don’t need GP registration (UK) or OSHC (Australia) — both are legal requirements
- ❌ Avoid credit cards and phone payment plans in your first week — build credit history first
- ❌ Visa monitoring: Australia Student Visa 500 Condition 8202 requires 80%+ attendance and satisfactory progress each term — do not skip classes
UNILINK’s Free Arrival Support
UNILINK provides complimentary arrival assistance to all partner students:
- Free airport pickup (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, London, Manchester, Dublin, Auckland, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur)
- Day-one orientation: Supermarket, pharmacy, bank, university location introduction
- Bank & health insurance support: Staff can accompany you to sign up (selected cities)
- 24/7 emergency contact: Text, WhatsApp, or WeChat for visa, accommodation, health, or other urgent issues
Contact details:
- Intake form: https://www.mikecrm.com/5vaeLFm
- WhatsApp / WeChat: https://work.weixin.qq.com/kfid/kfc2f00cd8853037019
Last updated: March 2026