The grant email usually lands at an odd hour. By breakfast the questions have started: which suburb, which school, what happens to the weekly shop once the Carrefour habit ends. We hear this every week in our Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices from families whose Australian visa is granted or close to it. This guide sticks to what official Australian sources say as at September 2026, and it is honest about what those sources do not say.
At a glance
- Australia’s Consumer Price Index rose 3.5% in the 12 months to July 2026, and housing was the largest contributor at +5.0% (Australian Bureau of Statistics).
- Medicare enrolment only happens once you are physically in Australia. Permanent residents and applicants for permanent residency are among those eligible.
- A Tax File Number is free to apply for, needs a work rights visa linked to your passport, and should arrive within 28 days of a complete application.
- School education runs across 13 years in government, non-government and faith-based schools. In New South Wales, your home address sets your local public school.
- In New South Wales, citizens and permanent residents may drive on an overseas licence for 3 months before transferring it. Licence rules are set state by state.
Before the boxes: where you are in the visa process
A quick reality check first. Skilled visa applicants submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect, the Australian Government’s online system, and must be invited before they can apply for a skilled visa. If you are still at that stage, the pages on Australian skilled migration and Australian permanent residence from Dubai cover the pathway, and our Australia points calculator gives you a starting position to discuss with one of our Australia immigration consultants.
Everything below assumes you are past the invitation, or close enough that the shipping quotes have started arriving.
Cost of living: what the official numbers say, and what they do not
We are often asked for a Dubai-versus-Sydney rent table. No official Australian source publishes one, so we do not either. Crowd-sourced indices are not something we will put in front of a family making a decision this large.
What the Australian Bureau of Statistics does publish is the national monthly CPI indicator. The July 2026 release, published on 26 August 2026, is the most recent official measure of how household costs are moving.
| Measure | What the ABS states | Source-dated value |
|---|---|---|
| All groups CPI | Rose 3.5% in the 12 months to July 2026, down from 3.8% in the 12 months to June 2026 | ABS release, 26 August 2026 |
| Housing | Largest contributor to annual inflation | +5.0%, 12 months to July 2026 |
| Food and non-alcoholic beverages | Second-largest contributor | +3.2%, 12 months to July 2026 |
| Recreation and culture | Third-largest contributor | +2.6%, 12 months to July 2026 |
Read the CPI the way you would read a weather map for the whole continent. It tells you the direction and the pressure, not what it feels like on your street. Housing leading the index tells a Dubai family where to concentrate their research before they land. Build your budget from live listings in the suburbs you are actually considering, not from anyone’s idea of a “typical” figure.
Schools: how the Australian system is built
Dubai parents are used to choosing between dozens of private schools by curriculum and fee band. Australia works differently, and understanding the structure saves weeks of confusion.
The 13-year path
| Stage | Years or ages (Study Australia) |
|---|---|
| Pre-school | Ages 3 to 5 |
| Primary | Foundation and Years 1 to 6 |
| Secondary | Years 7 to 10 |
| Senior Secondary | Years 11 to 12, leading to an ATAR score used for university entry |
School types and who funds them
Study Australia, the Australian Government’s official international education site, lists government (public) schools, non-government (private or independent) schools and faith-based schools. The Department of Education explains the funding split: state and territory governments provide most of the public recurrent funding for government schools, while the Commonwealth provides most of the public recurrent funding for non-government schools. The Commonwealth does not own or operate schools directly.
Why this matters to you: enrolment rules live with the state education department, not in Canberra. Each state runs its own system.
The New South Wales example: your address decides
Many NSW Government schools have specific local enrolment areas, and the designated intake areas are set by the NSW Department of Education. Those schools make sure there are enough places for students living inside their area. Your designated local school is not always the geographically closest public school, and the department provides a School Finder tool to identify it from an address. In practice, choosing a rental and choosing a public school are the same decision.
We have not found an official page with current private or independent school fee figures, so we do not quote any. Ask each school directly.
The first weeks: Medicare, tax number, bank, licence
This is the part families underestimate. Several of these steps can only be started once you are standing on Australian soil.
| Item | What the official source states | Source-dated value |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare enrolment | You need to be in Australia to enrol. Eligible groups include Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, people applying for permanent residency and temporary residents covered by a Ministerial Order. | Services Australia, accessed 13 September 2026 |
| Tax File Number (TFN) | Free to apply. Permanent migrants and temporary visitors need a valid work rights visa linked to their passport or travel document. The online Individual Auto-Registration pathway requires you to be in Australia and needs no documents sent. | ATO page updated 22 June 2026 |
| TFN timing | You should receive your TFN within 28 days of a completed application, posted to the Australian postal address you give. | ATO page updated 22 June 2026 |
| Bank accounts | Most people hold more than one account because different account types serve different purposes. Review accounts regularly. | Moneysmart (ASIC) page updated 30 July 2026 |
| Driver licence (NSW only) | Citizens and permanent residents may drive on an overseas licence for 3 months, and must transfer it to a NSW licence at a Service NSW centre within that window. | Service NSW, accessed 13 September 2026 |
Medicare is described by the Australian Government as the country’s universal health care system, so getting the enrolment done early matters. If you are outside Australia when the enrolment is processed, you will need to reapply when you return to live there.
On the driver licence, whether a knowledge or driving test is required depends on the country that issued it. Temporary visa holders without proof of permanent residency use a separate pathway on the same Service NSW page. We have only verified the NSW rule, so check the transport authority for the state you are moving to.
On banking, the Moneysmart page gives general guidance only. We could not find an official page listing the identity documents a new arrival must show, so ask the bank you choose before you fly.
The official settlement hub worth bookmarking
The Department of Home Affairs publishes a “Settle in Australia” hub of key settlement topics written for all new arrivals, including skilled migrants. It links to the National Settlement Framework and to the Building a New Life in Australia research. It is plain, free and official.
From the UAE: what this means for you
Most Dubai families we help have already been through the hard document work: the skills assessment, the police clearances, the reference letters chased from former employers. The lesson from the official pages above is about sequence, not paperwork.
- Two things cannot be done from Dubai. Medicare enrolment requires you to be in Australia, and the online TFN pathway requires you to be located in Australia with a valid work rights visa. Plan these for the first days after landing.
- Travel on the passport your visa is linked to. The ATO pathway for permanent migrants depends on a work rights visa linked to your passport or travel document. Keep that passport current and with you.
- Arrange an Australian postal address before you apply for the TFN. The number is posted to the Australian address on your application, so a short-term rental with a reliable mailbox is a practical step.
- If New South Wales is your destination, book the licence transfer inside 3 months. The clock starts on arrival for citizens and permanent residents.
- Bring your originals. We cannot point you to an official list of what a bank will ask for, so carry the certified file you built for your visa rather than leaving it in storage.
Our Australia hub keeps the pathway pages together in one place for the family member who is still catching up.
Frequently asked questions
Can we enrol in Medicare before we leave Dubai?
No. Services Australia states you need to be in Australia to enrol, and if you are outside Australia when the enrolment is processed you must reapply when you return to live there. Permanent residents and people applying for permanent residency are among the eligible groups.
How long does the Tax File Number take, and what does it cost?
Applying is free. The ATO says you should receive your TFN within 28 days from when it receives your completed application, posted to your Australian address. Permanent migrants need a valid work rights visa linked to their passport first.
Will our children go to the nearest public school?
Not necessarily. In New South Wales, many government schools have local enrolment areas set by the Department of Education, and your designated local school is not always the closest one. Use the department’s School Finder tool. Other states and territories run their own enrolment systems.
What to do next
If your Australian visa is granted or in progress and you want a second pair of eyes on the settlement sequence, start with a free eligibility assessment, call our Dubai office on 04 357 7796, or book a 20-minute review through our contact page. We do not promise outcomes, and no visa or settlement result can be assured by anyone.
Sources
- Department of Home Affairs — SkillSelect — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Department of Home Affairs — Key settlement topics — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Services Australia — Enrolling in Medicare — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Services Australia — About Medicare — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Australian Taxation Office — Apply for a TFN — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Australian Taxation Office — Permanent migrants and temporary visitors TFN application — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Moneysmart (ASIC) — Banking — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Service NSW — Transfer an overseas driver licence — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Study Australia (Austrade) — Schools — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Australian Government Department of Education — How schools are funded — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- NSW Department of Education — Enrolment — accessed 13 Sep 2026
- Australian Bureau of Statistics — Consumer Price Index, Australia (July 2026) — accessed 13 Sep 2026
Not sure which route fits you? Book a free eligibility assessment with our Dubai or Abu Dhabi team. No obligation.
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