1. Travel and other essential documents

While we have embassies and consulates here, it may be difficult to replace your travel, medical and identification documents after moving to Australia for university, so make sure to bring these items and extra printed copies with you:

• Visa
• Proof of your overseas student health cover
• Passport
• Your ANU offer letter and Confirmation of Enrolment letter (CoE)
• Original copies of educational transcripts
• A certified copy of your birth certificate
• A recent bank statement
• Your driving license and other official forms of identification
• Prescriptions for medicines you need
• Vaccination and medical records.

Bringing your family along with you? Make sure you also pack your spouse and children’s:

• Birth certificates
• Passports
• Vaccination records
• Education records.

We recommend you get English translations of important documents before moving to Australia for university.

You can find more information about student visas from the Australian government and about mandatory overseas student health cover from ANU.

Will you be enrolling your child in school? The Australian Capital Territory's Education website has more information about schooling an international student in Canberra.

2. Hand luggage essentials

It's a good idea to keep your travel documents and another form of identification, such as your driver’s license, in your hand luggage and a change of clothes. Plus, pack some toiletries if you need to freshen up while travelling.

Also, bring a power adapter, your laptop and a copy of your offer and Confirmation of Enrolment letters. Make sure you also have your Canberra accommodation address written down so you can access it quickly. Keep any prescription medicines you need in your hand luggage as well.

Bring a pen onto the plane with you—Australian border control requires you to fill out an incoming passenger card in pen before you can disembark. Make sure you don’t bring any fresh fruit or vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy, live plants or seeds into Australia. If you do, they'll be confiscated and destroyed under biosecurity laws and harsh penalties apply.

For more information on what you can and can’t bring into Australia and what you must declare when you arrive in the country, visit the Smart Traveller website.

3. Things to furnish your room

If you will be living in ANU student accommodation, your room will have a bed, wardrobe, desk and chair. Still, you might like to bring some beautiful things from home that will make settling in easier, like a bedspread, cushion covers, and family photos.

Your student accommodation will likely be close to the city centre, so don't worry if you can't fit everything into your bags. There are shops in Canberra where you can get whatever you need.

While you might like to bring bed and bath linen, such as towels, sheets and a blanket, you can also buy these items in a pack from your residence.

4. Clothes – and other essentials

Canberra can get quite cold in the winter and hot in the summer, so having a good selection of clothes is a must. You want to be sure you have something to keep you comfortable no matter the season.

Bring some light, casual clothing to get you through summer, but remember warm tops and a warm winter jacket. You might even want to bring cold weather accessories like gloves and scarves—especially if you're used to a hotter climate. You can also buy whatever you may need after you arrive.

You might want to pack a few cooking ingredients if they're not well known outside your local area, but make sure first that bringing these into Australia is okay. You don’t want to break any of our customs and quarantine laws accidentally.

Good news! The tap water in Canberra is crystal clear and safe to drink, so you don’t need to bring bottled water. Save space in your bags for clothing and other items that are important to you.

5. Money

Make sure you bring some Australian currency with you. We recommend you come with AUD $500 in cash and AUD $3,000 in a bank account that you can easily access in Australia. These funds will cover you for set-up costs, including transport, basic household items and food.

While money exchange points are available at Australian airports and Canberra, having Australian currency in your pocket and a bank account before leaving your home country will make your arrival easier.

Free airport collection service

We can collect you from Canberra Airport (30 minutes from ANU) during Orientation Week and take you to your accommodation. Register for this service after you have accepted your offer.

So, get ready for your next adventure!

We’re thrilled that you’re moving to Australia for university! You'll be fine if you have your documents to enter the country. Everything you need for uni can be purchased here, and our international support services at ANU can help you find anything missing and settle in.

Shopping malls, op shops, and Facebook Marketplace offer huge discounts on clothes, furniture and household items. So, if you don’t have the space in your suitcase to bring your favourite jacket or a set of pants, that’s okay. Once you’re in Canberra, you’ll be able to find something you like just as much.

If you want to do a last-minute check and make sure you have everything, consult our moving-in checklist.