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Before you depart

It’s an exciting time when you make 番茄社区big decision to study abroad. To make your move even easier, we’ve put together all 番茄社区information and advice you need to be fully prepared for your journey to Perth.

Planning your trip to Perth

There鈥檚 a lot to consider when you travel and we want to make yours as easy as possible.

From information on what to expect from life in Perth to our helpful pre-departure checklist, you鈥檒l find everything you need to make your journey safe and stress-free.

To help you settle in straight away, start searching for your perfect student accommodation and learn about 番茄社区unbeatable Perth lifestyle.

Check out important Visa Information and read some Student Stories or watch our videos to hear what other students love about life in Perth.

Plan your arrival

Perth’s Timezone

Did you know WA shares 番茄社区same time zone as many Asian countries? You can relax knowing you won't need to wake up family and friends in 番茄社区middle of 番茄社区night to talk to them!聽

Countries with 番茄社区same timezone include Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and 番茄社区Philippines.

Image courtesy of

Weather and Climate in Perth

Wondering what clothes you need to pack for your time in Perth?

With its Mediterranean climate, Perth's warm weather and clean air allow you to enjoy a year-round outdoor lifestyle and take advantage of its natural beauty.聽

As 番茄社区sunniest capital city in Australia, you can expect clear blue skies an incredible 70% of 番茄社区year!

Learn more

Pre-Departure Checklist

Have you received your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your Western Australian education provider of choice and confirmation of your student visa?聽

To make your journey as easy as possible, we鈥檝e put together a helpful pre-departure checklist with 番茄社区must-have items you need to travel. They include:

  • Student visa 鈥� must be valid

  • Passport 鈥� must be valid for at least 6 months before your arrival in Perth

  • Other forms of identification 鈥� such as your driver鈥檚 license and birth certificate

  • A copy of your OSHC policy 鈥� as all international students require OSHC

  • Offer letter and Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) 鈥� and other relevant academic documents

To make your travels smoother, we recommend bringing:

  • Your flight itinerary 鈥� to keep on hand for your convenience

  • Emergency contact details 鈥� save 番茄社区contacts of your embassy, accommodation, education provider, education agent (if applicable), friends and family in Australia

  • Australian currency 鈥� for expenses before setting up a bank account and cardless payment

  • Medical records and prescriptions 鈥� if applicable

It鈥檚 also a good idea to look out for Pre-Departure Information Sessions run by your institutions. For dates and information on upcoming sessions, contact your institution.

Learn more

Did you know there are strict biosecurity laws in Australia?

For a clear list of what you can and cannot bring into Australia, check out 番茄社区Australian Government's website.

Things to consider before moving to Perth

As a student visa holder, you can bring your children under 18 years old to Perth. You must have declared them in your initial visa application.

Any school-aged children of international students must attend a public or private school while residing in Western Australia. School begins in Kindergarten when your child turns 4 years old by 30 June in 番茄社区year of enrolment 鈥� while compulsory schooling starts in Pre-primary and finishes in Year 12.

Your visa class will determine school enrolment conditions, 番茄社区application process and tuition fees. For more information, please refer to 番茄社区.

For example, Masters or Doctoral degree students holding a 500, 573 and 574 visa are not required to pay mainstream tuition fees for their children/dependants. These will be paid by scholarship or 番茄社区government.聽

On 番茄社区other hand, children of all other international students on a 500, 570, 572 or 573 Visa must be enrolled as full-fee-paying overseas students for 番茄社区duration of 番茄社区visa.

Perth's Primary and Secondary Schools

International students studying in Australia and their dependents (such as spouses and children under 18) must obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

This would have been arranged when you organised your visa.

Only a handful of registered health insurers offer OSHC, these include:

Healthcare services covered by OSHC

OSHC providers allow you to claim 100 per cent of 番茄社区government-set fee for a standard medical consultation.

OSHC covers:

  • Doctor's visits
  • Stay in a public hospital
  • Ambulance services (when hospital admission is necessary)
  • Some prescription medicines

OSHC does not cover:

  • Dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy

To cover these additional services, we strongly recommend that you take out additional private health insurance.

Learn more about health and safety

Wondering what accommodation suits you best?

With a wide range of accommodation types available to international students in Perth, you can find affordable, convenient and comfortable accommodation in 番茄社区suburb of your choice.

If you are a secondary school student, you must live in a homestay with an Australian family or in 番茄社区school鈥檚 boarding facilities.

If you are aged 18 years or older, you can choose to live on-campus, in a homestay or in a shared rental house/apartment with other students or friends. You may even choose to stay at one of Perth's newest dedicated student accommodation providers: Campus Perth, The Boulevard (managed by The Student Housing Company) or The Switch.

If you are considering renting, you may like to refer to this tenant鈥檚 guide which explains your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

Here are some key factors to consider when selecting accommodation:

  • What area are you planning to live in?
  • What's your weekly budget for accommodation?
  • How close is it to your institution?
  • How close is it to public transport and what will 番茄社区travel cost be?
  • What amenities are nearby? (e.g. shops, hospitals, police stations, parks)
  • Is there adequate heating and cooling?
  • Is it noisy?
  • Is 番茄社区area safe and is 番茄社区building secure?
  • What will 番茄社区insurance costs be?
  • Does everything work? (e.g. smoke alarms, appliances, light switches)

Learn more about student accommodation

With one of 番茄社区best-performing economies in 番茄社区world and one of 番茄社区lowest unemployment rates in Australia, Western Australia offers a wide range of exciting employment opportunities. And, with 番茄社区Western Australian Government鈥檚 skilled migration pathway initiative, those opportunities just got even greater.

With 194 new occupations recently added to 番茄社区Graduate Occupation List, international student visa holders studying and working in Western Australia now have 331 occupations to choose from.

If you are an international student graduating in WA, also allows you to apply for permanent residence.聽

For more information or advice on immigration, get in touch with one of 番茄社区following migration agencies that are also StudyPerth members:

Helpful links

Plan your arrival
Find 番茄社区support and resources you need for a safe and stress-free arrival in your new city.
Learn more
When you arrive
From getting around to making friends, discover 番茄社区simple tips to settle into Perth successfully.
Learn more
Airport Welcome service
Our dedicated Airport Greeters are here to make you feel welcome as soon as you land.
Learn more
Student Visas and Migration
Everything you need to take advantage of WA’s diverse employment opportunities.
Learn more

What’s happening

Keep up to date with everything happening in Perth with 番茄社区latest news, events and stories. 

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22nd April 2025
Anzac Day - History, Traditions, and Facts
Anzac Day falls on 番茄社区25th of April every year - learn about this national day.
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14th April 2025
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