How Do I Open a Bank Account in Australia After Arriving in 2026?

How to open an Australian bank account after arriving in 2026: the six-week passport window, later ID rules, and why pay goes to a bank.

Published: 10 July 2026 Reading time 12 min

Open your account within six weeks of arriving and your passport is the only identification document you will need. Wait longer and you will need at least two identification documents, one of which must show a photograph or a signature — a driver's licence is the example the Department of Home Affairs gives on its Managing your finances page, as at the July 2026 version of that page. The reason to treat this as an arrival-week task rather than a later one is simple: government benefit schemes and nearly all jobs in Australia deposit money straight into a bank account rather than paying cash or issuing cheques.

Why does the account have to come before almost everything else?

Spending in Australia is flexible. Nearly all businesses accept a mix of payment methods — cash, cheques, debit and credit cards, and electronic funds transfer — so how you pay for groceries or a phone plan is rarely the constraint.

Getting paid is a different matter. Wages from nearly all jobs and payments from government benefit schemes go directly into a bank account. An arrival who has no account has nowhere for that money to land, which is why the account sits upstream of the first payslip rather than alongside it.

How long do I have before my passport stops being enough?

Six weeks from arrival. Inside that window, your passport is the only identification document required to open an account.

Assume someone arrives on 1 June and applies on 10 July: that is inside the six-week window, and a passport alone should satisfy the identification requirement. Assume the same arrival applies on 20 July: the window has closed, and at least two identification documents are now needed, with one of them showing a photograph or a signature.

The official page does not say that opening an account is impossible after six weeks — only that the identification requirement becomes heavier. The practical cost of delay is assembling documents you may not yet hold in Australia.

What documents do I actually need?

When you apply	Identification required
Within six weeks of arrival	Passport only
More than six weeks after arrival	At least two documents; one must show a photograph or signature, such as a driver's licence

Separately from the bank's requirements, the Australian Tax Office asks for your passport details and an Australian address when you register for a tax file number online. Having an Australian address settled before you start both tasks removes a common point of friction.

Which institution should I choose, and how do I know it is legitimate?

Australia has four "big banks" as well as a range of locally and foreign owned banks, building societies and credit unions. The official page does not rank them, and neither does this article.

To confirm that an institution is authorised to take deposits, check the list of authorised deposit-taking institutions maintained by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). That list is a status check, not a recommendation.

Beyond that, read the terms and conditions before you commit: many institutions charge operating fees, and accounts differ in what they actually do. This article is general information only and is not personalised financial or legal advice — for your own circumstances, rely on the institution's current terms and the latest official guidance, or get professional advice.

What about credit cards, savings accounts and loans?

Banking institutions offer services beyond a basic transaction account, including credit cards, savings accounts and money loans. Used responsibly, these can help you afford expensive items, and the official page is explicit that you must stay aware of your responsibilities when you take them on.

Before signing up for credit, the official guidance is to read all terms and conditions, consider your financial position, and consult the MoneySmart borrowing and credit material. MoneySmart also publishes some resources in several community languages. Comparing institutions against your current circumstances is the recommended step, rather than accepting the first account offered.

How does an account connect to my tax file number?

Do I need a tax file number?

Yes, shortly after arriving. A tax file number (TFN) is a unique number issued to individuals or organisations for identification and record-keeping, and it is necessary to claim government benefits, receive income from an employer, and be eligible for a tertiary education loan, among other things.

The fastest route is online registration with the Australian Tax Office, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using your passport details and an Australian address. Paper forms are available from the ATO Publication Ordering Service or by phoning the tax file number helpline on 13 28 61. You should receive your TFN by mail within 28 days from the day the ATO receives your application.

Give your TFN to an employer when you start a new job, and be careful who else receives it: only certain organisations can legally request it.

Do I have to lodge a tax return?

If you earn income while living in Australia, yes. A tax return declares your income for the financial year and determines whether you have paid the required amount of tax. You need a TFN to lodge, and employers provide a summary of payments called a Group Certificate.

Returns can be lodged online, by mail, or through a tax agent. Online lodgment is free and requires a myGov account. Unless you use a registered tax agent, the return must reach the ATO by 31 October each year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open an Australian bank account with only my passport?

Yes, if you apply within six weeks of arriving in Australia — your passport is the only identification document needed in that window. After six weeks you need at least two documents, one showing a photograph or signature.

What happens if I wait longer than six weeks?

You will need at least two identification documents, and one of them must show a photograph or a signature, such as a driver's licence. Opening an account is still possible; the identification step just becomes heavier.

Can I be paid in cash if I don't have an account?

Not in practice. Government benefit schemes and nearly all jobs deposit money straight into a bank account rather than paying cash or issuing cheques, so an account is effectively a precondition for being paid.

How do I check whether a bank or credit union is legitimate?

Use the list of authorised deposit-taking institutions published by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). It covers all deposit-taking institutions authorised in Australia.

Do all accounts charge the same fees?

No. Many institutions charge operating fees, and different accounts have different functions, so the official guidance is to read the terms and conditions and compare institutions before choosing.

How long does a tax file number take to arrive?

You should receive your TFN by mail within 28 days from the day the Australian Tax Office receives your application. Online registration is the fastest way to apply.

Who can legally ask for my tax file number?

Your employer, when you start a new job, is the main one. Only certain organisations can legally request a TFN, so the official advice is to be careful about who you give it to.