Guidance, not advice. General information for arriving tradies — tax, insurance and migration rules change and depend on your visa. Confirm with the ATO, your insurer, and (for visa conditions) a MARA-registered agent and the Department of Home Affairs. Figures are indicative 2025-26.
A boots-on-the-ground checklist for your first two months. The order matters — some of these gate the others.
Week 1 — get the legal-to-work basics
- Tax File Number (TFN). Apply online through the ATO's form for foreign-passport holders (free; you need your passport, visa and an Australian address). It can take up to ~28 days. You can start work meanwhile, but without a TFN your employer must withhold at the higher "no-TFN" rate.
- Employee vs subbie (ABN). As an employee you need no ABN — your employer withholds PAYG and pays your super. As a self-employed subbie you need an ABN (free, via the Australian Business Register — avoid paid "ABN services"), and you register for GST once turnover hits ~$75k (see ABN & Contractor Status and Going Sole Trader). But check your visa first — see the work-condition warning below.
- Australian bank account. Major banks offer "new to Australia" accounts; you generally need your passport, visa, an Australian address and mobile, and an in-branch ID check within about 20 days.
- Super fund. Employees nominate a fund (or get the default/stapled one); the self-employed open one and contribute voluntarily (see Super Guarantee).
- Medicare / OVHC. Whether you get Medicare depends on your visa and any reciprocal health-care agreement. Many temporary visas require Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) as a condition — check your visa grant for a health-insurance condition, and enrol in Medicare if you are eligible.
Week 1-2 — White Card
- Overseas cards do not count. You must complete the Australian unit CPCCWHS1001 through an approved RTO to get a White Card (see White Card & Site Induction). Delivery is face-to-face, or online theory plus a live video assessment; indicative cost is ~$40-150 depending on the state. You get a Statement of Training immediately (valid for a limited window) and the physical card within weeks.
Week 1-2 — insurance from day one
- Employees are usually covered by the employer's workers' compensation and company-level public liability — but your own tools, vehicle, off-site accidents and income protection are not, unless the contract says so.
- Self-employed subbies need three core covers: public liability (often a site requirement — ask the main contractor whether they want $5M, $10M or $20M), tools and equipment, and personal accident / income protection if family depend on your income (see Public Liability Insurance and Tools & Income Protection). Get 2-3 "tradie package" quotes.
Weeks 2-4 — finding the first work
- Labour-hire and recruitment firms supply tradies to big sites — they want your TFN (or ABN), White Card, trade tickets, PPE and bank/super details (see Labour-Hire Licensing).
- Subbie networks and platforms (local Facebook groups, marketplaces) — once you have an ABN and insurance you can invoice builders directly; most want your public liability and White Card before you set foot on site.
- 🔴 Visa work-condition limits. This catches people out. On an employer-sponsored 482/SID visa you may generally only work for your sponsoring employer in the nominated occupation, you must start with them within 90 days, you must not stop work for more than 60 consecutive days, and you generally cannot freelance or run a separate contracting business on the side even with an ABN. Flexible visas (partner/PR) let you work for anyone, subject to state licensing. Check your exact conditions — see Working-Holiday & Employer Sponsorship.
Tax and super wrinkles for new arrivals
- Tax residency. The ATO has its own residency tests that do not always match your immigration status (how long you are here, where you usually live, your intentions). A tax resident gets the tax-free threshold and progressive rates; a non-resident is taxed from the first dollar at higher rates with no threshold (see Income Tax for Sole Traders).
- PAYG / BAS / records. Employees still lodge an annual return and claim deductions (tools, PPE, some travel). The self-employed keep income and expense records, set aside income tax (and GST if registered), and lodge a BAS (see BAS Explained).
- DASP. If you are on a temporary visa and permanently leave Australia, you can claim most of your accumulated super as a lump sum through the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment — but only once the temporary visa has ceased and you are outside Australia (tax is withheld at set rates).
The one-page checklist
Confirm visa work rights and health-insurance conditions → apply for a TFN → decide employee vs subbie (and ABN/GST if subbie) → open a bank account and do the in-branch ID → choose a super fund → complete the CPCCWHS1001 White Card → arrange insurance (PL + tools + income protection if subbie) → register with labour-hire → build local networks where your visa allows → check your ATO tax-residency category → if temporary and likely to leave, read the current DASP rules.
Common mistakes
- Doing subbie/ABN work that your 482 visa does not allow.
- Starting work assuming an overseas induction card counts (it does not).
- No public liability cover when a builder demands it before letting you on site.
- Assuming you are a non-resident (or resident) for tax without checking the ATO tests.
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