Just moved in here in AU from PH last month, and yes no other documents needed at PH immigration, just boarding pass, passport, departure card. And visa grant/VEVO to prove your visa type.
EricTC:
My visa was granted Nov 2021, so it took me 7 months to prepare. The pandemic hit finances hard so I needed quite a bit longer to save up. And I didn’t want to risk traveling in the midst of the Covid surge... and at that time, Au was still requiring 14 days quarantine upon arrival at your expense. Also I was giving myself time to mentally and psychologically prepare to leave my comfort zone and venture into the unknown as had no friends or relatives there. And to really ponder if this is really what I wanted and reevaluate my life choices and direction.
Upon receiving my visa grant, I made a checklist and a timeline for things to do before leaving and what to bring.
Finding a job in AU is quite challenging honestly. I tried applying while I was still in PH but they don’t seem to be interested while you are offshore. Once in Au, you have to compete against a lot of applicants and naturally those with local experience and local education have the edge. The interview though is really the clincher. Take the time to research on the job and the company, and really showcase your knowledge and skills. It would be helpful to have enrolled in or completed even at least a certificate-level course in the field you are interested in to show you have some level of local education and that you have a background of how it is in the local setting. When you apply, it is usually an employment agency you are in contact with and it may take a few days for your application to be decided on by the actual employer. It is also helpful if you already have the basic paperwork needed for employment, like national police check, working with children check (if applicable), etc.
Looking for accommodations is also quite hard. Because there is currently a housing crisis here, renting is very competitive with few rentals available and high demand. Thus rent is expensive. It’s like applying for a job, literally. Before renting a place, you need to visit it and talk to the landlord personally. It’s like a job interview for the landlord to evaluate you and you to inspect the premises, it’s a legal requirement. You have to prove that you’d be a good renter when you ask to rent the place, one flat I wanted to get into asked me for employment certificate, bank account statements and referrals from previous landlords! Sharehouses are usually the way to go, with 2 or 3 other flatmates. You’ll have a room for yourself, but usually with a shared toilet. Check out Flatmates.com, Gumtree and FB Marketplace. Shop around, look at a few places before deciding on one. Get one at the city center or near your workplace if possible. The rent may be a little more than those at the suburbs but the having less hassle is worth it. After a tiring day at work, commuting for more than an hour is hardly what you’ll need. By the way, when I arrived, I stayed for a week at a hostel and another week an airbnb before I found a flat.
It’s best to bring pocket money good for 2 months’ expenses. Assume that it will take you 2 months to find a job. A rough estimate, in my experience is: Average rent: $250-300/week, average food expense: $100/wk; average transport expense: $20/wk. So about $1,500 a month minimum should be fine.
Prepare for your big move several months in advance, but don’t resign from your job just yet. Buy your ticket and arrange accommodations good for at least two weeks (to allow time to find a flat) at least 3 months before your intended departure. Two months before departure, try to dispose of your car etc. One month before, arrange for SPA’s, call your banks to inform them of your travel, resign and serve notice to your employer. Allow at least a week from last day of work and your travel date for last-minute preparation.
I hope this helps! Good luck on your journey and welcome to Australia!