When you first come to live in Melbourne. It is very necessary to get a Melbourne phone card and bank card immediately.
Phone Card in Melbourne
There are three telecommunication companies in Melbourne, Telstra/Optus/Vodafone. Each telecommunication company has different telephone packages to choose from. And each package has different costs, contract periods, traffic volume, long-distance charges, top-up methods, etc. You can choose according to your needs.
The features of the three telecommunications companies are as follows:
Telstra: Australia’s largest telecommunications company; most popular among international students.
It has the widest 4G network coverage and the fastest data transmission speed.
A wide range of packages, but more expensive (especially international roaming charges);
Optus: Australia’s second-largest telecommunications company. Packages are more flexible (phone only; data only; both); international roaming charges are cheaper than Telstra. 4G network coverage is not as extensive as Telstra and is not suitable for remote areas in Australia.
Vodafone: Australia’s third largest telecoms company. Cheaper phone and data rates, with many student discounts. 4G network coverage and signal stability are not as good as Telstra and Optus.
There are three types of phone cards available:
Prepaid (rechargeable phone card): first pay before use of the phone card, equivalent to temporary phone cards, buy this kind of needs to recharge online or in the business hall before use. But also can be deactivated or replaced at any time, leave without having to apply for downtime procedures, suitable for travelling or short-term use.
SIM only (contract phone card): there are two kinds of contract and no contract, which is a contract generally signs a package for 12 months or 24 months, fixed monthly payments, the contract period can not be changed. No contract is usually more expensive but can be changed at any time. When you leave Australia, you need to go through the cancellation procedure.
Phone plan (contract phone card): sign a contract with a telecoms company to purchase a phone for a period of 12 or 24 months, with a monthly deduction for the subscription fee (which is basically similar to SIM only) and the purchase price of the phone. You need to be at least 18 years old to apply for a contract phone, and the application process is cumbersome, requiring passports, student IDs, and bank statements.
The following is the process of applying for a phone card for international students
Temporary Phone Card Application Process
As an international student who is not sure which operator’s phone card to use, you can use a top-up temporary card first. You can purchase Temporary cards directly at the airport, supermarkets, convenience stores, etc. after getting off the plane. After purchasing the card, give your passport to the clerk and ask him/her to activate it for you.
Sign-up phone card processing procedures
There are three operators’ counters right from Melbourne Airport, and there are also various operators’ shops in the city. International students can bring their documents (passport, visa, coe, etc.) and go to the operators’ outlets, choose the package suitable for them according to their needs, and apply for the contracted phone card or contracted machine.
Bank Card in Melbourne
Before applying for a bank card to open an account, international students need to understand the relevant policies of major banks in Melbourne, service fees, the scope of use of the card, withdrawal limits, etc, in order to choose the right bank for them.
Below are the two banks most used by international students in Melbourne, recommended to you:
Commonwealth Bank
Commonwealth Bank (Commonwealth Bank) has free student accounts, exclusive credit card services for students, many branches and ATMs, easy to withdraw and deposit money, supports Apple Pay, equipped with a very useful APP, which is very popular among students.
ANZ Bank
ANZ Bank (Australia and New Zealand Bank) has annual fee-free student accounts for international students (students provide student cards), and supports Apple Pay.
The process of applying for a bank card for international students in Melbourne is relatively simple. The steps to apply for a bank card at a bank branch are as follows:
Step 1. Prepare Materials
The required documents include a passport, student card, COE and Offer.
Step 2: Go to the bank branch to open an account
Bank branches are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, some of them are open on Saturday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and are closed on public holidays.
When you arrive at the bank during the opening hours, tell the staff that you are an international student and need to open an account, and then fill out a card opening form under the guidance of the staff to complete the account opening. Generally, you need to open two accounts, one is a daily transaction account and the other is a savings account. The daily transaction account is mainly used for daily payments. The savings account has interest and is suitable for storing money that has not been used for a while. During the card opening period, the staff will teach you to download the bank’s APP and teach you how to use it.
Step 3. Receive your card
The card will be sent to you by post within 7 working days. Once you get the card, activate it to open Netbank and bind Apple Pay.
FAQ
You can purchase a mobile phone from various retail outlets, online stores, or directly from service providers. You have the option to buy a prepaid phone or sign up for a postpaid plan.
Usually, you’ll need a form of photo identification such as a passport or driver’s license. If you’re signing up for a postpaid plan, you may also need to provide proof of address and income.
Several service providers operate in Melbourne, including Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. They offer a range of plans to suit different usage patterns and budgets.
Yes, many banks in Melbourne allow non-residents to open an account. However, the process and requirements may vary, so it’s advisable to check with the bank first.
You’ll need identification documents such as a passport or driver’s license. For a credit card, you may also need to provide proof of income and employment.
