Living abroad?Ask it straight.
Visas, health cover, bank accounts, money transfers, tax, renting, phones, driving and work rights — real questions, answered directly, with the official source for every rule.
- Any country
- Sources linked in every answer
- Licensed advisors on request
Nine things everyone sorts out after the move
Pick the part of life abroad you are dealing with. Each topic collects the answers we have checked, and the assistant takes anything that is not there yet.
Conditions, renewals, switching visa, what happens when a course or job ends.
Can I change course without a new visa? Health & visa insuranceOSHC, OVHC and the health cover other countries require on a visa.
Does my OSHC have to cover my whole visa? BankingOpening an account before and after arrival, ID checks, fees.
Can I open a bank account before I arrive? Money transfer & feesPaying tuition from home, exchange-rate margins, sending money back.
What is the cheapest way to pay tuition from overseas? TaxTax residency, tax file numbers, returns and refunds as a newcomer.
Am I a tax resident as a student? HousingRenting without local history, bonds, leases, avoiding rental scams.
How do I rent with no local rental history? Phone & internetSIMs and eSIMs on arrival, prepaid vs contract, ID for a number.
Should I buy an eSIM before I fly? Driving licencesDriving on an overseas licence, translations, converting to a local one.
Can I drive on my home licence? Work rightsWork-hour limits on student visas, pay, payslips and your rights at work.
How many hours can I work on a student visa?Recently answered
- Can My Family Join Me Later? Adding Family Members to an Australian Student Visa After October 2026From 2 October 2026 you can no longer add family members after a Student visa is granted; only limited exemptions allow them to be included in the initial application.
- Feeling Overwhelmed in Australia? Mental Health Helplines International Students Can UseA guide to mental health helplines and support services international students in Australia can use, including Lifeline and Beyond Blue.
- What Is a Rental Bond and How Much Do I Need to Move into a Flat in Australia?A rental bond is a refundable security deposit, not a fee. Compare the bond, rent-in-advance and application-stage caps across NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
- OSHC vs OVHC: Which One Does Your Visa Actually Require?Condition 8501 is what forces the requirement. A per-visa-class table maps student (500), 485, 482/TSS and 600 to OSHC or OVHC, plus why one stay can need both.
- My Australian student visa expires soon — can I stay on a Bridging Visa A while I wait?Yes, if you lodge a valid onshore application while your Student visa is still in force — a Bridging Visa A (subclass 010) lets you stay until the decision and carries your old visa conditions across.
- Am I an Australian tax resident as an international student?Working out whether you are a tax resident in Australia: under ATO guidance an overseas student enrolled in a course longer than six months is generally an Australian resident for tax purposes, which changes both your tax rates and your tax-free threshold.
The first answers are being written and checked against official sources. Meanwhile, ask your own question — the assistant answers now.
Direct answer first, the rule behind it second
Rules for people living abroad change often and differ by country. So every answer says which country it is about, quotes the rule, and links the page that sets it.
In your own words
Type the question the way you would ask a friend who has done it before. Say which country you are in and which visa you hold if you know it.
Yes, no, or “it depends on…”
You get the short answer up front, then the conditions that change it and the official page to check — immigration, tax office, licensing authority or regulator.
Compare, pay, or talk to someone
When the next step is buying cover or sending money, we show comparison options. When it needs a licensed professional, we say so and can arrange one.
Things you may need to buy or pay
Visa health cover, tuition payments and a local data plan are the purchases most people face in their first weeks. Compare before you commit.
The health cover Australian student visas (subclass 500) require — compare major insurers side by side.
Compare OSHC Australia Compare Australian OVHCCover for work, graduate, visitor and dependant visas that carry a health insurance condition.
Compare OVHC Global Pay tuition with FlywireSend tuition through the payment channel many universities nominate, with the rate shown before you pay.
Pay tuition Global eSIM data for arrival dayBuy before you fly and scan the QR code on landing, so bank codes reach you from day one.
See plansGeneral advice warning: insurance information on Intl Chat is general and does not take your objectives, financial situation or needs into account. Read the product disclosure statement and target market determination before you buy, and check that a policy meets your visa's health insurance condition. Partner links: we may receive a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Before you ask
What is Intl Chat?
A question-and-answer site for people who have moved abroad — international students, expats and new migrants. You ask in your own words and get a direct answer about visas, health cover, banking, money transfers, tax, housing, phones, driving or work rights, with the official source for each rule.
Which countries does it cover?
Any country. Each answer names the country it applies to, because the same question — for example how many hours a student may work — has a different answer in Australia, the UK, Canada or Germany.
Is this legal, migration, tax or financial advice?
No. Answers are general information. They do not consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. For decisions about a visa, tax or insurance, check the official source we link and, where it matters, speak to a registered professional.
Can I talk to a person?
Yes. Choose “Talk to an advisor” and leave a way to reach you. Where your question needs a licensed professional — such as a registered migration agent — we will say so and arrange a follow-up, normally within one business day.
How does Intl Chat make money?
Some pages link to partners such as insurance comparison or tuition payment services, and we may receive a commission if you buy through them. It does not change the price you pay. Details are on the disclosure page.