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Opening A Bank Account In Australia

Here's how you can open a bank account in Australia, even before arriving in the country.

Is it possible to open a bank account before arriving in Australia?

Yes - if you're moving or travelling to Australia then you can get your account(s) opened and deposit funds, but you'll need to show up with your passport in person before you can withdraw any money (including making any electronic payments).

We've partnered with the Commonwealth Bank in Australia to make it simple to open a bank account in Australia. Here's what to do and what to expect:

1. Complete the simple form below.
2. Someone from the Commonwealth Bank will contact you to help you set up the right account(s) for you, usually within 24 hours (please allow for the time difference between Australia and where you live, and expect it to take longer if you complete the form over the weekend or on a public holiday).
3. Once your application is complete, your account should be opened within 48 hours. When your account is opened, you can use it to deposit funds but you cannot withdraw any funds until you have presented ID at a branch after your arrival in Australia.

Open an Account

To open an account(s) with Commonwealth Bank, simply complete the following form and someone from the bank will contact you to complete the account opening process. You can do this right now - you don't have to be in Australia.

Your information is sent only to the Commonwealth Bank - it is not stored by us or made available to anyone else. We value your privacy as much as our own.

Your full name

Contact phone number

Start with your country code, e.g. +64 for New Zealand.

Email address

Date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

This is required for ID purposes.

Approximate arrival date

City you are moving to

Note: If you open an account with CBA using this form we may receive a small commission that helps us provide this free resource. Thanks for your support!

Great! Your details have been sent to a Commonwealth Bank account manager and they will be in touch soon (usually within 24 hours).

Read more about moving to Australia in the full How To Move To Australia Guide, or check out our discussion forum to find more help with planning your move.

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