How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

Hi there,

In this site http://www.stayz.com.au/ I found a few 1-bed flats to rent close to Perth city centre that would be ideal for us. To get the best rate ($80 per night) we are planning to rent one for 4 weeks. That would give us plenty of time to explore Perth and find the ideal place to rent permanently instead of rushing into the first we can find.

And as many probably do, the first things I want to do in Oz is to get an australian driving license, buy a car, register for medicare etc. As you need a proof of address to do most of those things, would a temporary address be acceptable? Or do you need a long-term lease for that?

Thanks!
Luis

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

A temporary address is fine. You just change it when you move on.

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

Hi Lesley

Thanks for the reply! I am still a bit confused though...

I found this in the WA Tranport Dept website http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/y..._and_residency


I also found this in the Medicare website http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/...orm_011005.pdf


For the driving license it is not clear whether a short term rental agreement would be acceptable or not, but it seems that for Medicare it would not...

Do you think that despite of that we will be able to register with them?

Thanks
Luis

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

A short term address is an address. It is your address in Australia, so use it for things like opening bank accounts, driving licence, medicare, etc. As has been said, change it once you have a permanent address.

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

Temporary address is definitely fine. We used it for TFN, Medicare, driver's licence, library (and probably a few others I've forgotten).

You do want to get your driver's licence asap, because there are so many places wanting to see photo ID and driver's licence is perfect.

It is very easy to change them all over to a new address: For TFN there is a form (or you can phone them if you don't mind hanging on in a queue); Medicare you just phone the no on the back of the card; in WA you can change driver's licence address online; for our library you phone them.

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

I'd actually suggest NOT getting the driving licence swapped over till you get your more permanent address. Your passport will work fine for photo ID and you have three months to get the driving licence sorted.

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

Why's that? We were planning to do that.

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

Hi Garry,

Maybe that is the case in other states, but in WA you have three months from the date you are granted the visa (not from you arrive there) to change your license... at least that is what they say in their website:

http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/licensing/yourlicence/1363.asp

I am also interested to know why you think that.

Thanks!
Luis

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

I'm curious too. A driver's license is great ID. It's government issue and has your address on it.

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

In QLD you have to pay to change the address on the licence but I can't find how much it is, not enough to worry about I wouldn't have thought.

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

I didn't :confused: Just changed it online for free and they sent me a new sticker to put on the back of the licence. :)

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

:confused: OK, thought I'd seen it on their site. Happy to be proved wrong :D

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

That's good to know. :thumbup:

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

Hi I live in Australia and have a bit of experience with this as all of mine was gotten while in a temporary address that I was living in for less than a month - I was in the process of moving to another temporary address - (be wary of cowboy landlords - even the "big boys" so to speak are shocking out here), and had no problems sorting out things like medicare, driving license, buying a car - In most cases it is sorted out on the spot - I think the medicare they post to you though, I did mine six years ago so can't remember, but DL and and buying a car are all done on the spot

Wish Britain was that easy

Re: How good is a temporary address as a proof of address?
 

Why would you want to carry your passport around everyday??? Driver's licence is credit-card sized and much more convenient, because it also has your address on it as well.

And - at least here in WA - you can change the address online. It's free and only takes a couple of minutes. They then send you the new address sticker in the post :thumbsup:.