If you're in Australia on a visa that lets you work, you apply online at ato.gov.au/tfn with your passport and an Australian address. The system checks your visa automatically, and the letter with your TFN arrives by mail within 28 days. It's always free — be wary of anyone who charges to "arrange it" for you.
Yes. You can start working right away and have 28 days from your start date to give your employer the TFN. If you don't provide it within that window, they'll withhold tax at the highest rate.
No. Your TFN is yours for life: it stays the same even if you change visas, employers, or leave Australia and come back years later.
Only your employer (once you've started the job), the ATO, your super fund, and your bank. Never put it on a job application, and never give it to anyone who calls claiming to be "from the ATO" asking for your TFN or a payment — that's always a scam.
General information, not personalised migration advice. Always verify on the official Australian government websites. · Updated: Agosto 2026