Evantaa Institute Editorial Team | Living in Australia | 10 August 2026 | 6 min read
If you landed in Melbourne or Brisbane in the last few weeks, you’ve probably already worked out that getting to class on time depends on sorting out one thing early: how you’re going to pay for public transport. Do it right in week one and you save money every single day after that. Get it wrong, and you can end up paying full price for weeks without realising a cheaper option was sitting right there.
There’s also something genuinely new to know about if you’re heading to Melbourne. As of 26 July 2026, Victoria finished rolling out tap-and-go contactless payment across its entire public transport network — trains, trams and now buses too. That changes what “getting set up” actually looks like, and this checklist walks you through exactly what to do, city by city.
Information checked on: 10 August 2026. Fares, passes and eligibility rules can change, so always confirm current details with Transport Victoria, TransLink, or Evantaa Institute’s Student Services team before relying on this guide for a big decision.
What’s New in Melbourne: Tap and Go Is Now Complete
Victoria has been trialling contactless “tap and go” payment on trains and trams since March 2026. On 16 July 2026, the government announced the final piece — buses — with a progressive rollout from 19 July across regional centres including Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Traralgon, reaching full coverage across all Melbourne bus routes by Sunday 26 July 2026. Over 2.3 million tap-and-go trips had already been recorded during the trial.
Here’s what that means practically:
- You can now tap on and off using a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card, your phone (Apple Pay or Google Wallet) or a smartwatch, on trains, trams and buses right across the network.
- Tap-and-go fares are identical to standard myki fares, including the half-price fare period currently running until 1 January 2027.
- Tap and go is full-fare only. If you’re eligible for a concession myki or the International Student Travel Pass, you should keep using that card, not a bank card, or you’ll pay more than you need to.
That last point catches people out, so it’s worth building into your first-week plan rather than discovering it after a few weeks of overpaying.
Melbourne: Your First-Week Checklist
- Work out which category you fall into. Domestic students studying full-time at university, TAFE, VCE, VCAL or a Victorian Pathways Certificate are eligible for a Concession myki (50% off every fare). Eligible international undergraduate students access their discount through the International Student Travel Pass (ISTP) instead — a separate period pass, not a top-up card. Postgraduate and part-time students generally don’t qualify for either.
- If you’re eligible for the ISTP, apply immediately. This is the step most new arrivals leave too late. You’ll need an application code from your institution, then register at internationalstudent.ptv.vic.gov.au with a current postal address and photo ID. Passes are sold in 90, 180 and 365-day options and typically take around three weeks to arrive by post, so apply in your first few days, not your first few weeks.
- If you’re eligible for a Concession myki, get your Transport Victoria student ID sorted first. You’ll need an approved school/student ID (a small fee of around $9 applies if a new one has to be issued) before you can buy a $3 Concession myki.
- While you wait, get moving with a full-fare myki or tap and go. Buy a physical myki ($6) from a 7-Eleven, staffed station or the PTV app, or simply tap on with a bank card or phone if you don’t yet have your concession pass — you’ll still get the current half-price discount either way, just not the extra concession or ISTP rate until your pass arrives.
- Download the PTV app for real-time departures, journey planning and service alerts.
- Learn the Free Tram Zone boundaries if you’re near the CBD — trams that stay entirely within the zone are free, no tap needed either way.
Brisbane: Your First-Week Checklist
Brisbane’s setup is genuinely simpler, and it’s worth knowing that up front so you don’t spend time applying for something you don’t actually need.
Since February 2025, Queensland has run a flat 50-cent fare on every TransLink trip, regardless of distance, and this applies automatically to everyone — domestic, international, concession-eligible or not — no matter how you pay. A go card, a contactless debit or credit card, and a paper ticket all cost exactly the same 50 cents. There is no application process required just to access this rate.
- Decide how you want to pay. You don’t need a go card at all to get the 50-cent fare — tapping a contactless bank card or phone works the same way. If you’d prefer a dedicated transport card, a standard go card costs a refundable $10 deposit (adult) or $5 (concession/child) and is available at over 680 retail locations, TransLink’s website, or by phone on 13 12 30.
- Top up before you travel if you’ve chosen a go card — online, by phone, at a retailer, or by setting up auto top-up (which reloads automatically once your balance drops below $5).
- Only apply for a green concession go card if you specifically need one for another purpose — for example, some institutions or venues recognise it as proof of student status beyond transport. Since the fare itself is already 50 cents for everyone, this step is optional, not something you need to rush.
- Download the TransLink app for journey planning and live departures.
- Always tap on and tap off, even though the fare is flat — fare inspectors do check, and an untapped trip can result in a fine regardless of the low cost.
Side-by-Side: Melbourne vs Brisbane in Week One
| Melbourne | Brisbane | |
|---|---|---|
| Need to apply for anything? | Yes, for the concession or ISTP rate | No — the 50c fare is automatic |
| Fastest way to start travelling today | Tap bank card/phone, or buy a $6 myki | Tap bank card/phone, or buy a go card |
| Cheapest long-term option | Concession myki or ISTP | Already at the lowest rate |
| Processing time for a discount pass | Up to ~3 weeks (ISTP) | Not applicable |
| Current fare period | Half price until 1 Jan 2027 | Permanent flat 50-cent fare |
Common First-Week Mistakes to Avoid
- Tapping a bank card when you’re eligible for a concession fare. In Melbourne, tap and go only ever charges full fare — always use your Concession myki or ISTP once it arrives.
- Waiting too long to start an ISTP application. A three-week wait feels a lot longer once you’re already paying full fare every day.
- Assuming Brisbane requires a concession application to get a discount. It doesn’t anymore — the flat 50-cent fare already applies.
- Forgetting to tap off. In both cities, an incomplete tap can mean a higher default fare, or a fine in Queensland.
- Losing track of top-ups. Set a reminder to check your balance in your first week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use tap and go in Melbourne if I’m an international student?
Yes, but only at the full fare rate. If you’re eligible for the International Student Travel Pass, use that instead to access your discount.
Do I need a go card to get Brisbane’s 50-cent fare?
No. The flat fare applies whether you tap a go card, a contactless bank card or phone, or use a paper ticket.
How long does the International Student Travel Pass take to arrive?
Typically around three weeks from when you register, so apply as early as possible.
Is Melbourne’s half-price fare period permanent?
No, it’s currently scheduled to run until 1 January 2027.
What if my institution isn’t registered for the ISTP?
You can still travel on a standard myki (or tap and go) and receive the current half-price discount automatically.
Final Thoughts
Getting transport sorted properly in week one is one of the simplest ways to save money for the rest of your semester, and now that Melbourne’s tap-and-go network is fully complete, it’s easier than ever to start moving on day one while your concession pass or ISTP is processed in the background. In Brisbane, the good news is even simpler: there’s genuinely nothing you need to apply for just to get the lowest fare.
For the full breakdown of fares, caps and savings tips in each city, see Evantaa’s dedicated guides on Melbourne’s myki and International Student Travel Pass, and Brisbane’s 50-cent fare.
Have a transport question specific to your enrolment? Drop by Evantaa Institute’s Student Services desk on your first day — our team can point you toward the right pass or card for your situation.
Sources
- Transport Victoria — Tap and go campaign (transport.vic.gov.au)
- Premier of Victoria — “Tap And Go Rolling Out On Buses”, 16 July 2026 (premier.vic.gov.au)
- Transport Victoria — Students, myki types (transport.vic.gov.au)
- Transport Victoria — Concession myki (transport.vic.gov.au)
- Transport Victoria — Buy a myki (transport.vic.gov.au)
- International Student Travel Pass portal (internationalstudent.ptv.vic.gov.au)
- Public Transport Users Association — Myki Q+A (ptua.org.au)
- TransLink — Tertiary student travel (translink.com.au)
- TransLink — “Travel to uni or TAFE for only 50 cents” (translink.com.au)
- TransLink — Buy and top-up go card (translink.com.au)
- TransLink — Concession FAQs (translink.com.au)