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Building a credit history in Australia

Your UK credit record stays in the UK. In Australia you start without a credit score, which can make your first credit card, car loan or mortgage harder to get.

Last checked 2 Oct 2026·Information, not advice

In 30 seconds

  • Australian credit scores are based only on what Australian lenders report, so newcomers usually have no score at first
  • Equifax and Experian hold most credit files. You can get a free copy of your report every 3 months
  • Pay every bill on time, keep balances low and don’t apply for lots of credit at once. Buy now pay later is now regulated credit
0Where you startNo Australian score until you use Australian credit
Every 3 monthsFree credit reportFrom each credit reporting body
2 yearsRepayment history keptMissed payments of more than 14 days can show
5 yearsDefaults keptOverdue debts of A$150 or more, 60 days or more late

Why you start from zero

A credit score is a number lenders use to judge how risky it is to lend to you. Equifax, for example, scores people from 0 to 1,200. It is worked out from the information held in that company’s Australian files. Equifax says people new to the country often have no score because they haven’t yet used Australian credit. Unlike the UK, there is no single “credit builder” route everyone uses, so it takes time.

Who keeps your credit file

Credit reporting bodyNote
EquifaxOne of the two main bodies
ExperianThe other main body. illion, once a third credit reporting body, is now part of Experian

Different lenders report to different bodies, so your file can look different at each. Check both.

What’s on your report, and for how long

InformationHow long it stays
Repayment history (whether you paid on time each month)2 years
Credit applications (enquiries)5 years
Defaults (overdue debts of A$150 or more)5 years
Court judgments5 years
Financial hardship arrangements1 year
Serious credit infringement (for example, fraud or avoiding a debt)7 years

Since repayment history is recorded each month, a card or loan you pay on time builds a positive record, not just an absence of bad news.

How to build a record

  1. Open an everyday bank account first. See Opening a bank account
  2. Get a low-limit credit card once you have regular pay, and clear it in full every month
  3. Pay rent, phone and energy bills on time. An overdue debt of A$150 or more, 60 days or more late, can be listed as a default
  4. Don’t apply for several cards or loans at once: every application is recorded for 5 years
  5. Check your report with Equifax and Experian about 3 months after your first credit account opens
  6. Keep the same name, date of birth and address details across applications
Phone contracts don’t build your record A postpaid (contract) phone plan usually involves a credit check, which shows on your report as an enquiry. But only banks, credit unions and licensed lenders can report whether you paid on time, so paying a phone, internet or energy bill doesn’t add a positive record. A missed bill can still hurt: A$150 or more, 60 days overdue, can be listed as a default for 5 years. A low-limit credit card paid in full is a better first step.

Buy now pay later

Since 10 June 2025, buy now pay later (BNPL) providers must hold an Australian credit licence. Providers must also belong to AFCA (the Australian Financial Complaints Authority), so you can complain there if things go wrong. Applying for BNPL may trigger a credit check, and BNPL arrangements, late fees and applications might appear on your credit report. Use it sparingly while your file is new.

Fixing mistakes

You can get errors corrected free, by contacting the lender or the credit reporting body, then AFCA if it isn’t sorted. You don’t need to pay a “credit repair” company. Accurate negative information can’t be removed early.

Mortgages later Lenders also look at your visa, job and deposit. A clean, short Australian history plus steady pay usually matters more than having lots of credit. See Moving money from the UK.

What to do next

  1. Order your free credit report from Equifax and Experian a few months after arrival
  2. Set up direct debits so no bill is ever late
  3. Apply for one low-limit credit card, not several
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