First payday checklist for your 88 days

Your first payday is the moment to check whether the job is leaving a clean paper trail. Do it early, while mistakes are still easy to fix.

Proof check Do not wait until day 87.

Check payslips, dates, money and employer details from the first pay cycle.

Save the payslip immediately

Download the payslip, screenshot it, and store it in your 88-day folder. If it only lives inside a staff portal, you may lose access after you leave the job.

Check the basics match your real work

Look for your name, employer name, ABN or business details, pay period, payment date, hourly rate or piece-rate information, hours worked, deductions and super details where relevant.

Compare payslip dates with your own tracker

Your private tracker should match your shifts, location and pay period. If a day is missing, a date is wrong or the worksite is unclear, ask for correction while the roster is fresh.

Keep bank records beside payslips

Save the bank payment record for each pay. Payslips show what the employer reported; bank records help show money actually arrived and make your proof folder easier to understand later.

Watch accommodation and transport deductions

If money is taken out for accommodation, bond, transport or equipment, check that the deduction is explained clearly. Ask for written details before it becomes normal.

Ask early if something is missing

A polite message after the first payday is easier than arguing weeks later. Ask for a corrected payslip, written roster or employer details before you build your whole 88 or 179 day plan on weak records.

Message you can copy

Hi, I received my first pay. Could you please send the payslip for this pay period and confirm the worksite postcode, pay period dates and recorded hours so I can keep my records accurate?

Related reading

Use this with the proof guide, the pre-start proof checklist and the VisaRoute postcode map.