Who requires a visa?
Required by all except the following:
(a) New Zealand citizens traveling on New Zealand passports;
(b) transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country within 8 hours
of arrival, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving
the transit lounge.
This ruling applies only to nationals of the following: EU countries, Brunei, Canada,
Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Korea (Rep. of), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta,
Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Papua
New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Switzerland,
Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, USA and Zimbabwe.
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visas:
The ETA is an invisible electronic visa there is no need to complete an application
form and no visa label will be placed in the passport. An ETA is suitable for tourist
or business visits and allows multiple entries to Australia for a stay of up to
3 months on each entry.
ETAs can be obtained from authorized travel agents (most travel agents in the UK
can issue them) and airlines. ETAs are also available from Australian Embassies,
High Commissions and Consulates, but travelers should note that long queues and
processing delays may be experienced at those outlets if applying in person. To
check which travel agents and airlines are authorized to issue ETAs, travelers should
contact their travel agent or BP Travel Trade Services.
Students taking courses of study for not longer than 12 weeks, and between 15-25
hours a day may only require a tourist visa (or ETA).
The ETA has replaced tourist visas, for citizens of the following countries, for
stays of up to 90 days:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Hong Kong, Iceland, Rep of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Rep of Korea, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan, The Vatican, United States, United Kingdom.
If you are planning a course of study for a longer duration than that listed above,
or if you are a citizen of a country not listed above, you should contact the nearest
Consulate as early as possible for further information on entering Australia.
What documents will be required?
Entry to Australia always requires
a valid passport
ETA entry:
(a) Fee (if applicable; payable by cheque or postal order made out to the Australian
High Commission).
(b) Photocopies of the personal details page of the passport. Applications can either
be faxed or posted (to include a stamped, self-addressed envelope and the applicant's
contact details) to the Australian High Commission in London or the Australian Consulate
in Manchester. Note that passports should not be sent.
Tourist and Business Visitor (Non ETA):
(a) Form 48 for a Tourist Visitor visa (available from BP Travel Trade Services),
and Form 46 for a Business Visitor visa (available from Australian Outlook, 3 Buckhurst
Hill, Bexhill on Sea, Sussex, TN40 1QF), together with an A4 stamped, self-addressed
envelope with a 55p stamp to cover postage.
(b) Valid passport.
(c) Fee (payable by cheque or postal order and made out to the Australian High Commission).
For visa applications, the following may also be required:
Proper medical clearance
Proof of acceptance from the Australian institute
Medical exam documentation
To be granted a Student visa you must show that you can pay for your living and
study costs while you are in Australia. If you have a spouse or dependent children
you must also show that you can support them, even if they will not be accompanying
you to Australia. The evidence you must provide depends on your education sector
and your Assessment Level. The financial requirements are explained in the Temporary
Entry Overseas Students Booklets.
If you are from an Assessment Level 3 or Assessment Level 4 country (and China),
the following documents will help you work out how much money you need to study
in Australia and what evidence you must provide:
- Assessment Level 3 – Financial information
leaflet
- Assessment Level 4 – Financial information
leaflet
Contact the nearest Australian Embassy for additional documents which may be required.
Note:
(a) Prior to lodging an application, visitors should confirm the current visa fees
by calling the High Commission.
(b) All travelers to Australia, except Australian citizens and permanent residents,
must satisfy health and character requirements.
(c) All travelers, including minors traveling on a parent's passport, require
their own visa or ETA.
Time required to issue visa:
ETA's -
Immediately, if applied for in person or by phone.
Mail applications may take 3 weeks or longer.
Non-ETA Tourist visas -
Aprox. 3-4 weeks (Allow more during peak periods). The majority of applications
outside of Australia for study visas are processed within the following times:
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Assessment Levels
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Processing Time:
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1 and 2
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3 weeks
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3 and 4
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3 months
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What if my application is not successful?
If you have applied from outside Australia, the decision not to grant you a visa
cannot be reviewed by the Migration Review Tribunal. If you have applied in Australia,
you may apply to the Migration Review Tribunal for review of the decision not to
grant a visa.
What is the cost of a visa?
ETAs - No government charge
Non-ETA Tourist visa - Varies
How long is the visa valid for?
Tourist visas are valid for up to 90 days
Validity of ETAs:
Tourist Visit ETAs are valid for 12 months or until the passport expires, whichever
comes first, and permit multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to 3 months
on each visit.
Business Visit ETAs are valid until the passport expires. For nationals of Canada,
France, Spain and USA, the ETA is valid for 12 months or until the passport expires,
whichever comes first.
Other information:
Students wishing to study for a period of over 12 weeks must enter Australia on
a Student Visa, and must study for a minimum of 25 hours per week.
No tourist visas, or initial student visas, whether granted overseas or in Australia,
allow employment. Your application will be assessed according to your Assessment
Level. Your Assessment Level is determined by the country of your nationality and
the education sector for which you are seeking a student visa. Generally, family
unit members who intend to accompany you to Australia may be included in your application
for a student visa and be processed for visa entry at the same time. They must undergo
a medical examination and hold health cover insurance amongst other things. If your
family unit members decide to come to Australia after you have arrived, they will
have to apply separately. They may also require you to nominate them for entry.
Can I work in Australia?
All initial student visas granted do not provide for the holder to be granted permission
to work in Australia. Students and their dependants will only be able to apply for
a student visa with work rights after they arrive in Australia and the student has
commenced their course of study. The charge is $55.Generally, students and their
dependants are limited to 20 hours work per week while the student's course
of study or training is in session. Students may work full-time during holiday periods.
Dependents of Subclass 574 Masters and Doctorate students have unlimited work rights
after the principal student visa holder has commenced his or her course in Australia.
From 1 November 2000, a student visa is subject to mandatory cancellation if a student
works in excess of their entitlements.
Can my family visit me in Australia?
Your spouse and dependent children may be included in your application for a student
visa. Your parents and other family members wishing to visit you in Australia must
obtain a tourist visa.
Can I change education providers?
You must remain with the education provider of your preliminary and principal courses
for the first 12 months (or the duration of the course/s if they are for less than
12 months). This means that, if you are granted a student visa for example, for
a package consisting of 6 months prerequisite English language studies followed
by 3 years for a degree, you are required to remain with your provider/s for a total
of 18 months, unless you successfully apply to DIMIA to change provider.
You must inform your current education provider if you intend to change to another
provider. If you apply to change education providers within the same education sector
as the student visa you currently hold, you must complete a form 157C. You will
be subject to a visa application charge of $130, except where you have to change
because the education provider is no longer able to provide the course.
If at any time after your arrival in Australia you wish to study a new principal
course which is in a different education sector to your current principal course,
then you must apply for a new visa using form 157A and will be subject to a visa
application charge of $315.
Can I change my course?
You may change your course but if your course is in a different education sector
to your current principal course, then you must apply for a new visa.
Can I extend my stay in Australia?
If so, how?
You may apply for a further student visa while in Australia, provided your current
visa is not subject to a 'No Further Stay' condition. You will have to apply
for a new visa before your current visa expires.
Can I leave Australia and re-enter?
Your student visa has been granted allowing for multiple entry. This means that
you can depart Australia and re-enter using this visa whilst your visa remains valid.
If you leave Australia without a valid visa you will need to re-apply overseas,
pay the application charge and meet the visa requirements that are current at that
time.
Can I remain permanently in Australia?
Certain overseas students in Australia who recently completed a diploma or degree
after at least one year of full time study in Australia may be able to apply for:
- Graduate - Skilled (Temporary) (Class
UQ), subclass 497, or
- Skilled Independent Overseas Student
(Migrant) (Class DD), subclass 880, or
- Skilled Australian Sponsored Overseas
Student (Migrant) (Class DE), subclasses 881 or 882.
Embassy contact information:
Please contact the nearest Australian embassy for information on what documentation
you may require to enter Australia.
Australian Embassies Worldwide.
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