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:
|
Assessment
Levels |
Processing
Time: |
|
1 and 2
|
3 weeks
|
|
3 and 4
|
3 months
|
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. |
