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Visa policy of Australia
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| Entry and exit stamps - now issued only on request. | |
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| Visa label - no longer issued. All visas are now issued electronically. |
The visa policy of Australia deals with the requirements that a foreign national wishing to enter Australia must meet to obtain a visa, which is a permit to travel, to enter and remain in the country.[1] A visa may also entitle the visa holder to other privileges, such as a right to work, study, etc. and may be subject to conditions.
Since 1994, Australia has maintained a universal visa regime, meaning that every non-citizen in Australia must have a visa, either as a result of an application, or one granted automatically by law.[2] Australia does not issue visas on arrival except for New Zealand citizens.[3] As of 2015 there was no intention to provide visa free entry for any country.[4]
Visitors holding passports from certain countries may apply for a visa using a truncated process:
- citizens of New Zealand using a New Zealand passport may apply for a Special Category Visa (subclass 444) on arrival pursuant to the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement.[5] There is no application form or fee payable.
- nationals of 36 countries (the 27 EU member states, the four EFTA member states, the United Kingdom, and four European microstates)[6] may apply for a eVisitor visa (subclass 651) online without fee
- nationals from 34 countries and territories (more globally distributed than eVisitor countries) may apply for Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) using a mobile app on payment of a nominal fee[7]
Under the Migration Regulations 1994, certain persons are defined as holding a valid visa, without having pursued the standard Australian visa process, including [8] certain visitors, mostly linked to foreign militaries and governments, eligible for entry under the special purpose visa, pursuant to a variety of Australian laws and international agreements.[9]
Nationals of all other countries will need to apply for the Visitor visa online.
Since 1 September 2015, Australia ceased to issue visa labels on visa holders' passports, and all visas are issued and recorded on a central database.[10] Visa records can only be accessed through Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO), a digital verification service provided by the Department of Home Affairs.[11]
- ^ "MIGRATION ACT 1958 - SECT 29 Visas". www.austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs (20 March 2018). "Visiting Australia". www.homeaffairs.gov.au. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
- ^ Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs (7 July 2021). "Special Category Visa". www.homeaffairs.gov.au. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ Rompies, Karuni; Topsfield, Jewel (2 September 2015). "Doubts over Indonesia's plans to scrap tourist visa for Australians". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) r 5.15A
- ^ "Subclass 651 eVisitor - Eligibility". Australian Department of Home Affairs. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ "Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority - Eligibility". Australian Department of Home Affairs. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
- ^ Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth)
- ^ Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth) r 2.40
- ^ "Electronic visa record". www.border.gov.au. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
- ^ "Check visa conditions online (VEVO)".
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