Australian Visas - Visits for Tourists and Family

Australian Visas - Visits for Tourists and

Visits for Tourists and Family

Unless you are a citizen of New Zealand, you must obtain an Australian visa before traveling if you wish to vacation or visit family in Australia. You will likely require either an Electronic Travel Authority (Visitor), a Tourist, or a Sponsored Family Visitor visa, depending on what you plan to accomplish in Australia, your nationality, and how long you want to stay there. Whatever the situation, you should apply for the entire amount of time you intend to stay in Australia because it's probable that you won't be able to extend your visa once you're there.

You may not receive a stamp or label in your passport because the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (Visitor) is entirely electronic, but don't worry—the Australian immigration authorities will still be able to verify that you have a valid visa.

If you are outside of Australia and have a passport from one of the 34 countries that are eligible, you can apply for an ETA (Visitor) if you plan to remain for less than three months. The entire list of these can be seen on the website of the Australian Government's Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, but it includes the majority of Western European and Scandinavian nations, the United States, and some Far Eastern nations. For citizens of nations not on the list of eligible nations, there are unique provisions. You can acquire an ETA (Visitor) Visa from an airline or travel agency, online directly, or at an Australian visa office in your home country. Unless you apply, there is no fee for this form of visa.

You can apply for a Tourist Visa whether you are in or outside of Australia, and the duration is usually 3 or 6 months, but it can sometimes be extended to 12 months if you can demonstrate your ability to support yourself during your stay. Tourist Visa applications can be made online if you have a passport from an eligible country, or through a registered travel agent, airline, or service provider, a list of which can be found on the website mentioned above.

To apply for a Sponsored Family Visitor Visa, you must be outside Australia and have a sponsor within Australia who is a family member, a member of an Australian parliament, or another authorised person. To apply, you must fill out a form, obtain a certified copy of your passport, and send it all to your Australian sponsor. Your sponsor will need to fill out a different form and apply on your behalf, sending all paperwork to the appropriate office.

Anyone who is not eligible to apply for an ETA Visitor or Tourist Visa over the Internet can submit a paper application, which can be mailed to specific Australian government offices around the world.

Business Visits to Australia

If you need to visit Australia for business, even for a short time, you must apply for an Australian visa. This article provides an overview of the three types of business visas available.

For business trips to Australia, three types of visas are available. A business visit is NOT the same as "working" in the context of applying for an Australian visa.

The first type of visa is a Short Stay Business Visa, which is valid for visits of less than three months. This will cover a business person for normal business meetings, negotiations, and conferences and can be obtained through their preferred airline or through the internet. This is an Electronic Travel Authority for Business (ETA). Applications may also be submitted in writing.

A Sponsored Business Visitor (short stay) Visa is the second type of business visa. To qualify for this type of visa, a businessperson must be sponsored by a member of an Australian parliament, an authorized government agency, a local mayor, or another authorized organization, and the sponsor must guarantee that their visitor will follow all visa conditions, including the date by which they must leave the country.

A Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa is the third type of business visa. To apply for one of these, an applicant must be sponsored by an approved employer who has an eligible position open. The employer can be an Australian or an overseas company, and the employee must be a foreign national with the necessary skills. The eligible position must have been approved as a skilled occupation suitable for this program, be full-time, pay a minimum wage, and comply with various Australian laws and award requirements. However, before the employee can apply for a visa, the employer must apply to be a sponsor of overseas employees and identify the job vacancies that need to be filled.

The nomination period will last 12 months, or until all vacancies are filled, whichever comes first. The sponsorship will be for two years, and the visa period will range from three to four years. If the employee wishes to change jobs, he must find a new approved sponsor with an eligible position and reapply for a visa.

The Australian Government's Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs website has more information on all of the above.

In the following article, we will look at working in Australia as opposed to visiting for business.