Visas to visit Australia

Australia welcomes millions of overseas visitors each year. Anyone who is not an Australian citizen needs a valid visa to enter and spend time here.

With a spectacular natural environment, high quality of life and great diversity, Australia is a sought after destination for international tourists. It has 10 percent of the world's biodiversity and a great number of its native plants and animals exist nowhere else on earth. From tropical rainforests in the north to the red deserts of the centre, from the snowfields of the south-east to the Australian Antarctic Territory, it is a vast and varied land. Australia has many World Heritage sites including the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and the Sydney Opera House.

Food and wine tourism is expanding, in line with Australia's growing international reputation as a producer of high-quality wines and a supplier of fresh, regionally produced food.

To visit Australia, you can apply for one of the visas below:

• • ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORITY (601)

If you are travelling to Australia on holiday you will need a tourist visa. You can apply online for an instant ETA Tourist Visa for tourism up to three months. The ETA is available for passport holders from specified countries and regions as provided by the Australian Government. To apply for an ETA (Visitor), you must be outside Australia and hold a passport issued by an ETA-eligible country or region. ETA visas are processed instantly and linked electronically to your passport. Your ETA will be verified automatically when you check in for your flight to Australia and by an Australian Immigration officer when you arrive.

• • BUSINESS VISITOR (600)

If you are traveling to Australia on business, you can obtain an ETA Business Visa. You can apply for an online Visa for business purposes up to three months. You can make a short visit for business visitor reasons, but you cannot work or sell goods or services to a business or organisation based in Australia. You can take part in conferences or trade fairs. You cannot be paid by the organisers to attend the event. You can enter Australia multiple time while the visa is valid. You must be outside Australia when you apply until the visa is decided.

• • APEC Business Travel Card holders

If you hold an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) you might not need to apply for a visa to travel to Australia. The Department considers you to have applied for a Visitor visa when you applied for the ABTC. The ABTC is valid for 5 years from the date issued. If you apply for and are granted a separate visa, the visa associated with your ABTC will cease.

• • Approved Destination Status stream

This visa stream is for citizens from certain areas of China visiting Australia on a tour organised by an approved travel agent. The period of the visa is until the date specified in the visa grant letter. You can enter Australia with your approved tour group and participate in activities that are part of the tour. You must depart Australia with the tour group before the visa expiries.

• • Frequent traveller stream

This visa stream is for citizens of the People's Republic of China who travel often to Australia for business or personal reasons. The period of this visa is up to 10 years. You are permitted to stay up to 3 months each time you enter or for 12 months in total in any 24-month period. Your visa grant letter will mention how long you are permitted to stay in Australia. You must be in the People's Republic of China when you apply until the visa is decided.

• • Sponsored Family Stream

This visa stream lets people who are sponsored, usually by a family member, come to Australia to visit their family members. This visa stream lets you visit Australia as a tourist, to go on a cruise or to see family and friends. You can apply for the sponsored family visa if you intend to come to Australia to visit only and have enough money for your stay. You cannot work in Australia on this visa. You can study or train for up to 3 months in total on this visa. But if your main reason for travelling to Australia is study, a student visa might be more appropriate. The sponsor might be asked to deposit a security bond to become a Sponsor for the application. The sponsorship lasts until the visa. The length of the visa is decided by the Department on case by case basis.

• • Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)

This visa stream lets you visit Australia as a tourist, to go on a cruise or to see family and friends and is widely used by tourist to enter Australia. This is a temporary visa. You can stay for the period or dates specified on the visa grant letter. The length of the visa is determined on a case by case basis. It is a condition of this visa that you don't stay in Australia for a total of more than 12 months in an 18-month period.

• • Parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents

If you are the parent or step-parent of an Australian citizen or permanent resident and you meet all the visa criteria, the Department might consider granting you a visa for longer than 12 months. The Department might grant a visa that lasts up to 18 months, 3 years or 5 years subject to visa conditions. Every application is considered on a case-by-case basis.

• • Tourist stream (apply in Australia)

Eligible applicants can apply for this visa from within Australia. If you apply in Australia, you must be in Australia when a decision is made. The Department will not grant this visa if by granting this visa it would lead you to stay in Australia for a period of more than 12 consecutive months.

If you are still confused as to the correct visa applicable for you to enter Australia, kindly contact our office Migration Centre of Australia and speak to our team who are qualified and experienced in their field and our agency is registered with MARA. Book one of our agents for professional advice by calling 02 4626 1002 or email us to book in a time at info@migrationcentreofaustralia.com.au.

Migration Centre of Australia is a leading migration agency providing professional migration services. We are happy to assess your individual situation and provide in-depth details and information on all options available to you.