Visitors

Who needs a Visa to travel to Australia? 

All travellers except New Zealand citizens and Australian citizens (holding an Australian passport). Permanent residents of Australia require a Resident return Visa (RRV).

ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORITY

• The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is an electronic record rather than a stamp in your passport for the purpose of visits to Australia for tourism, visiting friends or relatives or short-term study.

• Applicant must be from a specified country with high volume/low risk tourist trade with Australia.
• Applicant must be a genuine visitor (Evidence of business/employment in home country, return ticket).
• Applicant must have adequate funds for financial support and a visa condition is that the applicant must not work in Australia.
• Applicant may have to meet health requirements.
• Applicant may have to fulfil character requirements.

SHORT STAY BUSINESS VISA

• The Business (Short Stay) visa is for business visitors who intend to stay in Australia for less than three months. (For example, to attend a seminar, conference).

• The Business visitor must be a genuine business person.

• The Visitor can apply as a Sponsored business visitor if sponsored by a government agency.

SPONSORED FAMILY VISITORS

• The Applicant can only be sponsored by relatives or government agencies. This visa is intended for applicant's that do not meet the criteria for the ETA or Visitor visa.

• The Applicant must be defined as a relative. For example, a parent, brother, sister.
• The sponsor must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and aged over 18 years.
• The sponsor may be requested to pay a security bond in case the visitor breaches visa conditions.
• The visa is valid for a maximum stay of three months.
• Applicant must observe the visa conditions. For example, Applicant must not work.

APEC TRAVEL CARD

The APEC Business travel Card gives accredited business people pre-cleared entrance to participating APEC economies.

RETIREMENT VISA 

• A Retirement Visa is a temporary entry visa for people aged over 55 years with no dependents and is valid for  an initial 4 year period. Under this visa you can apply for a visa extension.

• Applicants must be in good health - self-supporting in Australia without cost to Australia's social and welfare services and of good character.
• Applicant must have access to sufficient capital for transfer to Australia.
• Holders of the Retirement visa may undertake up to 20 hours of work each week.

MEDICAL TREATMENT VISA

• Applicant/Patient is seeking any type of medical treatment/consultations or Applicant wishes to donate an organ in Australia.

• Applicant is accompanying someone who is a patient.
• Applicant must genuinely intend to leave Australia after treatment.
• Medical arrangements have been organised and payment for the treatment has been made.
• Applicant has sufficient funds for the trip and treatment.
• Applicant has had a specialist medical examination and an x-ray for tuberculosis.