Whether you are traveling to Australia for business, pleasure, study, or to visit family will determine the kind of visa you need to apply for. While passport holders from many countries can apply for a visa online with ease, those from other countries may need to apply in person at an embassy or consulate.
If you have an Australian visa, you can enter Australia for a predetermined period. Unlike most other countries, Australia does not affix visa stamps or markings to your passport.
Instead, your visa privileges are electronically recorded in an online database. When you arrive in Australia, the immigration officer will check the database for your visa status.
Keep reading as we take you through the various Australian visa types that foreigners can explore!
What are the Available Australian Visa Types?
1. Visitor Visas
A visitor visa is granted for travel, medical care, visiting family and friends, and short-term business travel, such as attending a conference, trade show, or seminar or engaging in negotiations.
The visa is valid for a visit for the duration of the trip but 12 months at maximum. A 12-month multiple-entry visa is another option available to citizens of certain nations.
However, using such a visa only allows you to stay in the nation for three to six months after the date of admission. You can’t work with a visiting visa, although some countries’ citizens can work and travel in Australia for four months with a work and holiday visa.
A visitor (tourist) visa allows you to study for up to three months. However, if you want to study longer, you should get a student visa.
2. Studying and Training Visas
A student visa is valid for the whole five years of your course of study. If there is a Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) for each course, a student visa can be granted for both packaged courses and study in a single program.
IELTS 6.0 is occasionally needed to demonstrate linguistic proficiency. A training visa is also available to travel to Australia for a work-related training session with a qualified sponsor organization.
With this visa, a student can pursue professional development training or enhance their abilities.
3. Family and Partner Visas
There are numerous visa alternatives for dependant children and partners if you wish to visit Australia with your family. You can add your partner and kids in your visa application for some types of visas (such as a student visa, for example).
Family members may occasionally need to apply for their visas. Let’s say you are getting married to a resident or citizen of Australia. In that scenario, a prospective marriage visa is granted for a maximum of nine months to marry the potential spouse. You can apply for a Partner visa after getting married.
4. Work Visas (Temporary)
A work visa is required if you wish to work in Australia full-time. Various alternatives are available based on your country of origin and qualifications. Certain work visas provide temporary employment in Australia for periods ranging from six months to four years.
However, there are also temporary visas that allow you to apply for residency after a specific amount of time working as long as you meet all the requirements.
5. Resident Visas (Permanent)
Holders of resident visas are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. They can access Australian public healthcare facilities, travel to and from Australia, work, and study.
One can acquire the residence through employment, business, or investment, among other means. Gaining enough points takes time because resident visas often have strict requirements, and some are point-based.
Depending on their qualifications and the application process, some candidates may apply straight for the resident visa, even if they are not from Australia.
However, before they may seek residence, some individuals must work and study in the nation for several years on a temporary or provisional visa.
6. Bridging Visas
Suppose you have applied for a new visa and are in Australia while awaiting a decision, but your current visa has already expired. In that case, you may be granted a bridging visa, which is a temporary visa.
With this kind of visa, you can remain legally in Australia while you await the outcome of your fresh application. There is no need to apply for a Bridging visa; they are granted immediately.
You will receive a letter with all the requirements. Depending on whether your substantive visa or the one you sought permits it, you may occasionally be able to work while on a bridging visa. Therefore, if you are given a Bridging visa, carefully examine the terms of the visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the processing time for an Australian Visa?
The processing time for an Australian visa depends on the visa type. Generally, most tourist stream visa applications are processed within a few weeks to a maximum of four months, but if everything is in order, it could also take only a few days.
Depending on the visa, long-term visa applications can take several months to more than a year.
Do I need travel health insurance for Australia?
Proper Australian health insurance coverage is always required for long-term visas. For visitor visas, on the other hand, it is not usually obligatory to get health insurance, but the Australian government strongly advises travelers to do so.
How long can I stay after my visa expires?
You must apply for another type of visa to be allowed to stay in Australia after your visa expires. If you overstay, even by just a few days, it will appear on your immigration record, and it could affect your future visa applications.
If you overstay your visa for longer than 28 days, you could be subject to an interview by immigration authorities on your way out, and you may even get a three-year travel ban. Naturally, there are exceptions if you have a valid reason for having overstayed.
Can I extend an Australian visa?
If you are already in Australia and want to stay longer, you can apply for a new visa at least two weeks before your current one expires—as long as your visa does not have a “No Further Stay” notice.
This means that you cannot extend or apply for a new visa if you have entered using a tourist visa (which has a “No Further Stay”) unless you have extraordinary circumstances.
Once you apply for a different type of visa, you will receive a Bridging Visa, which allows you to stay in Australia until the Immigration Authority makes a decision.
How much does an Australian visa cost?
The fees for an Australian visa depend on the visa type, method of application, and the duration of your stay:
- Visit visa (tourist stream): AUD 145
- eVisitor and ETA: Free of charge, except for an AUD 20 service fee
- Student visa: AUD 620
- Training visa: AUD 310
- Work visa: AUD 310 to AUD 4,045, depending on the visa
What if I make a mistake during my application?
When you submit your visa application online, you must ensure that you include all the correct information. If you notice a mistake before finalizing your application and paying for the visa, you can modify it.
If you do not notice until after you apply, you will likely have to resubmit it, which means you will also have to pay the visa fee again.
Before you submit your application, you will be able to review it one more time, and you can correct any mistakes you spot.
Remember that if you make a mistake when providing the details of your passport, it could cause problems at the border.