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Visas to visit Australia

Whether you are visiting Australia for less than 72 hours or planning on a stay of several years you must have a valid Australian visa.

A visa is a form of permission for a non-citizen to enter, transit or remain in a particular country.

Information on visas to Australia can be found at the Department of Home Affairs .

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Reopening to tourists and other international travellers to secure our economic recovery

Joint media release with the hon. scott morrison mp, the hon. greg hunt mp and the hon. dan tehan mp.

Australia will reopen to all fully vaccinated visa holders, welcoming the return of tourists, business travellers, and other visitors from 21 February.  

These changes will ensure we protect the health of Australians, while we continue to secure our economic recovery. 

Australia’s health system has demonstrated its resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including though the recent Omicron wave. With improving health conditions, including a recent 23 per cent decline in hospitalisations due to COVID, the National Security Committee of Cabinet today agreed Australia is ready to further progress the staged reopening of our international border. 

Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia, and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements. 

Today’s announcement will give certainty to our vital tourism industry, and allow them to start planning, hiring and preparing for our reopening. In 2018-19, tourism generated more than $60 billion for the Australian economy, with more than 660,000 jobs dependent on the industry. 

Since the Morrison Government commenced Australia’s staged international border reopening on 1 November 2021 we have seen almost 580,000 arrivals come to Australia including to reunite with loved ones, work or study. 

The Commonwealth continues to work with States and Territories on the safe resumption of the cruise industry and looks forward to further announcements on this in due course.

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Australian visa changes 2022: The opportunities for migrants this year

As australia seeks to ramp up migration as part of its economic recovery from the covid-19 pandemic, here is a round-up of some of the major immigration changes that have been announced..

Source: SBS News

Which visa holders can currently enter Australia?

More opportunities for temporary visa holders, permanent residency for skilled migrants in health and hospitality, permanent residency for skilled migrants in the regions, permanent residency for hong kong nationals.

Hong Kong nationals in Australia to get new specialised pathways to permanent residency

Change to 189 New Zealand Stream Subclass Visa

'section 48 bar' lifted for skilled migration visas.

‘Devastated’: Temporary visa holders excluded from re-opening of international borders

New visa settings for temporary graduate visa holders

14,000 skilled graduates will be stuck outside Australia for another year due to visa rules

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Entering or leaving Australia

Australia welcomes millions of overseas visitors each year. Anyone who is not an Australian citizen needs a valid visa to enter the country.

International passenger caps have been removed for all international passenger arrivals into Australia.

All travellers should be aware that: People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status People entering Australia do not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status Unvaccinated visa holders do not ​ need a travel exemption to travel to Australia Mask wearing on international flights to Australia is no longer mandatory . It is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

Australian Citizens

All Australian citizens must enter and exit Australia on an Australian passport. Your Australian passport must be valid (not expired) on the day of your arrival in Australia. It does not need to have six months remaining validity to enter Australia unless you are passing through a third country that requires it. Citizens are not entitled to a visa, even if you are also a citizen of another country. Please see the  Department of Home Affairs website  for more information. 

Immigration and Visas

All foreign travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia.

»    Immigration and visas

If you have a specific question, please contact the Department of Home Affairs .

You will also need to know what you can and cannot bring into Australia, knowing the duty-free concession limits and what to experience when travelling through Australian airports and seaports.

Please visit the Department of Home Affairs website for more information.

Plan your trip with  australia.com , the official Tourism Australia website, offering a wide range of travel information and planning tools including over 2000 images, a currency converter, daily weather updates, interactive maps, suggested holiday itineraries, holiday deals, specialist travel agents and more. Available in nine languages.

Tourist Refund Scheme

The  Tourist Refund Scheme  enables you to claim a refund, subject to certain conditions, of the goods and services tax (GST) and wine equalisation tax (WET) that you pay on goods you buy in Australia.

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Visa statistics

Statistical information on visit, study, work, migration and humanitarian visas.​

​​​These statistics have been gathered in the last few years and reveal trends and projections where sufficient data has enabled analysis.

We have statistical information on migration, refugee and humanitarian entry, citizenship, border management, border protection, compliance, detention, trade, customs, revenue and staff.

Statistical information about visitors on their arrival and departure from airports and seaports throughout Australia.

See our visitor statistical information

Statistical information on international students on various student visa programmes are collected and reviewed for their effectiveness.

See our student visa data

Migration, asylum and humanitarian programmes provide the statistics that enable forward planning in the form of indicative forecasts and estimates.

See the statistics from our migration, asylum and humanitarian programs

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How to apply for a Work and Holiday visa

If you’ve dreamed of spending a year in Australia, here’s how to score yourself a Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462).

Work and Holiday visa application FAQs

On this page, we’ll give you all the details you need to apply for Work and Holiday visa (WHV) subclass 462, which is available to visitors who are aged 18 to 30 (inclusive) and hold a valid passport for any of the following countries: Argentina; Austria; Chile; The People's Republic of China; Czech Republic; Hungary; Indonesia; Israel; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Peru; Poland; Portugal; San Marino; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Thailand; Turkey; USA; Uruguay; and Vietnam.

You may also be required to demonstrate a level of "functional English". For the full list of eligibility requirements, visit the Department of Home Affairs website .

If you hold a passport from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders), Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport) or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, you’ll need to apply for a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417). All the details for that  can be found here .

When applying for your Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), you need to be aged between 18 and 30. If you apply for the visa when you’re still 30, but turn 31 before the application has been approved, the visa may still be granted. 

To apply for WHV 462, you need to go online, create an  ImmiAccount  and fill out the details.

You may be asked for a number of documents during your application process, such as:

• the pages of your passport showing your name, personal details and passport issue and expiry dates
• a copy of your birth certificate showing both your parents’ names
• evidence of funds (usually AUD $5,000)

Depending on your country of citizenship, you may also be required to provide:

• character documents
• proof of English language proficiency

Document requirements can change, so check the  Department of Home Affairs' website  for the most up to date document requirements.

The online application form for a WHV 462 is not difficult to fill out, but it may take a couple of hours to complete it and add all the documentation required.

You’ll first need to create an  ImmiAccount  and confirm your email address. Once you’ve started your application, you can save it and go back to it later to finish filling it in.

Before you begin your application, check to make sure that applications are still open for your country of passport. The Department of Home Affairs website gives up to date information on the  status of country caps .

All documents you attach to your application must be in English. Those that aren’t have to be supplied with a translation.

You’ll need clear, colour scans or photographs of each of these documents. If a document has more than one page, it should be saved as a single file.

Your only other obligation is to sign the Australian Values Statement. This is a document that confirms you agree to respect the Australian way of life, and obey Australian laws while you’re in the country.

Most applications are processed within 79 days, but it can take longer in some cases, especially if you don’t fill out the form correctly or forget to attach the right documents.

Visa processing times may vary. For the most up to date information, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

When you apply for your Working and Holiday Visa, you’ll have to pay AUD $635. You may also have to pay for extras like health checks, police certificates or biometrics (facial photograph and finger prints). Be sure to check the Department of Home Affairs for the latest information.

If you’re applying for a WHV from a country with a high risk of tuberculosis, you may need to undergo a medical examination and chest X-ray.

You should also note that you are responsible for any health debts you run up while you’re visiting Australia. You should ensure you take out sufficient travel or health insurance to cover illness and accidents during your stay.

You should have savings equivalent of AUD $5,000 – be prepared to show proof of the funds in your bank account . On top of your savings, you need a return air ticket or enough funds to pay for a flight home.

The WHV allows you to stay in Australia for 12 months from the day you enter the country. During that time you can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like, but once the visa is activated it can’t be extended. All that really means is that if you spend a month somewhere else that time won’t be added to the length of time for which your visa is valid.

The idea of the WHV is to allow you to take on short-term and casual jobs to fund your travels and help you pay for your holiday. For the most part, you can stay in one job for a maximum of six months, although this can be extended with special permission in some cases .

If you fall in love with life in Australia (and who could blame you?) it is possible to extend your time here. If you do at least three months of  specified work  in eligible northern and regional areas of the country you can apply for a Second Work and Holiday visa that will give you another year to explore and top up your funds. To find out how to do it, head to our  information page here .

Note : Tourism Australia is not the Australian government visa granting authority.  The visa granting authority is the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. For up-to-date information, please refer to their website:  https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462 .

The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.  Please consult with an Australian qualified immigration lawyer or migration agent if you are seeking legal advice.

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Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Australia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact Australia’s High Commission in the UK.

COVID-19 rules

You do not need a pre-departure COVID-19 test to enter or transit Australia regardless of your COVID-19 vaccination status. See the Australian government’s website for advice on COVID-19 and travelling.

COVID-19 quarantine requirements

Each state and territory determines its own quarantine rules. You should check requirements for specific states and territories .

Passport validity requirements

For entry into Australia, your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. If you’re transiting another country on your way to or from Australia, check the entry requirements for that country. Many countries will only allow entry if you have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport.

Visa requirements

British citizens can usually get the following types of electronic visitor visa:

• eVisitor visa . There is no visa application charge or service fee
• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via the iOS App or Android App . There is no visa application charge, but a service fee of A$20 may apply

Information on all other types of visa is available from the Department of Home Affairs .

Working holiday visa

Thousands of Britons travel to Australia each year on a working holiday visa and the vast majority have no issues. Working conditions, accommodation and medical facilities are generally of a good standard.

You can find information about your rights as an employee in Australia and how to report any concerns about unfair or unlawful treatment on the Fair Work Ombudsman website , or by calling 131 394.

Get more information about working in Australia .

Dual nationals

If you’re a British national living in Australia with Australian citizenship, or a dual national, it is best to leave and enter Australia on your Australian passport. You could face difficulties and delays if you do not. See Australian government advice for dual nationals .

Vaccination requirements (other than COVID-19)

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Australia guide .

Quarantine of goods

Australia has strict quarantine rules to keep out pests and diseases that could affect plant, animal or human health.

You must fill out an Incoming Passenger Card and either:

• declare any risk goods including food, animal products and plant material (including wooden articles)
• dispose of any risk goods in the bins at the airport or sea port

All luggage is x-rayed on arrival. Any items of concern are further inspected, treated and if necessary confiscated and destroyed. You can be heavily fined for breaches of quarantine regulations.

You can find more information on the Department of Agriculture website .

You will also be asked to declare whether you have ‘visited a rural area, or been in contact with, or near, farm animals outside Australia in the past 30 days’.

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Bali Visa Requirements for Australian Travelers

Indonesia visa for australians (au).

Entering Bali / Indonesia with a Passport from Australia

What are the Visa Regulations for Australians to visit Bali / Indonesia?

Your length of stay in bali will determine what type of visa for indonesia (tourist visa | holiday visa) applies to you .

Note: Following regulations apply to travelers who hold an Australian passport. An Australian residency is not enough. Visas are generally granted based on your citizenship / passport. 

With an Australian passport you can choose between following Visa Types:

Bali visa requirements for indonesia for nationalities eligible for a visa on arrival - with travel purpose tourism , social visit, meetings, sourcing.

Important: Make sure your passport is valid at least 6 months from the day of entry. No exceptions. See Passport Requirements

A. If you stay less than 30 days in Indonesia

• Visit Visa (also known as Visa on Arrival . (Info, Costs, Application Link, FAQ , can be purchased online!

B. If you stay between 30 or 60 Days in Indonesia

• Visit Visa ( Visa on Arrival) but needs to be extended once for 30 days. (Info, Prices, FAQ)
• or, you can get a 211A Visa, valid for 60 days (Info, Prices, FAQ, Online Application Service, Requirements)

C. If you stay more than 60 Days in Indonesia

• 211A Visa, valid for 60 days, can be extended twice while in Indonesia for 60 days each (Info, Prices, FAQ, Online Application).

If you are looking for a long stay Visa, Temporary Resident Permit, KITAS, Remote worker Visa etc, have a look at our Indonesia Visa Overview

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‘It’s very unfair’: Australia’s visa crackdown is disrupting international students and hitting university finances

Student applications and net arrivals fall as refusal rates reach a record high. The situation is set to worsen if visa fees are hiked in the upcoming budget

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It took Rajesh more than 12 months to receive his visa to study in Australia.

But Rajesh – not his real name – considers himself lucky. Two of his friends who also come from India have recently had their PhD offers expire after waiting for visas for more than 10 months.

“It’s frustrating … especially considering PhD students are crucially important,” says Rajesh, who comes from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, considered a red flag by universities trying to weed out non-genuine applicants. “They are fully funded and highly skilled individuals who contribute significantly to our academic community.”

As part of a bid to halve net migration by 2025 , the Australian government is cracking down on non-genuine students who use student visas as a back door for work and permanent residency. The federal government has announced a series of reforms, including tougher visa conditions, stronger English-language tests and rules for education agents who bring overseas students to Australia.

The latest home affairs data shows the proportion of offshore student visa applications being refused has reached a record high, with as many as one in five students having their visas rejected in the year to March. Visas granted to Indian students fell by 48% between December 2022 and December 2023, with Nepalese visas granted falling 53% and Pakistani visas falling 55% over the same period.

The department cites an increase in incomplete applications and fraudulent documentation, contributing to both higher visa refusal rates and longer processing times. The tougher visa conditions have prompted institutions to change their policies, with some even imposing blanket bans on Indian students.

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The home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, says the federal government recognises “change is hard” but migration is “too high” and must be brought back to “sustainable levels”.

“We are working with the sector to help providers adapt, but we must restore integrity to the system to protect the sector’s international reputation,” she says.

But some say the approach is having a financial impact on institutions and disrupting the plans of genuine students who may be turned off studying in Australia altogether.

What’s going on?

The founder and president of the Pakistani Students Association of Australia, Zeeshan Malik, says many offshore students are experiencing visa refusals , while others are scared to travel back home lest their visas be cancelled on return to Australia.

While there have not been any reported cases of students having their visas cancelled on return, Malik says students feel they are being discriminated against based upon their country of origin.

“It’s very unfair,” he says. “Lots of students are struggling with mental health and other issues because of these confusing policies.”

A University of Sydney spokesperson says a “significant number” of students have been forced to defer or withdraw their applications due to visa processing delays, while others have been suspended to fulfil additional requirements.

“This has been very disruptive to highly capable young people from around the world who had paid their visa application fee and chosen to come to Australia for their studies,” the spokesperson says.

“We have moved our last date to apply for semester 2 to try to limit any such impact for future students.”

The University of Melbourne has also “faced challenges” this semester, with a number of students yet to receive their visas for the 2024 intake. A spokesperson says it has provided an extension to allow enrolled international students to start later.

Central Queensland University has gone even further, writing to education agents confirming it will no longer offer English language programs to students from India or Nepal, or enrolments to applicants over 25 or married, except for research placements.

“With many universities witnessing an increase in student visa refusals, it has been necessary for CQUniversity to proactively reconsider admissions requirements on a regular basis,” a spokesperson says.

“We have a moral obligation to ensure that prospective students have the best opportunity to successfully obtain a student visa.

“Such an outcome is not good for the student, the university, or the reputation of Australia as a global study destination.”

Why universities are imposing blanket bans

Phil Honeywood, the chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), says stigmatising entire nations is a “blunt instrument” that ignores the benefits of diversity.

“We’re supposed to be a welcoming, safe nation,” he says. “It’s a shame sometimes blunt policy instruments go against other government policies.”

Honeywood says universities are imposing restrictive measures on international students in the hope it will improve their risk ratings, which are used by the federal government to reduce student numbers.

The system assesses universities based upon how likely they are to recruit non-genuine students who arrive in Australia primarily to work, not study. Visas are given a risk rating between 1 and 3, and only low-risk universities on level 1 have visa applications processed quickly.

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Earlier this month, the list was updated, with nine universities downgraded to a level 2 and two downgraded to a level 3.

According to Honeywood, less than 10% of international student visas are waiting to be approved at low-risk universities while universities at level 2 and 3 are facing extensive delays.

During a webinar hosted by the IEAA at the beginning of the university year, Charles Sturt University’s pro-chancellor, international, Mike Ferguson, said 40% of international students enrolled in his university – which is a level 2 – were still waiting on visa decisions in the first week of the semester.

“Speaking to my colleagues at other universities, I know many others are in similar situations,” he says.

“You’re looking at refusal rates for offshore students in most markets in the region of 50%.”

Level 3 institution Federation University has faced significant budget pressure since the migration crackdown. It recently announced plans to cut 200 ongoing positions – the equivalent of just over one in 10 staff members.

A spokesperson for the university said the announcement came in response to a 49% decline in international student numbers between 2019 and 2023, which had been exacerbated by “unexpected but necessary changes to international student visa arrangements”.

Similarly, the University of Tasmania – also at level 3 – announced last month it would sell two of its Hobart hotels intended to house international students in anticipation of declining numbers.

Private institutions have also been hit hard. According to English Australia, the national peak body for more than 100 English language colleges for international students, visa grants plummeted by 68% in December 2023 compared with the previous year.

What the future holds

The share of international students is likely to decrease further with an anticipated hike in student visa fees in the May budget, making Australia “well and truly” the most expensive country to apply for a non-refundable visa, according to Honeywood.

Honeywood says international students are facing a “blame game” as the only migration market to Australia that can feasibly be reduced.

The former immigration department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi agrees. He says while higher visa fees are likely, it will be “poor long-term policy”.

“It will mostly deter high-performing students who have options of going elsewhere,” he says. “Policy must be designed to encourage and reward providers to compete for the best students not just those who can apparently afford to pay.”

Rizvi says the cautious approach being taken by providers, coupled with the ramping up of refusal rates for offshore student applications, led to a big fall in student visa applications in February and a fall in net student arrivals in March.

“That trend will likely continue over the next few months,” he says. “But while the flow of students is slowing, the stock is still rising and is now well over a record 700,000,” he says, referring to the number of international students in Australia.

“The industry is built on continuous growth. Under the risk rating system, lower tier providers are particularly vulnerable. They are the ones complaining the most.”

To Rajesh, the decline in quality lies squarely with universities and the government.

“Students are not responsible for that,” he says. “Blaming everything on students and their respective countries is not solving the problem.”

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Australian government quietly suspends new working holiday visa applications for Chinese nationals

Nathan Que quit his job in China and waited 10 months for a chance to come to Australia for a once-in-a-lifetime working holiday.

But now he feels "cheated" by the government, along with tens of thousands of other working holiday seekers from China.

Mr Que said many of them had been pondering the same question — "is China being targeted?"

For many young people around the world, a working holiday visa is seen as a precious chance to experience life in Australia.

In 2015, the program opened to 5,000 Chinese applicants annually under a free trade agreement between Australia and China.

The agreement said the program aimed to "increase demand for tourism services and support the development of Australia's tourism sector, particularly in rural Australia".

The demand to come to Australia is there, but according to applicants the chance to obtain a working holiday visa has all but evaporated.

No announcement about visa suspension

According to information on the Department of Home Affairs website, when a country's quota of working holiday visas was close to full, it would be "suspended" and visa applications from its citizens would no longer be taken.

Five countries on the list eligible for the visa have been tagged as suspended: Brazil, China, Switzerland, Thailand and Turkey. 

A footnote on China's "suspended" tag in the Home Affairs documents said the suspension was linked to "a high volume of interest".

Out of the suspended countries, only China's annual cap of 5,000 visas is far from being filled.

Altogether, only 406 working holiday visas for new applicants in China have been issued in this financial year, according to Department of Home Affairs records.

It is unclear why applications from China have been suspended when the cap hasn't been hit.

The ABC has sought an explanation from the government.

"There were a couple of countries on the list, but it only stopped [processing] for Chinese applicants. I don't know why," Mr Que said.

"There was no announcement, no communication."

Mr Que said he had wanted to come to Australia for a working holiday after his friend spent a year in Darwin in 2016.

"He told me I would be seeing a different world … and I would be able to meet a lot of people from different parts of the world," Mr Que said.

Angry applicants left in the dark

Lily Li, who's also in China, has been longing for a working holiday in Australia.

She had been waiting for her visa pre-application to be processed.

But last week her application — along with tens of thousands of others according to Chinese media reports — was marked as "expired", she said.

That has left her furious and disappointed, but she is also unsure about what she can do.

For China and other countries where people queue up for a working holiday visa, a pre-application is required.

The next step is meant to be random selection until the quota is met.

Ms Li received a message last year from the Department of Home Affairs, which has been seen by the ABC, saying she would be included in the "next random selection round" and her registration would expire on April 30, 2024.

"Even until the last days before the expiry, people were waiting for miracles," Ms Li said.

The "random selection", however, never happened.

"We'd all been waiting," Ms Li said.

"I mean, if you are not planning to select [applicants], why open the visa?"

She wasn't alone in her anger.

Hundreds of young people have left angry messages on the Australian embassy's official account on Chinese social media Weibo, asking for an explanation.

"You are a liar," read one of the messages.

"Straightforward response is the way to solve problems," another comment said.

People have continued to message the embassy over Weibo asking for answers.

The visa application issues come after the government tried to drum up interest in tourism even further with a $125 million Come and Say G'day campaign launched in late June last year.

It was seen millions of times on Chinese social media.

The Department of Home Affairs has been contacted for comment.

Additional reporting by  Natasya Salim .

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