Visit Australia

Australia is a very popular destination for holidaying. Tourists come from all over the world, in fact the Department of Immigration issues more than five million visitor visa a year. Depending on the country of your passport, you may apply for a specific visitor visa, in any case you do need a visa to enter Australia even for a short holiday. Check the visa subclass to see which one best suit you.

VISITOR VISAS SUBCLASSES 601, 651, 600

There are various visas that can be used for short term, either for tourism or to visit relatives or for a short business visit. Work is not allowed but study up to three months is permitted. Depending on the duration, purpose of the visit or the country of passport, you must choose the appropriate subclass. In order to be granted these kinds of visas, you must be a genuine visitor. Dependants cannot be included on the visa. The subclass available are: – Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) 601 – E-Visitor 651 – Visitor 600

WORKING HOLIDAY VISAS SUBCLASS 417

This visa is available to the countries, that have subscribed to a reciprocal arrangement with the Australian government for this type of programme: Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

A Working Holiday Visa does not allow for the inclusion of dependants. It allows people who are under 31 years old, or 35 years old in the case of Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, France and the United Kingdom, to enjoy a holiday in Australia with permission to work, however, the visa holder cannot work more than six months with the same employer (exceptions apply). Studying is also allowed, however no longer than four months. If you wish to study for a longer period, you should apply for a student visa Subclass 500. The Working Holiday visa can be extended for a further two years as long as the applicant has not reached his or her 31st birthday, or 36th where allowed. In order to apply for a second WHV, it is compulsory to have completed three-month full-time-specified work in a specified regional area, while in order to apply for a third WHV the specified work should be for six months and performed during the second WHV.

WORK AND HOLIDAY SUBCLASS 462

This visa is available to the countries, that have subscribed to a reciprocal arrangement with the Australian government for this type of programme: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, USA, Uruguay, Vietnam.

A Work and Holiday visa does not allow for the inclusion of dependants. It allows people who are under 31 years old to enjoy a holiday in Australia with permission to work, however, the visa holder cannot work more than six months with the same employer (exceptions apply). Studying is also allowed, however no longer than four months. If you wish to study for a longer period, you should apply for a student visa Subclass 500.  Applicants will be required to show an educational qualification and an English level depending on the country of their passport. In addition to this, the applicant may have to provide a letter of support from the government of their own country. It is possible to qualify for a second or third-year visa extension by working in specific areas of Australia by doing specific work, similar to the Working Holiday visa Subclass 417.

TEMPORARY ACTIVITY VISA SUBCLASS 408

This visa includes several activities, such as temporary work or participation in events, and it refers to the field of entertainment, research, staff exchange arrangements, sport, religious and domestic work, and other cultural or Government events.

The applicant must be sponsored or supported by an organisation or an individual in Australia and the visa may be granted for three months or longer, depending on the activity stream.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa if I want to come to Australia on a holiday?

Yes. There are three different subclasses of visitor visas, depending on your country of passport.