Emigrating To Australia : Getting A Visa

How to get an Australian visa is the topic of this installment of our guide to emigrating to Australia…

Australia has a universal visa system, which means that all people traveling to Australia (except Australian citizens) require a valid visa to enter the country. Failure to arrange this prior to arrival will result in you being turned away on arrival at the airport and being immediately sent back to the country you flew from.

You can find details of the various types of visas offered by visiting http://www.immi.gov.au, where you can also download an immigration application form. Be sure to read through all of the information and advice provided on the website to ensure that you’re both applying for the right type of visa and are eligible for it.

An immigration application form must be completed by all applicants wishing to emigrate to Australia and it must be sent to an office of the Department of Immigration and Culture (DIAC) with all relevant documentation and the fee.

It’s absolutely crucial that any paperwork submitted is done so correctly or your application will be returned to you, and you will, unfortunately, have to re apply. You can use a migration agent to help you with this if you have any concerns about your ability to do it yourself.

Fees for visas vary dramatically depending upon the visa category you are applying under. With police checks, medical records, government fees etc, the cost of the application can, sometimes, be a considerable expense. The time taken to process your application also varies, though you should allow a minimum of 12 months.

The DIAC will inform you of their decision by letter, which will also include details of how to get your passport updated (if your application was successful) or how do apply for a review of their decision (if your application was unsuccessful).