Visitor visas
Australia warmly welcomes all who wish to visit as tourists. The allure of basking in the Australian sun, strolling along pristine white beaches, experiencing unique flora and fauna, and enjoying the friendly atmosphere of a prosperous society naturally attracts millions of tourists from around the world. Many visitors find more advantages to living in Australia than in their own countries and consider moving or sending their children here in hopes of ensuring a stable future.
Unfortunately, in pursuit of the Australian dream, not all migrants adhere to the law and visa conditions, making illegal migration a significant issue. A common method for illegal immigrants is to enter the country on a tourist visa with the intention of overstaying, hoping for leniency from immigration officials, which, of course, is not granted.
This situation compels the Australian Government to impose slightly higher standards of proof on those wishing to visit as tourists, compared to other countries, in order to receive a positive decision on a tourist visa.
These requirements include:
-
Evidence of the intention to stay solely for tourist purposes.
-
Evidence of a lack of interest in a long-term stay in Australia.
-
Evidence of compelling reasons obliging the visitor to return to their country of departure (a return ticket alone is not considered sufficient).
-
Proof of financial well-being sufficient for the trip and to support themselves in Australia during this period.
As a rule, a visitor visa does not provide the opportunity to work in Australia or receive other income from activities (with the exception of subclass 462 and subclass 417 visas; see their detailed descriptions below). However, all visitor visas allow studying in a short course lasting no more than 3 months.
Expert Advice
Refusals of tourist visas happen quite often. Therefore, before your application is considered on its merits and a decision is received regarding the tourist visa, we do not recommend paying for hotels, booking a car, or purchasing airline tickets, especially if such payments are non-refundable.
A refusal of a tourist visa, like any other decision made by the Department, can be appealed in some cases. However, this process can be expensive and time-consuming. The best solution in this case is to analyze the reason for the refusal (the officer always provides a justification when denying a visa) and reapply, correcting the errors.
-
We will assist in obtaining tourist, guest, transit, Work and Holiday visas, and more.
-
We will provide support in case of visa refusal and offer a professional analysis of the reasons for refusal, enabling you to reapply independently while addressing previous mistakes.
Australian legislation offers several types of visitor visas. Let's look at the most popular options.
Visitor visa (subclass 600)
This is a temporary visa for tourism, as well as for visiting friends and relatives in Australia. It is granted for a maximum of 12 months and may allow for multiple entries into the country, with the right to stay continuously for 3 months from the date of entry or for the entire duration of the visa. The visa does not allow for an extension, but you can apply for a repeat visitor visa once you are in Australia, although you will most likely need to provide a compelling reason for wanting to stay longer. The subclass 600 visitor visa has six streams: Visitor stream - For citizens of all countries for the purpose of tourism, visiting relatives and friends in Australia, and studying short-term courses lasting no more than 3 months. Visitor stream (submission in Australia) - For citizens of all countries with the same purposes as the first stream, but for visitors who are already in Australia. Sponsored family stream - For citizens of all countries visiting relatives in Australia. The relative must be an Australian citizen who is at least 18 years old and has a certain degree of kinship with the applicant. They must also act as a sponsor for the guest visa, guaranteeing all obligations of the applicant, including visa conditions and financial obligations. Typically, this is secured by a deposit of at least AU$5000.00 made by the sponsor, which is returned upon expiration of the visa if the visitor has not violated any conditions. A violation by the visitor may result in sanctions against the sponsor, who would be prohibited from sponsoring relatives for five years. Business visitor stream - For citizens of all countries with a maximum stay of up to 3 months for tourism associated with business, including attending conferences, meetings, seminars, and exhibitions. Visitors are not allowed to engage in business activities or receive payment for participation in business meetings. Approved Destination Status stream - Available only for Chinese citizens visiting Australia for tourism as part of a tour group organized by an authorized travel agent. Frequent traveler stream - Available only for Chinese citizens for tourism or visiting family or friends. This visa is granted for 10 years with multiple entries, allowing the visitor to stay in Australia for no more than 3 months from the date of each entry, with a total stay not exceeding 12 months in any 24-month period.
Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
This temporary visa is available for young people aged 18 to 30 (inclusive) for the purpose of an extended holiday in Australia, typically lasting about 12 months, with the possibility of short-term employment during this period to support their stay. The visa is available to citizens of the USA and a number of designated European, South American and Asian countries, subject to certain conditions (for example, a certificate of adequate English language proficiency for Israeli citizens or other requirements for citizens of countries specified in the Australian Department of Home Affairs list). The visa does not allow for an extension; however, the applicant may apply for a second and third subclass 462 visa under certain conditions. These conditions may include at least 3 months of a specified work, such as on farms, in construction, in remote areas of Australia, or in the elimination of bushfires or disasters, among others determined by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
This is a temporary visa, which closely mirrors the conditions of the Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462),but it differs primarily in that the list of eligible countries that includes UK, Canada, Japan and several other countries. Additionally, the age limit for applicants from certain countries has been increased to 35 years (including Canada, Denmark, France, and Great Britain). An important distinguishing condition for granting a subclass 417 visa is that the applicant has not previously applied for or held a subclass 462 visa. As with the subclass 462 visa, an extension is not provided; however, there is an option to apply for a second and third subclass 417 visa, provided that the relevant conditions of the first visa are met, such as performing specified work or work in a specified industry, among other requirements.
Consulting with an experienced migration agent before applying for a visitor visa on your own can significantly increase the chances of positive outcome of your application.
If you are considering visiting Australia but would like to stay permanently in the long run, it is extremely useful to consult a professional migration agent who specializes in Australian visas. Your visitor visa may have specific conditions where you will have to leave Australia before you can apply for another visa. In this case, you will need to apply for a new "big" visa outside Australia and wait for its grant there. This is quite reasonable.
Visitors to Australia need to be aware that violating the terms of stay on a visa may lead to immigration detention and subsequent deportation, along with a ban on re-entering the country for at least three years. Additionally, it can damage a person's migration reputation, significantly reducing their chances of obtaining Australian visa in the future. If your visa expires and you cannot leave Australia for any reason, we advise you to immediately contact the Department of Home Affairs or reach out to us for assistance.
We strongly recommend against starting your migration journey to Australia by breaking the law! It is much wiser to develop a migration plan in advance by assessing your own resources (age, education, work experience, etc.), the costs and risks you are willing to bear for the resettlement program (your time, current job and position, financial resources, etc.), and deciding on the ultimate goal of the endeavor (such as obtaining an education or permanent resident status). With a clear plan in place you can implement it thoughtfully.
Visitor visa is suitable for:
-
travel, recreation and spending time with relatives (friends)
-
improving English skills (taking short-term courses)
-
establishing business contacts and meeting business partners, attending seminars, conferences
-
meeting a marriage partner (an important component of the visa for a proposed marriage)
-
choosing an educational institution with the possibility of in-person consultation with the administration
-
taking qualification exams
-
finding an employer (including for the purpose of qualified labor migration)
-
for other short-term purposes as a review visit to determine a further strategy for migration
Visitor visa doesn't allow:
-
to stay in Australia for a long period or permanently
-
to engage in labor activity, including short-term, with the exception of volunteering
-
to access local government healthcare system or any other social benefits