How to get an Australian visa is the topic of this installment of our guide to emigrating to Australia…
To enter Australia you need to have a visa issued by the Australian government. This applies regardless of what you plan to do in Australia or how long you plan to stay there and anyone who doesn’t have one will find themselves being refused entry on arrival at the airport or port (it must be applied for in advance of your arrival as applications are arrival are not permitted).
The first step to getting a visa is to determine what type you need and whether you’re eligible for it. You can do this by visiting http://www.immi.gov.au, where you’ll find information on the various types of visas and be able to download an immigration application form.
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.
How much the application will cost is dependent on which type of visa you’re applying for, but, when also factoring in police checks and copies of medical records, you can expect it to be more than $300. As for time, it normally takes at least 12 months for the processing of a successful application.
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).
Want to know more about emigrating to Australia? Take a look at our free guide: Emigrating To Australia