Visitor Visas

Happily for tourism, which is a vital industry for Australia, the issuing of Visitor Visas is facilitated by a global computerised system which allows travel agents in many countries to communicate directly with the Australian Embassy and obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) by email within a matter of minutes. The Visa doesn't appear in the visitor's passport but its existence is communicated to all airlines travelling to Australia and of course to all of the country's airports and other points of entry. People of certain nationalities can even apply online.

The ETA allows the holder to entry Australia on multiple occasions during the course of a year or for the life of their passport, and to stay for up to three months each time. Movement within the country is unrestricted but employment, as for all Visitor Visa holders, is strictly forbidden. On this point, the authorities play hard. Any visitor caught working to earn a little money to cover their travelling costs is unceremoniously shown the door, often after a night or three in an Immigration Detention Centre. Even work that is paid for overseas is prohibited for Visitor Visa holders. Anyone wanting to visit Australia for business reasons should tell the Australian Embassy and request a special type of Visitor Visa or ETA which allows them to conduct business in Australia.

Visitor Visas can be extended but anyone intending to stay more than three months is advised to apply for a long-term Visitor Visa (usually up to six months) before starting out.

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