Australian Visa Online Application (UK Citizens)
UK citizens planning to enter Australia for touristic or business purposes should apply for an eVisitor visa, allowing them to travel to Australia multiple times over a period of 12 months, staying in Australia for up to 90 days in each visit (more details here).
The application is very easy to complete and should only take a few minutes.
Once you have submitted your application, our staff will go through your online application and make sure everything is correct. Most of the times you will receive an answer within a day (99% of eVisitor applications are processed within 24 hours).
Auvisa.org helps you understand which travel visa you need for your trip to Australia and to obtain it quickly and easily.
For a small service fee, you’ll benefit from streamlined forms, manual review of your application, and 24-hour customer support:
1 Choose the type of visa that best suits your needs (95% of UK travellers apply for eVisitor visa).
2 Fill-in the online application form and pay safely by credit card or PayPal (24 hour support provided).
3 Receive the requested visa by email. In most cases, your visa will be approved within 24 hours.
Australian visas most requested by UK citizens:
Tourist Visa (eVisitor – Subclass 651)
If you are planning a visit to Australia for holiday, as a UK citizen you will need an Australian tourist visa (also known as “Australian vacation visa”).
To be able to apply for an Australian Tourist Visa you must be travelling to Australia for holiday or for visiting friends or family and hold a valid passport.
Business Visa (eVisitor – Subclass 651)
An Australian business visa is needed for anyone going from UK to Australia for business.
If you are looking for an Australian visa for attending a conference, a business trip, visiting potential clients or other typical business activities what you need is an Australian Business eVisitor.
Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
A Working Holiday visa for Australia enables young people from UK to travel to Australia for up to 12 months at a time for a gap year, for holidays, for exploring the country, for short-term studies or for short periods of work.
A Working Holiday visa is for British Citizens between 18 and 30 years of age (inclusive).
Other Available Online Visas
eVisitor Visa
(Subclass 651)
This visa allows UK citizens to travel to Australia freely for business or tourism over a period of 12 months, staying in the country for up to 90 days each visit.
Apply for a eVisitor VisaVisa detailsSecond Working Holiday Visa
(Subclass 417)
This visa is for UK travellers who have already been granted a Working Holiday Visa and wish to remain longer in Australia upon completion of three months of specified work.
Apply for a Second Working Holiday VisaVisa detailsLong Stay Visa
(Visitor Visa - Subclass 600)
This visa is designed for travelers not eligible for eVisitor visas or who wish to remain in Australia for more than 3 months. It can also be used by travellers who wish to extend their stay in Australia.
Apply for a Long Stay VisaVisa detailsStudent Visa
(Subclass 500)
This visa allows UK students to enter and stay in Australia to study at a university or school. Notice that students need to be admitted to a university or school before applying for this visa.
Apply for a Student VisaVisa detailsMCV (Maritime Crew Visa)
(Subclass 988)
An MCV visa (also known as Maritime Crew Visa) available to those coming by sea into Australia as part of a sea crew. This visa also allows family members to apply along with the crew member.
Apply for a MCV VisaVisa detailsTemporary Work Visa
(Subclass 400)
This visa is for UK citizens who have been invited to Australia in order to do short term highly specialised work, take part in cultural or social events or be involved in activities relating to Australia's interests.
Apply for a Temporary Work VisaVisa detailsBenefits of using Auvisa.org
Applying for an Australian visa in 2024: all there is to know
Get your Australian visa online right here on auvisa.org: the application for your Australian e-visa will take a few easy steps, and you will get the answer within a day most of the time. When travelling from UK, the application is very easy to complete and should only take a few minutes.
If you would like some more information about how Australian travel visas for UK citizens work just keep on reading to find out all you need to know about visitors’ visas, and if you are struggling to understand the application, you are encouraged to reach out for assistance: we are here to help you with your visa.
- Australian Visa Policies for visitors from UK
- Australian Visa Types for British citizens
- Australian Travel Visa Requirements for UK citizens
- How to Apply for an Australian Visa
- Cost of Different Visa Types
- Australian Visas’ Processing Time
- Australian Visa FAQs
Australian Visa Policy for Visitors from UK
As a British passport holder, in order to enter and temporarily stay in Australia you will need to obtain an Australian visa for British citizens. In other words, even if you already have a valid passport you still need a Visa from the Australian travel service before you can travel to Australia and enter the country.
The Australian visa policy is clear, and the visa application process from UK is an easy one though, so no need to worry: in most cases, it will be enough to fill out the online application for the type of visa you need, and you will be well on your way to beginning the application process. This is why Australian visitor visas are often referred to as “e-visas”.
The first step when applying from UK is to complete and submit the right form. Once you have submitted your visa application and paid your application fee you will in most cases receive a result within 24 hours: as soon as you are approved for a visa to Australia, you will soon be contacted via email with the desired visa – which most of the times is an eVisitor Visa.
As a matter of fact, the visa policy in Australia is not complicated, and nowadays it is highly automated and digitalized, also thanks to online visa services like ours: after you receive your eVisitor Visa you are free to enter Australia. When you have completed all the necessary steps and been approved for an eVisitor you are well on your way to experiencing Australia: your eVisitor is valid starting on the date you are approved for it.
For British citizens, the application process is typically so fast that many people seeking a visa to visit Australia don’t apply for it until just a few weeks before they are departing – but this is something we do not recommend.
There are a few things in the Australian visa application policy to be careful about though: in order to obtain your eVisitor from UK, your passport must be valid. Also, most airlines travelling to Australia require your passport to be valid for a minimum of six months upon your arrival in Australia, so we recommend complying to this requirement to avoid any issue at the moment of departure.
Also, depending on individual circumstances you may need to submit the results of medical examinations before you can receive a visa to enter Australia, and you may be asked for additional visa information in order to complete your application. UK travellers may also be required to prove their finances to government officials when they arrive in Australia – but this happens only in very specific cases, and UK visitors are always pre-alerted about this. Keep reading to find out more about visa types and all possible exceptions in the application process, or check out more info on Australian eVisitor Visa’s requirements and specifications.
Australian Visas for British citizens: Visa Types for Australia Entry
First of all: do all UK citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes: as a matter of fact, you cannot legally enter Australia from the UK without the proper visa. As a UK citizen entering Australia you need to ensure you do so with the right visa. There are several different kinds of visitor visa offered – the one you must obtain depends on your reason for traveling to the Australian continent.
Here is a list of the main types of visa available to UK citizens planning to temporarily visit Australia:
- eVisitor Visa
- Tourist Visa
- Business Visa
- Student Visa
- Working Holiday Visa
- Second Working Holiday Visa
- Long Stay Visa
- Temporary Work Visa
- Maritime Crew Visa
Regardless of which type or category of visa you need, you can complete the application online here on auvisa.org: you can apply in virtually any language, as your application will be translated appropriately by our staff.
eVisitor Visa
Your eVisitor is the most common Australian visa types you can obtain, as it is used for both leisure and business-related travel: as a matter of fact, most tourist and business visas released by the Australian Government are in fact some kind of eVisitor visas. More info on Australian eVisitor Visa’s requirements and specifications.
Tourist Visa
The tourist visa is the ideal visa category if you are visiting Australia from UK to spend time with a family member or a friend. Since this visa is in fact an eVisitor visa, it is also an ok choice if you will be in the country for some business or study-related activities.
When it comes to business and studies, the only things you are not normally permitted to do as a UK visitor on a tourist visa are working (paid work, anywhere in Australia) and studying for a period of longer than three months.
While your tourist visa is active you are permitted to come into the country several times, as all eVisitor tourist visas are multiple entry visas. More info on Australian Tourist Visa’s requirements and specifications.
Business Visa
If you are visiting Australia for a short amount of time on business, a visa of this category is sufficient. However, in order to use it in the correct way, you as a British visitor must be attending conferences, entering into business negotiations, or be seeking employment in the country. In other words, while general business can be done with this visa, you cannot use it to formally provide services or goods to Australian residents or to any business operating in it. More info on Australian Business Visa’s requirements and specifications.
Australian Student Visa
UK students of all ages need a proper visa to study in Australia. At any level of schooling, UK residents must have their visa to enter Australia as students. This includes primary, junior, and secondary school students – and in the case the UK citizen traveling to the country to study is a minor, then the parent or legal guardian can apply for the student guardian visa required by Australian Immigration.
If a British student is visiting Australia as part of a study exchange program, he/she must also have an Australian visa for UK students. This also applies to older students studying for associates, bachelors or graduate degrees, diplomas or certificates – and even UK citizens performing postgraduate research.
To simplify, all UK students travelling to Australia for studying need this visa.
For UK travellers, the application process to obtain a visa which is specific for students is slightly more complicated than those of eVisitor, Business or Touristic visas.
Upon being accepted into an Australian university or school, you will be provided a COE (Confirmation of Enrolment). After you receive the COE, you are able to start the application process for your visa. In many cases, you will be asked for a scanned copy of passport ID page, COE and insurance certificate covering the days that you are staying in Australia.
The length of the student visa depends on what is stated on the COE.
Many students want to travel around in Australia after the study is finished, in other words, they have to prolong the student visa. Prolonging can be done while the student is already in Australia: students can apply for a visa extension directly on Auvisa.org by using the long term visitor visa application form. During the application process, a bridge visa will issued: it means students will be legally staying inside Australia even the student visa has expired, while waiting for their Long Term Visitor Visa.
More info on Australian Student Visa’s requirements and specifications.
Working Holiday Visa (also known as “Work and Holiday”)
A Working Holiday visa allows British citizens to visit Australia for a period not exceeding one calendar year: if you plan to spend your time in Australia studying, working and socializing with friends, you can do so under this visa. However, only UK citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 (for Canadian, French and Irish citizens the age limit is 35) and qualify for this Australian visa category.
In order to qualify for a Working Holiday visa, your health at the time of visiting Australia needs to be good, and you must be able to take care of yourself financially for the duration of your stay in Australia.
While you are not limited in how much work you can complete on this visa, you cannot work for a specific employer for a period of time that exceeds six months, and if you are in the country to study, you are limited to four months under this visa – while if you are in the country on holiday you have the entire year to be on it. More info on Australian Working Holiday Visa’s requirements and specifications.
Second Working Holiday Visa (also known as “Second Work and Holiday Visa”)
Australian Working Holiday visas also include a “Second Working Holiday” version. It is used to extend the time a specific Working Holiday visa is valid for. You may apply for this visa if you have a Working Holiday visa that is reaching its expiration date.
Differently from the First Working Holiday visa, which can be obtained only when outside of Australia, this visa type can be obtained while the applicant is either inside or outside of Australia.
You must have worked in Australia for at least 88 days to qualify for this visa, and there are only certain types of work you can do in the country that will qualify you for the Second Working Holiday visa. Examples are construction, the cultivation of plants/animals, mining, fishing/pearling and tree farming. More info on the Australian Second Working Holiday Visa’s requirements and specifications.
Long Stay Visa (Visitor Visa)
The Australian Long-Stay Visitor Visa – also known as Visitor Visa – is a kind of permit valid for visiting Australia for a period of three months, six months or one full year: when you apply for this visa, you choose the amount of time you need it for.
This visa can for example be used if you are in the country to stay with family members. It can also be used for both business and tourism purposes. Long stay visa is also known as Subclass 600 visa, or Visitor Visa.
Long Stay Australian Visitor Visas are also referred to as “Australian extended visas” or “Australian visa extensions”, since when you are staying in Australia with a different type of visa (for example an eVisitor) and it is set to expire, the long-stay visitor visa allows you to extend your permanence in Australia after the eVisitor expires, hence the length of your stay. More info on Australian Long Stay Visa’s requirements and specifications.
Temporary Work Visa
Temporary work visas are for people who are going to do highly specialized work in Australia. This Australian visa is also known as Subclass 400 visa.
As a matter of fact, in order to obtain a temporary work visa, the Australian business you will be working for must formally invite you to enter Australia as a British citizen “temporarily needed” in Australia. This is why to qualify for this type of Australian visa you must have valid experience in the line of work you would be performing in the country.
In the absence of relevant work experience, you can however substitute skills with personal attributes. Differently from other kinds of Australian visas, the completion of an application for this particular Australian entry permit will include specified documents that you must provide in order to be approved.
After Auvisa.org receives your temporary work visa application, we will contact you to request eventually needed documents by email, such as: invitation letter from your Australian contact, employer statement in your home country, travel plan, insurance or personal bank statements.
Australian Travel Visa Requirements for UK citizens (2024)
As far as UK citizens are concerned, Australian Visa requirements include first of all the possession of an eligible passport: your Australia visa eligibility as a British passport holder is dependent mostly on this.
Health and character requirements must also be met by UK residents in order to comply with Australian visa rules. These are fairly easy to pass though, so getting an Australian visa from the UK is fairly easy: only if you are deemed a risk to the country’s residents you may be denied a visa.
Finally, in order to get an Australian temporary visitor visa from the UK, you must be entering Australia with the intention of staying only temporarily, and strictly follow the visa conditions for Australia.
Australian Visa Photo Requirements for UK travellers (2024)
As we said, for UK citizens travelling to Australia and entering the country with a travel visa is fairly easy. Application is made online and photo is not required.
In some other, more specific visa types, you might be asked to provide a coloured visa photo though. Some UK residents encounter a few problems complying with the photo requirements for their visa, so if you are ever required to submit a photo, please read the photo rules as below:
When applying some specific Australian visas from the UK, in order to fulfil 2024’s Australian visa requirements you must submit one coloured photos:
- The width of the photo must be between 35mm and 40mm. The length of the photo must be between 45mm and 50mm.
- In the photo, your head must be cantered. It cannot be slumped or tilted. Your eyes must be pointed directly at the camera and your facial expression must remain neutral.
- You are only permitted to wear glasses in your photo if you have a prescription for them.
- When it comes to dressing, your outfit in the photo must be a business or casual outfit. You are only permitted to wear something on your head if it does not obstruct the view of your face and if you are wearing it for religious reasons.
- Facial piercings are only permitted in the photo of UK residents if the light will not reflect off of them and they will not block any part of the face.
IMPORTANT: the photos you submit must be six months old or less and they cannot be altered in any way, including the removal of blemishes, correcting red-eye or applying filters typical of mobile apps.
These are the visual requirements to be followed if you are a UK citizen traveling to Australia.
Getting a Visa for Australia: How to Apply
Getting a visa for Australia is a process that takes place completely online – which is why people often talk of “Australian e-visas”.
First of all, you should identify what kind of Australian visa you need depending on what your reason to enter Australia is, your age, how long you will stay in Australia, etc.
Then, before you fill out the visa application page you should quickly read the visa rules and requirements for 2024 – you will find them in each visa application page, like this for eVisitor visas.
Finally, in order to start the e-visa application process you are required to supply your email address and your personal details to start your online visa application process.
The basic visa information you must provide is typically your full legal name, as well as your gender. You will also have to disclose when and where you were born, what your relationship status is and if you have any legal dependents. Any Australia visa application from UK requires you to submit the needed bank statements as well. The Australian visa application process for UK citizens also includes disclosure of whether or not you have had a medical exam performed within the year leading up to your application.
Once you have entered all the required information all you have to do to get your Australian e-visa is submitting your application electronically. If you are not able to complete the entire application at once don’t worry: all your visa data will be saved, and you can later sign back in with your tracking code and email address – picking up the online visa application process where you left it.
After submitting their online visa application, all UK residents can also use their tracking code and email address to check their visa application status.
Cost of Different Visa Types
The amount you will have to pay as a British citizen for each Australian visa application depends on which visa type it is.
For example, the cheapest Australian Tourist Visa and Business Visas both cost UK residents £59.00 (note: if other UK citizens are applying for a visa right along with you, they must also pay the fee).
Instead, an Australian Working Holiday Visa’s price for UK residents is £515.00.
The fee may also depend basing on when and where the Australian visa request is made: to obtaining a long-term visitor visa as a UK resident before entering the country you will have to pay a visa fee of £275.00 – but if you apply for this visa while you are located in Australia, an additional £150 price is added to the cost.
The most expensive visa though is the student visa, which will cost UK students a price of £640.00 (on top of any university / school fee).
Australian Online Visa Processing Time
While an Australian eVisitor entry permit normally takes maximum 48 hours to process, Australian online visa processing time for other visa types are different.
Most Australian visa permits are processed in 48 hours or less, but some will take longer. As an example, if you will be travelling to Australia and entering the country for the purpose of going on a cruise, visa processing times for your application may take longer: anywhere from 18 to 24 days. See specific visa pages for more details on visa-specific processing times.
Australian Visa FAQ
If you are planning to travel to Australia and still have some questions about generic visa-related issues, these Frequently Asked Questions and answers (including handy tips) will help you.
Here you will learn more details about Australian travel visas, passport requirements, health regulations and any additional documentation you may need: go straight to the question of your choice or read through our entire Australian Visa FAQs to know all there is to know about travelling to Australia and entering the country with the most common types of Visa and e-Visa. Here are all the most frequently asked questions we collected:
- What do I need to go to Australia?
- What do I need to fly to Australia?
- Do you need a visa to go to and visit Australia?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Australia for holiday?
- When do you need a visa for Australia?
- Why do I need a visa to travel to Australia?
- How long does it take to get a visa for Australia?
- How do you apply for an Australian Visa?
- How much is a visa for Australia?
- How do you pay for the Australian visa fee?
- How do I get a Visa to travel to Australia?
- Can I travel to Australia without a Visa?
- Do you need a passport to go to Australia?
- How should I scan the passport photo for my Australian visa?
- How many times can you visit Australia?
- How long does it take to process an Australian Visa?
- Why is my Australian visa taking so long?
- How long can I stay in Australia without a visa?
- How long is an Australian visa valid for?
- Do you need a health examination for an Australian visa?
- Do I need a visa for Australia and New Zealand?
- Do you need to print the visa for Australia?
- What visa do I need to visit Australia?
- How long are different types of Australian visas valid for?
- How long does it take to get an eVisitor visa for Australia?
What do I need to go to Australia?
If you are planning to go to Australia, the country requires a valid Australian visa and a valid UK passport. The type of visa you need for Australia depends on why you plan to travel to Australia and how long you plan to stay. For example, if you are planning to go to Australia for business, you can apply for a Business Visa, if you are going for tourism you can apply for a Tourist Visa and if you are going for a longer “work and holiday” experience you can apply for a Working Holiday Visa. In general, however, the most commonly used type of visa among UK passport holders is the eVisitor visa.
What do I need to fly to Australia?
Whether you plan to fly to Australia for work or pleasure, you will need to present your passport when you arrive at an airport.
You should also have all your documentation ready to provide to your travel provider before you board your flight. You will need your boarding ticket, UK passport and the Australian travel visa most suitable for your stay in Australia – such as an eVisitor.
Once on-board, before landing you will also need to fill out a passenger identification card. It includes your name, date of birth, occupation, flight information, the address where you are staying in Australia, passport number and how long you plan on staying.
Notice that while Australian Immigration authorities have no strict requirements in terms of passport expiration dates several major airlines require that your passport is still valid for at least 6 months from your departure date – so we recommend checking your passport satisfies also this requirement before confirming your trip to Australia.
Do you need a visa to go to and visit Australia?
Many UK residents ask if they need a visa to visit Australia. The answer is yes. As a British citizen, you can apply for an eVisitor visa if you plan to travel to Australia for less than 90 days. Also known as e-Visa, the Australian eVisitor allows you to apply for an e-visa electronically from home to streamline the process: something you can do it right here on Auvisa.
To apply as a UK citizen, you will also need a valid UK passport – and you will need to pay a visa fee with your credit or debit card. Once you have completed the application and you are approved to enter Australia you will then receive a reference number.
Do I need a visa to travel to Australia for holiday?
Yes, even if you plan to go to Australia for a vacation, you will need both a valid UK passport and a travel Visa – typically an Australian tourist visa. If you plan to travel to Australia for less than 90 days, you can apply for a visa through the eVisitor. As a matter of fact, a valid eVisitor allows British citizens to stay in Australia for 90 days at a time for one year – you can then also request an extension if your stay exceeds 90 days.
When do you need a visa for Australia?
Any time you plan to go to Australia, and you are not a citizen of the country or a citizen of New Zealand, you will need a visa. British citizens need a valid UK passport and a visa before they can travel to and enter Australia.
Why do I need a visa to travel to Australia?
“Why do I need a visa for Australia?” is a question many UK travellers ask themselves, considering the good political relations between the UK and Australia. However, any foreign national who wants to travel to Australia MUST have a visitor visa. The visa policy of the country is strict about this, and requires non-citizens of Australia or New Zealand to have a visa before entry. Australia does not issue visas upon arrival, and you should have a valid visa before you make travel arrangements. If you need to travel to Australia soon and are in need of a quick visa, we recommend applying for an online eVisitor visa.
How long does it take to get a visa for Australia?
When considering the eVisitor visa, most British citizens’ visa applications are processed within 24-48 hours. In many cases, you will receive a visa grant notification immediately. To avoid delays though, make sure you enter all the required information correctly.
In some specific cases, your visa application may take longer than expected. For example, if you have a criminal record you may need a clearance from your local police, which will delay the application process.
Also in case you want to go to Australia for more than 90 days – so you are applying for a visa different from the typical Australian eVisitor – the processing time can be longer, and it can take up to 20 days to receive a visa grant notification.
How do you apply for an Australian Visa?
If you plan on staying in Australia for 90 days or less, you can apply for a business or tourist visa to travel to Australia directly online.
Even if you want to go to Australia for more than 90 days as a Student, a Temporary Worker or with a Working Holiday Visa you can still apply directly online on our site.
Finally, here you can also apply for a long-stay (up to 12 months) Visitor visa to Australia.
How much is a visa for Australia?
How much it costs to get an Australian visa depends on why you are visiting and how long you plan to stay. For example, our rate for an eVisitor travel visa to Australia – including all fees – is £59.00 for each traveller. Instead, getting a student visa will cost you 512 GBP, and a travel visa of the “Working Holiday” type will cost you £515.00.
How do you pay for the Australian visa fee?
You can pay for your Australian visa directly online on our site using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner’s Club, PayPal or any pre-paid credit card.
How do I get a Visa to travel to Australia?
In most cases getting a visa to go to Australia is not hard, as you can acquire an Australian visa directly online – as long as you have a valid UK passport. However, the type of visa you need to get in order to go to Australia depends on the purpose of your visit. Examples of Australian online visas are:
- eVisitor Visa
- Tourist Visa
- Business Visa
- Student Visa
- Working Holiday Visa
- Second Working Holiday Visa
- Long Stay Visa
- Temporary Work Visa
- Maritime Crew Visa
Can I travel to Australia without a Visa?
Technically, no: you cannot travel to Australia and enter Australian borders without a valid visa. If you do not have a visa when you arrive in Australia and you are not an Australian citizen, you will need a special permission to enter, or you will be forced to leave the country. As a matter of fact, if you do not meet Australia’s immigration requirements, Australian immigration authorities may deny entry.
Do you need a passport to go to Australia?
Yes, if you are planning to go to Australia from UK, you will need a valid passport. Additionally, all children must have their own passport to travel to Australia. A child is anyone under the age of 18 who has not been married, and you must apply for a separate passport for your children if they don’t already have one.
You must also apply for a separate visa for each of your children to enter Australia, regardless of their age. In order to obtain an eVisitor from UK, your passport must be valid at the moment of application and still be valid when entering Australia. Also, most airlines flying to Australia require your passport to be valid for a minimum of six months upon arrival in Australia, so we strongly recommend complying to this requirement as well – in order to avoid any issue at the moment of departure.
How should I scan the passport photo for my Australian visa?
In order to obtain the most commonly used Australian visas, there is normally no need to scan and send any photo.
However in some rare, specific cases Australian immigration authorities may ask to receive a scanned photo in advance, to confirm your identity and documents. In such cases, when you scan the passport photo for your Australian visa the photo must be in colour and upright.
Do not place the photo on coloured piece of paper before you scan. Your photo should show you facing the camera against a neutral background.
Additionally, it must be less than 6 months old. the width of the original photo must be 35 to 40mm, and the length must be between 45mm and 50mm. In the photo, your head must be cantered, not slumped nor tilted – and your eyes must be open and pointed directly at the camera. Glasses are only permitted if you have a prescription for them.
How many times can you visit Australia?
For short term tourism and business, after you get the approved eVisitor, you can visit Australia as many times as you like within the validity of the visa, which is usually one year from the date of issue – as long as your UK passport is still valid.
How long you can stay each time depends on the purpose of your visit. For example, if you have an eVisitor tourist/business visa, you can stay for 90 days at a time for one year. If you want to stay for longer than 90 days though, you can still apply for another visa, like a long stay visitor visa or a Working Holiday visa.
For other visa types, for example Temporary Work Visas, it is usually just a single entry. It means you can enter Australia only once.
How long does it take to process an Australian Visa?
How long it takes for an Australian visa depends on the type of visa. If you apply for your visa online, your application is processed instantaneously most of the times: historical data shows 90 percent of online British citizen applications for e-visas are processed immediately. In some cases, though, it could take between 24 to 48 hours depending on the accuracy of your application or whether you have a criminal record.
In general, most Australian visa permits are processed in 48 hours or less, but some will take longer. As an example, if you will be travelling to Australia and entering the country for the purpose of going on a cruise, visa processing time for your application may take longer: anywhere from 18 to 24 days. See specific visa pages for more details on visa-specific processing times.
Why is my Australian visa taking so long?
There are several reasons why your visa application may get delayed. The Australian government may request more information, or there were maybe errors on your application. In some cases, your circumstances might be deemed “unusual,” and your application will then need more time for review.
Also, for some visa types Immigration has to verify all the data entered on the application form is authentic. For example, in order to release the 2nd Working Holiday Visa, Australian Immigration has to check if 88 days of regional work have been really completed.
How long can I stay in Australia without a visa?
You need a visa to enter Australia. If it expires while you are in Australia, you are at risk of getting sent home. So, you cannot stay in Australia if you do not have a visa.
How long is an Australian visa valid for?
If you are wondering how long an Australian visa lasts, here is the answer: an Australian visa lasts for three, six, nine or 12 months – depending on the purpose of your visit.
For example, a short-term visa through the eVisitor is good for a three months stay. However, it is good for one year from your application date, and you can still leave Australia and re-enter as many times as you wish.
If you want to travel to Australia for more than 90 days, you will most likely need to apply for a Working Holiday visa or for a Visitor Visa (long-stay visa), which is typically good for 6 to 12 months.
Do you need a health examination for an Australian visa?
You will need a health examination if you are applying for a provisional or permanent visa. A temporary visa may or may not require an exam.
Whether you need one depends on the visa type, what you want to do in Australia or any special circumstances or medical conditions you may have. If you want to go to Australia for more than 6 months, you may be required to undergo a medical examination with chest x-rays. If needed, specific visa pages and request forms of our site will list any kind of health examination required.
In general, when you submit your application no medical examination certificate is needed. After the application has been processed, Immigration might ask for medical examination – which can only done by the panel doctors authorized by Australian Immigration.
Do I need a visa for Australia and New Zealand?
Since Australia and New Zealand are separate countries, to enter both countries you will need two different travel visas. As a British citizen, to travel to New Zealand you must have a valid passport that is good for three months past your departure date, and you must have a visitor visa from the New Zealand eVisitor.
Do you need to print the visa for Australia?
Since visas are now recorded electronically, you do not need to print your Australian visa. Additionally, you do not need to print out any confirmation emails since all information is linked to your passport by the Australian government. However, you may want to print the confirmation email, the confirmation numbers or other pertinent information for your own records.
What visa do I need to visit Australia?
The type of visa you need to visit Australia depends on why you are going and how long you plan to stay. Australia offers a variety of visa types a UK citizen can choose from, depending on the reason for your visit: online visas released by Australia’s Immigration Department include tourist visas, business visas, long-stay tourist visas and long-validity business visas; other visas are also student visas, medical visas or Working Holiday visas.
Here is our “rule of thumb”:
- If you are getting a visa because you are planning to travel to Australia for a vacation or to visit friends or family, you should apply for a tourist e-visa (eVisitor)
- If you have a business meeting or conference you need to attend, getting a business visa eVisitor is the right thing to do.
- British citizens between the ages of 18-30 who want to work or study while they are on an extended vacationing should instead apply for a Working Holiday visa – also available online in the form of e-visa.
- Long-stay visas are also available if you want to stay for more than 90 days, and they are good for up to 12 months.
- If you have been admitted to a school or university, you have the option to apply for a student visa.
- If none of the above fits your needs, Maritime Crew Visas, Work Visas, Temporary Work Visas and Second Work Visas are also available.
If you are unsure what visa you need to enter Australia you can find more information about each kind of Australian visa on the dedicated page.
How long are different types of Australian visas valid for?
If you are wondering how many days an Australia visa lasts, here is the answer: the most common visa for UK residents is the tourist/business visa, in the form Australia’s eVisitor Visa Stream, which lets you stay in Australia for three months at a time during a one-year period. If then you want to stay in Australia longer, you can also apply for an extension, in the form of a long-stay visa.
We could say that eVisitor e-visa is the de-facto “standard visa” for most UK residents visiting Australia, but also long-stay visitor visas are available, allowing you to stay in Australia for up to one year.
Work/Holiday visas are also valid for up to one year, with no need to leave the country every three months..
How long does it take to get an eVisitor visa for Australia?
British citizens who apply for a visa using the Australian eVisitor online form typically receive an instantaneous approval. However, there can be a delay of up to 24-48 hours if you fill out your application incorrectly or you have a criminal record.
Thanks to the help of Auvisa, in just a few easy steps you can apply for an Australian visa directly online. The application should only take a few minutes and you normally receive a response within 24 hour.