Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General visa FAQs

Which visa should I apply for?

This depends on your purpose for travel and other factors. Our website has a visa finder tool, which can help you determine which visa will be most suitable for your travel purpose. Information on applying for visas is available on the embassy website in English and Spanish.

If you are unable to locate the information you require on our website, you may telephone the Global Service Centre in Australia at +61 2 6196 0196. Spanish interpreting services are available.

Information about who can help with your application is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.

How long will my application take to process?

Global processing times for all visa and citizenship applications are published on the Department of Home Affairs website each month, providing an indicative timeframe for processing applications. These are average times and actual processing times can vary considerably. Processing times are impacted by changes in application volumes, seasonal peaks, complex cases, operational demands and incomplete applications.

Avoid processing delays by lodging applications complete with all requirements at the time of lodgement and by responding to any requests in a timely manner.

I need to travel urgently. What can I do?

The Department of Home Affairs generally processes visas in the order that we receive them. However, special consideration may be given for genuinely compelling or compassionate reasons.

If you have not done so, lodge a visa application and ensure all required evidence is uploaded to ImmiAccount. Attach a letter explaining the nature of the compelling or compassionate circumstances and provide any available supporting evidence (for example a letter from a doctor if a family member is ill).

If necessary, telephone the Global Service Centre in Australia on +61 2 6196 0196.

We strongly recommend that you should not book flights or make travel commitments until you have a visa to travel to Australia. The department will not be liable for any financial loss incurred by applicants whose visa application was finalised later than expected or where an application is unsuccessful.

I have applied for Australian citizenship and need to travel to Australia urgently. Can I travel on my current passport?

Australian citizens must enter and depart Australia on an Australian passport. If you are not yet an Australian citizen, you can apply for a visa on a foreign (non-Australian) passport. For assistance, contact the Global Service Centre in Australia on +61 2 6196 0196.

Can I apply for more than one visa?

Yes, you can re-apply for the same visa or apply for multiple visas at the same time. However, there are a couple of important points to note:

· If you have previously been refused a visa, you must declare this in your new application.

· You will need to provide all relevant information and documentation for each application.

· You can only hold one visa at any time, a new visa will replace a visa granted earlier. Therefore, you should withdraw pending visa applications if you do not wish for a current visa to cease.

What are the visa requirements for minors?

In addition to the regular visa requirements, if minors are not travelling with both parents, appropriate arrangements must also be in place for the child’s welfare in Australia, and we must be satisfied that the grant of the visa is in the best interests of the child.

Minors need to demonstrate that both of parents (or guardians) consent to the grant of the visa. A birth certificate, adoption papers or other custody documentation will be required.

Both parents (or guardians) must complete Form 1229 and provide a scanned copy of an official form of identification that includes their signatures (usually a passport or ID card).

Alternatively, legal documentation may be provided to demonstrate that the child is permitted to travel to Australia.

Are there any additional requirements for older applicants?

Health examinations and health insurance are required for applicants 75 years of age or older.

What are the character requirements to enter Australia?

Everyone who wishes to enter Australia must be assessed against the character requirements.

What are the health requirements to enter Australia?

Everyone who wishes to enter Australia must meet the health requirement.

Which doctors can do the medical exam?

Information on panel physicians is listed under Offices outside Australia for your country of residence. Only listed panel doctors are authorised to conduct medical examinations for visa applications.

Which vaccines are required to travel to Australia?

The Department of Health website has information about yellow fever and other vaccinations. You may need to undertake health examinations before being granted a visa.

Who can assist with my application?

You can apply for a visa or citizenship by creating your own ImmiAccount.

If you need help, information about who can help with your application is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.

If you wish to appoint a registered migration agent to act on your behalf, complete and provide Form 956.

If you wish to appoint any other person to receive correspondence on your behalf, complete and provide Form 956A.

Do I need to provide translations or certified copies?

You do not need to provide certified copies of documents. You will need to provide high quality colour scans of the original documents. For documents that are not issued in English, these must be accompanied by English translations.

How can I check the status of my application?

Log into your ImmiAccount to check the progress of an online application.

How can I check my visa details?

Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) is a free online service that gives visa holders, employers and other registered organisations access to visa entitlements and status information 24 hours a day.

You can check your visa details, including validity and visa conditions, online using VEVO.

What travel document is required to enter Australia?

Everyone applying for a visa or entering Australia must present a valid and approved official travel document as evidence of their identity and nationality – usually a passport issued by the holder’s country of citizenship.

Australian visas are electronically attached to the valid passport used on the visa application. You may not be allowed to travel on a passport that the visa is not linked to. Therefore it is essential that you advise us of any new passports.

How can I correct an error in my application?

You should notify the department of any changes in your circumstances.

ImmiAccount is the preferred channel for updating both passport and contact details.

If you wish to update your residential address, email address and/or contact phone number(s), please do so through ImmiAccount.

How can I withdraw my application?

If you applied online, you can withdraw your visa application in ImmiAccount before we make a decision.

You cannot withdraw your application by removing the application.

To withdraw your application:

Log in to ImmiAccount
Select ‘view’ to open your application
Select ‘Update details’
Select ‘withdrawal of a visa application’

If you can’t see the link to the withdrawal of visa application form, complete Form 1446 Withdrawal of a visa application (338KB PDF). Everyone in the application aged 18 or older must sign the form. Attach the form to your application.

Why was my visa application refused?

We send a notification letter explaining the reasons for the refusal and any rights you may have to apply for review of the decision with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in Australia. Once a visa application has been refused, the department is not able to review the decision.

If you did not receive a notification letter, check that your contact details in ImmiAccount are accurate, check your junk email folder and whether the letter is in your ImmiAccount. If you cannot locate the letter, telephone the Global Service Centre in Australia on +61 2 6196 0196.

Can I apply again after a refusal?

You can apply for another visa if you are outside Australia. If you are in Australia, have had a visa refused or cancelled since your last entry into Australia, and do not hold a substantive visa, you may be subject to limitations on applications.

If you have a visa refused for providing misleading information or a non-genuine document, you may not be eligible for a visa for 3 years.

Each application is treated as a new application and assessed on its own merits. However, if you had an application refused, it was because the department was not satisfied that you met at least one of the visa criteria. Therefore, if your circumstances and evidence have not changed, you may not satisfy the same criterion. If you apply again, you should address the reasons for the previous refusal in the new application and provide a clear explanation and evidence as to why you believe that you meet the criterion.

You must declare any previous refusals in any new applications. Failing to declare a previous refusal may be considered misleading information.

What are the conditions on my visa?

You can check your visa conditions on your visa grant notification letter or via VEVO.

How can I ask for a refund?

Visa application charges (VACs) are a legal requirement for most visa applications. A VAC is payable whether the application is granted, refused or withdrawn. You may request a refund on Form 1424. However, refunds are only available in very limited circumstances, as indicated on question 21 of Form 1424.

Visitor visa FAQs

See the Department of Home Affairs website for further information about Visitor visas. Additional information for applicants in Peru and Bolivia is available here.

I have been granted a visa. Why haven’t my family received their visas?

All visa applications are considered individually, even if you apply as a group. In particular, visas for children or the elderly may take longer than global processing times. We strongly recommend submitting complete applications and not making travel plans until all travellers have obtained visas.

I am travelling on Business. Should my family apply for a Business Visitor or Tourist visa?

Family accompanying a Business Visitor to Australia should apply for a Tourist stream Visitor visa unless they also intend to partake in business activities, in which case they would apply for a Business Visitor.

Can I apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)?

Only specified passport holders are eligible to apply for an ETA. Peruvian and Bolivian passport holders are not eligible to apply for an ETA. Individuals who hold a non-citizen passport, certificate of identity or other travel document cannot apply for an ETA.

I hold an ETA eligible passport but when I tried to apply, I received a message saying that the application cannot be assessed. What do I do now?

This means that the application is one of a small number of applications that cannot be approved over the internet due to checks required by the Australian Government. Do not submit the application again. If you do, the result will be the same and your credit card will be charged again.

If you have had any criminal convictions in any country, you should obtain police checks and other relevant character documents then may apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). If you may not meet the health requirements, you may apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600).

If necessary, you may contact the Global Service Centre in Australia on +61 2 6196 0196. You will need to provide your ETA reference number and passport details.

Student visa FAQs

See the Department of Home Affairs website for further information about Student visas. Additional information for applicants in Peru and Bolivia is available here.

How can I apply for a Student visa?

Check the document evidence list online, gather the relevant documentation and translations, then lodge online via ImmiAccount.

What documents are required for a Student visa?

Required documentation can vary significantly. The document checklist tool available in the ‘step by step’ tab of the Student visa page provides personalised information about documentary requirements. Note that some items in the checklist only applies to minor students, family members, special categories and research students. If these do not apply to you, they may be disregarded. The department may request additional documentation.

At a minimum, all students applying offshore will need to provide:

· Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

· Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)

· Passport biodata page

· Supporting evidence of the GS requirement (generally includes employment, educational and financial evidence).

Some students will need:

· Evidence of financial capacity and access to funds

· Evidence of English language ability

· Evidence of appropriate welfare arrangements, parental consent and custody documentation (for applicants under the age of 18)

· Form 956 or 956A

· Health examinations

· Biometrics

· Evidence of relationship (if applying with family members).

What is the Genuine Student (GS) requirement?

All applicants for a student visa must be a genuine applicant for entry. They must stay as a student and be able to show an understanding that studying in Australia is the primary reason of their student visa. The GS requirement is also intended to include students who, after studying in Australia, develop skills Australia needs and who then go on to apply for permanent residence.

To be granted a student visa, all applicants must demonstrate they satisfy the genuine student criterion or the genuine student dependent criterion. You must show that you meet the Genuine Student requirement for a student visa, which includes answering a set of new questions in the online student visa application form.

The Genuine Student (GS) requirement will be effective for student visa applications lodged on and after 23 March 2024 and will NOT apply to student visa applications lodged before 23 March 2024. We will continue to assess those applications against the GTE requirement.

In line with Ministerial Direction 106, we will consider your circumstances in your home country, including ties to family, community, employment, and economic circumstances; your potential circumstances in Australia; the value of the course to your future; your immigration history; any other relevant matter. For further information on the Genuine Student requirement, you can refer to Genuine Student requirement .

How much money do I need to study in Australia?

There are multiple ways of demonstrating your financial capacity to study in Australia.

· sufficient funds in a money deposit*

· evidence that your spouse or parents are willing to support you and that they have an annual income of at least AUD 62222 for single students or at least AUD 72592 for students that are accompanied by family members

· an Acceptance Advice of Secondary Exchange Students form (for secondary exchange students only)

· a letter of support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Department of Defence.

*If demonstrating sufficient funds in a money deposit, you need access to sufficient funds to cover your travel to and from Australia, your tuition and your living costs in Australia for the first 12 months. If you have accompanying family members, you also need to have sufficient funds for the travel and living costs of the family members and tuition for any school-aged children. If you intend to stay in Australia for less than 12 months, you need the pro-rata amount.

Travel expenses: AUD2,000 per person

Living expenses: AUD24,505 per student

AUD8,574 for an accompanying partner

AUD3,670 for each dependent child (plus educational arrangements)

Check the document evidence list for more information.

What are acceptable forms of evidence of financial capacity?

The acceptable forms of evidence of financial capacity are either:

· money deposit(s) with a financial institution

· loan with a financial institution

· government loan

· scholarship

· financial support.

Check the document evidence list for more information.

Who can support me financially to study in Australia?

If the person (or people) providing you with financial support is not a close family member, you must satisfy us that you will have genuine access to the funds. We consider the relationship between you and the financial supporter, their general financial circumstances, and assess whether it is plausible that the funds would be genuinely accessible by you during your stay in Australia.

What are the requirements for accompanying family?

You can include your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children (unmarried and under 18 years of age) in your Student visa application.

Family members who apply for the visa must meet visa requirements including:

· health

· character

· health insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover)

· GS

· sufficient funds

· educational arrangements (for school-age children)

· genuine family relationship (birth certificates, marriage certificates or evidence of de facto relationship).

You must declare your family members in your student visa application even if they do not plan to travel with you to Australia. If you do not do this, your family members will not be eligible for a student visa to join you in Australia. Declared family members can also apply as a subsequent entrant (at a later time, separate from your application) in ImmiAccount.

Check the document evidence list for more information.

Citizenship FAQs

See the Department of Home Affairs website for further information about Australian citizenship by descent. Additional information for applicants in Peru and Bolivia is available here.

My child was born outside Australia. How can he/she become an Australian Citizen?

If at least one parent was an Australian citizen at the time the child was born, you can apply for citizenship by descent online.

I have applied for Australian citizenship and need to travel to Australia urgently. Can I travel on my current passport?

Australian citizens must enter and depart Australia on an Australian passport. If you are not yet an Australian citizen, you can enter Australia on a visa in your current (non-Australian) passport.

For assistance, contact the Global Service Centre in Australia on +61 2 6196 0196.

Customs FAQs

Can I bring my medication to Australia?

This depends on the medication type and quantity. Refer to What you can or cannot bring to Australia.

What kind of food and goods can I take to Australia?

Australia has strict quarantine rules and it is essential that you declare all food when travelling. Refer to What you can or cannot bring to Australia.

Notifying Home Affairs

How can I correct an error in my application?

You should notify the department of any changes in your circumstances.

ImmiAccount is the preferred channel for updating both passport and contact details.

If you wish to update your residential address, email address and/or contact phone number(s), please do so through ImmiAccount.

How can I withdraw my application?

If you applied online, you can withdraw your visa application in ImmiAccount before we make a decision.

You cannot withdraw your application by removing the application.

To withdraw your application:

Log in to ImmiAccount
Select ‘view’ to open your application
Select ‘Update details’
Select ‘withdrawal of a visa application’

Once withdrawn, an application cannot be considered further or reinstated.

How can I report someone breaching, or intending to breach, Australian visa, customs or border rules?

If you have information about suspicious or illegal immigration, customs and border-related activities, report it to Border Watch.

For privacy reasons, we cannot advise you of the outcome of any related actions we take.