Australia Tourist Visas

Visiting Australia for a short period requires an applicant to obtain either an Australian tourist visa or an Australian business visa depending on the purpose of their visit. In both cases the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa may be issued which allows a candidate to stay in Australia for up to three months at a time and is valid for a maximum duration of one year. The ETA is an advanced electronic visa which offers a more streamlined application process. However, for those wishing to remain in Australia for longer than the period offered by the ETA, and for counters to whom he ETA does not apply, conventional long stay visas are also available.

Your Global Visas Australian immigration consultant will be able to advise you whether your country is eligible for ETA visas and will ensure that you obtain the most appropriate Australian visa for your needs. Begin your application today by visiting the online assessment area.

ETA Visitor Visas

In Australia, ETA visas for tourism allow a candidate to enter and depart from Australia as many times as they wish, during the 12 month validity of the visa. However, visits to Australia must not exceed three months at a time. The ETA tourist visa is intended as a temporary immigration service and to reflect this, candidates may not switch into any other Australian immigration service or visa status. A tourist visa application does not provide the opportunity to progress to a grant of permanent residency in Australia and applicants will be obliged to return to their country of residence when their visa expires. Although an Australian tourist visa does not permit its holder to take up employment, studying in Australia is permitted so long as the course duration does not exceed three months.

ETA Business Visas

ETA business visas for Australia, like tourist visas, allow a candidate to freely enter and exit Australia for up to three months at a time, within the visa’s overall duration of twelve months. Australian business visas are designed to allow non-Australian nationals to enter the country to conduct a range of business activities and although unlike temporary business visas in many countries, working may be permitted, the work which can be undertaken is strictly limited. Business visas for Australia allow applicants to conduct such necessities as attending meetings and conferences, and sourcing suppliers or clients.

Like an Australian visit visa, business visas are not extendable and do not permit their holders to switch to a long term Australian immigration service. However, for those who need to visit Australia on a recurring basis, the ETA Long-Validity Business Visa may be granted which allows the same three month excursions to Australia but for the life of the applicant’s passport, rather than for a set period of 12 months.

Australian Long-Stay Tourist Visa

The long stay tourist visa for Australia is a conventional, i.e. non-ETA visa for Australia which allows a successful applicant to visit Australia for up to 12 months without the three month per visit restriction. Long stay tourist visas may be issued to those who need to stay in Australia longer than the three months at a time permitted by the ETA visit visa, or to applicants from countries who are not eligible to apply for an ETA visa. In Australia, visas for long stay tourism may be issued for a single entry or as a multiple entry permit, however, the 12 month period represents the maximum grant and the actual period of leave to remain in Australia will depend upon the particulars of the individual case.

Long Stay Business Visa - Eligibility

Applying for a Long Stay Business Visa requires candidates to provide a current passport and to demonstrate that they can financially support themselves throughout their time in Australia. Applicants aged 70 or over must also be assessed by a doctor with regard to their fitness to travel and must be able to demonstrate that they have health insurance.

Like an ETA visa, studying is permitted for up to three months and although working in Australia is permitted on a long term tourist visa, applicants may only engage in unpaid voluntary work and this must not constitute the main purpose of the trip.

You can find out whether you qualify for an Australian visit visa or business visa today by using the Global Visas online assessment tool. Just take a few moments to complete one of our straightforward assessment forms and a specialist Australian immigration consultant will contact you.