Australia - Visa Requirements

There are various visa options for visiting Australia as a tourist. You can opt for the traditional physical stamp in your passport, or you can choose one of the low-cost Electronic Travel Authorities
(ETA) that can be arranged by your travel agent via the Internet.
These electronic visas are stored electronically and linked to your passport number. ETA information is accessibly by airlines, travel agents and Australian border agencies. You don't have to visit a departmental office to submit an application and you won't get a stamp or label in your passport, but you will get a confirmation for your records.

Australian Tourist Visa

Eligibility
You must be intending to visit Australia for tourism purporses and be located outside Australia at the time of the application. You must also be in good health and have no criminal record for which you have been sentenced for a total of 12 months or more.

Time period
Tourist visas allow you to stay for up to three months on each visit within a 12 month period from the date the visa is granted, or for the life of your passport if it is less than 12 months.

Extending your stay
These visas can only be granted while you are outside Australia. If you want to extend your stay once you arrive in Australia, the Department of Immigration advise that you should allow at least two weeks before your ETA expires to apply for a different type of visa.

Australia Work Visa

You can apply for an Australia work visa, or holiday visa, if you are aged between 18 and 30, and are interested in a working holiday of up to 12 months. You must have turned 18 and not 31, when you apply.

There are currently two work visas dependent on where you are coming from.
For people from Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,

Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom:

The visa allows you to be employed on a short-term basis, up to six months with each employer. You can apply for this visa if you hold a passport for one the countries participating with Australia in the Working Holiday Program.

Cost
As of 30 December 2008, a working holiday visa cost A$195. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid when you lodge your visa application.

Allowances
If you are granted this visa, you can enter Australia within 12 months of receiving the visa, stay for up to 12 months, work in Australia for up to six months with each employer, leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid, study for up to four months.

For people from Chile, Thailand, Turkey and the USA:

The Work and Holiday visa is generally for tertiary educated people aged 18 to 30 who want to travel and work for up to 12 months in Australia. US Applicants must have graduated from a high school, and do not need to be tertiary educated.This visa allows you to earn money through periods of temporary or casual employment. Most countries under this visa program have a limit on the number of Work and Holiday visas issued per year.

Cost
As of 30 December 2008, a Work and Holiday visa cost A$195. This fee is non-refundable and must be paid when you lodge your visa application.

Allowances
If you are granted a Work and Holiday visa you can:
* enter Australia at any time within 3 months of the visa grant date
* stay for up to 12 months in Australia
* leave and re–enter Australia any number of times in the 12 months from the date of first entry
* undertake temporary employment in Australia
* study for up to 4 months.

For more information, speak to your travel agent or visit the Australian Department of Immigration at
http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/