Australia’s diverse landscapes, friendly locals, and incredible opportunities have made it a magnet for travelers, adventurers, and professionals from all corners of the world.
But to embark on this remarkable journey, you’ll need to apply for one of the visa options for Australia.
In this guide, we will cover some of the most popular Australia visa types and share what you need to know to secure your visa.
Working Holiday Visas
How would you like to sample what it’s really like to travel, live and work in Australia?
If so, you should consider applying for a backpacker visa.
There are two types:
Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
The visa allows you to stay and work for a year. It is ideal for young people between the ages of 18-30 with the exception of some passport holders (for example, French, Irish, and Canadian) who are eligible from 18-35.
Applicants must have a clean criminal record and meet certain requirements. You must be from one of the eligible countries in order to apply for the Australia Working Holiday Visa.
Work and Holiday (Subclass 462)
Similar to the 417 visas, you can stay in Australia for 12 months. People eligible for this visa have to be between the ages of 18-30, must have a clean criminal record, and meet specific requirements. The difference between Subclass 417 and Subclass 462 is the country you are from. The 462 visa is also available for USA citizens (you cannot apply for the 417 visa if you are from the US)!
For more information on these visas, check out our detailed Australian working holiday visas guide.
Want to extend your working holiday in Australia?
A second working holiday is possible, but note that you must have worked for three months in regional areas doing specified work such as crop work, picking fruit/vegetables, fishing, mining, construction, etc (There’s also a possibility for a third 417 visa).
You can obtain a third working holiday. Requirements include being in Australia on a working holiday for two years and having six months of specified work completed. You also need a valid passport for the duration of the third working holiday.
Business/Tourist Visas
Australian eVisitor (Subclass 651) visa
Are you from the European Union and would like to travel to Australia short-term for business or tourist purposes?
If so, the 651 visa is for you. You can enter Australia multiple times for 12 months, staying no more than three months each time.
It is important that your passport is valid for three months before entering Australia as an eVisitor. Also, you should not be employed by an Australian company, in other words, you cannot work in Australia on this visa, but you can do voluntary work.
Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) (Subclass 601)
If you are a citizen from a non-European country and would like to travel short-term or go on business to Australia an ETA visa is for you.
Similar to the eVisitor visa, this short-term visa allows people travelling for business and even tourists to visit Australia multiple times within a year, with each visit being no longer than 3 months.
Note that you cannot be employed by an Australian company for this visa, but you can work as a volunteer.
This 601 visa can be extended by applying for a Visitor (Subclass 600) Visa. However, you can only apply for this visa if you are staying for tourist purposes.
The stay can be extended by either three, six or 12 months. You would have to apply for this extension three weeks prior to your ETA visa expiring.
Need an Australian ETA?
Submit your Australian ETA visa application!
Tourist Visas
Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
Would you like to visit Australia for a holiday or see family or friends?
You can apply for the Visitor Visa! With the 600 visa, you can stay in Australia for either three, six, or 12 months.
You cannot work in Australia while on this visa and the main requirement is to have sufficient funds in order to support yourself during your stay.
Visitor Visa Extension (Subclass 600)
If you did not have enough time on your holiday or visiting family and friends on your Visitor Visa, you can apply for an extension. Your stay could be extended by three, six, or 12 months depending on your circumstances.
Applications for a Visitor Visa Extension must be made three weeks in advance of your visa expiring. Again, you would have to have sufficient funds to support yourself for an extension.
One of the things to consider is that you cannot apply for this visa if you’ve stayed for more than 12 months in the last 18 months in Australia.
5 Mistakes to avoid in your visa application for Australia
When applying for one of the Australia visa types, avoiding mistakes is crucial to increase your chances of obtaining a visa.
Here are the top 5 mistakes to avoid in your Australian visa application:
Incomplete or inaccurate application forms: To successfully obtain your visa, avoid filling out application forms incorrectly or leaving out essential information as this can lead to your visa being delayed or even rejected. Tip: Double-check the form before submitting it.
Neglecting visa eligibility: there are different visas in Australia, so if you apply for one you aren’t eligible for, it’ll be rejected. Tip: Ensure you meet all the eligibility criteria for the specific visa you are applying for.
Insufficient supporting documents: if you fail to provide all necessary supporting documents, this can again lead to visa delays or rejection. Tip: Carefully review the document checklist for your visa type and ensure that you submit all required evidence, such as passport copies, financial records, health assessments, and character certificates.
Ignoring health and character checks: You may need to undergo health and character assessments, and neglecting these checks when required can result in visa refusal. Tip: Follow the instructions provided by the Australian Department of Home Affairs and complete these assessments as early as possible.
Waiting until the last minute: Some visa categories have lengthy processing times, and waiting until the last minute can lead to unnecessary stress and potential complications. Tip: Start your visa application process well in advance of your intended travel date.
What to do if your visa is denied?
Your visa application can be denied for multiple reasons, some of which could be:
You didn’t meet the requirements – such as age, language, character requirements, finances, and health insurance
Lack of ties to home country – in this instance, there is not enough convincing information that you plan to return to your home country
Missed additional information deadline – you were given a timeline to provide more information for your application and you did not provide this on time
This is just to name a few.
Following the visa denial, the Department of Immigration will issue a written decision containing detailed information, including instructions for appealing a visa denial and the timeframe you have to appeal the decision.
Make sure to review the refusal notice to understand why your visa application has been refused.
Once you understand why your visa application has been refused, you can submit an appeal.
The specific appeal or review option available to you will depend on factors such as the type of visa, the reasons for refusal, and whether there are compelling or unique circumstances in your case.
It’s essential to carefully review the denial notice provided by the Department of Home Affairs, as it should contain information about your appeal options.
Who can help me apply for my Australian Visa?
Visa First can help you to secure the visa you need.
We’ll guide you through the entire Australian visa application process and enhance your chances of a successful outcome.
We can also equip you with all that you need for your life in Australia prior to your departure, including:
Tax number application
Setting up your Australian bank account
Setting up your SIM card
And more!
Are you ready to plan your next trip to the wonderful Australia?
If so, waste no more time and apply for the Australian visa you need today!
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