How to obtain a tourist visa to Australia in 2023

Australia welcomes travelers from around the globe and issues tourist visas.

People travel to Australia for beach vacations by the ocean, where they surf and dive. The country has several hundred national parks with animals and plants that cannot be found anywhere else. Starting from July 6, 2022, COVID-19 documents are not required for entry into Australia.

I will tell you how to obtain a tourist visa to visit this country. All prices in the article are current as of April 12, 2023.

What types of tourist visas does Australia issue?

In Australia there are over 100 types of visas for all life situations, and in 2023 it will be possible to apply for 74 of them. Among the larger groups of visas, such as tourist, work, or education visas, subclasses are identified and labeled with numbers. This helps to divide the streams of applicants.

Travelers will need a Visitor Visa for their trip. It belongs to the subclass 600. It has several varieties:

• Tourist Steam (Apply outside Australia) – a tourist visa for travelers who are outside of Australia.
• Tourist Steam (Apply in Australia) – a tourist visa for those who are already in Australia on another visa and want to extend their stay in the country.
• Sponsored Family Steam – a sponsored family visa for those whose trip is paid for by relatives in Australia.
• Business Visitor Steam is a tourist business visa for those who are travelling for business purposes, such as meetings with business partners.
• Approved Destination Status Steam and Frequent Traveller Steam are special visas for Chinese citizens who visit Australia for personal or work-related reasons.

The test on the website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs will help you choose the right visa. Australian visas are not pasted into passports – they are obtained in electronic form before the trip.

Working on a tourist visa is not allowed, but you can attend interviews or travel around Australia to explore the state or city you may consider moving to in the future. This type of visa also works for short-term education, such as language courses, for up to three months.

For how long can one obtain a tourist visa to Australia?

How long one can stay in the country on a tourist visa depends on the duration of its issuance. The decision is made by the Australian Department of Internal Affairs. It may grant a visa for a stay in the country for 3, 6 or 12 months, one-time or multiple. The Department evaluates the applicant’s desires and the reasons for the trip.

Visitor Visa for tourist and business trips are usually issued for up to three months. The number of entries is determined individually. For family trips, such a visa can be immediately issued for up to a year, usually with a single entry.

Where to get a visa to Australia

The visa department of the Australian Embassy in Russia has been closed since March 15, 2019, so applications from Russians are being dealt with remotely in Belgrade. There is no need to travel there. Australian visas can be arranged independently through the Department of Home Affairs website, through travel agencies, with the help of migration agents, or at a visa center. I will explain each method in more detail.

With the help of a migration agent or lawyer, any visas can be obtained, including tourist visas. Migration agents in Australia are licensed and rigorously controlled. An agent can be a specialist in one area, for example, dealing only with student or work visas, or help with different types of visas.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs recommends consulting registered migration agents. Information about them can also be checked on the department’s website. You need to enter their name, surname or license number – MARN. This is available for all certified agents. As a rule, MARN is immediately posted on websites or provided upon request.

Prices for services vary greatly depending on the specialist. For example, a tourist visa will cost $200-1000. The visa fee and biometrics are usually not included in this price. An additional $150 must be accounted for. The first consultation is often provided for free to assess the applicant’s chances of obtaining a visa.

You can also obtain a visa to Australia through a travel agency. For example, tour operator “Pack-group” offers assistance with tourist visa application for $200 per person. “Pegas-touristik” will only prepare documents for those travelers who have purchased a tour to Australia from them. The cost of the application is $210 per person. It is not specified whether biometric and visa fees are included in this amount.

The visa center helps to apply for different types of Australian visas. In addition to the visa fee, you will have to pay for the services of the center. For example, at the “Visa 100” visa center, you will need to pay an additional $80 for processing a tourist visa. Along with the visa fee and biometrics, the visa will cost approximately $220.

On the portal of the Australian Department of Internal Affairs, those who have decided to apply for a visa independently submit their statement. The website provides an opportunity to pay the consular fee, upload supporting documents, leave contact information, report an error or changes in plans.

On the portal, you can check the status of your application and find out approximate processing times. This method allows you to save time and money on intermediary services. Obtaining a visa will cost approximately $120.

To apply for a visa, you need to:

• Fill out the form and pay the visa fee.
• Collect a package of documents.
• To submit biometrics at the VFS Global visa center.

I will tell you more about each step.

How to fill out a visa application form

Register on the portal of the Department of Internal Affairs of Australia and create a personal account. To do this, click “Create ImmiAcount”. Specify your name, phone number and email address, and come up with a password.

Create a new profile by clicking “New Application”. For a tourist trip, choose Visitor Visa, 600. If you are traveling with a child, create a separate profile for them in your personal account.

Answer the questions in 19 sections. You will need to:

• Indicate dates of travel, purpose – tourism, visiting family or a short business trip.
• Add passport information. Indicate whether you have previously applied for an Australian visa.
• Provide information about those who plan to accompany you on the trip.
• Choose the nearest office where you can have an interview if necessary. Usually, you are not invited for an interview, but you still have to provide the address.
• Enter information about family members who do not accompany you and are not citizens or residents of Australia;
• Clarify if you are planning to pursue short-term education at language courses or stay with relatives.
• provide information about work or education;
• Report the availability of your own money for the trip or who will sponsor it.
• Write whether you have committed any offenses. In the visa application, all convictions, including spent ones, should be indicated. A conviction does not mean that the application will definitely be rejected. However, providing false information may not only result in a visa refusal but also a ban on entry to the country for a certain period of time.

In the questionnaire, they will also ask to answer questions about health and whether a person violated the visa regime of any country.

Attach supporting documents. I will provide detailed information about them in the article below. You can upload up to 60 files no larger than 5 MB in DOC, DOCX, JPG, PDF, PNG, XLS, XLSX, and other formats.

You can save or submit the questionnaire for consideration even without documents, but you will have to indicate the reason why they are not there.

Pay the visa fee. The payment window will appear after you click “Submit Application”. In 2023, the visa fee is 150 AUD. A commission of 1.4% may be charged to the applicant.

After submitting the application, you will need to pay for biometric data collection. I will explain how to do it further in the article.

What documents are needed for a visa to Australia?

The list of documents is posted on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. To find out the list for a specific visa, select it from the list, click on the “Details” button. On the opened page, go to the “Step by Step” tab.

There are two sections in the visa application form: Required and Recommended documents. Required documents include a photograph, a copy of the passport page, and proof of previous travel experience abroad. Recommended documents are all others that will help confirm the purpose of the trip and plans to return home.

All scans and copies must be colored, clear, and legible. If the document consists of multiple pages, they should be saved as one file.

The documents are to be presented in English. If they are in Russian, a translation must be made. A copy of the original documents must accompany it. The translation should include the last name, first name, and patronymic of the translator, their address and phone number, as well as their qualification and experience working with the language. Only the birth certificate and consent for the child to travel abroad are certified by a notary.

The Department of Internal Affairs recommends turning to professional translators. If the translator is located in Australia, they must be accredited in the country. There are no accreditation requirements for translators from other countries.

Without translating accompanying documents into English, the processing time may increase. There is also a risk that such documents will not be considered as part of the visa application.

I will tell you what is needed for a tourist visa.

A copy of a foreign passport – the main page with a photo and personal data.

Photo, like on a passport: 35 x 45 mm. The face should occupy 70% of the photo. You can take the picture yourself or at a photo studio. It should be new – no older than six months. It’s better to take pictures of young children just before submitting the application, as they grow and change quickly.

The expression on the face should be neutral and the background should be solid. It is allowed to wear glasses, but the eyes should be clearly visible. Wigs and large hair clips are permitted, as long as they do not alter one’s appearance. Religious headwear is permitted, but it should not cover the face.

Confirmation of previous travels. Keep copies of all previous visas in a separate file and upload them to the “Evidence of the Applicant’s Previous Travel” section. If the visas are pasted in a second or expired passport, attach copies of these documents.

If you have changed your name or surname, provide documents confirming it, such as marriage or divorce certificates.

Confirmation of income source. A bank statement showing cash flow over the last three months, tax statements, and credit card statements are acceptable.

Confirmation that the applicant will return. This can be a certificate from work, indicating that the person will return to their duties after the trip. Another option is to provide confirmation that relatives live in Russia, or a certificate of ownership of property in Russia. Students provide a certificate from their educational institution, which confirms their status and travel period.

Plans during the stay in Australia. This letter describes in a free form the purpose of the trip and provides a detailed itinerary: which cities the tourist plans to visit and on which dates, as well as which sights they want to see.

An invitation from relatives in Australia is required for a sponsored family visa. Relatives must confirm that they have sufficient funds to pay for the guest’s accommodation. And also – fill out form 1149 for formal sponsorship.

Additionally, it is necessary to provide evidence that the traveler does not plan to stay in the country on a guest visa for longer than the allotted time. For example, this could be an invitation to a family celebration as a guest. The application should indicate whether the applicant will be staying with a relative. The inviting party must also sign a Statutory Declaration – a document that confirms that all statements are true.

Only an adult citizen of Australia can be a sponsor. They must be a relative of the applicant: a parent, child, spouse, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, aunt or uncle, niece or nephew.

The sponsor takes responsibility for the guest. The Department of Internal Affairs may require the inviting party to provide a bond as a financial guarantee, ranging from 5000 AUD ($3,600) to 15,000 AUD ($10,900). After the guest leaves Australia, the bond will be returned upon request if the traveler did not violate visa conditions.

Confirmation of business purposes of the trip will be required for a tourist business visa. This may be an invitation from a business organization in Australia, an invitation to a conference, and other documents.

Permission to transfer and receive personal data using forms 956 and 956A, if the applicant’s documents are submitted by another person, such as a migration agent.

A copy of the military ID, if a person served in the army.

Applicants over the age of 75 are required to purchase medical insurance. It can be obtained from an Australian or any other company. The coverage amount is not specified.

Additional documents. If the internal affairs department has any doubts or additional questions, the applicant may be asked for a certificate of no criminal record.

Sometimes it is necessary to undergo a background check of the applicant in accordance with section 501 of the 1958 Immigration Act. This means that when reviewing documents, they will examine certificates of whether or not a person has a criminal record and criminal records extracts for each country where the person has lived for more than a year.

Sometimes it may be necessary to fill out a resume, CV, or Form 80 with information about work and education. They are not included in the list of documents required for a tourist visa. However, for example, in 2019, a female applicant was refused a visa due to insufficient work experience – 1.5 years. It is not specified which visa she applied for.

What documents are required for children?

Minors will require a notarized copy of their birth certificate.

If a child is traveling only with their mother or father, the other parent or legal guardian who is not participating in the trip must complete and sign a consent form for departure – form 1229. And if the child travels unaccompanied, both parents must sign form 1229 or provide a notarized consent form for departure. Copies of their passport pages with photographs will also be required.

If a child stops in Australia with their parents, a tour group, or relatives, no additional documents are required. Otherwise, you will need to fill out form 1227.

Do I need to pay for tickets and go through an interview for a tourist visa to Australia?

There is no interview for a visa. Case officers at the embassies around the world review the documents. If any documents are missing, the tourist visa will simply be denied.

The Australian Embassy does not recommend paying for tickets, hotels, and planned events in advance in order to avoid losing money if the visa is denied or the application process is delayed.

Where to undergo biometrics for a visa to Australia.

After the applicant successfully submits the visa documents, they will receive an invitation for biometrics. Within 14 days from the moment of submitting the documents, the applicant will need to take a digital photo and submit fingerprints.

For biometrics it is important that there are no cuts on the fingertips. If there are injuries, it is better to wait until they are healed. Children under 16 must be accompanied by parents or guardians. And fingerprinting is not done for children under 5 years old.

Is it necessary to undergo a medical examination for a visa to Australia?

Requirements for a visa specify whether a medical examination is necessary. Typically, it is required for those planning to obtain a long-term visa. However, there are other circumstances when a medical examination is necessary.”

1. A person is applying for a visa to stay in Australia for more than three months.
2. The applicant is going for treatment.
3. The applicant plans to attend any educational classes or seminars for 12 or more weeks.
4. There are concerns that the candidate does not meet the medical requirements of Australia.
5. The applicant is over 75 years old. In this case, he is obliged to prove that he is physically ready for a trip to Australia and back.

Australians take seriously the rating of tuberculosis danger for the country from which the applicant arrives. They also pay attention to age, the presence of serious illnesses, and the type of activity that a person intends to engage in.

Most applicants, both primary and accompanying, must meet minimum health standards. Often visa applicants are required to undergo a chest x-ray and an HIV test. Pregnant women planning to give birth in Australia will also need a hepatitis B test.

If the applicant needs to undergo a medical examination, a link “Organise Health Examination” will appear in their personal ImmiAccount. They should click on it and fill out their medical history. Afterwards, they will receive an email with a HAP ID number, which is an individual identifier for scheduling the medical examination. The examination is conducted at a specially accredited clinic. Addresses of medical institutions in different countries are published on the immigration department’s website.

The results of the examination are valid for 12 months. The applicant does not receive them personally – the doctor immediately sends the data to the Department of Internal Affairs of Australia along with a conclusion about the state of health and compliance with the requirements. A visa will not be issued if the applicant’s health condition may lead to significant expenses for Australia or if it may hinder citizens of the country from accessing scarce medical services.

What is the time frame for obtaining a visa to Australia?

It is better to apply for a Visitor Visa 600 tourist visa several months before the planned travel date. The consulate recommends doing this at least six weeks before the trip. You can estimate the timing on the immigration department’s website. Simply enter your visa type and document submission date.

The department collects statistics on the period during which 25, 50, 75, and 90% of applications were processed. For example, in April 2023, 25% of tourist visa applications were processed in 4 days, 50% in 12 days, 75% in 18 days, and 90% in 35 days. For those traveling on a family member’s invitation, the visa processing time reached 37 days. And for tourist business visas, it was 21 days.

If all the documents are in order, the applicant has submitted biometrics and, if necessary, passed a medical examination, the Australian Immigration Department will send the visa to the email address. There is no need to go to the embassy or visa center to receive it. The visa information is stored in the computer system and automatically linked to the passport number. However, travelers say that the visa must be printed out in order to show it during airport registration.

On the Vinsky Forum, travelers are telling that visas were issued in three weeks in the spring of 2023.

Why can a visa to Australia be refused?

The reasons for denial can vary. For example, for short-term trips, it’s important to prove that the person will return to their country. In addition to documents proving ownership of property in Russia, marriage certificates and birth certificates will also be significant arguments. If there are suspicions that the applicant plans to stay in Australia on a visa that does not allow for it, they will be denied.

Other reasons for refusal may include:

• Choosing the wrong type of visa for your purposes.
• Error in the questionnaire.
• Lack of documents to confirm the purpose of the trip and intentions to return to Russia.
• Incorrect translation of documents.
• Incorrect information, such as false information about income.
• Suspicious or incomplete information, even if it was concealed unintentionally. For example, the applicant forgot to mention that they have been previously denied a visa.
• Health problems.
• Poor visa history or deportation cases.
• Incomplete visa history – copies of all visas from old passports were not attached to the application.
• Insufficient amount of money for a trip or, on the contrary, too much money that does not correspond to the income level.
• Current or past legal violations by the applicant, such as a criminal record.
• No route for traveling around the country if the purpose of the trip is tourism.

If a person has never been abroad, they have little chance of obtaining an Australian visa. But if there are too many visas and trips, this can also raise questions: how strong is the person’s ties to Russia and will they return?

It is important to remember that all trips, visa applications, and personal information are stored in the Australian database. Applicants should be as truthful and careful as possible when providing information. It is worth keeping the previous application to avoid discrepancies when filling out a new visa application. Otherwise, the visa may be refused.

If the applicant is caught providing false information or forged documents, they are in danger of being barred from obtaining any Australian visa for the next three years.

Can a visa refusal be appealed?

If the applicant is in Australia, or has relatives or sponsors there, he can appeal to the Administrative Appeal Tribunal, AAT – either in person or on the website. This organization has the right to make independent and final decisions on controversial visa issues. A migration agent from Australia can also help with the appeal process.

If an applicant is overseas, has received a refusal and has no relatives or sponsors in Australia, he or she cannot appeal the decision. However, it is allowed to lodge a new application at any time. The main thing is to meet all the visa criteria.

Remember

1. Russians need a visa to enter Australia. Travelers can apply for a Visitor Visa subclass 600, which is also suitable for visiting relatives in Australia or short business trips.
2. Visas to Australia are electronic. They are not pasted into the passport, but the completed document is sent to the email.
3. The application for an Australian visa is submitted through the Australian Immigration Department. If you do not want to do this yourself, you can seek assistance from migration agents, travel agencies, and visa centers. Within 14-28 days after submitting the visa application, you need to undergo biometrics at VFS Global centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, or Rostov-on-Don. If you are abroad, you can visit an Australian visa center in the country of residence.
4. Visa fee for an Australian visa in 2023 is 150 AUD, and the biometric fee is $25. If an application is submitted for the wrong visa, the fees will not be refunded.
5. All documents will have to be translated into English and originals attached. Notarization is required only for consent to travel with the child.
6. It is not necessary to pay for plane tickets and accommodation in advance. This will not affect the visa decision.
7. For long-term visas, you need to undergo a medical examination at accredited medical centers. The invitation will come to the personal account ImmiAccount when the documents are accepted from the applicant.
8. The visa application process is lengthy. It is better to apply for a tourist visa at least six weeks before the planned trip.