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Passports Travellers to Australia
need a valid passport or similar certificate of
identification. Everyone, except travellers with
Australian or New Zealand passports, requires
a visa. Passports should be valid for a period
of three months after leaving Australia.
Types of Visa
There are many types of visas, each designed to
suit a specific purpose, the length of the proposed
stay in Australia and the type of activities people
want to do when they get here. Visas can be divided
into two broad groups - permanent (migrant) visas,
which allow permanent residence in Australia;
and temporary visas, which have a time limit on
the period of stay in Australia.
- Visitor/Tourist Visas
Are for people wishing to sightsee, travel, visit
relatives or friends or be involved in other (non-working)
activities over a short period. Visitor/Tourist
visas allow one (or in some cases, multiple visits)
of up to three months within the period of one
year from when the visa is granted. Some visitor/tourist
may be valid for longer than one year. visitor/tourists
are NOT allowed to work in Australia.
- Visitor/Business Visas
Are for people wishing to undertake business in
Australia for short periods. The Business (Short
Stay) visa allows the bona fide business person
to make a short visit of up to three months to
Australia. A single entry or multiple entry visa
may be issued.
- Student Visas Are
for people wishing to undertake full-time study
in registered courses in Australia.
Overseas students' visas have
a number of conditions. Some conditions are imposed
by law on all student visas and some conditions
are put on the visa at the discretion of the visa
decision-maker. Two conditions relate to employment
in Australia:
one does not allow employment - no initial student
visas, whether granted overseas or in Australia,
allow employment.
the other allows the holder
to work up to 20 hours per week while the course
is in session and full time during course vacations.
Student visas with this condition can only be
applied for in Australia and after the students
have commenced their course of study.
Generally, dependants of students
can also apply for permission to work after the
student has commenced the course. Work is restricted
to 20 hours per week. However, the dependants
of master or PhD students may be granted visas
with unrestricted permission to work.
- Working Holiday Visa
- for young people aged between 18 and 30 years
from the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland,
Japan, the Netherlands, Canada, Malta, the Republic
of Korea, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of
the People's Republic of China who want to travel
to Australia. The scheme offers the opportunity
to work to supplement funds and aims to promote
international understanding through helping young
people experience the culture of another country.
The scheme is only available to nationals of countries
with reciprocal arrangements with Australia.
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