Visitor Visa Australia - Definitive Guide

There are various kinds of purposes people from different countries travel to Australia for. If you are one of them and are looking forward to visiting your friends and family in the country, you will need to issue a visitor visa to Australia. With this grant, you can not only just visit your acquaintances, but also tour the country. It is granted with a stay period of 3 months and can have up to 12 months of validity.

You can get the Australia visitor visa online. Alternatively, it can also be obtained by an offline process. Although, before carrying on with the application, you need to check if you have a valid passport and other related documents. The step by step procedure for Australia visitor visa application is as follows:

• Online procedure

1. 1. Create an IMMI account - https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login
   2. Fill out the visa application form for the category Subclass 600.
   3. Enter the correct details and information
   4. Attach a scanned copy of your recent photograph
   5. Attach the required documents along with the form.
   6. Make the payment for the visa online.
   7. Submit the application form to the embassy online.
   8. After the submission, provide the biometrics to the embassy.
   9. Organize a health test if asked by the embassy.

Offline procedure

1. 1. Print out the application form from https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/form-listing/forms/1419.pdf
   2. Fill in the correct details and sign the form
   3. Attach the documents, original if necessary
   4. Submit the form to the embassy
   5. Pay the fees for the visa while submitting the form
   6. Provide the biometrics after submission
   7. Organize a health examination if mandated by the embassy

You must make sure that you provide the correct information and all the mandatory details. With incorrect information and any kind of misconduct, there are chances that the visa will be refused. It is also important to understand that this visa rejection can even affect your visa applications in the future.

Like any other visa, there are eligibility criteria for issuing Australia visitor visa as well. You need to meet the criteria in order to be able to apply for the visa. The parameters to be followed are as follows:

• You must meet the health requirements

When you are applying for the visa, the embassy asks for conducting health examinations to ensure that you are fit for travelling to Australia and do not have any kind of contagious disease.

• You must meet the character requirements

It is important that you obtain a character certificate to prove that you do not have a history. A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is a document that is considered as a character certificate.

• You must have enough funds to support your stay in Australia.

The balance in your savings bank account must be enough to cover your expenses when you are in Australia. In case you do not have enough balance, you at least must have access to funds to aid your expenditure,

• You must be a genuine visitor

When you are applying for this visitor visa, you need to ensure that you are a genuine visitor and are visiting Australia only for tourism and visiting your acquaintances only. Also, you are supposed to stay within the rules and regulations.

• You must possess a health insurance

Health insurance must be issued so that you can cover any kind of possible injury. The insurance may limit your financial liability.

There are particular documents that are required at the time of issuance of the visa. The Australia visitor visa documents are as follows:

• Original passport with a validity of up to 6 months ahead of the date of journey
• Coloured photographs as per the photo specifications
• Detailed cover letter
• Proof of change of name (if applicable)
• Proof of financial funds 
1. Savings bank statement from the previous 6 months
2. Salary slip; or any other equivalent documents
• Invitee documents
1. Invitation letter specifying the traveller’s purpose of visit and if they are going to stay with them when in Australia.
2. Invitee’s proof of residence - Valid visa copy
3. Invitee’s proof of identity - Passport copy or any other equivalent document
4. Invitee’s address proof - Gas bills, electricity bill, etc.
• Proof of you returning home
1. Letter from your employer
2. Letter from your school, college or university
3. Proof that you have immediate family back home
4. Proof of your major assets at home
5. Return ticket
• Character documents - PCC (Police Clearance Certificate)
• Income Tax Returns proof
• Proof of identification - PAN card, Adhaar card

Australia Visitor visa documents are categorized as per the requirements outlined by the Government of Australia.  

• Photo size: 35 mm x 45 mm.
• Coloured copy must be provided
• The head must be about 30 mm in the photo frame. 
• Head should well-centred.
• The submitted photograph should be recent and taken not longer than 6 months ago.
• The background must be white
• Neutral expressions
• Glasses are not permitted.
• Headgears are not allowed except for religious reasons.
• Clothing shouldn’t match the background.

The ideal processing time required for the processing of the visa application form and other documents is about 7 to 10 business days. This time span can be affected by several factors such as the workload on the embassy, if there is an issue with the documents, or if the provided information takes longer to be verified and others.

There is a privilege for the Indians applying for an Australia visitor visa called fast-track application. With this, you can get your visa processed and delivered in about 2 days. This benefit is provided only to limited countries. However, if the applicant has health issues or something with the character doesn’t add up or if the visa from the same applicant was refused previously, then the person is not allowed to apply for the fast-track application.

The fee that is paid at the time of visa application is paid to the Embassy of Australia. It is submitted at the time when you are completed with the visa application form. If you have filled an offline form, you will have to submit the form when you are submitting the form to the embassy. The fee will still vary as there can be certain changes made by the embassy in the fees, service charges, delivery charges if you have opted for direct delivery, and other factors.

As specified previously, the application form can be filled out and submitted online and offline as well. When the submission is done, there are certain things that you must take care of. Some of the pointers are given as follows:

• Let the embassy know beforehand if you have made any mistakes in the application form
• Inform the embassy soon if you have a change of plans and you need to withdraw your application
• If you have changed the phone numbers or your address has been updated, inform the embassy about the respective changes
• If there are changes in the relationship status or if there is a birth of a child when the visa is processing, the embassy must be informed accordingly

You can check the status of your visa application by visiting the official website of Australia Immigration or the embassy. Enter the required details like the application number and track the visa status. There is an offline way to check the visa status as well. This can be done by calling the embassy and providing the necessary details.

When you have received your visa, you need to make sure of a few things. There are certain pointers that you need to take care of. Some of the pointers are mentioned as follows:

• Before you travel

1. You need to make sure that you have a valid visa before taking the flight to Australia.
2. You also must carry a valid passport and other travel documents as well. 
• At the border

1. When you reach the airport, you need to make sure that you complete the formalities that are involved. You first need to fill in the Incoming Passenger Card.
2. You can use the Smart Gate. The Smart Gate uses facial recognition to confirm your identity and the credibility of your ePassport as well. You will be able to enter the country faster.
• When you enter the country

1. You must have an original and valid visa with you.
2. You must meet the visa conditions provided on the visa grant letter.
• What can you do on your visa

1. On your visa, you can go on a cruise or have a holiday.
2. You can even tour the country, hence, also called Australia tourist visa.
3. You can study or obtain training for up to 3 months.
4. You are not allowed to be involved in any kind of employment but can do volunteer work.
• Single entry

You can enter the country once and if you leave, you will not be able to return to the country.

• Multiple entries

With multiple entry permit, you can enter Australia multiple times within the validity of the visa.