Australia Visa

Whether it is leisure or business travel, Australia is visited by thousands of people from around the world every year. When one decides to visit Australia, he/she must apply for the appropriate Australian visa. While one can submit a visa application physically by going to the visa application centre, he/she can also apply for an Australian visa online, which is more convenient and hassle-free.

Australian visa types:

Tourist Visa: A tourist visa is issued to one who visits Australia for a holiday or to meet his/her friends and family. This visa is valid for 3, 6 or 12 months. Applicants of certain nationalities can apply for this Australian visa online by submitting an application with an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).

Medical Visa: With a medical visa, one can stay in Australia until the treatment is completed. Depending on the situation, one is granted single or multiple entries. The processing time for this Australian visa ranges from 18 days to 40 days.

Work Visa: When talking about Australian visa types, the work visa cannot be missed. It is of two types, namely skilled migration visa and sponsored/nominated work visa. Applicants applying for the former visa type must have the skills required by the Australia labour market. On the other hand, people interested in the latter visa type must be nominated by a recognised Australian employer, territory, state authority or a government agency. Notably, the processing time for the work visa is 6 to 12 months.

Business Visitor Visa: One can apply for this Australian visa online, and applicants of certain nationalities can even apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). With this visa, an applicant is permitted to negotiating contracts, making official visits and attending conferences, job interviews and professional examinations.

Transit Visa: Unlike other Australian visa types, this visa only allows one to stay in Australia for 72 hours. One must also have confirmed travel bookings to leave Australia within those 72 hours. The processing time for this visa is 8 to 17 days. When one applies for the transit Australian visa from India, he/she needs to make sure to get refundable transport bookings.

Working Holiday Visa: This Australian visa allows one between the age of 18 and 30 to work in Australia for a year. Further, this visa can be extended up to 2 years upon meeting specific requirements.

Student Visa: A student visa allows a stay of up to 5 years and in line with the course one plans to study. One can apply for this Australian visa online and the processing time may vary depending on the number of applications the authorities receive.

Family Visa: This Australian visa covers a long list of visas including adoption visa, carer visa, orphan relative visa, parent visa and partner visa. One must gather more information from the official government website before applying for an Australian visa online.

Once an interested individual has identified which visa to opt for, the next step is to apply for the required Australian visa. If an Indian passport holder applies for an Australian visa, he/she can apply for an electronic visa (e-visa) which is less of a hassle compared to applying in person. The Australian visa online form asks basic questions such as the purpose of visit, financial status, travel history and employment status. Since filling the form is a lengthy process, one can save it and continue filling the same later. Once the form is completed, it must be submitted online.

While submitting the application for an Australian visa from India, some of the primary documents one requires include a passport with a 6-month validity, recent photos as per specifications, a cover letter as per the listed requirements, recent bank statements, flight and accommodation booking details, and a PAN card or an AADHAAR card copy.

If a minor chooses to apply for an Australian visa online or otherwise, he/she must submit a notarized NOC document from either a parent or a legal guardian along with a copy of the parents’ passports.

After the applicant is done with applying for the Australian visa online, he/she must pay the visa application fees. After that one receives an email or text notification on the verified contact details acknowledging the application. The processing time usually takes 15 to 20 working days and/or as mentioned above. One can also track the visa application status over phone or through email since the processing time may vary depending on the number of applications received by the embassy.