A visa is a government-approved permission to enter, stay, and leave a country granted to foreign citizens who wish to visit the country in question. It is considered to be the entry ticket to a country that is mandatory regardless of the nature of the visit. Like almost all first world countries, an Australian visa is essential for a foreigner who wishes to visit the country. Surely, the Australian Government has segregated the country’s visa applications based on the nature and duration of the visit.
Visas in Australia are legally classified as follows:
Instant tourist visa
These visas are issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection for periods of 3, 6 and 12 months. The duration of the visa depends on the nature of the visit. Instant tourist visas are generally granted to visitors who have the sole purpose of business or come as tourists.
Visitors are required to have a valid passport and are often provided with an Australian ETA, which stands for Electronic Travel Authority. The ETA visa is electronically linked to the visitor’s passport for a fixed period of time. The immigration authorities thus receive advance information about the status of a visitor’s visa.
Transit Visas
These visas are issued to travelers using Australia as a means of transit, for example in the event of a stopover or if a visitor intends to join a merchant navy or ship’s crew in the country. Transit visas are generally allowed for a duration of only about 72 hours.
Work and holiday visas
These visas are intended for people between the ages of 18 and 30 who wish to travel and work in Australia for one year. Working Holiday visas are especially geared to cater to senior travelers who want to explore while also making their way to supplement their expenses.
Business Visas
Business visas are issued to individuals with established businesses in Australia or individuals sponsored by a government or multinational company for the purpose of conducting business in Australia under the supervision of their employer.
student visas
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection is particularly cautious when issuing student visas. The government allows a visa to a student traveling alone after the presentation and acceptance of a complete and detailed analysis of the course of study and financial support of the student in question. This visa is classified according to the nature of the study. Separate visas are issued to international students who intend to travel to Australia to pursue their undergraduate or postgraduate degree rather than a student traveling for a high school exchange program.
Students holding this visa are not allowed to work before the start of their studies and can only apply for a job with a limit of up to 20 hours a week.
Skilled Migration
These visas are a permanent migration permit that allows foreign nationals to migrate to Australia under the pretense of being trained in a domain of importance to the Australian Government.
