Sydney

Sydney Reconnaissance Guide

If you want to go on a reconnaissance, there are several options for visas. All visa applications require certified copies of passports and a recent passport sized photograph, no more than 6 months old, of you and any children included in your passport and traveling with you. These should be of the head and shoulders only against a plain background. Print the name of the person on the back of each photograph.

eVisitor

An eVisitor is designed for people who are outside Australia and want to visit Australia for tourism or business purposes. It is an electronically stored authority for travel to Australia. You can only apply for an eVisitor online and do not need to visit a departmental office. You will not receive a stamp or label in your passport, however you will be provided with a confirmation email for your records. This visa is linked to your passport number and you must therefore travel on the same passport.

eVisitor is only available to passport holders from the following countries: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus , Czech Republic, Denmark , Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania , Luxembourg ,Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Republic of San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom – British Citizen, Vatican City.

• You can stay in Australia for up to three months on each visit within a 12 month period from the date of grant.
• You cannot extend the eVisitor visa, and it must be applied for while outside of the country.
• Each member of the family will require their own eVisitor visa.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/evisitor/

Visitor Visa

The Visitor Visa has four streams.

• Tourist Stream: for people visiting Australia for sight-seeing and recreational purposes. If you apply for this visa inside Australia, you must be in Australia when it is decided. If you apply outside of the country, you must be outside when it is decided.
• Business Visitor Stream: For business people who will make a general business or employment enquiry, engage in negotiations or participate in a conference. You must be outside of Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided.
• Sponsored Family Stream: for people travelling to Australia to visit their family, who will be their sponsor. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided. You are not allowed to change to a different visa after you have arrived in Australia.
• Approved Destination Status Stream: for people from the People’s Republic of China who are travelling in an organised tour group. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided.

On a Visitor Visa, you can engage in tourism, visit friends and family and study in Australia for up to three months. You can also engage in business activities as long as you do not directly work for a business or organisation in Australia or sell goods or services.

When your visa is approved you will be told how many times you can enter Australia. If you are only allowed to enter once then you will need to apply for a new visa after you leave if you want to return. If you are granted a multiple-entry visa, you can enter and exit as many times as you like while your visa is valid, but you can’t spend more time than the period of stay that you have been given.

Family members must apply for their own Visitor Visa.

Processing times vary depending on where you are from and other circumstances, for an estimated waiting time, visit http://www.immi.gov.au/about/charters/client-services-charter/visas/1.0.htm.

For nationals of many countries, you may apply for the Visitor Visa online, visit http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/600.htm for more information and to begin your online application.

For more information, visit http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/visitor/600.

Working Holiday Visa

Australia has reciprical agreements with many countries that allows people between the ages of 18-30 to work temporarily in Australia. The visa holder is allowed to stay in Australia for up to 12 months and is permitted to work for up to 6 months for each employer.

For more information and to verify if your country participates in these exchange programs, visit http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday.