We have started to settle back into a ‘pre-COVID’ life when it comes to international travel. This is allowing people to return to Australia as visitors and to reunite with family after what was for many people, an extensive time apart. Prior to COVID-19, our ability to travel overseas was almost unlimited. We could get on a plane and be almost anywhere in the world within a short timeframe. It was a shock to us when we could not see our loved ones for extended periods of time.

Our migration team at FC Lawyers are receiving a high number of enquiries from people who are looking to reunite with loved ones in Australia. So, what are the available short-term options?

Visitor visas

A Visitor visa is a great option for people to come to Australia for a stay of up to 3 months. In some cases, a longer stay of up to 12 months can be requested. There are several Visitor visas for Australia and passport that you hold and the length of time you wish to stay will determine the type of Visitor visa that you can apply for.

eVisitor (651)

The eVisitor (651) visa allows a stay of up to 3 months upon arrival in Australia. To apply for this visa, you must have a valid passport from a list of eligible countries.

This application is made online through the ImmiAccount system.

Electronic Travel Authority (601)

The Electronic Travel Authority (601) visa also allows a stay of up to 3 months upon arrival in Australia. To apply for this visa, you must have a valid passport from a list of eligible countries.

This visa can be applied for online through the ImmiAccount system, however some passports can now apply via the Australian ETA app.

To apply through the ETA app  you need to have:

1. A mobile device camera which can take your photo and a photo of your passport ID page
2. Near-field communication (NFC) enabled on your mobile device
3. Location services enabled on your mobile device
4. A valid email address
5. A valid payment method ready to pay the service fee, such as a credit card.

Visitor (600) visa

The Visitor (600) visa is for people who do not hold an eligible passport for either the eVisitor (651) or Electronic Travel Authority (601) visas. If you wish to request a stay longer than 3 months and up to 12 months, this is also the best visa option for you to visit Australia. The longer the period of stay that you request, the more additional documentation needs to be provided to support your stay.

This application is made online through the ImmiAccount system.

General requirements for the grant of a Visitor visa for Australia

Regardless of the type of Visitor visa that you apply for, there are several requirements that you must meet:

1. You must be a genuine visitor and intend to only stay in Australia on a temporary basis
2. You must have enough money to support your stay in Australia
3. You need to meet the health and character requirements and
4. If you have any debt to the Australian Government, this must have been paid back or arranged to be paid back.

If you have any questions regarding visitor visas, contact our team of registered migration agents and immigration lawyers today.