If you are looking at coming to sunny Australia on a visitor visa, you should be aware of the changes that will be implemented from 23 March 2013, subject to approval by the Governor-General in Council.

The Minister for Immigration yesterday announced that significant changes to Visitor and Medical Treatment visas are being introduced in order to simplify the visa process.

If the Governor-General in Council approves the changes, as of March 23 2013 the following visa subclasses will no longer be available:

1. Tourist visa (subclass 676)
2. Electronic Travel Authority (visitor) (subclass 976)
3. Electronic Travel Authority (business – short validity) (subclass 977)
4. Electronic Travel Authority (business – long validity) (subclass 956).
5. Sponsored family visitor visa (subclass 679)
6. Business (short Stay) visa (Subclass 456)
7. Sponsored business visitor (short stay) visa (subclass 459)
8. Medical Treatment (short stay) visa (subclass 675)
9. Medical Treatment (long stay) visa (subclass 685)

Instead, you will need to apply for one of the new subclasses of visa, including:

1. Temporary work (short stay activity) visa (subclass 400)
2. Visitor visa (subclass 600)
3. Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)
4. Medical Treatment visa (subclass 602)
5. eVisitor (subclass 651)

You can contact our Migration Team for advice on your best visa options, or if you would just like more information on the new subclasses of visitor visas, you can read about it here.