Specialists in Australian immigration

Visiting Australia

I have already applied for a visitor visa

If you have already applied for a visitor visa and are scheduled to travel to Australia in the near future and your visa has not been granted, you can contact the Global Service Centre in Australia for assistance on 0061 2 6196 0196. If you have lodged an application and received a request from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to provide additional information, you can arrange a 15 minute consultation if you need to discuss how you should respond to the DHA. A fee of £45 + VAT is charged for this service.

What are my visa options for visiting Australia?

Visitor visa applications must be applied for online individually by creating an ImmiAccount via the DHA website. The type of visa you apply for will depend on the country of your passport, the duration of your proposed stay and whether you have any criminal convictions. We will assess your circumstances and advise which type of visitor visa best suits your needs.

Subclass 651 visitor visa for Australia

This visa enables British passport holders plus those from the European Economic Area to travel to Australia for stays of up to 3 months during each visit in the 12 months from the date the eVisitor is granted. Eligible passport holders also include Monaco, Republic of San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City.

Subclass 600 visitor visa for Australia

This visa is for applicants from non-European countries or British passport holders and those from the European Economic Area who are seeking to stay longer than 3 months in Australia. You will be required to support your application with more detailed information and evidence including:

the reason you are visiting Australia
your planned activities in Australia
details of friends or family in Australia
funds to support your stay
employment or retirement details
evidence of your incentive to return to your home country

Processing timetable

Most subclass 651 visitor visa applications are granted on the same day but, some subclass 600 visitor visa applications can take up to 5 weeks or more to be decided. Please note that Concept Australia is unable to request priority processing with the DHA and therefore you should allow plenty of time to plan your visit to Australia and only book flights once your visitor visa has been granted.

Costs

The DHA Visa Application Charge is AUD190 for a subclass 600 visa which must be paid at the time your application is submitted. There is no charge for a subclass 651 visitor visa.

Concept Australia charges a fee of £195 + VAT to prepare and lodge an application for a subclass 600 visa for Australia and £50 + VAT for a subclass 651 (short stay) visitor visa for Australia.

Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

A Working Holiday visa will allow you to travel to Australia for an extended holiday for up to 12 months and do any kind of short-term work to help pay for your holiday. Usually, you are permitted to work for a maximum of 6 months with any employer, but you can work for the same employer for more than 6 months (for example 2 hotels in the same chain at different premises).

You must be outside Australia when the first application is submitted and when the visa is granted, and you must enter Australia within 12 months from the date the visa is granted. The visa and stay period will become active on the date you enter Australia, and you can re-enter Australia as many times as you like in that 12 months.

Age requirement

Under the new Australian and UK Free Trade Agreement arrangements, UK passport holders are now able to apply for a Working Holiday visa between the ages of 18 and 35 years inclusive.

Second or third Working Holiday

Working Holiday visa holders can currently stay 3 years in Australia but, to be eligible for a second or third Working Holiday you must show that you have done at least 3 or 6 months Specified Work. UK passport holders can choose to apply for a first, second or third Working Holiday visa at any time while they still meet the eligible age requirement. You do not need to stay in Australia for 3 years in a row and can be in or outside Australia when applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa.

New Arrangements from 01 July 2024

From 01 July 2024, UK passport holders will not have to meet any specified work requirements when applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa for Australia. If a UK passport holder has already spent 1 or 2 years in Australia on a Working Holiday visa before the new arrangements commence, you can apply for the remaining visa(s) under the new arrangements from 01 July 2024.

Partner & dependent children

You can't include family members in your application for a Working Holiday visa and therefore if you have a partner, he/she must submit a separate application. You also can't be accompanied by dependent children while you are in Australia on a Working Holiday visa.

Character requirements

You must declare any previous convictions even if they have been stepped down from police records. Your application is likely to be refused if you have not declared previous convictions or if past criminal behaviour represents a potential threat to the Australian community.

Health requirements

You must declare an existing medical condition which may pose a risk to public health, endanger the Australian community or could be a significant cost which could prejudice the access of Australian citizens or permanent residents to health care or community services in short supply.

Financial requirements

You must have enough funds to support yourself while you are in Australia. This is usually about £3,000 for your initial stay, plus funds to purchase your onward plane ticket when you depart Australia.

Costs

The DHA Visa Application Charge is AUD635 for a Working Holiday visa which must be paid at the time your application is submitted.

Concept Australia charges a fee of £150 + VAT to prepare and lodge your application for a Working Holiday for Australia.

Processing timetable

50% of applications are decided in less than a day
75% of applications are decided in less than 7 days
90% of applications are decided in within 19 days

Assistance

If you would like Concept Australia to assist you with submitting an application for a Visitor or Working Holiday visa, please telephone 0208 315 6700 or complete the questionnaire below.

> Make an Enquiry

What visa options are there?

Choose the best option for you:

select

Skilled Visas

Expression of Interest

Parent Visas

Partner Visas

Business Visas

Resident Return Visas

Other visas

TSS 482 Visas

Temporary 400 & 408 Visas

Visitor & Working Holiday Visas

FAQ's

If I travel with family, can I include them in my visa application?

No. Each family member has to make a separate visa application even if they are included in your passport and do not hold any other passport.

Can I extend my tourism visa for Australia?

If you were granted an evisitor visa (subclass 651) your maximum stay period in Australia is 3 months and you cannot extend your stay by submitting a further application in Australia for the same visa subclass. You can, however, apply in Australia for a subclass 600 visitor visa before your current visa expires. You will be granted a Bridging A visa to enable you to remain lawfully in Australia until your application is decided.

When will I have to enter Australia?

Visitor visas when granted are usually valid for 12 months and during this period you can enter Australia and be able to remain for the authorised specified period which is usually 3, 6 or 12 months.

Why use an agent registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA)?

The decision to engage a MARA registered migration agent is a personal choice. If you do require assistance with the visa process, the Department of Home Affairs strongly recommend that you appoint an agent who is registered with MARA who must satisfy a strict code of conduct and:

maintain current knowledge of migration law and procedure
keep a professional library with direct access to migration regulations via Legend
undertake continuous professional development in order to maintain knowledge of migration regulations and policy

An agent who is not registered with MARA cannot offer you any legal protection and is not accountable for his/her actions and therefore might:

make false claims about your chances of success
give you incorrect advice
have limited knowledge about current Australian visa legislation and procedures
increase your risk of being exposed to migration fraud
charge fees which are unreasonable and excessive.

Can I undertake voluntary work whilst visiting Australia?

In general a visitor visa does not allow you to work in Australia, however, you might be able to work as a volunteer if:

your main purpose in visiting Australia is tourism and the voluntary work is incidental to tourism
the work is genuinely voluntary and you are not paid for it, other than for meals, accommodation or out of pocket living expenses
the work would not otherwise be done in return for wages by an Australian resident.

Can I undertake business activities whilst visiting Australia?

You can engage in business visitor activities while in Australia provided you do not work for or provide services to a business or organisation and do not sell goods or services to the public.

Business visitor activities include:

making general business or employment enquiries
Undertaking research in preparation for a future business visa application
investigating, negotiating, signing or reviewing a business contract
activities carried out as part of an official government-to-government visit
participating in conferences, trade fairs or seminars, as long as you are not being paid by the organisers for your participation.

Will I have access to Medicare in Australia?

The United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands,, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Malta, Slovenia and New Zealand have Reciprocal Health Care agreements with Australia. Visitors to Australia from threse countries are entitled to limited subsidised health services from Medicare for treatment that is deemed absolutely necessary in an emergency. Treatment for medical conditions can be extremely costly in Australia. For example, one day in hospital can cost over AUD1,000 just in hospital fees. It is therefore your responsibility to consider whether you need to arrange comprehensive medical insurance before you visit Australia.

Can I visit Australia if I have a criminal conviction?

To be granted an eVisitor visa for Australia you must not have a conviction that resulted in a prison sentence or suspended sentence of 12 or more months or been convicted for 2 or more offences where the combined length of the sentences amounts to 12 or more months. If you have concerns as to whether you meet the character requirement, you should apply for a subclass 600 visitor visa for Australia. Completing this form will enable the Department of Home Affairs to consider your personal circumstances in advance of your travel which will minimise the risk of being refused entry at the Austraian border. Visitors arriving in Australia are required to complete an Incoming Passenger Card. This is a legal document and you must disclose any current or previous convictions which may result in you being interviewed at immigration clearance.

Do I need a visa to visit Australia if I have a British passport?

Yes, all non Australian citizens need to apply for the appropriate visitor visa prior to travelling to Australia. The type of visa you apply for will depend on the country of your passport, your proposed period of stay and whether you have any criminal convictions. Please note that the visa granted to you will be linked to the passport presented at the time of application and if you change your passport following the grant of your visa you will need to notify the Deopartment of Home Affairs of your new details to avoid problems when checking in for your flight.

How much funds do I need for visiting Australia?

Although there is no specific amount that you are required to have in your bank account, the Department of Home Affairs will want to see either at the time of application or at the Australian border that you have enough money for the duration of your proposed stay including sufficient funds to purchase an onward flight ticket. As a guide you should have funds of at least AUD5,000 but this amount will depend on the duration of your stay and planned activities. This can be demonstrated through a personal bank statement, credit card or a letter from a family member or friend confirming that you are being supported with accommodation and living expenses.

Visitor/Working Holiday visa Enquiry Form

If you would like Concept Australia to submit a visitor visa application on your behalf, please complete and submit the form below.

Name
Post Code
Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Email address Contact No.

Please advise the country of your passportPlease advise if you are applying for a visitor visa or working holiday visa.Please advise your intended date of arrival in Australia.If you are applying for a visitor visa, please advise your intended date of departure from Australia.Please advise if you are visiting Australia for tourism or business.Please advise if you have ever overstayed or been refused entry to Australia or any other country.Please advise if you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence.Please advise if you are currently being treated for any medical condition.Please state approximately how much funds you will have available to support your stay in Australia.

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What our clients are saying

Dear Grahame and Team I just wanted to thank you all for your hard work and commitment over the past few months in obtaining my permanent residence visa for Australia. Before choosing Concept Australia, I researched other visa companies offering their services, however, none were as honest and as knowledgeable as you and your team were.Your experience with Australian visas, and from having lived in Australia set you aside from anyone else. I found your approach very professional from the offset, which I greatly thank you for. Kind regards Edward Hodge.

We would both like to thank you sincerely for everything you have done to make our move to Australia a reality. You have both been fantastic every step of the way and would not hesitate for a second to recommend you to our friends who wish to emigrate.