Visiting Australia
I have already applied for a visitor visa
If you have already applied for a Working Holiday or visitor visa and are waiting for your application to be decided, we are unable to assist you with a progress enquiry. The Global Service Centre in Australia can be contacted for assistance on 0061 2 6196 0196 if your visa has not been granted within the published processing timetable.
If you have lodged a visitor visa application and received a request from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to provide additional information, we can advise you how to prepare your response via a 15 minute consultation for a fee of £45 + VAT.
What are my visa options for visiting Australia?
The type of visitor visa for Australia 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.
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. You must be outside Australia when the 1st application is submitted and when the visa is granted. You must enter Australia within 12 months from the date your visa is granted which becomes active when you enter Australia. You can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like in those 12 months.
Age requirement
At the time of application for a Working Holiday visa
you must be 18 and 35 years of age inclusive.
Second or third working holiday - new arrangements from 01 July 2024
From
01 July 2024, UK passport holders will not have to meet any specified
work requirements such as regional farm work when applying for a second or third Working Holiday
visa for Australia.
Partner & dependent children
You
cannot include a partner in your application for a Working Holiday
visa and therefore, if you have a partner, he/she must submit a separate
application. Working Holiday visa holders also cannot be accompanied by dependent children at any time during their stay in Australia. It is possible to obtain a working holiday if you have a child, but your child cannot join you whilst you are in Australia on a working holiday.
Health & Character requirements
All applicants must meet health and character requirements. If you are currently receiving medical treatment or have previously been convicted of a criminal offence, please discuss your situation with Concept Australia.
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.
Working in Australia
You can only work for the same employer in Australia in one location for 6 months and you must obtain permission from the DHA if you wish to work longer than six months with one employer. You do not need to seek permission if your employment is in plant and animal cultivation, aged care and disability services, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, construction, and mining in northern Australia, natural disaster recovery work, agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care, and child care anywhere in Australia, tourism and hospitality anywhere in Australia.
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.