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.