An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) allows citizens of certain countries to apply for a visa through their travel agents or online (see: www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/976). The visa is not stamped or placed in the passport, but is issued electronically. An ETA allows for a stay of up to three months, or three months on each arrival if the ETA allows multiple re-entries to Australia over a longer period (such as for the life of the person's passport in a Subclass 956). To be eligible to apply for an ETA, you must:

For eligible passports holders, ETAs are available through a travel agent, airline, specialist service provider or an Australian visa office outside Australia. These are citizen passports issued by the following countries.

Immigration policy states that relevant considerations may include, but are not limited to:

Personal circumstances that may encourage the applicant to return to his or her home country (home country being country of usual residence), include:

Consideration of the applicant's immigration history, may include but is not limited to:

Conditions that may encourage the applicant to remain in Australia, include:

Where consideration of the factors above raise doubts about the applicant's ability to meet the genuine visitor criterion, such as where the applicant's circumstances may suggest the need for greater scrutiny, officers may consider/request additional evidence to demonstrate that the applicant intends a genuine visit.

Officers may request further evidence from the applicant where considered appropriate, if departmental statistical or intelligence reports on migration fraud, or profiles based on such reports, indicate that there is a significantly greater likelihood of nationals from the applicant's home country:

Officers should, however, be aware that applicants matching the characteristics of a profile is not grounds to refuse to grant a visa. Profiles are merely an alert that closer scrutiny of the applicant's circumstances may be required. All applications must be considered on their own merits, taking into account all the information and supporting documentation provided by the applicant.

Additional evidence that officers may wish to consider to determine whether or not the applicant is a genuine visitor include:

Generally, offers of support or guarantees given by family and friends in Australia are not sufficient evidence of a genuine visit. The onus is on the applicant to satisfy the decision-maker that they intend to only visit Australia. Guarantees from connections in Australia, can however be critical in assessing whether an applicant has, or has access to, adequate funds.

People who have had a visa cancelled while previously in Australia, or who overstayed their previous visa by more than 28 days are subject to a three-year ban on re-entry (cll.4013–4014, Sch.4).

Where a person wishes to visit a close relative in Australia but fits a profile of an overstayer (usually any citizen from a third-world country) it is often better to apply for a "Sponsored Visitor" visa, as this is more likely to be granted given that the Australian relative/sponsor usually has to pay a bond to ensure that the visa holder leaves the country (see: "Eligibility for a visa", above).

It is not possible to apply for an extension of a visitor visa with Condition 8503 on it, unless that condition is removed. It can only be removed if events of a compassionate and compelling nature have occurred since the visa was granted which are beyond the control of the visa holder and which necessitate a further stay in Australia.

DIAC's policy is not to grant visitor visas that would extend a total stay beyond 12 months, except for students (above) or for other "exceptional" reasons.

This is by far the largest group of temporary residents in Australia (currently about 70,000 primary visa holders). Applicants have to prove that they are being sponsored by an "approved" Australian overseas business, in connection with a business activity in Australia:

From 14 September 2009, all primary Subclass 457 visa applicants who are sponsored by a Standard Business Sponsor must demonstrate that they have English language proficiency that is equivalent to an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test score of at least 5 in each of the four test components of speaking, reading, writing and listening. Prior to 14 September 2009, applicants required an average test score of at least 5 across the four test components. Where an applicant is being paid a base salary in excess of $88,410 English testing is not required.

Where the nominated occupation requires a higher level of English (equivalent to IELTS test score of more than 5 in each of the four test components) because it forms part of that occupation's registration, licensing or membership requirement, the visa applicant must have at least the standard of English language proficiency required for the grant of that registration, licence or membership.

This requirement affects all new Subclass 457 visa applications from 14 September 2009, as well as visa applications that were made before, but not decided by, 14 September 2009.

This category also covers those wishing to develop a business in Australia and/or are sponsored by a state or territory and who have a successful business overseas (turning over at least $300,000 per year for two out of the last four years) and assets of at least $500,000 to conduct or establish a business in Australia. This type of visa (called "Business Owner (Provisional)") normally authorises a stay of four years (see: Subclasses 160 & 163 in Sch.2).

Another four-year temporary visa in this category allows for investors who have assets of $1.125 million and who wish to invest a minimum of $750,000 in State Treasury bonds (see: Subclasses 162 & 165 in Sch.2 Migration Regulations).

People in this category may be considered for temporary entry only if they are nominated by an acceptable sponsor in Australia to undertake a specific engagement or program of engagements. The sponsor must be a person or body with good professional and financial standing who has consulted with relevant Australian unions in relation to the employment of the person from overseas.

Entertainers are permitted to enter Australia only for periods sufficient to enable them to meet their approved engagements (see: Subclass 420 in Sch.2 Migration Regulations).

The regulations provide for the temporary entry of sportspeople to undertake specific engagements in Australia. They must be sponsored by an acceptable entrepreneur or club. People considered to be of international repute, including those accepted as participants in international tournaments, may be granted a sports visa. People who are not of international repute but who have an established reputation in the field of sport, or judges, coaches and team assistants, can also be granted a sports visa if they are sponsored by an Australian sporting organisation with a good reputation in the sporting community and have entered into a formal arrangement about the sporting activities. They must also come within the approved maximum number of visas for that particular sport (see: Subclass 421 in Sch. 2 Migration Regulations).

Domestic servants may be brought to Australia for temporary stay by diplomatic and consular representatives and by persons admitted for temporary residence as the chief executives in Australia of substantial overseas firms (see: Subclasses 426 & 427 in Sch.2 Migration Regulations).

Regulations provide for the entry of persons, irrespective of denomination, who are authorised by their organisation to undertake work in Australia directly serving the organisation's religious objectives (see: Subclass 428 in Sch.2 Migration Regulations).

The aim of the working holiday maker scheme is to promote international understanding by providing opportunities for young people to gain experience of other countries. The scheme makes it possible for young people who are resourceful, self-reliant and adaptable and who wish to holiday and travel in Australia to work to supplement their funds.

To be eligible for entry or stay in Australia as a working holiday maker, a person must (see: Subclass 417 in Sch.2 Migration Regulations):

In all cases, applicants must:

Working holiday makers may apply for a second 12-month working holiday visa if they can show that they have worked at least three months in particular primary industries such as fishing, pearling, butchering and forestry or doing seasonal harvest or building construction work in regional Australia.

Where to lodge applications

Citizens of the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Italy, France, Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Korea, Norway, Sweden, Denmark or Estonia aged between 18 and 31 years may apply for working holiday maker visas at any Australian processing office overseas (but not in Australia). Japanese, Maltese, Hong Kong, Cyprus, Korean and Taiwan citizens must apply in their own country in accordance with Australia's working holiday agreement with those countries.

If the applicant has entered Australia previously as a holder of a working holiday visa then they must post their application to the E-visa WHM National Processing Centre, PO Box 1269, Cairns, Queensland 4870.

This is a visa is for tertiary educated people aged 18 to 30 who are interested in a working holiday of up to 12 months in Australia but who do not come from one of the countries with whom Australia has a working holiday arrangement (see: "Working holidays for young people", above). The subclass 462 visa allows applicants to supplement the cost of their holiday through periods of temporary or casual employment. Most countries under this visa program have an annual limit of 100 Work and Holiday visas per year. Currently, the Work and Holiday visa arrangement is in place for people from Chile, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.

Australia has also signed a Work and Holiday visa arrangement with Bangladesh; however, this arrangement is not yet in effect and therefore it is not possible for people from Bangladesh to apply for this visa. Information about the commencement of this arrangement will be published on DIAC's website when it is finalised.

Applicants are considered for temporary residence for diverse purposes such as limited staff appointments to universities, representatives of news media, staff of travel agencies and service personnel for training. The Migration Regulations also provide that overseas firms who are successful tenderers may send their own technicians to Australia to install and service machinery and computers, etc.

This visa is available to an applicant in Australia (see: Subclass 804 in Sch.2 Migration Regulations) who:

This visa is available for the same aged parents who would also qualify for the normal aged parent visa (see above) but who can afford to pay $37,965 per adult extra, plus have their sponsors lodge a $10,000 Assurance of Support bond plus $4,000 for each family member (i.e. spouse, children etc) for 10 years as a guarantee that the visa applicants will not access social security payments in that time. The advantage of this "rich" parent visa is that 3,500 to 4,000 places are generally made available each year and aged parents will get their visas much more quickly (12 to 18 months) than those applying under the normal aged parent category, whose waiting time can be up to 15 years.

This visa is available to an applicant in Australia who is a dependent child of an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

A dependent child is defined as the natural or adopted child of a person. The child must be less than 18 years, and unmarried (and not engaged to be married). If the child has turned 18 years, they must be dependent or at least substantially incapacitated for work because of a physical or mental impairment (see reg.1.03 Migration Regulations).

Note that dependent is also defined in regulation 1.05A to mean someone who is "wholly or substantially dependent on another person for financial support" (except for certain refugee visas which allow for psychological and physical dependence).

This visa is available to an applicant in Australia who meets the criteria for:

and who is:

Since 1 September 1994, New Zealand citizens who come to Australia are only granted temporary residence (Subclass 444 visas). However, they are eligible to apply for permanent visas in the same way as any other non-citizens (with reduced fees) and unlike most other intending migrants, New Zealand citizens do not have to apply offshore.

This visa is available to an applicant in Australia who has previously been a permanent resident and spent the greater part of their life in Australia as a permanent resident and has maintained, business, cultural or personal ties with Australia and is under 45 years of age.

This visa is available to an applicant in Australia who has previously applied overseas to enter Australia permanently and has been allowed to enter Australia on a provisional basis, subject to proof that certain outstanding criteria will be proved after entry (see: Subclass 808 in Sch.2 Migration Regulations).

This visa is available to applicants within Australia who have been granted refugee status (see: Subclass 866 in Sch.2 Migration Regulations).

This visa is available to an applicant in Australia who has occupational skills that are in demand in Australia. The person must not be a visitor or an unlawful non-citizen and must hold a temporary residence visa at the time of applying.

The person must meet the requirements of:

This visa is available to an applicant who:

having a national reputation in relation to the area; and

These Subclasses were created on 1 September 2007 and took over from previous visas (Subclasses 880, 881 and 882) that were abolished to cater for overseas students who wish to apply for permanent residence purely on the basis of their recently acquired Australian qualifications. They partially "mirror" the current offshore Migration visas (see: "The points test", below) and allow international students who have completed at least two years of academic studies in Australia and nominate a skilled occupation worth at least 50 points on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) to apply in Australia within six months of completing their studies and not be required to have any work experience in the nominated occupation. A points test applies.

Students who complete a qualification in certain engineering disciplines may apply for an 18 month temporary visa (Skilled – Recognised Graduate (Temporary) visa (Subclass 476)) so as to gain work experience in their proposed occupation in Australia. They may then apply for one of the above permanent visas.

Other options for overseas students

Skilled – Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 485): This visa allows overseas students who do not meet the points test for a permanent General Skilled Migration visa to remain in Australia for 18 months to gain skilled work experience or improve their English language skills, which might then allow them to pass the points test or gain sponsorship by an Australian employer. Holders of this visa may apply for permanent residence at any time if they are able to meet the passmark on the General Skilled Migration points test (see: "The points test", below). This visa requires that overseas students meet the following criteria:

This visa is available to an applicant in Australia who has been in a genuine marital relationship (either heterosexual or homosexual) with an Australian citizen or resident for at least two years and has held, during that period, a Subclass 820 Partner (Temporary) visa or a Subclass 824 Interdependent (Temporary) visa. The two-year wait is waived for long-term marriages/relationships (i.e. those that have lasted five years at the time of application, or two-year relationships and there is a child of the relationship).

The relationship must be genuine and continuing until the date of decision whether to grant the visa, unless:

This visa is also available to applicants who have entered Australia on a Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage visa and have married the person named in their application (see: Subclass 831 in Sch.2).

This visa is available to an applicant in Australia who has been granted territorial asylum by a Minister. (This is different from refugee status, and is very rare; see: Subclass 800 in Sch.2 Migration Regulations.)

In addition to the above, the Government from time to time introduces special temporary or permanent visas as a humanitarian response to people temporarily in Australia. At the time of writing (July 2011), the Humanitarian Stay (temporary) visa (Subclass 449) exists. This visa requires an initial invitation from an Australian Government official and cannot be initially granted inside Australia.

The Subclass 785 and 786 visas have also been created to allow a three-year temporary stay for certain asylum seekers who arrived by boat during certain periods in the past and certain holders of Temporary Safe Haven visas. They are not currently in use for boat arrivals who are found to be refugees as they are now granted a permanent visa (Subclass 866). However, the Government has stated that it is planning to change its policy again and have a harsher attitude towards asylum seekers who arrive unauthorised by boat (as opposed to asylum seekers who arrive on tourist visas). The Government has decided to move future boat arrivals "off-shore" to a Regional Refugee Processing Centres which will be expected to house such refugees until various countries are willing to take them. The Government is negotiating with several countries in our region to build such a centre.

The Subclass 695 (Return Pending) visa can be granted to holders of Subclass 785 visas who have lost their application to stay permanently but who are seen to need a further 18 months to arrange their departure.

The Subclass 852 Witness Protection (Trafficking) (Permanent) visa allows a person to stay in Australia after giving evidence against a trafficker. If the Attorney-General certifies that the person has made a significant contribution to the prosecution of a trafficker and the Minister is satisfied that the person's life would be in danger upon return to their home country this visa can be granted in the same way that a protection visa is granted to a refugee.

Permanent residence is difficult to apply for once a person's temporary visa has expired. Applicants who are in this position (i.e. unlawful non-citizens) should get legal advice about their situation before approaching the Department.