Label Free Travel for Subclass 457 Visa Holders from Eligible Countries
As of 2 January 2009 Subclass 457 visa holders may travel label free to Australia if they hold a passport from an eligible country. The complete list of eligible label free countries for the Subclass 457 is available from the departmental website.
See: http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/sbs/visa-labels.htm
This is to reduce the requirement for Subclass 457 visa holders to have their visa label placed in their passport prior to travel or on arrival to Australia.
Subclass 457 visa holders can electronically check their visa details by using their Transaction Reference Number by accessing the department's service called Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO).
See: http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/vevo.htm
What will this mean?
As of 2 January 2009, 457 visa holders from an eligible country are no longer required to have their visa evidenced (before 2 January 2009, visa condition 8403 was imposed requiring the visa holder to have their visa evidenced when they had arrived to Australia). Specifically this is for ETA, e676, or eVisitor eligible passport holders where this condition was imposed to reduce the inconvenience on visa holders which if not imposed would require them to present to an overseas office which in many cases would be in another country.
Who will this effect?
Subclass 457 visa holders that hold a passport from a country listed as an eligible label free country will no longer need to present to an immigration office (on or offshore) to have their visa evidenced.
The visa and passport details of Subclass 457 visa holders will be electronically recorded. The 457 visa holder will not be required to present their visa grant letter in order to travel to, enter and remain in Australia as the airline staff will electronically confirm that the visa holder has the authority to travel to Australia.
Action Required
Migration agents will need to familiarise themselves with the list of eligible countries and advise their Subclass 457 clients accordingly. It is recommended that agents check this list regularly as the department intends to add to this list in the near future.