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Fact Sheet 45 - Visas: Questions and Answers

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Australia's unique visa system has been the envy of many countries over the past few years, especially those with a heavy influx of tourists each year.

It provides quick and simplified immigration clearance. Details of passengers are known in Australia before they arrive, which means immigration clearance is completed in less than a minute at most airports.

Almost no country in the world allows foreign travellers to enter without authority. While some allow travellers to apply for entry on arrival, this means long queues while each passenger is processed individually.

There is no guarantee that entry will be granted, and there is the risk of being refused entry after a long and expensive flight.

Do tourists object to visas?

Not according to current research by the tourism industry.

According to information from the Tourism Research Australia's 2005 Leisure Visitor's Satisfaction Survey, 98.9 per cent of the 3.2 million tourists surveyed indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied.

How many visitors come to Australia each year?

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that about 5.5 million overseas visitors came to Australia in 2006.

Visitor arrivals have been increasing steadily for a number of years and Australian authorities have estimated that the figure could rise to more than 8.4 million by the year 2015.

Why does Australia insist on visas?

Like all countries, Australia reserves the right to decide who should be allowed to enter, and stay in the country.

Australia's immigration law requires that all travellers to Australia must have an authority to travel to, and stay in Australia. Since 1975, this authority has taken the form of a visa, which (except for New Zealand citizens) must be obtained before travelling to Australia.
See:
Fact Sheet 53 Australia's entry system for visitors
Fact Sheet 55 Electronic Travel Authority

Australia's visa system is universal and non-discriminatory — visitors from anywhere in the world need to apply for a visa.

The visa system also provides the Australian tourism industry with statistical information that enables it to plan for a rise, or a drop, in the number of arrivals.

Is it easy to obtain a visitor visa for Australia?

Technological changes introduced to the visa system during the 1990s mean that it is possible to obtain a visa on the spot in many countries, and within 24 hours by mail in most other countries.

In particular, the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) in 1996 means passengers can obtain their visas at the same time as booking their travel. Since May 2001, the ETA has also been available on the internet.

The ETA is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions. About 80 per cent of visitors to Australia now obtain an ETA to travel to Australia. More than 75 airlines have access to the system so they can electronically verify that passengers have an ETA before travelling, and are therefore assured of entry to Australia.
See: Fact Sheet 55 Electronic Travel Authority

The department is continually developing new ways to make applying for a visitor visa more efficient. Nationals from certain countries can now apply for a Tourist (short stay) visa via the Internet. This is a simple application process which has many of the same benefits as the ETA. The department is looking to expand access to this facility to other countries in the future.

If visitors are satisfied with visa requirements, what discourages tourists from coming to Australia?

According to the Tourism Australia research for 2003, very little.

The majority, 82 per cent, disliked nothing about their visit to Australia.

External factors, such as economic conditions in their home country, the strength or weakness of the Australian dollar, cost of airfares and the fact that for most travellers it's a long-haul trip also play a role in reducing or increasing tourism arrivals.

Why don't we just offer visa-free to our major tourist source countries?

Australia is committed to upholding a universal visa system and to facilitating the movement of people across the Australian border, while protecting the community and maintaining appropriate compliance.

The visa requirement provides advantages in terms of border management and security.

Visa-free travellers would be disadvantaged compared with travellers who had obtained a visa in advance as they would need to be processed on arrival in Australia.

They would experience time delays at immigration clearance while their passport details are recorded, and the purpose of their visit and proposed length of stay in Australia is determined.

In addition, they do not have the certainty of entry which pre-visaed visitors enjoy.

Is it correct that travel agents charge to process visa applications to Australia?

Some travel agents do charge a service fee for lodging visa applications to Australia on behalf of their clients, however this is not regulated by the Australian government.

(The ETA system is provided by the Australian Government free of charge to airlines and more than 300 000 travel agents around the world.)

In June 2006, more than 99 per cent of ETA-eligible visitors and short-term business travellers were issued with ETAs.

What do other countries think of the ETA/Australia's visa system?

The ETA has been recognised as the equivalent of 'visa-free' by the governments of the USA, France, Spain, Japan and the Republic of Korea in their extension of visa waiver arrangements for Australian nationals visiting those destinations.

In addition, Australians have been able to travel to a number of countries, notably in Western Europe and North America, without the need to obtain a visa for a number of years. Introducing ETA has helped ensure those arrangements are maintained.

What do the airlines think about the need for visas?

Visas and ETA provide an assurance for the airlines that their passengers have the proper authority to enter Australia on arrival.

Airlines which carry people without documentation, and whose passengers are refused entry on arrival, face heavy fines. It is also the responsibility of the airline to return the traveller to the point of departure, at their own expense.


Further information is available on the department's web site.
See: www.immi.gov.au

The department also operates a national telephone service inquiry line.
Telephone: 131 881
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm (recorded information available outside these hours) for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia.

Fact Sheet 45. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Revised 20 July 2007.

© Commonwealth of Australia 2007.