Fact Sheet 52c - Imposition of Visa Condition 8503: "No Further Stay"
| What condition 8503 means | How to check if condition 8503 has been imposed on your visa | Why condition 8503 is imposed on some visas |
If condition 8503 has been imposed on your visa, it means you cannot apply for another visa or ask for your visa to be extended while you are in Australia. Once you depart Australia, condition 8503 will not prevent you from applying for other visas.
What visas is it imposed on?
Condition 8503 can be imposed on any Visitor visas and many Temporary Residence visas.
If, however, you hold one of the following visas, your visa will automatically contain condition 8503 (as it has been imposed by law):
- Sponsored Family Visitor visa (Subclass 679);
- Tourist visa (Subclass 676) granted under the Approved Destination Status scheme operating out of the People's Republic of China;
- Sponsored Business Visitor visa (Subclass 459) if the application was made before 1 July 2006;
- Professional Development visa (Subclass 470);
- Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) if you have previously held two Subclass 462 visas.
How to check if condition 8503 has been imposed on your visa
If condition 8503 has been imposed on your visa, you will see the code "8503" listed under the conditions on the visa label in your passport. If you don't have a visa label in your passport there will be information in your grant letter advising that condition 8503 has been imposed on your visa.
Information on application forms about the possible imposition of condition 8503
Application forms for Visitor and relevant Temporary Residence visas contain information about condition 8503 and include an acknowledgment that you understand and accept that:
- the condition may be imposed on your visa; and
- if imposed, you cannot apply for further visas while you are in Australia
- this includes not being able to send an application from Australia to an Australian Embassy, High Commission, Consulate or other Australian visa office overseas (or to a Processing Centre in Australia that deals with 'offshore' applications, such as Parent visa).
When you sign your visa application form, therefore, you are acknowledging that this condition might be imposed on your visa. This is also the case if another person, such as a Migration Agent, signed the form on your behalf.
Why condition 8503 is imposed on some visas
Use of condition 8503 allows the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to grant more visas in those cases where extra surety may be needed that a visa applicant will depart Australia at the end of the period of stay allowed for by the visa.
It has been successful in increasing the number of visas that are granted while reducing the number of people who try to stay in Australia beyond the period allowed for by the visa.
The table below compares the increase in the percentage of visas granted with the decrease in the percentage of people who did not leave before their visa expired.
Program Year (1 July to 30 June) |
% Visas Approved (excluding ETA) |
% Visas Approved with Condition 8503 |
1999-00 |
87.39 |
3.80 |
2000-01 |
88.10 |
14.02 |
2001-02 |
88.79 |
26.54 |
2002-03 |
88.79 |
36.36 |
2003-04 |
91.10 |
42.41 |
2004-05 |
91.96 |
49.18 |
* ETA =Electronic Travel Authority
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 52c. Produced by the National Communications Branch, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Canberra.
Revised 30 January 2007.
© Commonwealth of Australia 2007.