Simpler Visas

Through innovative changes announced in June 2010, the Australian Government will be simplifying and streamlining Australia’s complex visa system.

Specifically, the government has committed to reduce by 50 per cent the number of temporary working visas by 2012 and to target 50 per cent reduction in the total number of visa subclasses by 2015.

Previous discussion papers

Feedback to the following discussion papers has now closed but you can still view the discussion papers, which are available to download as PDF files.

Visitor visas

Simpler Visas: Making Visitor Visas Simpler
See: Simpler Visas—Making Visitor Visas Simpler Discussion Paper – April 2011 (361KB PDF file)

Temporary residence work visas

Implementing a Simpler Framework for Temporary Residence Work Visas
See: Simpler Visas—Implementing a Simpler Framework for Temporary Residence Work Visas – December 2010 (397KB PDF file)

Creating a simpler framework for temporary and permanent entry to Australia
See: Simpler visas—Creating a simpler framework for temporary and permanent entry to Australia – June 2010 (1.3MB PDF file)