Australian Consulate-General, Dubai
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Visa office - general information
Unless you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you need to obtain a visa before travelling to Australia. The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) processes all visa applications for people interested in visiting or migrating to Australia.
The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai processes most Australian visa applications from residents living in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (the Gulf States) and Yemen although some visa applications, like the general skilled migration visa applications, are processed in Australia.
See: Visa Information and Lodgement
For your convenience, you can submit visa applications at one of nine (9) Australian Visa Application Centres (AVAC) throughout the Gulf region. These are operated by VFS Global.
See: Visa Information and Lodgement
You can also access up-to-date information on visas by visiting the the Visas, Immigration and Refugees section of this website.
See: Visas, Immigration and Refugees
Biometrics collection
The Australian Government is introducing biometrics collection into the offshore visa application process.
All people, regardless of nationality, lodging paper-based visa applications in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (the Gulf States) and Yemen will be required to attend an Australian Visa Application Centre in person to lodge their application and provide their biometrics. A 10 digit fingerprint scan and a facial photograph will be collected.
See: Countries and Visa Subclasses included in the Biometrics Program
Contact details, opening hours and public holidays
For contact details, visa counter, client enquiry telephone hours and public holidays please refer to our contact details.
See: United Arab Emirates – Contacts
Visa categories processed in Dubai
Tourism or Family visits
If you are not eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority or online visitor visa and you wish to holiday or visit family in Australia, you can lodge a Visitor visa application at one of the AVACs.
See:
Visa Information and Lodgement
Eligible passports for online Tourist visa application
Online Applications - Visitors
Online Tourist Visa Applications ( 32KB PDF file)
For all other applications, use form 48R and download the checklist of requirements.
See:
Form 48R Application to visit Australia for tourism or other recreational activities - English (223KB PDF file)
Visiting Australia ( 34KB PDF file)
Business Visitors (up to 3 months stay)
If you are not eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority and you wish to visit for business purposes or attend a conference or seminar in Australia, you can lodge a Business (Short Stay) Visa application at one of the Australian Visa Application Counters.
See:
Visa Information and Lodgement
Form 456 Application for a business (short stay) visa (for a stay of up to 3 months) (189KB PDF file)
Visiting Australia - English ( 34KB PDF file)
Student visas
For people seeking to study or develop their skills in Australia.
See:
Form 157A Application for a student (temporary) visa (374KB PDF file)
Students – Assessment Level 1 -2 – English ( 35KB PDF file)
Students – Assessment Level 3 – English (251KB PDF file)
Students – Assessment Level 4 – English (263KB PDF file)
Students
Transit visas
For persons transiting Australia to another country or passing through to join a ship as crew who seek to enter and remain in Australia for up to 72 hours.
See:
Visa options for transiting in Australia
Transit Visa for Australia ( 20KB PDF file)
Refugee and Humanitarian
Clients from Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen whose application for a Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa is accompanied by a proposal form (form 681) must lodge their application at the Victorian Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centre. This applies to people who are lodging a visa for consideration under the Global Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) or as an immediate family member.
See:
Lodging Certain Humanitarian Applications in Australia
Victoria Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centre
Note: All other Refugee and Humanitarian applications should be directed to their closest Immigration office outside Australia.
Family migration
There are a number of migration options for fiancés, partners, children, parents and other family members of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens.
See:
Family Visa Options
Family Migration to Australia ( 32KB PDF file)
Online visa applications
Citizens of designated countries can lodge a number of visa applications online.
See:
Online services
Online Tourist Visa Applications ( 32KB PDF file)
Visa application charges
The acceptable method of payment for visa fees is by demand bank draft drawn on a UAE bank payable in UAE Dirhams (AED) only.
If you are lodging your application directly with the Australian Consulate-General Dubai, by appointment, post or courier, bank drafts should be made payable to the 'Australian Consulate-General Austrade official public account'
Visa Application Charges may also be paid at any DIAC office in Australia.
See: Fees and Charges
If you are submitting your application at an AVAC please contact them for information on their accepted methods of payment.
See: VFS Global
Skilled migration
See:
Workers
Skilled Migration to Australia ( 33KB PDF file)
Other information
Panel doctors
Health examinations for Australian visas may only be carried out by specially appointed panel doctors. Panel doctors located in the Gulf are listed on our main website.
See: Immigration Panel Doctors
Australian passports
The Visa and Citizenship Section of the Australian-Consulate Dubai does not process Australian passport applications. Enquiries should be directed to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
See: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Dubai immigration and visas
This office does not provide advice or otherwise deal with matters relating to visas for United Arab Emirates. All such enquiries should be directed to the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the UAE (if outside the UAE) or to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.