After You Lodge Your Application

Processing time

Information on visa processing times is available in the Client Services Charter. These times are to be used as a guide only. Processing times will be longer if additional information is required such as medical requirements. To enquire about your individual application, please contact the department.
See: Visitor Visa Processing Times

Travel before visa grant

If you lodged your visa application from outside Australia, you must not make arrangements to travel to Australia until you are advised that your visa has been granted.

If you lodged your visa application while in Australia (second Working Holiday visa applications only), and you want to travel overseas while the application is being processed, you must contact the Cairns office to apply for a Bridging visa with travel rights.
See: Work Visa Processing Times

Interview requirements

The department will contact you if you are required to attend an interview. You may be requested to bring your passport and other supporting documentation to the interview.

Other requirements

After you have lodged your application, the department may contact you to request further information.
Example: If you have applied for a second Working Holiday visa, the department may contact you to confirm you meet the specified work requirement.

Checking outstanding requirements for online applications

If you lodge an online application, you will be provided with a Transaction Reference Number (TRN), which will is a unique number assigned to each online application. It is important you record this number as it will allow you to check the status of your application after it has been lodged.

If you lodge a paper application, you need to contact the department to check on your application's status.

For details on checking the progress of an application.
See: Work Visa Processing Times

If your visa is granted

If your visa is granted, you will receive a Notification of Grant letter via your nominated postal or email address. Please keep this letter as it contains:

• your visa grant number
• the validity date of your visa
• the visa conditions.

Notifying change of passport details

Your visa application is linked to the passport number used in your application and you must use the same passport to travel to Australia.
If you obtain a new passport after lodging your Working Holiday visa application (that is, if your passport is stolen, lost, damaged or expires), you must advise the department of the new details, including:

• passport number
• date of issue
• expiry date.

You may do so either by email or by faxing a copy of the biodata or photo page of your new passport.

If you fail to advise the department of your new passport prior to your travel, you may be refused or delayed entry until your identity and claims to enter Australia have been checked.

To advise the department of passport detail changes, please contact the department.
See: Work Visa Processing Times

Visa labels

You do not require a visa label in your passport unless advised by the department in your visa grant notification letter. Your visa is linked electronically to the passport details provided in your visa application.
You can view your visa online using Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO).  VEVO is a free internet service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It allows you, and your employer or education provider, to view your visa details online.
See: Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) for Visa Holders
Note: It is advisable that you keep a copy of your visa grant notification with you when you travel.

If necessary, you can arrange to have a visa label placed in your passport at any departmental office in Australia.
See: Australian Offices

Checking your visa conditions online

You can check your visa details, including your visa grant number and visa conditions, using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system. You can use either your TRN or the password that you recorded at the end of your online visa application.
See:
Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) for Visa Holders
Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) for Organisations

If your visa is not granted

If your visa is not granted, the department sends you a notification letter advising you of:

• the reasons for the refusal
• your review rights
• the time limit for lodging an appeal.

Your rights for a review of the decision differ, depending on whether you lodged your application in or outside Australia.

• If you lodged in Australia, the refusal letter advises you of your review rights and the time limit for lodging an appeal.
• If you lodged outside Australia, you have no right for a review of the decision.