Tourist visa to Australia. What they may ask at customs upon entry

Australia is a place where many travelers dream of going; it is a country with amazing nature, a high standard of living, large, interesting cities and unique fauna. But tourists from Russia do not go there very often because of the long and expensive flight, as well as the need to obtain a visa. At first glance, the process of submitting documents really seems complicated, but if you look into it, the system is convenient and well thought out, the main thing is to act step by step and comply with all the requirements of the embassy.

The easiest way to submit documents is online. Since a visa sticker is not placed in the passport, all papers can be submitted for processing without leaving home.

Tourist visa to Australia: general information

Regular visa cost

Express visa

Visa fees

Types of visas

Travelers from Russia must apply for a tourist or visitor visa to Australia (subclass 600 according to the embassy classification). It is also issued to those who plan to visit relatives and friends, or undergo training for a period of no more than 3 months. This visa does not give the right to get a job or open your own business.

In addition to the tourist visa, there are the following types of visas:

• business visa - for those making a business trip;
• worker - for those employed in Australia;
• student - for those who entered long-term study;
• medical - for those who plan to undergo treatment;
• transit;
• Immigration visas include partner and intended marriage visas, which are issued to both women and men planning to start a family with Australian citizens, visas for children and other family members.

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From November 19, 2018, fingerprints are required for a visa to Australia. This can be done in one of the five Australian centers for collecting biometric data - in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don

Applying for a visa yourself

To apply for a visa to Australia yourself, it is convenient to submit an application electronically. You must submit an application via ImmiAccount (in English), attach scans of all documents, pay the visa fee and wait for the decision.

Those who want to submit documents the old fashioned way, in paper form, will have to fill out a large form and submit it with a package of information to the embassy. For this purpose, there are special boxes installed where you simply drop the folder; you can also use courier services or mail.

It is very important to correctly determine the type of visa before submitting your application, since if you make a mistake, the visa fee will not be refunded and you will have to go through the entire procedure again.

The embassy asks you not to submit original passports, and you also don’t need to buy tickets or book accommodation in advance, this will not speed up or simplify the issuance of a visa.

The Australian Embassy has canceled visa stickers in Russian passports; all data exists only in electronic form.

If you wish and have money, you can submit an application through intermediaries - visa center employees will help you correctly prepare documents, make the necessary translations, notarize papers, but you will have to pay about 110 AUD for the services (charged in rubles), and also pay separately for all additional actions with papers (translation into English, notary work, etc.). Prices on the page are for April 2019.

Documents for a visa to Australia

The package of documents is quite impressive:

• online application, information about it can be obtained at the office. Australian Government website;
• a copy of the page of the foreign passport with personal data;
• online payment of the consular fee (more details below);
• copies of all existing and former visas to other countries;
• financial guarantees - a certificate from work indicating the position, length of service and vacation period, bank account statement, documents on the availability of property (credit cards and checks from ATMs are not accepted);
• resume (CV), filled out on embassy letterhead in English, indicating studies from 18 years of age and work without passes, the form can be downloaded at the office. website of the Australian Embassy in Moscow;
• consent to the processing of personal information;
• medical insurance for the entire trip with a minimum coverage of 41,000 AUD;
• those planning to visit family or friends must also provide a copy of the inviter’s ID and a statement confirming his income if he is paying for the trip;
• In some cases, the embassy may ask applicants to undergo a medical examination, especially for people over 75 years of age.

All documents not written in English must be translated into English, but the translation does not need to be certified; it is needed in order to speed up the work of the consulate.

It is very important to send all the necessary papers at once, since the embassy extremely rarely requests information that is missing; the decision is made based on the documents provided.

Registration of visas for children

To obtain a visa for minors, in addition to all the above documents, you will need:

• a notarized copy of the birth certificate;
• a copy of the page with personal data of the passport of the parent who is not traveling with the child;
• permission from one or both parents if the child is traveling accompanied only by his mother or father or with third parties: a person under 18 years of age cannot travel alone.

Consular fee

The visa fee must be paid at the time of application. The fee is paid online, by credit card, the amount is written off in Australian dollars and is equal to 140 AUD. If the payment has not gone through, you must contact the bank before sending the application, otherwise the documents will not be considered.

Those who plan to submit papers in person or by mail must fill out a special Authorization form for payment by card so that the embassy can write off the money independently; a sample can be found at the office. Australian Embassy website. In the absence of such a form, employees will not be able to process the payment and will return all documents to the applicant without consideration.

The embassy's work with the applicant's documents begins only after payment of the consular fee - 140 AUD.

Those travelers who have already been to Australia and plan to come there often can apply for a long-term visa (up to 10 years) with multiple entries. In this case, the visa fee increases to 1045 AUD.

When paying with different payment systems, they may charge an additional percentage for the transfer, usually from 1 to 2% of the amount; this information can be clarified with the bank that issued the card.

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Visa processing time

A tourist visa application must be submitted at least 6 weeks before travel. Sometimes the decision comes faster, in rare and complex cases it takes longer. During the high season - from September to January and especially during the Catholic Christmas period - the embassy asks you to submit documents as early as possible. After completing the online application, access to your personal account is available, where it is convenient to track the stage of consideration of the case.

Citizens of the Russian Federation can apply for a short-term visa to Australia (subclass 600) online.

Short-term visa subclass “600” intended for travel for tourism purposes (or visiting family/friends), as well as for business trips that do not involve work in Australia. Tourist visas are usually issued for up to three months. Depending on the purpose of the visit and the personal circumstances of the applicant, the visa may be approved for a longer period.

To submit an online application, you must register on the portal of the Australian Ministry of Immigration and Border Control - https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login. After filling out the form, you will need to attach scans of documents confirming the purpose of the trip and reliability:

• copy of passport;
• copies of previously issued visas;
• a copy of the statement/sponsorship letter;
• a copy of the certificate from the place of work;
• documents confirming the purpose of the trip;
• documents confirming trustworthiness;
• completed resume (download: )

At the end of the application, the consular fee is paid.

How to fill out an online application for a visa to Australia?

The form must be filled out in English. If there is no user activity for 10 minutes, the profile is automatically closed without saving. At the end of each section, you can save the questionnaire and continue filling it out later.

♦ Registration

The first step is to create a personal profile on the Australian Department of Immigration website. To register, you must indicate your last name, first name, contact phone number, email address and actual residential address.

In addition to contact information, you will need to select 5 verification questions from the proposed list. Answers to these questions should not be repeated and contain less than 3 letters. The applicant will be asked to answer these 5 questions if he forgets his profile password.

To complete your registration you must:

• confirm login (you can either come up with a name that will be used to log into your profile, or check the “use email address” box)
• specify a password (password must contain at least 9 characters)
• check the box “I accept the terms and conditions”
• click “next”.

An email will be sent to the email address specified during registration to confirm your email address.

♦ Filling out an application for a visa to Australia

After confirming your email address, you will be able to proceed to filling out the form. You will need to review the application terms and conditions again. After reading the information provided, check the “I have read and agree to the terms and conditions” box.

Application context section

In this section you will need to clarify from which country the online application is being submitted. Please indicate your country of residence and status. In the drop-down list, you must select the option that corresponds to your legal status in the country:

• Citizen - Citizen
• Permanent resident
• Visitor
• Student - Student in training
• Work visa - Stay on the basis of a work visa
• No legal status - Without status
• Other - Other

Please indicate the purpose of your trip to Australia.

If the application is being submitted as part of a group, please check the appropriate box. Applicants traveling together or as part of an organized group may note this on their application. In this case, the questionnaires will be considered together or taking into account the questionnaires of other group members.

The first applicant from the group creates the name of this group. This group will be assigned an identification number - ID. The rest of the group members will have to indicate this ID in their forms.

Check to see if the applicant falls under the category of “special applicants” who are exempt from paying the consular fee for processing documents (representatives of a foreign government).

Section “Applicant” (Applicant)

Please provide your passport details, place of birth and marital status.

Marital status You will be asked to choose from the following options:

• De Facto - Cohabitation without official registration of the relationship (clarification of the start date of the relationship may be required);
• Divorced - Divorced;
• Engaged - Engaged (clarification of the planned date of official registration of the relationship may be required);
• Married - Married (clarification of the date of painting may be required);
• Never married - Never been married;
• Separated - The spouses do not live together, but have not officially divorced;
• Widowed - Widower / Widow.

If you changed your first or last name, you must note this, indicating the reason for the change of first / last name.

Provide your citizenship information. If you have a second valid foreign passport, you should enter its details in the application form.

Enter information about your national identity document. This could be a birth certificate, driver's license, marriage certificate, etc.

Please indicate if you have undergone a medical examination in the last year for an Australian visa.

Section “Critical data confirmation”

Check again that the basic data entered earlier is correct.

Section “Additional Identity questions”

In this section you must enter information about previous trips to Australia. If you have previously visited Australia, you will need to enter details of your approved visa, as well as details of old passports if you are traveling to Australia using these passports. Please note that the Visa grant number is a 13-digit visa approval notification number.

Section "Travelling companions"

Enter information about the persons accompanying you on the trip. For each accompanying person, you will need to indicate your Last Name, First Name, date of birth and relationship to you (select from the list provided).

“Contact details” section

Select your country of residence from the drop-down list.

Please note that the Australian Embassy reserves the right to invite the applicant for an interview. In the “Department office” question, you should select the city where the nearest Australian representative office is located. If necessary, you will be invited to an interview at this representative office.

Enter information about your residential address and contact phone numbers.

Check to see if your postal address matches your residential address. If necessary, enter the address for delivery of correspondence.

Please provide your contact email address. Please note that this email address will be used to send you letters and notifications from the Embassy (including sending a letter with a decision on processing a visa request). Check your email regularly throughout the review process! If the Embassy deems it necessary to request additional documents from you, a corresponding letter will be sent to you. The request letter will indicate the deadline for providing a response. If a response to the Embassy is not sent within the specified period, the visa application will be considered on the basis of the documents submitted initially.

You can designate a representative to receive notices from the Australian Embassy. To do this, you will need to provide the representative's details:

• last name and first name;
• mailing address;
• contact number.

It is possible to indicate that it is advisable to send notifications to the representative’s email address. Pay attention to the last question in the section, where you need to clarify whether you agree that your representative will be sent information or requests about the results of medical examinations (if necessary), as well as the results of checks for offenses.

Section “Non-accompanying family membeers” (Family members who will not accompany you on the trip)

Provide information about family members who will not accompany you on your trip to Australia (and who are not Australian citizens/do not reside permanently in Australia).

Please note - by clicking on the blue question mark, you can see an explanation of which family members you need to indicate. Naturally, you are not asked to provide information about the entire family tree.

According to the explanation provided, you need to enter information about:

• spouse;
• children under 18 years of age;
• relatives who are on your constant material or monetary support;
• relatives who are not married or in a cohabiting relationship.

Section “Entry to Australia”

In this section you will need to indicate:

• dates of the planned trip;
• the number of entries of the requested visa (when requesting a multiple-entry visa, it is advisable to provide justification);
• whether you plan to study while in Australia;
• whether you plan to visit friends or relatives while in Australia.

Find the best prices for tickets and accommodation in Australia right now:

“Employment” section

Below you will find an example of filling out a form for working applicants . It is necessary to indicate the position held, the name of the employing company, the start date of work in the company, the company address, contact phone number and email address.

For students You will need to indicate your specialty, university name and dates of study.

Unemployed It is necessary to indicate the date of dismissal from the last place of work and clarify the last position held.

For pensioners You will need to indicate your retirement date.

Section “Fundings for stay” (Financial guarantees)

From the drop-down box you need to select who bears the costs of the trip:

• self-funded - expenses are paid by the applicant;
• current employer - current employer;
• other organization - another organization/company;
• other person - third party.

At the end of the questionnaire, you will need to attach proof of funds - this can be an account statement.

If travel expenses will be paid sponsor(relative, for example), it will be necessary to indicate his data: last name, first name, address and his relationship to the applicant. In addition, you should select from the drop-down list what expenses the sponsor will pay.

If the trip will be paid for employer:

If the train will be paid other organization (inviting company, for example), you will need to indicate the name of this company and address.

“Health declarations” section

The purpose of the questions in this section is to find out whether you have visited countries that are dangerous to your health, and whether you are applying for medical care in Australia.

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"Character declaration" section includes a list of questions that should determine whether you have committed any offenses:

• whether you are trying to evade prosecution;
• whether you broke the law;
• whether you have had any offenses related to your stay in other countries;
• were there any cases of deportation or violation of the period of stay allowed by the visa, etc.

Conventionally, this section can be designated as a series of “no questions”. If you answer “Yes” to any of the questions, this may be a reason for visa refusal. Please note that by completing the questionnaire you confirm that all information provided in the questionnaire is valid. If you hide the fact of any offense and the Embassy finds out about it, you are at risk of being denied a visa, at a minimum.

Section "Declarations" can be described as a series of “yes-answers”. You will need to confirm that all information provided in the application form is correct and that you are fully aware that providing false information may serve as grounds for refusal to issue a visa and for a ban on issuing a visa for a certain period.

In addition, you will need to confirm that you will not stay in Australia beyond the time limits approved by your visa; that you do not plan to work in Australia.

♦ The final step of the questionnaire Supporting documents will be provided. You will need to attach:

• scan of a foreign passport;
• scans of previously issued visas and pages with stamps and entry/exit marks;
• financial guarantees (scan of bank account statement);
• certificate from your place of work or university;
• confirmation of the route (copies of tickets and hotel);
• confirmation of your trustworthiness (scans of documents confirming ownership, etc.);
• completed resume (download: ).

All documents must be strictly in English or accompanied by professional translation.

♦ Payment.

The final step of the questionnaire will be payment. It is possible to pay for the application for a visa to Australia only by card.

After submitting your documents, you will be instructed to submit your biometric data within the next 14 days. Reception of biometric data is carried out in one of the following appointments. The later you submit your biometrics, the later your visa request will begin to be processed, which means the later you will receive your visa.

Australia is a country that is part of the British Commonwealth and is famous for its... But this is not the only thing that fuels tourists’ interest in the country. The country has all the conditions for living, recreation, work and study. Our compatriots will need visas to travel to Australia. And it doesn’t matter at all what the purpose of the visit is.

In this article we will look at how to get a visa to Australia and how much it will cost.

Getting an Australian visa is not that easy. You must convince the Embassy staff that apart from sightseeing and buying souvenirs, you do not want to receive anything from this country. And for this you need to collect various certificates about your solvency, that you officially employed, you have a stable job that you don’t want to leave.

Family connections will also need to be confirmed. This is necessary so that employees see that you have something to come back for.

All information you provide will be verified. Employees will call the employer and make sure that you are on vacation and that you work there. They can also call your family.

To obtain a tourist visa, you must collect the following: documentation:

Student visa to Australia - how to obtain a document

You do not need to be an 18-year-old fresher to obtain an Australian visa. Student A visa is issued for a period of 3 months for study:

To obtain a student document you need to collect a package documents:

• Application Form 157A. If you are going to work, you must fill out an application on Form 157P.
• The photo is like a passport. Also photographs of family members.
• Power of attorney for obtaining a passport.
• . Copies of the main page and registration. You also need to provide information about previous passports that have expired.
• Document from an educational institution. In it you need to indicate the name of the institution, what courses you are going to take, for what period you paid for and how long they will last.
• You need to open a bank account at least three months before your trip. Make a printout of your bank account. No money should be withdrawn from it within 93 days from the date of opening.
• Medical certificate. You can apply after submitting an application to the Embassy.
• A document confirming that you have no criminal record.
• Insurance for the duration of your stay in the country.

Work visa to Australia

The most common refusal to obtain a tourist visa is insufficient evidence that you are going to the country only for recreation. A tourist visa does not require employment in the country. If you are going to work, then it is best to apply for a work visa. A work visa is a stamp or document that allows you to engage in trade activities within the country. This visa has several divisions:

• The first subsection is intended for young professionals. They are accepted on a competitive basis.
• The second subsection includes specialists who are already expected in the country. Typically, they are sent a job offer.
• The third subsection includes businessmen. In this case, the visa is issued for 4 years.
• The fourth subsection is citizens who are ready to work in the country for their own support.

What documents are needed for Australian permissions:

Fiancé visa to Australia - how to get an Australian husband

If your chosen one lives in Australia, then you need to apply for a fiancee visa in order to come to him. The visa must not exceed 9 months. During this time, you must formalize your relationship. Otherwise, you will have to leave the country.

What documents are needed to obtain a visa? brides:

Filling out an application for an Australian visa

The visa application form is the main document. It depends on how you fill it out correctly whether you receive an entry permit or not.

When filling out the form, you need to know some features and rules. So, what rules are needed? observe:

• The form must be completed exclusively in English.
• You cannot cross out or make corrections on the form.
• All letters must be clear and legible. The form must be filled out in block letters only.
• To fill out the form, use a black or blue pen.
• You cannot skip fields when filling out. The exception is those lines where official marks must appear.
• The questionnaire has columns where you need to select the appropriate option. It is more correct to mark the selected option with a cross.
• If the information does not fit into the heading, then you need to take a separate sheet. It will be attached to the main application form.
• Passport data is filled out in the same way as in a foreign passport. There is no need to put dots on the form.
• The date in the form is recorded in the following order: day/month/year.
• The residential address is recorded in the following order: state code/city/street/serial number. All indicators are separated by a hyphen.

If you are going to the country with children, then you need to fill out the form for them as well.

How much does a visa to Australia cost? This is a natural question for everyone who wants to travel to the country and plans their budget in advance. So, the design permissions not for tourists:

• One-time permit – $50.
• Two-time – 80 dollars.
• Reusable - $150.

Applying for a tourist visa:

• Disposable – $40.
• Two-time – 70 dollars.

The Australian Embassy accepts payment in cash or by credit card. You can pay in rubles.

You can apply for an Australian visa through a visa office. center Australia. They are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The visa to Australia for Russians in 2018 is not much different in design. First you need to be patient.

After this, you need to find out what documents are needed to obtain a permit (they vary). This can be done on the visa center website. Then you can collect documents.

We have looked at what documents are needed for different visas. The main thing is that you have a valid passport. Everything else can be completed. Any application being checked for a long time. The citizen is checked from head to toe to ensure that he is worthy to visit the country.

A little advice: submit documents to the embassy only in copies. So after consideration and refusal, no one will return them to you.

You can apply for a visa online on the visa center website. You can also visit the visa center in Moscow or St. Petersburg yourself. The application is considered from 5 to 30 days. Such a long period of consideration is justified by the fact that if a citizen does not have enough documents or is asked to deliver some documents, he will have enough time to do this.

Citizens of Russia and the CIS require a visa to visit Australia. Under Australian immigration law, the person making the decision to issue a visitor visa must be satisfied that the applicant intends to visit Australia for tourism purposes only. If the decision maker is not satisfied with the evidence provided, the visa will be refused.

Abolition of the mandatory affixing of an Australian visa sticker to a tourist’s passport

An Australian visa sticker is not affixed to the applicant's passport. Information about the issued visa is located in the electronic database Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO). As a visa confirmation, the applicant will be sent an email or regular letter (if an email address was not specified when submitting the application) indicating all visa details.
Airlines have been notified of the new procedure by the Migration Department. The presence of a visa for a particular citizen is checked online in the VEVO system.
However, the Embassy recommends that you print out your visa confirmation as additional proof and present it at check-in if you have any questions. An exception to the rule is transit to Australia through the United States. In case of such a flight, a visa sticker in the passport is required, therefore, when applying for a visa, you must provide the original passport to the visa department of the Australian Consulate.

Online visa application for Russian citizens

Starting October 1, 2015, citizens of the Russian Federation can apply for tourist visas (subclass 600) and short stay visas (subclass 400) online. The visa application system is accessed through the website of the Ministry of Immigration and Border Control. If a positive decision is made, visa confirmation is sent by email or registered mail to the address specified by the applicant when filling out the application.

It is also possible to submit documents by mail or in person at the consular department of the Australian Embassy in Moscow (the procedure for applying for a visa in these cases is described below in the relevant section) - if the applicant for some reason cannot use the online application system.

Types of visas

Visitor (Tourist) visa (subclass 600)- issued to persons whose purpose of visit is tourism, visiting friends or relatives (for a period of up to 12 months), or training, the period of which does not exceed three months. Persons granted such a visa are not permitted to work or conduct business in Australia and are required to leave the country when the visa expires.

Transit visa (subclass 771)- issued to persons whose purpose of visit is transit through Australia (by air or sea) to a third country. A transit passenger's stay in Australia cannot exceed 72 hours.
Citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan must obtain a transit visa regardless of whether they intend to leave the transit area of ​​the airport/seaport or plan to transfer to the next flight without exit from it (even if there is half an hour between flights!).

Guest (tourist) visa

To apply for this type of visa, you must prepare and scan the following documents:

• a copy of the passport page with personal data and signature of the applicant. It is advisable that the international passport is valid for at least 6 months at the time of application;
• copies of old passports, if they contain visas from other countries (this requirement is not mandatory);
• in case of a tourist trip- description of the route (in English), confirmation of hotel reservation (fax, printout from the Internet) or other documents confirming that the purpose of the visit is tourism (for example, booking excursions, a car, a travel company voucher, etc.);
• in case of a private visit to friends or relatives- a written invitation from them and a copy of the ID, driver's license or passport of an Australian citizen, or residence permit (if the inviter is not an Australian citizen).
  The invitation must indicate that the inviting party guarantees financial support and/or accommodation during the applicant's stay in Australia, and/or purchases air tickets for the applicant.
  If an inviter living in Australia finances the trip, it is necessary to provide evidence of his financial solvency: an extract from his bank account or a letter from his employer indicating his salary, or a tax statement;
• documents confirming the availability of sufficient financial resources for the entire period of stay in the country (you can provide one of the following documents):
  - bank account statement,
  - copies of documents confirming the availability of property (apartment, car, etc.)
  - sponsorship letter and documents confirming the availability of funds from the guarantor;
• documents confirming work or study in the Russian Federation (non-working people provide a sponsorship letter):
  - wage-earners- a certificate from the place of employment on the company’s letterhead indicating the position, length of service, salary (preferably for the last three months), dates of the next vacation with a guarantee of job retention for this period. The certificate must contain the seal of the enterprise and the signature of the manager,
  - private entrepreneurs- a copy of the certificate of registration of the enterprise and its tax registration; documents containing information about income received from the business and documents about the presence of any significant assets on the balance sheet of the enterprise, if any,
  - students and schoolchildren- certificate from the place of study. The certificate indicates the address and telephone number of the educational institution, form of education, class or course and faculty. If the trip is carried out during the period of study, the certificate, if possible, should indicate that the student is allowed to be absent from classes.
• medical insurance valid for the entire period of stay in Australia (for persons under 75 years of age is not a required document). For persons over 75 years of age, as well as those who indicated in the application information about previous serious illnesses, for example, tuberculosis, results may also be required medical examination, even in case of a tourist trip.
• for minor children - a notarized copy of the birth certificate with a translation into English. In the case of a trip accompanied by one of the parents or third parties - a notarized power of attorney from the remaining parents and its translation into English, as well as copies of the passport/passports of the principal/principals. If one of the parents is deceased or absent, it is necessary to provide an official document (death certificate, police certificate, court decision on deprivation of parental rights).

The next step is to submit your visa application online. To do this you need:
1. Read the rules for working in the online system on the website of the Ministry of Immigration and Border Control,
2. Create a personal account (ImmiAccount),
3. Fill out all points of the form (in English only). If necessary, the questionnaire can be saved at any stage and then returned to it later,
4. After filling out, click the “submint” button - the data will be saved in the database of the Australian Consulate in Moscow (or the consulate in the country of permanent residence of the applicant),
5. Pay the visa fee using a bank card,
6. Attach documents supporting the visa application to the application form,
7. Submit the completed and paid application by clicking “submint”.

The applicant can track the status of the application online in his account. If the decision is positive, a visa confirmation will be sent to the applicant’s email address, which must be printed and, if necessary, presented to the airline representative when boarding the plane.

Required documents to submit an application by mail or in person at the consulate

If you apply for a visa by mail or directly at the consular section of the Australian Embassy, ​​all of the above documents are provided, but instead of copies of certificates, their originals are required. When sending documents by mail, the original passport is not required; well-readable copies of pages with the applicant’s personal data, as well as with visas of Schengen countries, the USA, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, if any, are required. When submitting in person at the consulate, an original passport is required.

Also in both cases, applicants must fill out and sign:
- visa application Form 1419. It is mandatory to answer all questions in the questionnaire. It is also necessary to indicate the email address to which the visa confirmation will be sent to the applicant;
- Form 956 - in cases where the main visa application form 1419 was filled out by a third party instead of the applicant, or the applicant delegates the authority to communicate with the visa department to a third party.

Transit visa

To obtain a transit visa, the following documents are required:

• visa application Form 876, fully completed and personally signed by the applicant;
• a clearly readable copy of your passport (the passport must be valid for longer than your stay in Australia):
  - pages with personal data
  - pages with visas of other countries (the presence of these documents is not mandatory, but significantly increases the chance of issuing a visa);
• color photograph on a white background 35 X 45 mm, without corners, frames and ovals. The image must be clear and the entire face can be seen. Scarves or hats are not permitted (except when required by religious norms). The photograph must be attached to the application form;
• documents confirming that the period of stay in Australia is no more than 72 hours (air tickets or tickets for ships along the entire route or their reservation, the intended route, as well as a copy of the visa to the destination country, if required).

Translation of documents

Documents in Russian (birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, power of attorney) provided in support of the visa application must be accompanied by an English translation performed by a translation agency. Copies of documents must be certified by a notary and translated by an accredited translator. Uncertified copies of documents and documents without translation are not accepted.

An exception to the rule are the following documents: certificates from the place of work/study, certificates of ownership of movable or immovable property, bank certificates. These documents are accepted in both English and Russian (without translation into English).

Medical examination for visa

Additional health documents must be provided if the planned stay in Australia is more than three months. In this case, any applicant, regardless of age, must have a chest x-ray.

The following categories of applicants must undergo a medical examination:
- persons over 75 years of age (to assess the possibility of their flight and adaptation to Australia),
- persons applying for student visas,
- persons whose purpose of visit is to participate in seminars for 12 weeks or more,
- persons who, during their stay in Australia, intend to visit medical centers and clinics.

Medical examinations and x-rays are carried out only by embassy-accredited doctors. After the examination, the doctor completes the form prescribed by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and sends it to the visa department, which in turn transmits the results to the Australian Health Assessment Service (HAS). If the response from HAS is positive, and the applicant meets the other requirements, he will be issued a visa.

Important! The review period for examination results is 4-5 weeks; this factor must be taken into account and visas must be applied for in advance. A referral for examination can be obtained either from the consular department, or you can undergo it in advance by contacting the doctors mentioned above. Typically, the results of the examination are valid for 12 months from the date of completion.

Visa fees

Transit visas are issued free of charge.

The visa fee for a guest (tourist) visa (category 600) is 135 Australian dollars - paid by bank cards online when filling out the application form. Only Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, JCB and STB cards are accepted for payment; the fee cannot be paid in cash.

If documents are submitted by mail, fees are also paid using bank cards. In the case of postal delivery for payment using a bank card, the applicant must fill out and attach to the general package of documents the Authorization form for payment by credit card. Without this statement, the consulate will not be able to withdraw money from the card.

When submitting an application at the consulate, fees can be paid in cash in rubles at the rate established by the consulate on the day the application is submitted. Banknotes with denominations below 50 rubles are not accepted.

In case of visa refusal, the fee is not refunded.

The procedure for applying for a visa in case of sending documents by mail or personal presence at the consulate

Personal presence when submitting an application is not required. The consulate prefers that the applicant complete the application online or send documents by mail. The decision to issue a visa or refuse will be sent to the applicant by email, or, if there is no such email, by regular mail.
You can also submit an application through a proxy or courier (a power of attorney is required to submit and/or receive documents) or an authorized person (including an agent).
If the applicant is represented by an agent or lawyer, an additional Form 956 must be completed, which will serve as the basis for the embassy's visa department to contact the applicant regarding matters related to the visa application.

Reception of citizens at the Visa and Immigration Department of the Australian Embassy is carried out on a first-come, first-served basis for those who pay the visa fee using bank cards. To do this, you must attach the “Authorization for credit card binding” form filled out by the cardholder to the package of documents.

Submission of documents is made to the Visa and Immigration Department of the Australian Embassy from 09.00 to 11.00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except public holidays).

Visa application for citizens of Ukraine

Starting from February 16, 2015, visa applications for all types of Australian visas are processed by the Australian High Commission in London, and not by the Australian Embassy in Moscow, as was previously the case.

Visa processing time

The standard processing time for visitor visa applications is approximately four weeks. The processing time for transit visa applications ranges from 1 day to two weeks.

If a tourist still needs a visa sticker, it must be taken into account that it may take additional time to paste the visa - 1-2 working days, although the visa department can accommodate the tourist and paste the sticker on the day of application, provided that the tourist has air ticket confirming departure in the next 24 hours.

Visa validity period

The validity of a tourist visa is usually 3 or 6 months, less often - 12 months (validity period begins from the moment the visa is issued). Visas with the right to stay in Australia for up to 12 months are issued, as a rule, to persons whose purpose of visit is to visit close relatives.

A transit visa allows you to stay in Australia for a maximum of 72 hours.

Valid visa in expired passport

If the visa is still valid, but the passport has expired or for other reasons the passport for which the visa was issued has become invalid, you must contact the Australian consulate or the migration department in order to “link” the number of the new passport to the visa in the VEVO system (accordingly, you need copy of new passport).

Visa application for citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine

Citizens of the above countries can apply for visitor (tourist) visas online, directly on the Australian Department of Immigration website. Detailed information about the online application process can be found at