Australian Visa

How to qualify for an Australian General Visit Visa

To be eligible for a tourist visa, the applicant must have a genuine intention to visit Australia as a tourist, for recreation or to visit family and friends.

Applicants are required to satisfy health and character requirements and may be required to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support their travels in Australia.

Applicants who apply for a tourist visa whilst outside of Australia must be outside of Australia at the time of grant. Similarly, applicants who are in Australia (applying for a visa extension) must be inside Australia at the time of application and grant.

Collection of biometrics

From 8 June 2016 the Department of Immigration and Border Protection will commence collecting biometrics in South Africa from clients applying for Australian visas. From this date visa applicants, applying either in person or online, will need to attend an AVAC in person to provide their biometrics. SA Travelbug can assist with this process.

Applicants 75 years of age and over

You are required to undergo a health assessment (Fitness to travel certificate) to be completed by a panel doctor nominated by DIBP.

This visa generally allows stays of 3 or 6 months in Australia, although a stay of up to 12 months may be granted in exceptional circumstances. A visa may be granted for a single entry or multiple entries within a specified period. Generally, this visa allows people to enter Australia within 12 months from the date of grant.

If you are a parent of an Australian citizen you may be eligible to apply for a 5 year visa.

Travelling without a visa label
The Australian Government does not require a person holding a valid Australian visa to have a label in their passport to travel to, enter or remain in Australia.
The Australian Government issues electronic visas. All visa records are stored on a central database in Australia. When you check-in to fly to Australia, airline staff electronically confirm that you have a valid visa to travel to Australia before you board the plane.
When you receive your Australian visa you are issued with a visa grant notice that explains the conditions of the visa including period of validity and entry requirements. You are advised to carry this visa grant notice for your own reference.
Checking my visa status online
In Australia, VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) is a secure and free internet service available anywhere, anytime. It allows you to check your visa details online and provides more information about your visa conditions and entitlements than a label.
Information provided in VEVO includes:

• your visa type
• visa grant and expiry dates
• period of stay
• visa grant number
• entries allowed
• all conditions that apply to your visa

With your permission, employers, labour hire companies, roads and traffic authorities, education institutions and banks can check your visa status and entitlements online. Other government agencies, such as Medicare and Centrelink, can also check your visa status. These organisations do not need to see a visa label, they can check your visa status and entitlements online.
Using VEVO is a secure and effective method to confirm the current status of your visa. For more information, visit www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/evo.htm
In what circumstances might I need a label?
Governments of other countries may require you to have a visa label to transit through or to depart their country. In this case, you can request a visa label. It is your responsibility to confirm other countries’ transit or exit requirements before travel to Australia. The Australian Government cannot advise on other countries’ requirements.

Travel Insurance including medical cover is required when travelling. It must cover the duration of the requested visa. Request Travel Insurance here.

With each Visa there is a different cost based in the foreign currency of the Country you are visiting, which together with our volatile South Africa Rand, results in the costs of Visas fluctuating.  In order for us to provide you with a quote, reflecting the current cost for the Visa you require, please Click Here.

Tourist: 30 working days

Business: Up to 20 working days

You may be eligible for an eVisitor if you:

• intend to visit Australia only temporarily and for tourism or business visitor purposes
• are outside Australia
• hold an eVisitor-eligible passport
• are free of tuberculosis when you enter Australia
• have not been convicted of an offence or offences for which the total sentence is more than 12 months (whether or not the sentence has been served).

You are not eligible to apply for the eVisitor if your only passport is a British National Overseas, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person or British Subject passport.

This visa generally allows stays of 3 or 6 months in Australia, although a stay of up to 12 months may be granted in exceptional circumstances. A visa may be granted for a single entry or multiple entries within a specified period. Generally, this visa allows people to enter Australia within 12 months from the date of grant.

If you are a parent of an Australian citizen you may be eligible to apply for a 5 year visa.

eVisitor-eligible passports are citizen passports issued by the following countries:

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Travel Insurance including medical cover is required when travelling. It must cover the duration of the requested visa. Request Travel Insurance here.

With each Visa there is a different cost based in the foreign currency of the Country you are visiting, which together with our volatile South Africa Rand, results in the costs of Visas fluctuating.  In order for us to provide you with a quote, reflecting the current cost for the Visa you require, please Click Here.

1. A thorough and detailed information gathering process ensuring you are provided with the latest current information.
2. Guidance as to the best submission process and submission centre regarding such applications.
3. Counselling throughout the preparation process, providing you with checklists and templates for the supporting documents required for your application.
4. Completing and submitting your online application.
5. Arranging the couriering of your documents.
6. Assisting in liaising and obtaining where possible supporting documentation and accreditation from the required 3rd parties. Noting that in some instances the time frame of such documentation is beyond the control of SA Travelbug.
7.  Arranging for the translation of required supporting documents.
8. Preparation of a complete application dossier for presentation to Immigration Authorities, as required.
9. If required we will also arrange your Consular appointment.
10. To maintain the confidentiality of the client’s information and documents and to only release these details to the noted Government officials and those required by law or in order to expedite the application, unless the Applicant provides the authority to release information or documents to any other party.pplicant provides the authority to release information or documents to any other party.

1- 4 working days