-Paul W. Laufenberg

The aim of Australia's visitor program is to assist the entry of genuine tourists and family visitors. You can apply to visit Australia for tourism or other recreational activities such as a holiday, sightseeing, social or recreational reasons, to visit relatives or friends or other short-term non-work purposes. You are also able to undertake short term study providing this study does not exceed 3 months.

Depending on your intended activities in Australia, your country of citizenship, and the length of time you intend staying in Australia you can apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (Visitor) or a Tourist visa or a Sponsored Family Visitor visa.

If you are applying for your visa overseas, you should apply for the full period you intend to visit Australia. You should not assume that any changes to your stay period can be made after your arrival in Australia.

While some individuals may need to meet health requirements for a stay of less than 3 months, in general only those applying for a stay of more than 3 months will require health assessment.

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), subclass 976 (ETA Visitor)
The ETA is an electronically stored authority for travel to Australia for short-term visits or business entry. The ETA differs from a normal visitor visa in that there is no application form to fill in and no visa label or stamp in the passport.

The ETA is available to passport holders from 34 countries and regions.

To apply for an ETA (Visitor), you must be outside Australia and hold a passport issued by an ETA-eligible country or region.

An ETA (Visitor) allows a person to stay in Australia for up to 3 months on each arrival within 12 months from the date of the grant.

Tourist visa, subclass 676
A Tourist visa can be applied for from outside Australia (offshore) or in Australia. Generally a Tourist visa will be granted for a stay of 3 months or 6 months, but in certain circumstances a stay of 12 months may be granted.

For offshore applicants, a Tourist visa allows:

a stay of up to 12 months, depending on the reason for your visit and your ability to support yourself during your stay in Australia

For onshore applicants, a Tourist visa allows:

a total stay of up to 6 months from the date the applicant last entered Australia on their ETA (Visitor) or Tourist visa, subclass 676 if lodging an electronic application over the Internet; or

a total stay of up to 12 months if lodging a paper application at an office of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA)

Sponsored Family Visitor visa (subclass 679)
This visa provides for a standard period of stay of up to three months, but a stay of up to 12 months may be granted in certain circumstances. To apply for this visa, you must be outside Australia and have an eligible sponsor.The sponsor must lodge the application at a State or Territory office within Australia on your behalf.

We can assist you with identifying which visa is the most suitable to your situation. There are different types of visas.

Paul W Laufenberg
Migration Agent MARA Reg No 9790430
Former Attorney from Berlin
Suffolk Park, Byron Bay NSW 2481
AUSTRALIA
Ph: + 61 - (0)2 6685 9643
Fax: + 61 - (0)2 6685 9653
E-mail: info@howtomigrate.com
http://www.howtomigrate.com