What is the Australia visa and how can I apply for it?
What is the Australia visa and how can I apply for it? It is now possible to apply for an Australia visa for almost all nationalities (including the Netherlands and Belgium). Currently it is possible for most nationalities to travel on an electronic visa. This visa is also known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or eVisitor visa for Australia. Since applying for the Australia visa is done digitally, you also no longer have to submit any physical paperwork to us, which makes the process easier and quicker.
Once you have applied for the Australia visa and it has been approved by the Australian government, the e-Visitor visa will be sent to you digitally via email. This online visa Australia often has a long validity (3 to 12 months). In most cases you can apply for your eTA up to almost 1 year before your actual departure date.
Which variants of the Australia visa can I apply for?
Australia has more than 120 different visa types to offer, so in almost all cases it is possible to arrange a suitable visa type for your trip.
The most common visa for Australia is the eVisitor visa, which is intended for regular tourist and business travelers. In addition, there is also the Working Holiday visa. This visa is intended for Dutch and Belgian passport holders who plan to work in Australia for a cerntain period, do voluntary work or do an internship, whether or not in paid employment. You can contact us for all visa types, even if the Australia visa application you want is not listed on the website. We will gladly give you advise on which visa type will suit your trip.
The cost of your Australia visa application may vary, depending on the visa type you have chosen. This also applies to the processing time.
Validity
The visas for Australia listed on our website are valid for 1 year and offer multiple entries. With the Working Holiday visa you can be employed at one employer in Australia for up to 3 months (in exceptional cases up to 6 or 12 months – ask us for the conditions). After these 3 months you must look for another employer. You can also choose to go on holiday with this visa, without making use of the opportunity to work/volunteer in Australia during your trip. However please note that without an employer and the minimum required months of work you are not eligible for the second or third Working Holiday visa for Australia.
Processing time, visa validity and costs of your visa Australia
The cost and processing time for the Australia visa depend on the type of visa you are applying for.
Apply for e-Visitor Australia visa | Tourist and business travel
- The most requested variant, the eVisitor visa, which can be used for both tourist and business trips, is granted on average after 3 days and costs only € 9.95 euro per applicant.
This visa is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. You must enter Australia within those 12 months, from then on you will have 12 months to travel in and out of Australia several times, as long as the stay per entry does not exceed 3 consecutive months.
Applying for a Working Holiday visa for Australia | Work and Holiday Visa Australia
- The Working Holiday visa is granted on average between 15 and 35 days, therefore please apply on time. The costs for the working holiday visa Australia are € 341.95 euro per applicant.
This work visa for Australia is valid for 12 months from the moment of issue. Hence you must enter Australia within those 12 months, from then on you will have the possibility to travel several times for work and/or vacation in and out of Australia during these 12 months.
The costs include processing fees, consular fees, transaction fees and VAT. You can also use the urgent procedure where a surcharge will be charged. Please see our rates page here if you want to use the urgent procedure for your visa application. Furthermore please feel free to contact us if you wish to make use of the work and/or volunteer visa for Australia or need assistance in applying for the online Australia visa, so that we can send you all the necessary information.
Additional information about your Australia visa application Can’t find an online Australia visa that’s suitable for your trip? Then contact us! Our visa experts will be happy to assist you in applying for the right Australia visa. Since the Australian government has more than 120 visa types, it is almost always possible to find the right visa type that is suitable for your travel situation too.
My online visa Australia application has been denied. What should I do now?
Has your Australia visa application been denied for whichever reason? Then it may have been that you have chosen the wrong visa type or that the Australian government believes that you are not eligible for the eVisitor visa which subsequently resulted in rejection of your application. However, it does not necessarily mean that you are no longer allowed to travel into Australia. Since Australia has so many different electronic (read: online) visas, there is almost always the right visa type for your travel purpose. The eVisitor visa is intended for tourist and business trips. Are you traveling to Australia for a different purpose? Please contact us in advance.
Applying for a regular visa for Australia and alternatives
When applying for your Australia visa, the Australian government assumes that you are a person of ‘good conduct’. Light sentences that you got off with a fine or a short jail term are unlikely to make a difference to your visa application unless the total jail time imposed (regardless of how many times you have been convicted) is more than 12 months combined or when you are still considered as a ‘possible threat’ during your visit to Australia. Severe allegations and penalties such as a prison sentence of 12 months or more (whether or not you have served this full time), participating in criminal or terrorist organizations, etc. may affect your visa application and may result in your visa application being rejected/refused for Australia. The Australian government will, if it deems it necessary, check your criminal history before issuing a decision on your application. Outdated matters may also be taken into account when assessing your visa application.
How to proceed?
Do you want to apply for an Australia visa, but has it been refused because of a criminal history? Then it does not necessarily mean that you will never be allowed to travel to Australia again. If you do not qualify for one of the many electronic visa types for Australia, you can start a regular Australia visa application. In order to do so you have to be present in person at the Australian embassy, where you will have to provide biometric data, such as fingerprints and a facial scan. You will also need a certificate from the police, stating that they no longer see you as a threat, that you have served/completed your sentence and that you have been declared ‘good behavior’ again. In addition, it is recommended that you submit all possible supporting documents in which you indicate what happened, what you have done since the conviction and how you can now assure the Australian government that you are no longer a danger to society. If your regular visa application for Australia is still rejected, you can appeal against this. However, you must do so within 28 days of the decision to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia. The consular costs are non refundable when an application has been rejected, so please apply for your visa accordingly.
If you are not sure whether you can enter Australia with an eTA/e-Visitor (online) visa, we advise you to contact us or the Australian embassy in advance.