australia tourist visa fees from uk

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• Visas for Australians travelling overseas

Visas to visit Australia

Whether you are visiting Australia for less than 72 hours or planning on a stay of several years you must have a valid Australian visa.

A visa is a form of permission for a non-citizen to enter, transit or remain in a particular country.

Information on visas to Australia can be found at the Department of Home Affairs .

Related links

• Visiting Australia
• Australia.com - official Australian tourism website

Tourist visa to Australia for UK Citizens

Key aspects.

Cheapest and fastest visa for touristic purposes.

Visa Duration

12 months total, up to 90 days each visit .

Approval time

95% of tourist visas are granted within 24 hours .

If you are planning a visit to Australia for holiday, as a UK citizen you will need an Australian tourist visa (also known as “Australian vacation visa”) .

A tourist visa for Australia is technically a type of eVisitor visa: a visa that you simply apply for online without having to fill in a paper form or send in your passport to any embassy. This is why a touristic eVisitor permit is sometimes referred to also as “electronic tourist visa” or “e-tourist” visa : filling the Australian tourist visa form directly online is all there is to do .

To be able to apply for an Australian Tourist Visa you must be travelling to Australia for holiday or for visiting friends or family, and hold a valid passport.

In-depth information on Australian Tourist Visas

• Tourist Visas for Australia available to British Citizens
• Australian Tourist Visa: How to Apply
• Tourist Visa Requirements for British citizens
• Process and Processing Time of Australian Tourist Visas
• Duration and Validity of an Australia Tourist Visas

Types of Australian Tourist Visas (Alternatives to Australian Touristic eVisitor)

Re-entry, renewal and extension of australian tourist visas, working in australia with a tourist visa, getting married in australia on a tourist visa, australian tourist visa: costs and fees, tourist visas for australia available to british citizens.

A standard Australian tourist visa authorizes visits of up to three months at a time and is valid for 12 months after the date of issue. Unlike traditional visas, there are no paper applications to complete, and you will have no visa labels or stamps in your passport. Instead, your tourist visa for Australia will be electronically attached to your passport.

United Kingdom’s citizens can apply for a tourist visa to Australia using their passport , and the passport number will then be linked to the visa. If you lose your passport or it is stolen before you enter Australia, you will need to re-apply for a new vacation visa.

Apart from the standard eVisitor tourism visa, there are a few more specific tourist visa types one can request in order to travel to Australia as a tourist: if you feel an eVisitor does not satisfy your needs, you will need to determine the most appropriate visa for you among other visa options.

The most common short-stay tourist visa types for Australia are:

• eVisitor – formally known as Australian Visa Subclass 651
• Working Holiday Visa – formally known as Australian Visa Subclass 417
• Tourist stream – formally known as Australian Visa Subclass 600

Online Tourist Visa for Australia (eVisitor / “e-Tourist”)

An e-tourist visa, which is formally an eVisitor visa, is a subclass 651 visa . You can use this visa to tour Australia, visit family or friends or study or train for short-term. Business visitors can also use this visa for short-term. An eVisitor tourist visa is a temporary visa that is valid for 12 months from the date of issue, and it is a multiple entry visa. For each entry, you can stay up to 3 months.

You can enter and leave as many times as you want as long as it is valid. However, the eVisitor cannot be extended: you must get another Australian tourist visa if you want to extend your holiday or stay longer for other reasons. UK passport holders who are planning trips shorter than 90 days are almost always immediately eligible for electronic tourist visas , which will be electronically matched to the traveler’s passport in the Australian immigration official databases.

More info on Online Tourist Visas for Australia (eVisitor) – updated for 2024:

• Both passport holders and travel agents can apply for eVisitor visas.
• Overstaying a short stay tourist visa in Australia could lead to exclusion, detention and removal. If you plan to stay in Australia longer than 3 months per entry, please make sure you apply instead for the Long Term visa .
• Once you have your online tourist visa for Australia, you can use your e-passport at the SmartGate system when you arrive in Australia.

If you are not sure what Australian tourist visa to apply for, we recommend you apply for this kind of visa .

Tourist Stream (Subclass 600)

The Tourist Stream visa is an alternative to the eVisitor tourist visa, but typically slower . Getting this holiday visa for Australia, you can visit family and friends, travel the country, and study or train for up to 3 months. This visa may be valid for between three months and 12 months, and you can request it for single entry or multiple entries. You can enter and leave as often as you want as long as the Tourist Stream is valid, but you may not stay more than 12 months during 18 months. This visa is also typically more expensive than an eVisitor and takes longer to process . Also, immigration office can request more documents from the applicant, for example a scanned copy of passport ID page or bank statement. In general, whenever possible we recommend applying for a Tourist eVisitor, for a faster – 100% online – visa release process.

Working Holiday Visa Subclass 417

Getting a tourist visa for Australia also allowing you to work is possible: this is what an Australian Working Holiday Visa is for , as this permits allows you to work during your stay in Australia, and to travel to and from Australia as many times as you want while working or studying.

With a working holiday visa (often referred to also as “working holiday visa”) you can have the freedom to work to pay for your holiday, or study for up to 4 months . It is a temporary visa that is valid for up to 12 months from the date you enter the country. It cannot be extended. You can remain in the country up to 12 months, and you can leave and enter Australia as often as you like. Read more about working holiday visas for Australia .

• Apply for WHV now

Additional type-independent Australian Tourist Visa Information:

• Regardless of the type of 2024 Australian tourist visa you need, it is highly recommended that you get health insuranc e to protect you during your time in Australia. You will be responsible for any healthcare costs that you incur while you are in Australia, and proper insurance coverage will help reduce your financial liability.
• Visas are electronically linked to your passport. There is no need for stamps or labels .
• Simplify the process by applying for your visa for Australia directly online as soon as possible .

Australian Tourist Visa for UK Citizens: How to Apply

British citizens need visas to travel to Australia. An Australian tourist visa requested online from the UK will allow you to enter Australia for up to 90 days at a time for a year from the date of issue. After the first visit, subsequent visits are at the immigration officer’s discretion.

Getting a Tourist Visa to Australia from the United Kingdom

In order to get a tourist visa to Australia from UK you must have a valid passport (valid for at least 6 months upon entering Australia in order to comply with the requirements of most airlines flying to Australia – even though not strictly required by Australian Immigration Office) and obtain your British tourist visa to Australia before arriving in the country.

You may also need to complete a medical exam depending on your condition (any medical requirement – if needed – will be specified during the online application process). Visitors may also need to provide financial information upon request to receive their tourist visa. Also in this case, any requirement – if needed – will be specified during the online application process .

It is easy to apply for a tourist visa to Australia from the UK online: simply choose the right visa for your needs and follow the instructions on-screen. Most visa requests are processed and approved instantly .

Australian Tourist Visa Requirements for British Citizens

The conditions and eligibility for visas can vary based on the type of visa. Most British citizens are eligible for tourist visas as long as they hold valid passports.

UK Passport Validity and Photo Requirements

We strongly recommend that your British passport be valid for at least 6 months upon entering Australia . This is why if your passport is due to expire soon or during the time you will be travelling, you may need to get a new passport before applying. Australian tourist visa photo requirements are similar to passport photos. Please ensure your photos are accurate and current.

Documents Required to UK Citizens for an Australian Tourist Visa

The document checklist can vary based on the type of visa requested: with an eVisitor, you will only need your passport, and the eVisitor permit will be electronically attached to your passport.

For other visa types, you may be asked for other identification, including the biographical pages of your passport, travel documents and the IDs of your fellow travelers. Other required documents may be requested if authorities are not satisfied as to your identity.

Funds Required for an Australian Tourist Visa

When travelling to Australia, you may be required to show proof of funds. This can include displaying a minimum bank balance on your bank statement, audits, taxation records or other proof of satisfactory employment and income. After the application is processed, in the rare case a bank statement is required by Australian Immigration in order to verify your bank balance, an immigration officer will contact you .

Medical Requirements for an Australian Travel Visa

If you are applying for a non-eVisitor Australian visa and plan on staying in Australia for more than 6 months, you might be required to complete a health check and a chest X-ray. This can extend your visa application process up to 20 days. You are more likely to be required to complete a medical test if you are from a high-risk area or are over 75. In these cases, Yellow Fever is the only vaccination requirement.

Australian Tourist Visa Age Limits for British Citizens

For UK passport holders willing to travel from the United Kingdom to Australia there is no age limit on tourist visas . Of course, anyone who is travelling to Australia without an Australian passport will need a visa on arrival – and for a child under 18, the visa will be based on the child’s passport. This means children will need separate visas, using details from their passports (children who are on their parents’ passports also need their own visas, but the information from their parents’ passport will be used).

Process and Processing Time for Australian Tourist Visas

Visa processing time for an australian evisitor tourist visa (subclass 651).

The eVisitor is the most commonly used Australian Tourist Visa. The process can be completed online and requires no extra application forms, no visa labels and no passport stamps.

To be eligible for and maintain your instant Australian tourist visa, you must abide by specific conditions, including – in order:

• Being free of criminal convictions
• Passing a health check as required
• Departing within the required time period
• Not working during your time in Australia
• Not engaging in study or training for more than three months

In general, the Australian tourist visa processing time for a Tourist Stream Visa (Subclass 600) can take from 48 hours to more than a month . A Tourist eVisitor though – which is the most common type of tourist visa – has a much lower estimated waiting time, as it is much faster to process. An eVisitor e-visa for tourists can often be requested and issued just days before your planned visit . It is a 100 percent secure, paperless process, and the visa will be electronically linked to your passport just moments after it has been issued.

However, we always recommend to request your Touristic Visa at least a few weeks before departure , to avoid any risk. Don’t worry though – with an eVisitor, you can also track your application online via an online tracking system.

Australian Tourist Stream Visa (Subclass 600) Processing Time

The amount of time taken for an Australian tourist visa to be processed can vary based on how promptly you supply the supporting documents, your response to requests for further information, how long it takes to verify your information and peak processing times.

Also, the Australia tourist visa process is quite straightforward:

• Check that your current UK passport is valid.
• Apply for your visa.
• Wait for verification of receipt.
• Wait for notification of your status.

If the Australian tourist visa procedure was successful, you will be granted a visa. You can keep track of your progress using the online Australia tourist visa tracking system.

The maximum processing time for a conventional Australian tourist visa (Subclass 600) is about a month , with the waiting time ranging from 20 to 33 days in the vast majority of cases. For fast-tracked visas or eVisitor visas, the waiting time can be mere minutes or days, especially if you have all the necessary documentation to complete the verification time.

Finally, as far as Working Holiday Visa Processing Times are concerned, we recommend you check the dedicated page on this site .

Duration and Validity of an Australia Tourist Visa

Tourist visas are valid for varying periods of time, depending on the type of visa.

The eVisitor is a 12-month tourist visa . It is a popular visa, but it is limited regarding the length of stay and only allows visitors to remain in Australia for 3 months or 90 days at a time . You can enter as often as you like as long during the one year the tourist visa is valid.

For a visit of longer duration or if you want to stay more than 3 months during any period, you will need a different Australian visa. The tourist visa stream (Subclass 600) has a length and duration that can vary based on the purpose of the stay. In most cases though, Australian tourist visa validity lasts at least 12 months .

As an example, the Australian e600 visitor visa is a 6-month tourist visa for Australia. It also allows you to stay in the country up to one year depending on the reasons for your visit. You can also enter and leave the country as needed as long as the visa is valid.

The subclass 870 visa instead is a longer-term 3-year tourist visa specifically designed for parents. With it, parents can stay in Australia for 3 or 5 years and no more than 10 years. This allows them to enter and re-enter Australia as needed to visit their stepchildren, adopted children or biological children more conveniently and affordably.

Whether you are planning an Australian trip that lasts 2 weeks, 90 days or even a year, there is a visa designed to suit your purpose. Check and apply online to find the right one for you or to explore samples of tourist visas.

There are several types of tourist visas in Australia that may apply if you do not qualify for a Tourist eVisitor or if the eVisitor does not suit you needs, such as a working holiday visa or other types of Australian visas for tourism. Here they are:

Australian Working Holiday Visa

Australian Tourist Stream Visa (Subclass 600 – Application form 1419)

The Australian tourist visa stream (Subclass 600, to which people apply using form n.1419) is a 6-month tourist visa for Australia. It also allows you to stay in the country up to one year depending on the reasons for your visit. You can also enter and leave the country as needed as long as the visa is valid.

Australian Visiting Academic Visa

The former Australia Tourist Visa 419 is closed to new applications for 2024 . However, the Tourist Visa Subclass 408 may be an alternative. This visa, which is also called the Temporary Activity Visa, allows you to participate in special approved programs, including:

• Gap year volunteer work
• Cultural enrichment programs
• Youth exchanges
• Community programs
• School language assistants

This visa is valid for up to 12 months.

Australia Tourist Visa 771 (Australia Transit Visa)

Also known as the Australian Transit Visa, this visa allows people to spend up to 72 hours in Australia to “pass through”. With this visa, you may not spend more than 72 hours in the country.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about re-entering Australia with a tourist visa, about extending your stay in Australia as a tourist or about renewing your tourist visa while you are in Australia.

Is the Australian tourist visa multiple entry?

The Australian eVisitor visa is good for 90 days at a time, also allowing multiple-entries . This means that within one year since when the Tourist visa has been issued you can enter, leav and re-enter Australia as many times as you wish – as long as each entry lasts a maximum of 90 days.

However, if your current visa is due to expire while you are still in the country, you will need to apply for an Australian tourist visa renewal, via a Long-stay tourist visa application .

What happens if I stay too long and my Australian tourist visa has expired?

Overstaying your stay with a tourist visa in Australia will result in your becoming an “unlawful non-citizen” – which can lead to detention and removal from the country. Worse, it could interfere with your ability to re-enter Australia on a tourist visa in the future. If you overstay your visa by more than 28 days, you could even become excluded and prevented from re-entering Australia on a tourist visa for as long as 3 years. Don’t do it.

Can I change my Australian visa once I am in the country?

No, you cannot change your visa type , such as an Australia tourist visa multiple entry, once you are in the country. However, you can apply for a further stay via the Long-Stay Tourist Visa, subclass 676.

What are my other options for extending my tourist visa?

Because the consequences of an Australia tourist visa overstay can be so serious, it is critical that you apply for a tourist visa renewal or extension as soon as possible and before your visa has expired . Applying online is fast and convenient.

• Extend your visa

If you are planning to travel to Australia with an eVisitor Tourst Visa, you must know that it is not legal to work with an eVisitor . eVisitor travellers have no right to “work”. However, they can do volunteer work or engage in other business activities, such as business meetings, conferences or seminars . Of course, you can stay in Australia on your tourist visa while looking for work, but once you found it you should obtain a different kind of visa in order to legally maintain your work.

However, working on a “tourist visa” in Australia is fairly common – especially for those who wish to work to pay for their holidays. If you want to legally work in Australia during your holiday though you will need a special, dedicated visa – not an eVisitor. This visa is called “ Working Holiday Visa ” (often referred to also as “Work and Holiday Visa”).

You can do any kind of work or jobs while on a tourist visa in Australia. However, your Work and Holiday Visa must be used within one year of the date it is issued, and it will be active for 12 months from the date you enter the country.

A working holiday visa cannot be extended: if you choose to stay longer, you must apply for a new visa. Additionally, you cannot bring dependent children or other family members with you, and you must pay taxes from anything you earn during your tourist visa working days.

The cost for a working holiday tourist visa is of £ 515.00 as of 2024, but additional costs may also arise, including costs for police certificates, biometrics and health checks. Processing time can take from 13 to 22 days but may take longer if more information is needed or for verification purposes. Private health insurance coverage is highly recommended during your stay in the country. Read more about Working Holiday Australian Visas for UK Citizens here .

• Apply for a WHV

According to Australia Marriage Law, you do not need to be an Australian resident to get married in Australia . You simply need the tourist visa (e.g. visa subclass 651) and you must file a Notice of Intended Marriage form along with any other requested documents .

If you are planning on getting married in Australia on a tourist visa, your celebrant can help ensure you meet all necessary requirements , including that you:

• Are not married to anyone else
• Are not marrying to a closely related family member
• Are at least 18 years old
• Freely consent to the marriage

Notice that if you plan to live in Australia after marriage, you might need to apply for permanent residency as needed .

In order to obtain your Australian Tourist Visa, you will need to pay an application charge when applying for your visa – plus all costs related to the visa release. The total Australia tourist visa cost can therefore vary based on the type of visa and when you apply. Both paper applications and e-visas, such as eVisitor tourist visa costs must be paid online , and forms of payment accepted are credit cards and PayPal.

While there are no Australia tourist visa fees associated with the eVisitor, there is an online service charge of £ 59.00 .

The cost of a Working Holiday visa is instead of £ 515.00 .

The visa application fee may change periodically: if the Australian immigration tourist visa fees increase between the date of the application and the date of the receipt, the new fee will apply.

Australian Government official resources:

Visa Traveler

Exploring the world one country at a time

Australia Visitor Visa: Requirements, Eligibility and Application Process

Updated: February 7, 2024

Australia Visitor Visa is the only option to visit Australia as a tourist for many nationalities. If you don’t qualify for either the Electronic Travel Authority(ETA) or the eVisitor Visa, then you will need to get a Visitor Visa.

Australia no longer accepts paper applications for the visitor visa. All applications must be lodged online through the Australian Government Immi Portal.

The Visitor Visa has subclass 600 in Australia’s visa documentation and the subtype we’re interested in is the “Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)”.

Quick summary:

• Eligibility: All nationalities are eligible
• Validity: Valid for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years with single or multiple entries
• Duration of stay: Generally, 3 months allowed stay, but up to 6 or 12 in some cases
• Visa fee: Visitors visa fee is 190 AUD
• Processing time: 50% of applications are processed in 7 days and 90% in 21 days.

If you haven’t already, read the  Australia Visa Guide  to familiarize yourself with Australian tourist visa types, requirements, eligibility and entry procedures at the border.

Table of Contents

Understanding australia visitor visa.

Visitor visa validity

The Australian Visitor visa is valid for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years from the date of issue. The validity of the visa depends on your nationality and circumstances. For example, most Indian passport holders get a 3-year valid Australian visa, whereas Phillippine passport holders get a 1-year valid visa. Pakistan nationals get a 6-month validity.

You must visit Australia within the validity of your visa.

Duration of stay

Most Visitor visas granted allow for 3 months of continuous stay in Australia. Depending on circumstances, you might be granted a stay of 6 months or even 12 months.

Allowed number of entries

Most Visitor visas are multiple-entry , but Home Affairs also issues single visas in certain circumstances for certain nationalities.

When to apply

Since the tourist visas are valid for at least 3 months, it’s a good idea to apply well in advance. Most applications get processed in 3 weeks or fewer.

Visa extension

Australia Visitor visa is non-extendable . If you need to  extend your stay in Australia , you are allowed to apply for another Visitor Visa (onshore) from within the country.

Australia Visitor Visa Requirements

Who requires a Visitor Visa?

Australia Visitor Visa is REQUIRED for all nationalities to enter Australia as a tourist, except for the below.

• New Zealand passport holders
• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
• eVisitor Visa
• Those transiting in Australia for less than 72 hours and can get a Transit visa .

Documents required

To support your application, you can attach as many as 60 documents online. You don’t have to attach that many but the more documents you provide, the better your chances of approval.

You have to satisfy the Home Office that:

• You are who you say you are
• You are a genuine visitor who will not overstay or work illegally
• You are of good character and not have a criminal record
• You won’t be a burden to Australia’s healthcare system

To do this, attach as many of these documents as you can :

Identity documents

• Valid passport (must be valid for the duration of the stay)
• Valid National ID card (if from a country that issues them)
• marriage or divorce certificate;
• change of name documents;
• documents that show other names you have been known by
• Residence Permit/Visa (if residence and citizenship differ)
• One passport-size photo

Genuine visitor documents

• Itemized personal bank statements for the last 3 months. Aim to have at least 5000 AUD in your bank account. The money cannot be deposited suddenly and inexplicably – it should be from legitimate sources and savings over time.
• Tax returns
• Credit card statements
• their relationship to you
• the purpose of your visit and length of stay
• if you will be staying with them
• Proof of their funds (if they will be paying for your stay)
• Your plans or travel itinerary while in Australia  
• a letter from your employer stating you plan to return to your job
• proof that you study at a school, college or university in your home country
• proof that you have immediate family members in your home country
• proof that you own a house or other major assets in your home country;
• Confirmed return flight ticket;
• Health Insurance

At a later date, you may be required to obtain and submit the following:

• Medical Certificate
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

All non-English documents (except for police certificates) must be translated into English and all documents’ copies (both original and translations) must be certified.

Photo requirements

You need one passport-size digital photo for the Visitor Visa application. The photo must meet the following requirements. 

• Taken in the last 6 months
• Showing your head and shoulders against a plain background
• Neutral facial expression with mouth closed, eyes open, and looking at the camera
• Religious head coverings are allowed but must not obscure the face
• Piercing is allowed but must not cause any reflections or shadows

There is no official guidance for the size and resolution of pictures uploaded online but the file type must be JPG. You will get to move the photo to position your face within a frame.

As long as the picture is clear, crisp, and not excessively big, it will be accepted.

Visitor visa fee

The Australian Tourist Visa application fee is 190 AUD , payable online.

You may also have to pay for:

• Health checks
• Police certificates

Processing time

Australian immigration reports that 50% of applications are processed in 7 days and 90% are processed in 21 days . These periods start after you submit your biometrics (if required).

Visitor Visa Application Process

How to apply

You must apply for your tourist visa online through the Immi Portal. Applying on paper is not possible for the visitor visa anymore. Follow the below steps:

• Go to the ImmiAccount portal and create an account
• Click on “New application” and pick “Visitor Visa (600)”.
• Enter your personal information, passport details, employment details and financial information
• Upload your documents such as passport, photo, etc.
• Pay the required visa fee
• Submit the application

The Visitor Visa is part of Australia’s biometrics program. If you apply for a Visitor Visa from any of the below countries, regardless of your nationality, you must give your biometrics.

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Kazakhstan 
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• United Arab Emirates

If you apply from one of these countries, you will receive an email informing you that you need to visit an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC) to have your biometrics collected. The biometrics are usually a face photo and fingerprint scan.

You must complete the biometrics procedure within 14 days of getting this email otherwise your application becomes void without a refund!

AABCs are typically managed by VFS Global. They charge a service fee for biometric collection. This fee depends on AABC and the country you are applying from.

For example, the biometric service at AABC in Dubai, UAE is AED 109.17. The biometric service fee at AABC in Manila, Philippines is PHP 557.

How to schedule biometric appointment?

Within 24 hours of applying for your Visitor Visa, you will receive an email with a biometric request letter from Home Affairs. Follow these steps to schedule your biometric appointment.

Find the nearest ABCC to you and follow the prompts to schedule your biometric appointment.

How to attend biometric appointment?

Follow the below steps to attend your biometric appointment at an AABC.

• Arrive at the AABC at least 15 minutes before your appointment time
• Original passport
• Biometric appointment confirmation
• Biometric fee receipt and
• Biometric request letter received in the email from Home Affairs
• Your facial photo is taken and your 10 fingertips are scanned

What if you can’t attend your appointment?

If you can’t make an appointment, you can reschedule your appointment up to 24 hours before your scheduled appointment date and time. You can reschedule up to 2 times.

What if you miss your appointment?

If you miss your scheduled appointment, you will lose the fee paid as the biometric fee is nonrefundable. You will also have to wait 24 hours to schedule a new appointment.

How to track status

You will receive the status of your application in your email. You can also track the status of the visa in your ImmiAccount.

How to download approved visa

When your Visitor Visa is approved, you will receive a grant letter in your email from Home Affairs. The grant letter is your Visitor Visa.

The Visitor visa is electronically linked to your passport, so you don’t need to download or print your Visitor Visa.

If you’re ever asked to show any proof, you can use the Grant Notification you received in your email. You can also download it from your ImmiAccount under “Visa Grant Details”.

How to check the validity of your Visitor Visa

The expiration date of your Australia eVisitor visa is indicated as “Must not arrive after” on the visa letter. If you lost your grant letter or don’t have a copy of your Visitor Visa, you can check the validity details on the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) portal by using either your Visa Grant Number or Transaction Reference Number.

Customer service

Refer to the Self-help Guidelines for information to troubleshoot any issues. If facing issues with your ImmiAccount or the Visitor visa application, contact customer service using the below webform

Web: ImmiAccount Technical Support Form

Procedure at the border

The Visitor Visa is digitally attached to your passport so you don’t need to print anything. When you enter Australia, simply present your passport and be ready to answer a few basic questions about your visit.

Eligible passport holders can use the Smart Gates for faster arrival and departure procedures.

All visitors including Australian citizens are required to fill out an Incoming Passenger Card on arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take to get an australian tourist visa.

It can take up to 3 weeks to get an Australian tourist visa, especially if submitting your biometrics. It can be faster or slower depending on where you are applying from, your circumstances and the number of documents you submit.

How hard is it to get a tourist visa to Australia?

It is easy to get a tourist visa to Australia if you submit a complete application with as many documents. You must convince the Home Office that you won’t overstay or break the conditions of the visa.

How much bank balance is required for Australia tourist visa?

Australian Home Office doesn’t specify the minimum bank balance required for a tourist visa. Your bank account must show continuous cash flow and not a lump sum deposited recently. 

Based on the reports from travelers reports and recommendations from embassies, you should aim for at least 5,000 AUD in your bank account when you apply.

Can you get a 3-year visitor visa to Australia?

Yes, you can get a 3-year visitor visa to Australia if are from an eligible country and meet the requirements. Australian Visitor Visa is issued for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years depending on your nationality and circumstances. For example, Indian nationals can get an Australian tourist visa valid for 3 years.

WRITTEN BY THIRUMAL MOTATI

Thirumal Motati is an expert in tourist visa matters. He has been traveling the world on tourist visas for more than a decade. With his expertise, he has obtained several tourist visas, including the most strenuous ones such as the US, UK, Canada, and Schengen, some of which were granted multiple times. He has also set foot inside US consulates on numerous occasions. Mr. Motati has uncovered the secrets to successful visa applications. His guidance has enabled countless individuals to obtain their visas and fulfill their travel dreams. His statements have been mentioned in publications like Yahoo, BBC, The Hindu, and Travel Zoo.

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL WITH VISA TRAVELER

I highly recommend using these websites to plan your trip. I use these websites myself to apply for my visas, book my flights and hotels and purchase my travel insurance.

01. Apply for your visa

Get a verifiable flight itinerary for your visa application from DummyTicket247 . DummyTicket247 is a flight search engine to search and book flight itineraries for visas instantly. These flight itineraries are guaranteed to be valid for 2 weeks and work for all visa applications.

02. Book your fight

Find the cheapest flight tickets using Skyscanner . Skyscanner includes all budget airlines and you are guaranteed to find the cheapest flight to your destination.

03. Book your hotel

Book your hotel from Booking.com . Booking.com has pretty much every hotel, hostel and guesthouse from every destination.

04. Get your onward ticket

If traveling on a one-way ticket, use BestOnwardTicket to get proof of onward ticket for just $12, valid for 48 hours.

05. Purchase your insurance

Purchase travel medical insurance for your trip from SafetyWing . Insurance from SafetyWing covers COVID-19 and also comes with a visa letter which you can use for your visas.

Need more? Check out my travel resources page  for the best websites to plan your trip.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER We are not affiliated with immigration, embassies or governments of any country. The content in this article is for educational and general informational purposes only, and shall not be understood or construed as, visa, immigration or legal advice. Your use of information provided in this article is solely at your own risk and you expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this article as a substitute for professional visa or immigration advice. Under no circumstance shall be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions in this article or for any damage you may suffer in respect to any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information in this article. Please refer to our full disclaimer for further information.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please refer to our full disclosure for further information.

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Australian Visa and Entry Requirements FAQs

Learn about visa requirements for entry to Australia for tourism purposes with this list of frequently asked questions. 

Please note this page is intended to provide general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Tourism Australia is not the Australian government visa granting authority. For information on visas to enter Australia, visitors should seek the most up-to-date information from Australian Government Department of Home Affairs .*

Ready to plan your trip? We're ready to welcome you! Here are some helpful tips for getting your visa sorted: 

• Be sure to secure the appropriate visa before travelling to Australia. Use the Visa Finder to explore your options.
• Ensure all details are correct and provide all required documents when you apply. An incomplete or incorrect application can delay your visa.
• Submitting multiple applications at the same time can slow the process. For visitor visas, submit one application per person, including children. 
• Questions? The Australian Government's Global Service Centre can help.

Australian Visa Information

Unless you are an Australian citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders, regardless of age, must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of Australian visa types, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, via the ETA app or on the  Department of Home Affairs website.

There are different Australian visa types available for travellers to Australia. Knowing which Australian visa to apply for depends on the length of your stay, your passport and the purpose of your visit. You’ll also need to meet certain financial and medical requirements, be outside of Australia when applying and maintain health insurance for the duration of your stay. 

Electronic Travel Authority visa  (subclass 601) This visa allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want, for up to a year, and stay for three months each visit. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions, who live outside Australia. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is  here .

All ETA-eligible passport holders must apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. Agents can assist you in the application process, but you must be physically present as a live facial image is required.

eVisitor  (subclass 651) This is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of European countries and it cannot be extended.

Visitor visa  (subclass 600) The Visitor visa allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business purposes. It is open to all nationalities. Generally, a period of stay of up to three months is granted, but up to 12 months may be granted in certain circumstances. Applicants will have to pay a fee to submit their application.

The application process may differ depending on which visa you need.

You can only apply for the  Electronic Travel Authority visa  (subclass 601) through the Australian ETA app. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is located  here .

For other visas, you can apply online by creating an ImmiAccount and completing the application process. Be sure to submit your application well in advance of your travel date to allow enough time for processing. You may be asked to provide further supporting information. You will be notified in writing if your tourist visa is approved and it will be digitally linked to your passport. For more information on different visa types, and Australian visa requirements including how to apply for an Australian visa, visit the  Department of Home Affairs  website.

If you are already in Australia and hold a valid Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) you can extend your stay by applying for another visa, such as a Visitor visa (subclass 600). An eVisitor (subclass 651) cannot be extended.

See the Department of Home Affairs website for details.

Working Holiday Visas

Australia's Working Holiday Maker program allows visitors aged under 30 (or 35 in certain cases) who hold a passport from a participating country to travel and work in Australia. Working holiday visas are valid for one year, or up to three years if you meet certain conditions.

Find out more about working holiday visas here .

*Australian visa regulations (including visa application charges) change from time to time. The information provided here is valid at the time of publication, but visitors should check this information is still current by visiting the Australian Department of Home Affairs .

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Money latest: Prepayment meters now have cheapest default tariff - should you switch?

The default tariff for prepayment meters is now cheaper than other types of meter - so should you switch? You can read this and our other weekend features, and leave a comment, below - and check back on Monday for hourly updates on consumer and personal finance news.

Sunday 14 April 2024 17:19, UK

Weekend Money

• How to get cheapest energy bills after price cap tweak most people don't know about
• 'It's cost me £8,000 to get out of an abusive relationship' - Readers respond to divorce story
• How to earn thousands letting film and music stars shoot in your home
• Money news of week: Blow for expats in Spain | Where will Labour get money from? | Shell could quit London

Best of the week

• How your neighbour's garden could wipe up to £57,000 from your house price
• Could I build a home gym for less than my gym membership?
• Britons are buying homes, having babies, getting married and retiring later - but one key life event is happening earlier
• 'WTF is going on with the price of olive oil?'
• Cheap Eats: Great British Menu legend shares ultimate toastie recipe
• Money Problem: The monthly charge on my leasehold flat has gone up by more than £60 a month - what are my rights?

Ask a question or make a comment

Looking for some longer Money reads for your evening/commute/lunch break?

Here's four from the last few months you might like...

Cost of a pint

Many of us have noticed the price of pints creeping up in recent years. 

The cost of draught lager has gone up nearly 30% since January 2019, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The beer doesn't taste any different despite the increase in price - so where exactly does that £6-7 for a pint go? 

We've spoken to experts to get a break down...

Motherhood penalty

The word "penalty" isn't one that should go hand-in-hand with motherhood. But deep-rooted structural inequalities are causing women to save less for retirement when they become parents.

Mothers face a pension penalty of up to £183,000 by taking time out of work to raise children, according to analysis by the pensions and investment company Royal London...

A survey has revealed the energy gripes that cause the most arguments in British households...

Quitting your job to go travelling

You could be forgiven for feeling a twinge of jealousy when you see someone packing it all in to go travelling for a few months. 

Perhaps it's made you wonder if you could do the same thing yourself. 

Of course, it won't be realistic for everyone and the reality is it takes a lot of planning and saving. For many people during the cost of living crisis, it's simply not possible to save much, if at all.

But if you're wondering where to begin (and how much you might need to save), we've got some advice from two travel bloggers who have been there and done that...

By Brad Young, Money team

Earning up to £60,000 a year for letting Stormzy film a music video in your kitchen or Paloma Faith play with Lego in the living room might sound farfetched to homeowners unfamiliar with the shoot locations industry. 

But every star, studio or big brand that wants to film in a residential property needs someone willing to offer up their home for the day - and they'll pay between £700 and £3,000 for the privilege.

Homeowners and shooting agencies have spoken with the Money team about the promises and pitfalls of working with the likes of Disney, Netflix and ITV to take advantage of this niche income stream. 

Among them was Ed Reeve, a photographer from Hackney, who has had stars such as David Attenborough, Stormzy and Jim Broadbent walk through his doors in the 17 years he's been renting out his home. 

"It has been a really positive experience on the whole for us. Generally, the shoot crews are really lovely people and they're very respectful of your home," said Mr Reeve, who is registered with location agency 1st Option.

He hosts between 12 and 20 productions a year. Most bring in £1,000 for a one-day shoot, but some earn him up to £3,000 per day or last multiple days.

"We've met lots of interesting people," said Mr Reeve, including Gillian Anderson, who stars in Sex Education, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Claire Foy (The Crown).

After Stormzy filmed a music video, Mr Reeves said that "every grime artist wanted to shoot here".

David Attenborough once turned up early for a BBC shoot, resulting in the pair sitting down for a cup of tea and Mr Reeve introducing his three-day old daughter to the presenter.

"He held her and looked at her with delight... it was a really special moment," said Mr Reeve. 

Shoots can result in scratches around the interior, but Mr Reeve said he uses some of the money to redecorate – or in one case, let a Delux advert do it for him. 

'It's never free money'

Less enthusiastic about the industry was Emer Stamp, 48, a children's author from London, who has hosted for two years.

"You think, 'Oh yeah, my house is going to be rocking', and everyone comes round and goes 'Your house will be perfect', but for whatever reason, it's not.

"My takeout is it's not as easy to make money as you think."

Ms Stamp said her home had been chosen for three productions, including a Dell shoot and a Lego advert starring Paloma Faith, earning her approximately £6,000. 

Hosting also puts your schedule at the mercy of production companies – and sometimes they may not show up, said Ms Stamp.

"Like anything, you think it's free money but it's never free money."

So what does make a location popular? 

Becky Butler, managing director at agency Location Collective, said there is demand for average-sized family homes with a 60s/70s vibe and unusual features. 

And while a lot of the homes listed by location agencies look expensive, that was far from a deal-breaker. 

"All the practical side of things are as important, if not more so, than the aesthetics of the location," said Ms Butler.

Parking, easy-going neighbours and having one large room for equipment goes a long way with clients.

Getting the combination right can create "a fantastic additional income stream", said Jennifer Marshall, of Shootfactory, which has connected homeowners with everyone from Little Mix to Killing Eve. 

"We have properties that through our company have earned anywhere between £20,000 and £60,000 a year."

Much of the industry is based in London but, between them, the three agencies contacted by the Money team have organised filming in Manchester, Birmingham, the Midlands, the Home Counties and coastal areas.

Both Ms Marshall and the team at Location Collective said having a neighbour willing to get in on the action can be a real selling point.

This might mean a second house on the same street for a TV show, or simply somewhere to house the production team.

"Being able to let them pretty much take over is quite key. Sometimes they might have demands like painting or moving furniture," said Lily Gonnissen, head of business development at Location Collective. 

Being quick to respond to questions, contactable during the working day, and able to accommodate viewings at short notice was a top priority, said Ms Gonnissen. 

"Be friendly and welcoming - brands remember a good owner," said a spokesperson for 1st Option: "And make sure the house is clean and clutter free before any shoots."

The default tariff for prepayment meters is now cheaper than other types of meter.

It follows the energy price cap update to unit rates and standing charges from 1 April.

Uswitch data shows 56% of households don't know about the change.

What do you need to know?

Prepayment meters have traditionally been a more expensive way of paying for energy - but now prepayment standing charges have been lowered to match those for direct debit customers.

Because prepay units are cheaper, people with these meters should pay around £47 less a year than those on direct debits (£1,643 versus £1,690).

Customers who pay when they get a bill are forking out the most - around 5.8p more per day on the standing charge than those with direct debits.

Should we all get prepayment meters?

As energy costs come down, suppliers like EDF Energy have now started offering fixed deals lower than the price cap - and as things stand these are the cheapest options for many.

Eon Next's Pledge tariff promises to be 3% below whatever the price cap is for a year.

There can be catches if you want to leave these fixed deals (though Octopus doesn't charge them) - so make sure you do your research.

How many people have prepay meters?

The number of prepayment meters has fallen almost 8% from the peak in 2019, but there's still more than seven million gas and electricity units in action.

In total, 195,503 prepayment meters were installed in 2023.

Are people swapping?

Uswitch has some research that says young people (18 to 34) are far more likely to go for prepay meters - 51% would consider it, compared with 5% of over-55s.

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch, said: "Prepayment meters have got a bad reputation among some households, but changes to the price cap mean that their default tariffs are now cheaper than standard credit meters.

"With prepayment meters, you pay for your energy before you use it, and while there are emergency provisions, it does mean it is possible to be cut off if you have not put enough money into your account. 

"This means that younger consumers and vulnerable people are at greater risk of disconnecting themselves from their energy supply when money is tight.

"Direct debits also allow consumers to spread out their costs evenly throughout the year, meaning bills won't rise significantly in the winter when energy usage is highest."

We've had a mixed mailbag of comments this week - with readers getting in touch about pensions, tipping and divorce among other things.

Following this feature on divorce costs last weekend...

...we had dozens of comments...

So many people must be trapped in abusive relationships. A loan has helped me get away - covering legal costs, paying the bills/mortgage on marital home whilst being unable to stay and finding thousands for a rental. Costs so far about £8k - only one year in and at decree nisi. H

Since broken families are ever more common why isn't the government doing something to help divorcees get back on the housing ladder like first-time buyers are? Countless thousands, despite having the income, are doomed to rent expensive family homes. Men especially! Twice Divorced Of Surrey

Trust me, it costs a whole lot more than £30k, stay away from solicitors, work through it yourself. Toby

When one party will not communicate with the other, this makes the process much more expensive. Around £80k in solicitors and barrister fees. Vbkinguk

Another story that cut through was London restaurant chain Ping Pong scrapping tips - months before new legislation will require restaurateurs to give staff 100%.

Readers don't seem impressed...

Best thing employees and customers can do is boycott them. Just goes to show what they actually think of their staff. Dave

I don't want to eat somewhere that doesn't look after its employees. Jack

I'm sure patrons and staff will vote with their feet! How disgraceful to remove tips, probably as the owners aren't getting any cut of their staff's hard work! Elijah

We've reported extensively on the rise to the state pension this month - including how, due to frozen income tax thresholds, more pensioners will be dragged into paying income tax. Chris seems to be one of those impacted...

I deferred taking my state pension for five years to hopefully boost my pension, because I happened to be the last group of people to get the old state pension. Unfortunately because of the tax band freeze any benefit from the pension uplift is being eroded every year, is this fair? Chris

And finally, on Monday we suggested a cheaper way to buy herbs and spices in the supermarket - by using the world food aisle...

We had this comment...

Best money-saving practice for herbs and spices is to source them at Asian stores - not supermarkets! Pip

Spain is planning to scrap a "golden visa" scheme that grants residency rights to foreigners who make large investments in real estate.

Ending the scheme would help make access to affordable housing "a right instead of a speculative business", Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

The programme awards non-EU citizens investing at least €500,000 (around £429,000) in Spanish real estate - without taking out a mortgage - a special permit, allowing them to live and work in the country for three years.

In better news for Britons who hope to live abroad, Italy is allowing non-EU citizens who can work remotely to apply for a year-long "digital nomad" visa.

There's a few salary/reference based criteria to meet - read about them here...

Labour this week tried to address questions over how it would pay for key pledges  after the Tories used their idea of scrapping the non-dom status to fund a national insurance cut.

Labour had been committed to abolishing non-dom status for years - upon gaining power they planned to use the money to fund breakfast clubs for primary school children and additional appointments in the NHS.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves this week announced the party's plan to raise £5bn a year by the end of the next parliament...

• Labour said it would raise £2.6bn by closing "loopholes" in the government's non-doms plan - after certain exemptions were kept in place by Jeremy Hunt;
• Labour said the "tax gap" - the difference between the amount of money HMRC is owed and the amount it receives - had widened to £36bn in 2021-22 - £5bn more than it had been the previous year;
• To close the gap, Labour said it would invest up to £555m a year in boosting the number of compliance officers at HMRC, increasing productivity and improving the organisation's "dire" customer service;
• It would also consider requiring more tax schemes to be registered with HMRC to ensure they are legitimate, and renew the focus on offshore tax compliance.

The government responded by saying: "The Conservatives have introduced over 200 measures to clamp down on tax non-compliance and we are sticking to the plan to strengthen the economy so we can cut taxes, putting £900 in the pockets of the average worker and helping families to build a brighter future."

Shell is weighing up quitting the London Stock Exchange (LSE) for a move to New York over concerns its listing is currently "undervalued".

Chief executive Wael Sawan  told Bloomberg  that he was mulling "all options".

The British oil and gas giant is currently the largest company in the FTSE 100 index, and its departure from the LSE would be a significant blow to the UK stock market that is fighting to stay relevant.

There's been a run of bad news for the LSE over the past year or so. The world's largest building products manufacturer, CRH, moved to New York, while travel company Tui moved to Frankfurt. And despite the lobbying of numerous prime ministers, UK-based chip company Arm chose the NYSE.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

UK lenders have seen a rise in defaults on mortgages and credit cards - with the trend expected to continue in the coming months, according to a survey.

A poll of banks and building societies by the Bank of England reveals lenders reported higher default rates on secured loans and unsecured lending in the three months to the end of February.

The rates for mortgages, credit cards and other loans, as well as loans to small to medium businesses, are all expected to rise in the next quarter.

The BoE carries out the survey every quarter as part of its role to maintain financial stability.

It also revealed increased demand for borrowing, with this also expected to climb during the three months to the end of May.

Karim Haji, global and UK head of financial services at KPMG, said the latest BoE data suggests "a more positive economic outlook hasn't fed through to household finances yet".

"Defaults across all unsecured lending increasing over the same three-month period indicates many people are still struggling to meet their day-to-day costs. Lenders will need to be vigilant and continue to offer support for borrowers in the interim," he said.

By  Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Poor software and bias toward making only small, sequential changes is one of the reasons economic forecasters at the Bank of England failed to predict and prepare for the cost of living crisis, brought about by high inflation, according to a "once in a generation" review.

The review announced last year was undertaken by the former head of the US central bank, known as the Fed, and said the quality of the Bank's economic expectations "deteriorated significantly in the past few years" due to out of date software and "excessive incrementalism".

Though the "unusually large forecasting errors" were said to be "probably inevitable", according to the review, conducted by Dr Ben Bernanke.

The problem was not unique to the Bank, rather something all central banks and private forecasters suffered from, it said.

Read the full story here...

After the UK airports with the worst delays were revealed earlier today (see post at 1.15pm), we've been looking at your rights.

If you're unlucky enough to get stuck at an airport due to a flight delay, you may wonder if you're entitled to any compensation.

The good news is you may be - in certain circumstances.

First, it's important to know what flights are covered by consumer law. These are: 

• Any flight leaving a UK airport
• Flights operated by a UK/EU airline arriving at a UK airport
• Flights operated by a UK airline only arriving at an EU airport

When will I be entitled to help? 

You'll qualify for support if a short-haul flight under 932 miles (1,500km) is pushed back by two hours. 

This rises to three hours for journeys up to 2,175 miles (3,500km).

For long-haul flights going any further than this, four hours or longer counts as a significant delay.

What support will I get?

Under UK law, airlines must give passengers who are affected by a delay of at least two hours:

• A reasonable amount of food and drink (usually provided in the form of vouchers)
• Refunds for the cost of two free phone calls, faxes or emails
• Accommodation for passengers stranded overnight (usually in a nearby hotel)
• Transport to a hotel - or their home

Will I get compensation?

Usually, airlines have to provide compensation if a person's flight arrives more than three hours late.

The exception to this is when there are air traffic control problems or extreme weather, as these issues aren't their fault.

If you agree to travel on a later flight, the airline is no longer obliged to offer food, drink or accommodation while you wait.

Thankfully, you are entitled to a full refund if you decide to abandon your journey after five hours of delays.

The length of your flight affects how much you are entitled to:

• Short-haul flight - £220
• Medium-haul flight - £350
• Long-haul flight - £520 if the flight arrived more than four hours late, £260 for a delay of between three to four hours

What if I'm about to travel?

Transfer passengers who end up missing a connecting flight because their first plane was delayed are entitled to a service back to their original departure point.

But things get a little more complicated for passengers on package holidays - especially if they decide not to travel on a delayed outbound flight.

The CAA's guidance says: "You may lose your holiday too, so we recommend you contact your package organiser or the airline for further information.

"If you still want to travel then your airline must get you to your destination. You might have to be patient while they rearrange transport and rebook passengers, but the law says they must get you there."

What if my flight is cancelled? 

You're entitled to a refund or replacement flight if yours is cancelled. Your rights to assistance are the same as if your flight is delayed.

If the reason for the cancellation was within the airline's control, and it was made with no more than 14 days' notice, then depending on the timings of the new flight offered you could also be entitled to compensation.

You'll be able to claim £110 and £520 depending on the length of the route and timings of the new flight.

Drivers are still feeling the strain of rising insurance premiums - but there are signs of a slowdown, according to one index.

New figures from insights firm Consumer Intelligence suggest the average quoted price of car insurance rose by 56.4% in the year to February.

This was the third-highest annual increase since its records began in 2012 - but in slightly better news for motorists, it marked a lower annual rise than the 67.2% recorded in November.

And there was only a slight rise of 0.5% when looking at the three months to February - the lowest quarterly increased since November 2021.

Drivers most commonly received a quote between £500 and £749 in February, Consumer Intelligence said. It analysed the average of the five cheapest offers from price comparison websites.

Max Thompson, the firm's insurance insight manager, said big insurance brands made "competitive movements" to reduce premiums at the start of the year.

"However, some of this was unwound in February indicating it may have been more of a tactical move than a long-term trend," he added.

Jonathan Fong, manager of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers, said insurers were "aware of the financial challenges customers are facing" and were working to keep prices affordable.

"Our motor premium tracker is the only collection based on the price customers pay for their policy, rather than quotes, and shows that the average motor premium increased by 25% last year to £543.

"This was largely driven by above inflation increases in the cost of repairs, thefts and replacement cars."

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Hiking international student visa fees is on the table – but could it also pay your rent?

While domestic students would benefit from boosted rent subsidies, increased international fees may scare away better students to competitor nations

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L ast week Anthony Albanese responded to concerns about whether international arrivals are adding to a tight housing market by noting the population is still lower than projected pre-Covid. That’s true, but won’t be for much longer.

In late February, Australia hit a record for both the number of international students (713,144) and of temporary entrants (2.8 million) in the country.

Even with measures to crack down on international student numbers enacted after the migration review was released in December , it takes a while for a reduced flow (international student visa grants were down 35% in February) to be reflected in a decreased stock.

The government has never ruled out more drastic measures, such as a cap on international students .

In February the Grattan Institute added another such idea to the mix: raise the international student visa application fees from $710 to $2,500, and use the proceeds to pay for an increase in commonwealth rent assistance.

Tertiary education sources say they understand the application fee hike is under active consideration.

Even those opposed to the idea see the logic: discouraging applications reduces numbers; if students are undeterred, it’s a revenue raiser for government.

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The chief executive of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia, Troy Williams, said a fee hike “would be consistent with the Australian government’s clear policy intent to reduce the size of the international education sector”.

Abul Rizvi, the former deputy secretary of the immigration department, said increasing the non-refundable fee on foreigners to pay for Aussies’ rent is “very good politics” although he thinks it’s “poor long term policy”.

A spokesperson for the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, said “We’re considering all options as we work to restore integrity to international education.”

Governments hate to play the budget ruling-in ruling-out game, but they especially hate to do it with such a time-sensitive measure, which you would expect to be announced on budget night and backdated a day or two to prevent a flood of applications.

Hypothecating revenue – setting aside money raised for a specific purpose – is a bit of a fiction, as all government spending during times of surplus comes from the general revenue.

But increasing rent subsidies at the same time as international student fees has a logic to it. Double digit rent increases in capital cities are hurting households, and Labor is under attack on its right and left flank on housing costs.

Many stakeholders, from the Coalition opposition to sensible centrist economists like Chris Richardson , have linked the cost of housing to the temporary spike in arrivals, even if the housing shortage has many other, longer term and complex causes.

And universities, who would be expected to complain the loudest that good quality students from overseas could be discouraged from applying, would likely be less able to complain because of the larger domestic student constituency who benefit from rent subsidies.

Grattan’s chief executive, Brendan Coates, and deputy director of migration, Trent Wiltshire, think the fee increase would “discourage the growing number of international students who complete cheaper, low-value courses from coming to Australia”.

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The pair said the measure is “unlikely to discourage talented students from choosing to study at one of Australia’s top universities – those who we most want to stay permanently – because they already pay upwards of $150,000 for a bachelor degree”.

But others are down on the idea. Rizvi said given how high Australia’s rejection rate of international students is, paying a non-refundable $2,500 fee for no guarantee of a place is “a lot like entering a lottery”.

Rizvi thinks the measure has the potential to “scare away the better students” – those who have options and can study in competitor nations with lower fees.

Williams said the measure would “penalise overseas students wanting to take up study in Australia” and be a “job killer”, particularly in the vocational educational and training sector.

Iteca wants the government “to align its strategy” on international education and migration strategy.

“The former encourages international students to take-up study in Australia and the latter seems to say that these students should stay home, there is a real inconsistency here,” Williams said.

When the opposition arcs up in question time complaining about the population size, Labor likes to quote the shadow immigration minister, Dan Tehan, who welcomed the return of international students post Covid and Peter Dutton, who agreed after the September 2022 jobs and skills summit that “we do need an increase in the migration numbers”.

But there’s only so long an 18-month-old quote can keep the Coalition scare campaign at bay. The government will be judged on its record, and in this climate that means: did it succeed in cutting international student numbers and net migration fast enough?

Demanding more cash for international student visa applications is an incredibly blunt instrument, but for its potential to raise revenue, dampen demand and rebuff Dutton, it may prove irresistible for Labor.

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