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Visa Requirements for Tourism in Australia You Need to Know

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If you're planning a trip to Australia, you're not alone. In 2018, the country welcomed more than nine million visitors who came to see people, animals and landmarks of the island continent. Before you book your flight, you'll need a visa that lets you enter and stay in the country legally. Here's what you need to know about visa requirements for Australia.

Australian Visitor Visa Types

Australia has 14 different visitor visas that allow guests to visit, study and work temporarily. Certain tourist visas, such as the Tourist Stream, eVisitor and Electronic Travel Authority, let you stay in the country for up to 12 months to visit as a tourist. With the eVisitor and Electronic Travel Authority options, you can enter as many times as you want during that one year period. If you have family in the country, you can apply for the Sponsored Family Stream, a family-sponsored visa that lets you stay for up to one year.

Other temporary visas have specific purposes. A Transit Visa lets visitors in the country for up to 72 hours, and Medical Treatment Visa allows them to seek medical treatment. Individuals who need to visit for business purposes other than working or selling products can apply for the Business Visitor Stream. People between the ages of 18 and 30 can apply for working holiday visas that let them work in the country to fund their trip. There are also two visas specifically for citizens of China.

Visa Processing Times

According to Australia's Department of Home Affairs, visa processing times range from less than one day to just under two months. The Electronic Travel Authority has the shortest wait time, and the government grants most of these visas in less than one day. The Working Holiday Visas have the longest wait time, but 90 percent of these visas get approved within 53 days.

Requirements for US Citizens

United States citizens must have a valid passport when they enter Australia, and the passport must have one page available for the entry stamp. They don't need any special vaccinations, but there are currency restrictions. Anyone entering or leaving the country with more than 10,000 AUD must declare the amount of money they have.

Online Visa Services

You can complete visa forms for Australia online or on paper. The online visa service is called ImmiAccount. After signing up for an account, you can complete an application, submit supporting documents and correct errors you made to a previous application. You can also check the status of an Australian visa or visa application through the system.

If the government needs more information from you to continue processing the visa application, you'll find that information in the ImmiAccount system. For example, you might see a notification to schedule a health examination or biometric appointment under the Actions Required tab. The Department of Home Affairs also uses the system to communication with visa applicants.

What Happens if You Overstay Your Visa?

It's against the law to stay in Australia after your visa expires. If you overstay your visa you have two options: leave the country or extend your visa. Depending on the type of visa you have, you might be able to extend the visa as long as you apply for the extension before the original expiration date. Another option is a Bridging visa A, which gives you temporary legal status until you decide whether you want to extend your visa.

If you don't have the option to extend your visa, you have to leave as soon as possible However, you can't just hop on a plane. The government may detain you at the airport, bill you for the cost of removing you from the country or deny your future visa applications for up to three years. To avoid this, you should apply for a Bridging visa E. This temporary visa gives you legal status so you can arrange your exit.