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Immigration Frequently Asked Questions
- I understand most New Zealand citizens going to Australia are automatically granted a Special Category Visa (SCV) - what is a SCV?
- What if I am a New Zealand citizen and have a criminal history?
- Are there any other restrictions on New Zealand citizens travelling to Australia?
- Are there any requirements regarding validity of passports to travel to Australia?
- Do New Zealand travellers need to apply for permanent residency before entering Australia?
- Do I need to obtain a Visa to temporarily enter Australia?
- What is an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)?
- How do I obtain a Visitor Visa?
- I need to have a medical examination and a chest x-ray in connection with my visa application. How do I arrange this?
- If I am not an Australian or New Zealand citizen can I work in Australia?
- Do I need a Student Visa to study in Australia?
- New Arrangements for Citizens of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand
I understand most New Zealand citizens going to Australia are automatically granted a Special Category Visa (SCV) - what is a SCV?
Entry into Australia as SCV holders is electronically recorded and is not shown in the New Zealand passport. An SCV allows the holder to remain and work in Australia indefinitely.
What if I am a New Zealand citizen and have a criminal history?
In this case you may need to apply for a visa to travel to Australia by undertaking the following procedures:
- download the Consent to Disclosure of Information form below. This will allow the NZ Police to provide the Australian Consulate-General with details of your criminal history.
- complete the form and post it direct to :
The Licensing and Vetting Service Centre
Police National Headquarters
P O Box 3017
Wellington
The Police will forward the results of your police check direct to the Australia Consulate-General in Auckland. You will then be informed in writing whether or not you need to lodge an application for a visa to enter Australia. If a visa application is required the application form including a check list will be sent to you. If required to lodge a visa application, please do so at the Australian Consulate-General in Auckland. Once the application is received it will be forwarded to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in Brisbane, Australia for the assessment of your Character. You will then be advised of the outcome of your visa application.
Consent to Disclosure of Information form
Are there any other restrictions on New Zealand citizens travelling to Australia?
New Zealanders who are also likely to face restricted entry are citizens with untreated tuberculosis or who have been deported, excluded or removed from any country. These people should lodge an appropriate visa application with the Australian Consulate-General in Auckland.
Details of the various visas classes and the appropriate application forms which may be downloaded for completion are available on the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
See: www.immi.gov.au
Are there any requirements regarding validity of passports to travel to Australia?
New Zealand passports need be only valid to cover immediate travel arrangements.
Where visas are required the validity of the passport is taken into consideration when deciding the validity of the visa.
There is no requirement for a passport to be valid beyond the date of proposed immediate travel or the validity of any visa issued.
Do New Zealand travellers need to apply for permanent residency before entering Australia?
New Zealand citizens travelling on New Zealand passports do not need to apply for migration to live in Australia, however they should be aware of restrictions on access to social security allowances before deciding to live in Australia.
See: www.facs.gov.au.
There are a series of booklets to help New Zealand citizens and other nationals who decide to apply for permanent residency in Australia available for downloading from the from the Australian Immigration and Citizenship website www.immi.gov.au free of charge. The booklets are also available for a fee from Immigration and Visa section in Auckland.
For more information on Australia's migration program see: Overview - migration.
Do I need to obtain a Visa to temporarily enter Australia?
All visitors to Australia not including Australian and New Zealand passport holders must obtain a Visa before travelling to Australia. Certain nationalities can obtain an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) if they intend to stay in Australia for less than 3 months, for tourism or for business.
If you are transiting through Australia for less than 72 hours, on your way to another destination via the next available flight, you will require a transit visa. Transit visas are free of charge. Please see Transit visas for Australia. If you choose to have a short break in Australia for tourism purposes, you should apply for a Visitor Visa, not a transit visa. Please note that airlines may refuse to allow travellers to board their aircraft without valid visas/ETAs and passports.
If you intend to stay for more than 3 months or are not eligible for an ETA, a Visa application form must be lodged with the Australian Consulate-General in Auckland, together with the required fee. See Payment of fees
Most New Zealand citizens who wish to travel to Australia can do so without first obtaining a Visa. However, New Zealanders who are likely to face restricted entry are citizens with criminal records (see earlier question) or with untreated tuberculosis or who have been deported, excluded or removed from any country.
What is an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)?
An ETA enables genuine short-term tourists or business visitors to Australia of nominated nationalities to obtain authority to travel to Australia at the same time as they book their travel arrangements without the need to apply for a Visa.
The ETA is issued electronically through computer links between DIAC and travel agents, airlines and specialist service providers around the world. The conditions are that you will not work in Australia and you will not stay in Australia for more than 3 months. A visitor ETA is valid for multiple travel to Australia for 12 months from the date of issue. A business ETA on the other hand can be issued for the life of your passport for a fee. This ETA allows multiple travel to Australia while your passport remains valid, for a stay of up to 3 months on each occasion. For a list of ETA-eligible nationalities, and an online application facility visit the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
Important – changes to ETAs from April 2008
From 21 April 2008, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship is implementing changes to the ETA system. In a small number of cases, we cannot immediately issue your ETA. Please check back in 12 hours to confirm whether your application has been successful. Please apply for your ETA as early as possible to allow sufficient time for your application to be processed.
See: Australian Electronic Travel Authority
How do I obtain a Visitor Visa?
In New Zealand all Immigration and Visa enquiries are handled at the Australian Consulate-General in Auckland - see contact details. Visitor Visas are granted to people who genuinely intend only to visit Australia, and will not seek to work or remain in Australia while there. Visas may enable multiple or single travel. The two main types of Visitor Visas are:
- Short Stay Visitor – This visa allow a stay of three, six, or twelve months for tourism, visiting friends and relatives and other short term non working activities.
- Temporary Business Entrant (subclass 456) - this is for people visiting Australia for 3 months or less for business purposes.
You can obtain an application form (form 48R for tourism or form 456 for business visitors) from the DIAC website, or send a business-sized self addressed and stamped envelope to the Visa Section at the Consulate - General in Auckland with a note stating which particular form you require.
The application charge for a Visitor Visa will not be refunded if your application is refused. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Personal and Bank Cheque. EFTPOS and Cash are also accepted at our counters only.
Please note postal money orders are not acceptable.
Processing can take between 24 hours to 10 working days.
I need to have a medical examination and a chest x-ray in connection with my visa application. How do I arrange this?
Medical examinations required for Australian visas may only be carried out by appointed Panel Doctors and Radiologists. They are located in the major residential areas throughout New Zealand and a list of them is available by clicking here.
Different applications require different medical and xray forms. Please visit www.immi.gov.au to download the medical and xray forms if you have lodged an application online. If you require form 160 and 26 please contact the Australian Consulate-General in Auckland.
If I am not an Australian or New Zealand citizen can I work in Australia?
If you are not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and wish to work in Australia you must obtain the appropriate visa, either for a working holiday, temporary residence or migration.
Please visit www.immi.gov.au for more information.
If I am not an Australian or New Zealand citizen can I have a Working Holiday in Australia?
The Working Holiday Maker visa is targeted for persons between the ages of 18 to 30. As of 1st of July 2006 Australia has Working Holiday Maker agreements with the following countries:
United Kingdom Japan Malta Taiwan Hong Kong (SAR)
Canada Republic of Ireland Germany Norway Denmark
Cyprus Netherlands Sweden Belgium Estonia
Italy Finland France United Kingdom (BNO)
Republic of Korea
Citizens of the following countries are unable to lodge their application outside their home country:
Cyprus Hong Kong Japan United Kingdom (BNO) Republic of Korea Malta Taiwan Hong Kong (SAR)
ALL WORKING HOLIDAY MAKER APPLICATION CAN BE LODGED ONLINE AT www.immi.gov.au
If eligible you may also lodge your application with the Australian Consulate-General in Auckland using form 1150. A non refundable processing fee is required and applicants are expected to have funds of approximately A$5000 in the form of a current bank statement, traveller's cheques or a letter from the bank confirming available funds. Please note that cash and/or credit cards are not acceptable evidence of funds. In some circumstances, evidence of support from family may be accepted.
The Working Holiday Visa allows a stay of one year from the date of first arrival but holders of this Visa are only able to work for any one employer for up to 6 months.
Do I need a Student Visa to study in Australia?
If you are a New Zealand citizen you do not need to apply for a Student Visa to study in Australia.
All other nationalities require a Student Visa to engage in formal full-time studies of 3 months or more. Note that you can undertake short term language or recreational courses of less than 3 months duration on a Visitor Visa.
You can be granted a Student Visa only if you wish to undertake a registered education or training course. Official confirmation of enrolment must be issued by an education provider registered with the Australian Government to offer courses to overseas students.
New Arrangements for Citizens of the People's Republic of China in New Zealand
Citizens of the People's Republic of China who are in New Zealand must lodge their student visa applications with the Offshore Processing Centre in Adelaide, South Australia.
The Australian Consulate-General in Auckland will no longer be accepting student visa applications from PRC citizens.
This arrangement does not include Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macau Special Administrative Region passport holders.
For more information on these new arrangements, go to the Student Section of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.