Australia Tourist Visa - Do I need a Visa for Australia?

I often get questions about Australia tourist visa requirements, and whilst I am certainly not an immigration specialist, there are a few things I do know about Australia travel visa requirements.

Do I need a visa for Australia?

If you do not hold an Australian or a New Zealand passport, the answer is a resounding YES you do need a visa to enter Australia!

This answer surprises some visitors, especially those from the UK.

My theory on this is because it is so easy to travel within Europe and because Australia is still part of the Commonwealth, us poms expect we'll be allowed into Australia without a visa.

That is definitely not the case. If you are planning a holiday to Australia you will need an Australian tourist visa.

My nephew from England visited me recently, but nearly didn't make it!

He was caught out with his visa. He had assumed that he wouldn't need an Australian tourist visa.

He had been travelling around China, and when he checked for his flight from Beijing to Brisbane, they wouldn't check him right through to Australia because he didn't have a visa.

Luckily for him he was going through Singapore. In Beijing they checked him through to Singapore where they told him he could get an electronic visa. Had he known or realised in advance he could have easily just applied online for a electronic visa and had the visa within 24 hours.

Once in Singapore he had to dash off his plane, go to the visa desk, get an electronic visa and then get himself checked in to Australia. Had he been short on time, this could have been a very costly oversight on his part.

Australian Visa Offices Overseas - official list of Australian visa offices overseas.

Department of Immigration and Citizenship - the Australian government website with information about all things immigration including all the various Australian visa requirements.

Apply for Australian Visa online - website where you can apply for your Australian electronic visa online. You can apply electronic visitors visas and certain short term business visas.