SOUTH African passport
holders can now apply online
for Australian Visitor Visas.
Visitor Visas apply to
holidays, family visits and
business visits that do not
involve work in Australia. They
are generally valid for three
months, although this can be
extended on request.
Applicants can access the
online portal, www.immi.gov.au
under ‘Online Services’. The
service will be available 24
hours a day, seven days a
week. Applicants will also be
able to check the status of
their application through the
new service.
Once an application is
approved it is sent to the
provided email or postal
address. This verification
can then be kept for travel to
Australia. There is no longer
a need to send passports to
the visa processing office.
In cases where a visa has
been granted, a visa label
is not required in the visa
holder’s passport as the
visa information is held
electronically.
The Australian High
Commission warns though,
that where collection of
biometrics is required as part
of the visa application process,
the applicant will still be
required to attend a biometrics
collection centre even if they
choose to lodge an online
application.
Applicants without the ability
to lodge a visa application
online are still able to
lodge a paper application
via Teleperformance or VFS
Global.
