Australian transit visas explained

MANY agents are
confused about
whether clients
travelling via Australia need
transit visas. A recent post
on Travelinfo’s Open Jaw
platform read: “I am a bit
unsure this morning. I have a
group flying to New Zealand
with a seven-hour connection
in Sydney. Do they need
transit visas for Australia?”
The Australian Government
Department of Home Affairs
confirms that South African
travellers fall into the
category of travellers who
are eligible to transit through
Australia without applying for
a visa. However, there are
criteria they must meet.
Passengers must enter
Australia by air; hold a
confirmed onward booking
to leave Australia to travel
to a third country on the
same or another flight within
eight hours of arrival in
Australia; hold the necessary
documentation to enter
the country of destination
and not need to leave
the airport transit lounge
except to continue their
journey. This means that if
a passenger is required to
pass through immigration
clearance and check in to
their onward flight, including
managing their luggage, they
will require a visa to enter
Australia.
Furthermore, overnight
stays are not permitted at
Sydney (SYD) and Cairns
(CNS) airports. Passengers
transiting overnight will
need an appropriate visa
for Australia to leave the
airport to access their
overnight accommodation.
Transit facilities at Adelaide
(ADL) airport are only
available for passengers
arriving and departing on the
same aircraft. However, the
transit lounge can be made
available for other transit
passengers if the airline
provides advance notice.