formalites to go to australia

Australia Documents And Formalities

Requirements

Travelers need valid passports to enter Australia and to re-enter their home countries. Entrance to the country is not allowed if the holder’s passport expires within six months of entry; returning home with an expired passport is illegal and may result in a fine.

New Passports

Citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US can apply for a passport at any passport office or at selected post offices and courts of law. Citizens of these countries may also download passport applications from the website of their country’s government or passport office. In the US, new passport or renewal applications must be filed well in advance of the departure date, though most passport offices offer rush services for a very steep fee. Note, however, that “rushed” passports still take several weeks to arrive. In certain cases, making appointments and visiting passport offices in person can hasten the application process.

Passport Maintenance

Photocopy the page of your passport with your photo as well as your visas, traveler’s check serial numbers, and any other important documents. Carry one set of copies in a safe place, apart from the originals, and leave another set at home. Consulates also recommend you carry an expired passport or an official copy of your birth certificate in your luggage separate from other documents.
If you lose your passport, immediately notify the local police and your home country’s nearest embassy or consulate. To expedite its replacement, you must show ID and proof of citizenship; it also helps to know all information previously recorded in the passport. In some cases, a replacement may take weeks to process, and it may be valid only for a limited time. Any visas stamped in your old passport will be lost forever. In an emergency, ask for immediate temporary traveling papers that will permit you to re-enter your home country.

Visas, Invitations, And Work Permits

Visas

Do not purchase your plane ticket before you have acquired a visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Australia requires all visitors except Australian citizens and New Zealand passport holders to have a visa. If you are a citizen of one of 32 approved countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, and Ireland (see www.immi.gov.au/eta/countries.htm for the full list), you can obtain an ETA ($20) while purchasing your ticket at a travel agency, airport ticket counter, or online (www.eta.immi.gov.au). Quick and simple, the electronic ETA replaces a standard visa, allowing multiple visits within a one-year period provided that no single trip lasts longer than three months. An ETA is for tourist purposes; it doesn’t replace a work visa. Travelers are encouraged to plan well ahead rather than attempt to obtain a new or extended ETA when in Australia. To extend a visit beyond the normal three-month period or to obtain a work visa, contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (www.immi.gov.au) in Australia before the end of your three-month stay.
Standard visa cost varies; the Department of Immigration requests that travelers consult form 990i (www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i.htm) for a fee schedule. North Americans can also call the Australian embassy in the US (☎+1-888 -990-8888) with visa queries. Visa processing times average three weeks (when arranged by mail and in person), but can be highly variable.
Standard short-stay visas (under 3 months) and long-stay visas (between 3 and 6 months, extendable to a year) may be obtained from the nearest Australian high commission, embassy, or consulate. Visa extensions are not always possible. When they are, they come with a fee which varies depending on length of stay and type of visa. Contact the nearest Department of Immigration and Citizenship office before your stay period expires (go to www.immi.gov.au/contacts to find the relevant contact information). Otherwise, get in touch with an Australian consulate or embassy .
US citizens can take advantage of the Center for International Business and Travel (CIBT; (☎+1-800-929-2428; www.us.cibt.com), which secures visas for travel to most countries for a variable service charge.
Be sure to double-check on entrance requirements at the nearest Australian embassy or consulate for up-to-date information before your departure. US citizens can also consult www.travel.state.gov.

Work Permits

Admission as a visitor does not include the right to work, which is authorized only by a work permit. Work permits can be obtained from the Australian embassy. For more information, see Beyond Tourism .

Identification

When you travel, always carry at least two forms of identification on your person, such as a passport, driver’s license, or birth certificate. At least one of these should be a photo ID. Never carry all of your IDs together; split them up in case of theft or loss, and keep photocopies of them in your luggage and at home.

Student, Teacher, And Youth Identification

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the most widely accepted form of student ID, provides discounts on some sights, accommodations, food, and transportation; access to a 24hr. emergency help line; and insurance benefits for US cardholders (see Insurance). Applicants must be full-time secondary or post-secondary school students at least 12 years old. Because of the proliferation of fake ISICs, some services (particularly airlines) require additional proof of student identity.
The International Teacher Identity Card (ITIC) offers teachers the same insurance coverage as the ISIC and similar but limited discounts. To qualify for the card, teachers must be currently employed and have worked a minimum of 18hr. per week for at least one school year. For travelers who are under 26 years old but are not full-time students, the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC.
Each of these identity cards costs US$22. ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs are valid for one year from the date of issue. To learn more about ISICs, ITICs, and IYTCs, try www.myisic.com. Many student travel agencies issue the cards; for a list of issuing agencies or more information, see the International Student Travel Confederation (ISTC) website (www.istc.org).
The International Student Exchange Card (ISE Card) is a similar identification card that is available to students, faculty, and children aged 12-26. The card provides discounts, medical benefits, access to a 24hr. emergency help line, and the ability to purchase student airfares. An ISE Card costs US$25; call ☎+1-800-255-8000 (in North America) or ☎+1-480-951-1177 (from elsewhere) for more information or visit www.isecard.com.

Customs

Upon entering Australia, you must declare certain items from abroad and pay a duty on the value of those articles if they exceed the allowance established by Australia’s customs service. Goods and gifts purchased at duty-free shops abroad are not exempt from duty or sales tax; “duty-free” merely means that you need not pay a tax in the country of purchase. Upon returning home, you must likewise declare all articles acquired abroad and pay a duty on the value of articles above your home country’s allowance. In order to expedite your return, make a list of valuables brought from home and register them with customs before traveling abroad. Keep the receipts for goods acquired abroad.
Articles not automatically forbidden but subject to a possible quarantine inspection upon arrival may include camping equipment, live animals, food, animal and plant products, plants, and protected wildlife. Don’t risk large fines or hassles when entering Australia—throw questionable items in the customs bins as you leave the plane, or at least declare them. The beagles in red smocks—members of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Beagle Brigade—know their stuff and will sniff you out.
If you must bring your pets with you, contact AQIS (☎02 6272 3933; www.daff.gov.au/aqis) to obtain a permit. Visitors over 18 may bring into Australia up to 2.25L of alcohol and 250 cigarettes (or 250g of tobacco) duty-free. For other goods, the allowance is $900 (for visitors over 18) or $450 (under 18). Upon returning home, you must declare articles acquired abroad and pay a duty on the value of articles above the allowance established by your country’s customs service. Australia recently implemented a Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS) refunding the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on items bought in Australia (see Taxes, ). For more information on customs requirements, contact the Australian Customs Service (☎1300 363 263 or 02 6275 6666; www.customs.gov.au).