Australia is a popular destination - especially for family holidays. While the country has most national parks around the globe, Australia is home to numerous blossoming cities, such as Melbourne and Sydney, and not to forget about the enormous outback.
If you are planning on visiting Australia with your family, you must learn about their visa policies. In this article, we have mentioned all about Australia visa group application and things to consider while applying for a visa as a group!
Types Of Australian Visas
First of all, Australia has different visa policies for different nationality holders. Except for New Zealand, all foreigners are required to have a valid travel document to enter the country.
Here are some of the popular Australian visa options for foreign nationals:
Australian eVisitor Visa
Recently, Australia has started providing eVisitor visas. This visa is available for most countries out there. A holder of an eVisitor visa can stay in the country for 90 days for tourism and business purposes.
Australian e-visitor visa is also known as the electronic visa. This option is ideal for those who want to stay in the country for a shorter period of time. You can apply for an eVisitor visa from the comfort of your home. If your entire family is traveling to Australia, each and every family member is required to fill out the online application form!
Electronic Travel Authorization
Australia has the same travel system as the United States of America. While the USA offers ESTA (electronic system of travel authorization), the Australian government issues ETA (electronic travel authorization). An ETA is a part of the visa waiver program, allowing foreigners to enter Australia without a valid visa.
Currently, Australia offers ETA to 8 countries, including the US. Applicants can get an ETA using the Australian ETA application that is available on both Android and iOS.
Australian Traditional Visas
If, for some reason, you are not eligible for an eVisitor visa or an ETA, you'll need to apply for a traditional stamp or paper visa, including Australian tourist visa or business visa. To do so, you must visit the Australian embassy in your country.
Alternatively, you can also partner up with VisaHQ. We'll submit your application and schedule a visa interview for you at the embassy!
Depending on your purpose of visit, you'll need several additional documents to apply for a traditional visa, such as a business invitation letter, personal invitation letter, bank statement, and much more.
Australian Visa Group Application
If you want to visit Australia as a group, you can submit the group application. During this approach, there's a possibility that some applicants are approved within 48 hours, while others might take a while longer to be approved.
If you are applying for a visa as a group, it might significantly speed up the visa process. You don’t have to fill out the travel and contact information again and again. Moreover, the payment will be done in one go, saving you a lot of time!
Important Note:
Before you apply for a group application, there are some things you must keep in mind. First of all, the visa application charges won’t be reduced. Moreover, a group application only simplifies the process. All of the applicants are required to apply for a visa without any exemptions.
Once all the applications are submitted, the Home Affairs (Australian immigration services) will check each and every application individually. If there are some errors and mistakes in an applicant's application, only his/her visa will be delayed. All of the other family members will get their visas within average processing time.
Australia Visa Requirements
As Australia offers different types of visas for different purposes, each option has its own requirements. If you are applying for an eVisitor or ETA, 3 of the basic documents that you need are:
Passport - an applicant must have his/her original passport to apply for an Australian visa. For an electrical visa, make sure your passport has at least 3 months of validity remaining and enough blank pages.
An e-mail address - your email address will be electronically linked to your passport. On approval, you'll get your visa via email.
Mode of payment - to get your visa, you are required to pay the embassy fee and service charges. To do so, you must have a credit or debit card!
Besides these, you'll need additional documents depending on your purpose of stay and country. So, make sure to check the visa requirements for your country prior to applying for a
"Keep in mind that a visa does not guarantee your entry; the immigration officials have the final say! Also, due to covid-19 pandemic, you must have a health declaration form and covid-19 vaccination certificate to avoid self-isolation."