Your ETA Visa explained

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1 Your ETA Visa explained It s easy. It s fast. The ETA guide includes: Details of the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Information about your ETA Commonly asked ETA questions and answers Australia-related travel information and tips Information on Australian Customs and Quarantine Regulations Guide to completing your Passenger Card How to access the Visa Systems Travel Package Programme

2 Need-to-know information INTRODUCTION Thank you for using Visa Systems to obtain your ETA visa for Australia. This guide will provide you with details of your ETA visa, answers to some commonly asked questions about ETA visas and provides tips, facts and useful information about Australia. Please read this guide in its entirety; it will help you understand your ETA visa and may answer any questions you have regarding your travel visa and your visa status while in Australia. Please feel free to print a copy of this document for future reference. ABOUT THE ETA VISA Australia's Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is the most advanced and streamlined visa system in the world. Since the system was launched in 1996 over 21 million travellers have been granted ETA visas to visit Australia and enjoy the country s beaches, culture and outdoor lifestyle. Australia s ETA visas account for nearly 85% per cent of all tourist and short-term business visas granted worldwide. Soon you will be one of the more than 5 million visitors who arrive in Australia each year and every year that figure continues to grow. Over the next ten years an estimated 8 million visitors are expected to arrive on an ETA visa annually. For travellers to Australia, ETA visas mean processing times at the country s airports and ports have been greatly reduced and there are far fewer delays due to lengthy queues at immigration desks. Clearing immigration in Australia can now take as little as 20 seconds. Airlines and cruiseliners have benefited from the ability to check passengers' authority to enter Australia before they are issued with a boarding cards thus avoiding delays for airlines and passengers alike. You will never actually get to see your ETA visa - all your information is stored electronically and the visa is matched against your passport number. This innovation means no more labels, no more stamps and above all, no more forms to fill in! The team at Visa Systems wishes you a pleasant journey. We are sure you will enjoy your time in Australia. ETA VISA FACTS Please note that: Your ETA visa is valid for one year from the date of issue; this means you can enter Australia for a period of 3 months at any time during a one year period from the visa s date of issue; You can enter and leave Australia as many times as you like within the life of the visa; You are not permitted to work; You should be in the country either as a Tourist, visiting relatives, attending a business meeting or a delegate at a convention or conference; and You cannot undertake studies for longer than three months whilst in Australia. COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. When do I get a stamp in my passport? Your ETA visa is electronically linked to your passport number, you will not require a stamp, nor will one be issued. 2. How soon or late can I use this visa? Your ETA visa allows you to make your initial entry into Australia no later than one year from the date of grant. An ETA visa is valid for one year only. 3. Once in Australia, how long can I visit for? You are allowed to stay in the country for a maximum of 3 months at a time. It is possible to leave the country and re-enter for a further 3 months within the life time of the visa (12 months). 4. Can I study in Australia on an ETA Visa? Yes you can, but on an ETA visa you are only allowed to study for no more than three months. Students must, before commencing study, pass a chest X-ray examination, carried out by a qualified radiologist. 5. Can I work in Australia on an ETA Visa? Strictly no; this visa is not intended for work purposes. If you take employment while in Australia on an ETA visa, you will be contravening the conditions of the visa. If you have been offered a job in Australia whilst visiting and decide you want to work, you may apply for permission to work by lodging an application for a Temporary Residence visa. A Temporary Residence visa allows Australian employers who are unable to fill highly skilled positions from the local labour market to sponsor overseas personnel for up to four years. You cannot start work until the Department has approved your application. Working without permission is a criminal offence that carries fines of up to $10,000 and could see your visa revoked and you could be forced to leave the country. 6. I need to attend a business convention in Australia and attend a few meetings, am I covered by my visa for this? As long as you do not intend to stay in the country longer than three months, you can take part in conventions and conferences as well as meetings whilst in Australia. 7. What about unpaid work experience as part of my course of study, can I do that on an ETA visa? An ETA visa holder will have an 8201 condition on their visa that means 'while in Australia the holder must not engage, for more than three months, in any studies or training'. However, the visa holder will also have the 8101 'no work' condition on their visa. Therefore, you cannot do work experience as part of a course. It is also understood that: You are in good health; and You have no criminal convictions.

3 Questions & answers continued Is it possible to extend my visa once in Australia? If you wish to extend your stay in Australia for a holiday or to visit relatives or friends you will need to apply for a further stay as a visitor. You can apply online, by post or in person at any Department of Immigration regional office. You will need to complete and sign form 601, Application for further stay as a visitor. Each passport holder must lodge a separate application form and a fee is payable for each single visa required. You can include in your application any children on your passport travelling with you. If another adult is included in your passport, they should complete a separate application form. You must apply for this visa before your current visa expires. The best time to apply is about two weeks before your current visa expires. You should note that the grant of a further stay Tourist visa will cease any ETA currently held and the entitlements attached to that ETA. To apply for and be granted a further stay as a tourist/visitor you: Must be in Australia; Hold a valid (i.e. non-expired) temporary visa, other than a Subclass 426 Domestic Worker (Temporary) - Diplomatic or Consular visa; Do not have an 8503 or 8534 or 'No further stay' condition on your current visa; Your intention to visit Australia is genuine; You do not intend to work or study; You have complied with, and will continue to comply with, the visa conditions of your initial visa ; You have adequate funds to meet all costs associated with your further stay in Australia and for travel out of Australia; and You are in good health and of good character. As applicants' circumstances vary significantly it is difficult to specify the exact of funds applicants must have to satisfy adequate funds. Factors that you should consider in estimating the amount of funds needed to cover all costs associated with your proposed visit are: Number of persons to support; Length of proposed stay; Type of the activities planned; Mode of travel; and Proposed accommodation (eg. staying with friends or relatives, in hostels or hotels, etc,). A total stay of more than 12 months will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances. You would need to explain why you think your circumstances are exceptional and you will be asked to provide documentation to support your claims. 9. Do I need travel/health insurance? Not all medical treatments are covered by Australia s Medicare system, and some public health systems may not cover you abroad. With this in mind, Visa Systems recommend that travellers to Australia seriously consider arranging travel insurance through a reputable supplier. 10. My visa will expire before my return flight is scheduled to depart Australia! Help! To prevent yourself from becoming unlawful, you will need to apply for another visa before your current one expires. It may be possible to acquire a Bridging Visa to prevent this. If you stay in Australia once your visa expires you will become an "unlawful non-citizen" and may be detained and later removed from Australia. If you become unlawful it could impact on your application for another visa. Anyone who overstays their visa by more than 28 days will become subject to an exclusion period that prevents them from being granted a temporary visa to travel to Australia for three years. The Department of Immigration operates a 24-hour national telephone service inquiry line on , for the cost of a local call anywhere in Australia. 11. I have been issued a new passport because my other passport was lost/stolen. I have not entered Australia yet, what happens to my ETA? Do I need to re-apply? Since your ETA visa is attached to your old passport number, you will need to re-apply for an ETA that ties to your new number. Electronic visas are not transferable between passports. 12. I already hold another visa on my passport for Australia, what will happen to it? If you already have a visa attached to your passport, like a Working Holiday Visa or immigration visa, your ETA may cancel or cease your existing visa. If you have been granted a Working Holiday Visa for Australia, you do not need and ETA visa to enter the country. If you have another visa pending (for example a visa under the General Skilled Migration program) you should be careful not to apply for an ETA around the same time as your application is processed through the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Your application for temporary ETA could affect the status of your permanent visa. If you are 70 years of age or older, you will be asked to undertake a health examination by the Health Services Australia to ensure you meet Australia's health requirements. You will be given details of how to go about this when you lodge your application. Also, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) require that you have sufficient medical insurance to cover an extended stay in Australia.

4 Australian Customs and Quarantine Regulations Australia s Customs and Quarantine regulations are strictly enforced. Upon entering Australia, you will have to declare any items that may violate Australia s Quarantine. ITEMS THAT WILL BE CONFISCATED Prohibited items Raw Food Meat Fish Vegetables Fruit Soil or sand Egg products Milk products Seeds Live animals Bird or insect eggs Live Plants Fungi Live roots, bulbs or stems Organic packing material Medical/Biological material Therapeutic medicine ITEMS THAT MUST BE DECLARED Inspection required Processed Food Dried Fruit Honey Coffee Nutritional supplements Nuts or popping corn Salmon or trout products Stuffed animals Animal bones, hides or skins Untreated wool Animal hair Fresh flowers Dried flowers Woven handicrafts Used animal equipment Herbal medicine D Will be treated or held Potpourri Straw and straw objects Pine cones and wreaths If a customs officer decides that your items must be treated or held, they will advise you about costs and procedures. Please note that the cost of treating an object will be charged to you. Prohibited items will be confiscated and destroyed. Detector Dogs The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) uses detector dogs to enforce quarantine. Baggage entering Australia may be subject to canine search. If you see a detector dog at work near you, usually whilst queuing for passport control, you may be asked to place your bags on the floor. Finance Please note that you must declare if you are entering Australia with more than $10,000 Australian dollars. This can include, cash, bonds, traveller s cheques or other negotiable instruments. Travellers are allowed to enter with as much money was they wish, and there will be no consequence to entering with more than $10,000.

5 Completing your Passenger Card Nearly all travellers to Australia must fill out a Passenger Card before entering and leaving Australia. This is so the Australian Government can monitor who enters and leaves Australian shores. A correctly filled-in card will provide the Government with information about a passenger's identity, accommodation arrangements in Australia, Australian visa status and health and character. What is a Passenger Card? As a traveller to Australia, you will be required to complete an Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) before you arrive in the country and an Outgoing Passenger Card (OPC) when you leave. All non-citizen travellers to Australia are required to answer questions regarding health and character. This means the Passenger Card will become a legal declaration about your health status, criminal convictions and migration status. Providing false information can affect your visa status and refusing to fill in a Passenger Card is an offence, which means you should carefully read the following information to ensure you fill in the card correctly. How to complete an Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) The IPC is a rectangular card, with two sides of questions that you need to fill in. You are required to answer with accuracy questions regarding the following: Side 1 of the Incoming Passenger Card Your family name, given name/s, and passport number; The flight number or name of your ship; Your intended address in Australia; AND If you plan to live in Australia for 12 months after entering Australia. Tip: Make sure you know the full address of where you plan to stay in Australia, even if you are staying at a hotel or backpackers. This includes the street address and Australian postcode. Side 2 of the Incoming Passenger Card The country where you boarded the flight or ship; The flight number or name of your ship; Your date of birth; Your usual occupation or job; Your nationality as shown on your passport; Your Australian migration status; Your current health status; AND Any criminal convictions you have had in the past. NOTE: As it is a legal declaration, you must sign and date your IPC in the fields provided. Remember, false information can affect your visa status. How to complete an Outgoing Passenger Card (OPC) An OPC requires travellers to fill in less information than the IPC. You will need to provide information regarding: Your family name and given name/s; Your nationality; Your passport number Your flight number or name of ship NOTE: You will also need to sign and date your OPC. Failure to fill in your OPC may result in a penalty. What to do if you speak a language other than English Passenger Cards must be completed in English; however, you can request versions in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese. If you speak a language other than the languages listed above, you can ask an Immigration Officer to help you fill in the card in English. Translating services are also available. Passenger Card requirements for children and mentally/physically impaired travellers If you are a parent or guardian of a child, or the carer of a person who is mentally or physically impaired, you can fill in the card on their behalf. If you require assistance yourself, an Immigration Officer will be on-hand to assist you.

6 Useful travel info DRIVING IN AUSTRALIA As an overseas visitor, you are allowed to drive in Australia for the duration of your ETA visa. However, you must carry your license with you at all times whilst driving. Australians drive on the left hand side of the road (the same as Britain, the opposite of the United States). If you are renting a car, you should check that you meet their minimum requirements prior to collecting your vehicle. Generally, you must be 25 years of age (although some states and regions have exceptions for those aged 18 and 21) with a valid driver's license written in English. VOLTAGE AND PLUGS The voltage in Australia is 220/240V. As such, you may require either or both a plug adaptor or a converter to operate any electrical equipment like hairdryers or travel irons while visiting Australia. Australian-style plug have two flat angled blades and one vertical grounding blade. TIME ZONES Sydney: GMT/UTC +10 (Eastern Standard Time) Adelaide: GMT/UTC +9.5 (Central Time) Perth: GMT/UTC +8 (Western Time) Daylight Saving Start last Sunday in October (first Sunday Tasmania) Daylight Saving End last Sunday in March EMERGENCY NUMBERS Dial '000' - national for all emergencies BUSINESS HOURS Banks - 9:30 am to 4pm Monday to Friday Shops and Businesses - 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday; 10am to 4pm Saturdays and Sundays (with some exceptions and variations) Supermarkets - 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Some are 24 hours. TIPPING The total at the bottom of your food bill when eating out is all you really need to pay. However, urban Australians do leave a few coins at coffee houses and cafes. More upscale restaurants and excellent service may warrant a tip of up to 15 % but this remains discretionary. Some restaurants do include a service charge, so check the bill to see exactly what you are paying for when dining out. HEALTHCARE Although Australia has an excellent healthcare system, health insurance is vital for all travellers. Health care costs can add up and repatriation is expensive. Be sure to check you are covered by your existing health care plan while travelling abroad or organise extra insurance. Make sure your health coverage all your activities including diving, water skiing, surfing, or anything else your insurer may consider 'risky'. Over the counter medications are available through private chemists in Australia. If you take any medication on a regular basis, make sure to take enough for the duration of your holiday and pack these medicines in your hand luggage. SKIN CARE Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Monitor your exposure to direct sunlight closely. UV exposure is greatest between 10am and 4pm so avoid being exposed to direct sunlight during these times. Always use factor or SPF 30+ sunscreen and apply the sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going into the sun. Make sure to reapply sunscreen if you have been in water, or engaged in physical activity to minimise skin damage. VISA SYSTEMS TRAVEL PACKAGE PROGRAMME As you purchased your visa through Visa Systems, you now have access to the full roster of travel discounts and offers, many of which are exclusive to Visa Systems clients. Our strong ties with some notable travel companies (both inside and outside of Australia) means that many of our promotions are ones you won t find anywhere else. With access to exclusive downloadable guidebooks, city guides, hundreds of dollars worth of discounts on Australian activities and much more, we re confident that you ll find something of interest in our travel package programme! To find out more and log-in to your secure client area, click here or visit /login.aspx.