Visa to Australia on your own for Russians in 2021: how to get an Australian visa

Distant Australia, one of the members of the British Commonwealth, is attractive not only for its attractions. There are very comfortable conditions for permanent residence, good opportunities for a career and work, as well as high-quality education. It's over Russians need an Australia visa to visit the state, whatever the goal.

For those who decide to apply for a visa using a visa center, we recommend the Online Visa Center.

As an exotic tourist destination, this country is ideal for travelers who are tired of Europe, Asia, and Caribbean resorts and who are looking to see something new. As a country where you can start a more prosperous life, Australia is of interest to Russian emigrants. That’s why people go there to work, get married, and study.

For an Australian visa, a tourist needs to pay $130, and a long-term visa costs more than 6,000.

Who needs a visa

An Australian visa is needed for everyone who is planning to travel to this country. Tourists, applicants for permanent residence, fiancées, spouses of Australian citizens, students, contract employees and even our retired citizens - all these people apply for entry permits of the appropriate categories.

It should be said that emigrating to Australia is easier than to any other English-speaking developed country. You can move there even without a permanent job, without being a student or the spouse of a legal resident of Australia: it is enough to have a certain amount of money to support yourself and rent/purchase real estate.

Features of the visa regime

Applying for a visa to Australia is a rather complex process that requires the preparation of a large number of documents justifying the advisability of the trip. Obtaining visas to this country is comparable to issuing entry permits to the United States.

One of the options for obtaining documents is to buy a tour from a travel agency. In this case, the travel agency will issue the entry papers (you should take into account the payment for its services).

Is it always necessary

Russians wishing to visit Australia will need a visa in any case (regardless of the purpose of the visit and the duration of the trip).

For citizens of the CIS

The situation with the entry procedure for citizens of other CIS countries is similar to the visiting rules for Russians. Ukrainians, Belarusians, Kazakhstanis and residents of other countries need to obtain a visa. Having an entry permit is a prerequisite for any length of visit.

It is important to note that there are no Australian representative offices in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Therefore, to obtain a visa, you must contact the embassy located in Moscow.

Electronic registration

An alternative way to apply for a visa to Australia is online through the official website of the Australian Migration Service. Electronic appeal is available to any foreigner. To do this, you need to register on the resource, fill out a form, and attach scanned copies of documents.

The only thing you will have to do to visit the Australian representative office when applying for an electronic visa is to undergo biometrics, prepare a digital photo and submit fingerprints.

Upon successful review of the submitted papers, the applicant will receive confirmation of the visa issuance by email. This file should be printed and presented when going through passport control upon arrival, after which a visa insert will be pasted into the citizen’s international passport.

Types of visas to Australia

There are several types of Australian entry visas. All of them are drawn up strictly for the applicant’s tasks and are issued at the Russian representations of Australia - the Embassy in Moscow or in special departments of regional Consulates. Some types of documents are made through special visa centers. Information on visa application center branches can be found on the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) website.

Australian visa photo

Tourist and Visitor Visa to Australia

The name of the visa type speaks for itself. This is a combined short-stay visa for multiple purposes of visit, not just for travellers. A tourist visa to Australia is issued not only for tourists; it is also needed for those citizens who plan to visit their friends, relatives and acquaintances. It is also suitable for short-term training for a period of up to three months. According to it, a foreigner has no right to engage in business.

Business/business visa to Australia

Another type of visitor visa is the business/business visa. It is necessary for foreigners for all types of business visits to Australia, but according to the laws, this document also does not give the right to work/carry out activities for remuneration. Business trips, visits to the country for negotiations/at the invitation of partners, for doing business, attending seminars, fairs, exhibitions, conferences are considered as a business visit. To obtain it, it is necessary to demonstrate that the applicant is involved in the business.

Work visa to Australia

To be able to work for hire, you must obtain a work visa to Australia at the Embassy in Moscow, or at Consulates in the regions. There are quite a few subtypes of this visa, depending on the work itself, the qualifications of the specialist, the duration of the labor contact and many other factors. A work visa to Australia for Russians is issued to the following categories of specialists:

Employees hired by an Australian employer;
Entrepreneurs planning to open a business and hire employees;
Young specialists who were selected through a competition;
Foreigners who plan to look for work on their own while already in Australia.

A work visa to Australia provides the opportunity for legal employment in the country.

Student visa to Australia

Permission to enter for the purpose of obtaining education in Australia will be required for all students who not only want to receive an excellent Australian education in educational institutions, but also live in the country for a more or less long period of time while studying. With a student visa, you can come to Australia, for example, for long-term English language courses and live there for a year while it is valid.

Fiance visa to Australia

Another name for the Australia fiancé visa is the partner visa, as it is not only available to women. This also includes a spouse visa for those who are already married. Issued to all foreign citizens - spouses of Australians or citizens of other countries legally living in Australia. The fiancé visa to Australia is a temporary document; after marriage, a permanent subclass 100 visa is issued for the spouse. The expected time of the wedding must be within a period of 9 months, after which the visa becomes invalid.

On the basis of an entry visa for the fiancee/groom, spouses and partners are later granted Australian citizenship for permanent residence in the state. Other holders of long-term Australian entry permits can also apply for citizenship; students also have a chance to stay on the basis of student visas.

Transit visa to Australia

To be able to transit through Australian territory, you will definitely need an appropriate transit visa. This situation may, for example, arise when traveling to New Zealand, since there are no direct flights from Russia in this direction.

A transit visa is needed even if the Russian does not plan to leave the airport . It is valid for only 72 hours, after expiration you must leave Australia.

Other types of visas

There is a separate Australian Medical Treatment Visa and an Australian Resident Return Visa, which are more specific subtypes of the entry visa. Issued if there is a need for treatment in Australia or return to its territory for residents.

Entry ban to Australia from March 20, 2020 due to coronavirus

Australia has introduced a ban on entry into the country for Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and all other foreigners due to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, reports the website tass.ru

Previously, a 14-day quarantine was introduced for all foreigners; now only citizens of the country and persons with the right to permanent residence in Australia are allowed to enter.

Australia has completely closed its borders to tourists.

Australia visa example

The main condition is that the person who is involved in the registration has all the legal and legal grounds for staying in this country.

Often the invitation is made for visits of relatives. Since it is quite difficult for Russians to obtain a visa to Australia, an invitation serves as the basis for issuing an entry permit. But not only for a guest visa, Russians will need an invitation letter. If an Australian company invites a foreigner to work, then he will also need to present the invitation at the consular department.

Visa Notification

The letter is prepared by an enterprise or organization for a business or work visa. Foreigners who wish to study and obtain a student visa do not need an invitation letter. But instead they will need a document confirming that the foreigner is studying at an Australian educational institution.

Required documents for a visa to Australia

To obtain an Australian visa, you will need to collect and submit a package of necessary documents, which is regulated by immigration rules. Its set varies depending on the type of visa required.

General list of documents for a tourist visa to Australia required by visa legislation:

Correctly completed application form for a visa to Australia, form 1419. The application form must be filled out in Latin letters, all 21 pages contain a translation into Russian and explanations, the application form is available on the website of the Embassy (Consulate);
A copy of the main page of the international passport addressed to the applicant with a photo and personal passport data;
Receipt or check confirming payment of the consular fee;
One photo – 35 by 45 mm, requirements – the same as for Schengen. The photo must be taken recently, preferably no earlier than 6 months;
Written authorization to provide third parties with information about the applicant on Form 956 or Form 956A;
Photocopies of old visas that were obtained on previous international trips;
Financial guarantees demonstrating an adequate source of income/good financial status:
Bank statements/deposit statements showing availability of funds;
Property documents.
For students/students of schools - an educational certificate from the relevant institution stating that the applicant is a student/student and is allowed to be absent from studies while in Australia;
If the applicant is over 75 years old, then it is necessary to provide medical insurance; this insurance must be issued for the entire period of stay.

No hotel reservation required.

Additional documents for a visitor visa to Australia

A copy of the inviting party’s identity document with first name, last name, photo and other passport information;
The invitation itself, signed by the inviter, indicating the fact whether the expenses for the invitee will be borne by himself;
Papers confirming the sufficient solvency of the inviting party if it provides financial support for the trip: bank statements, salary receipts and other guarantees.

Additional documents for a business visa to Australia

Documents confirming the purpose of the trip: an invitation from the organization, where you must indicate a description of the route, reasons for arrival, proposed activities;
A letter containing confirmation of the financial support of the invitee;
Confirmation of position, qualifications, membership in professional associations.

Additional documents for a transit visa to Australia

Questionnaire on form 876;
Completed written permission forms 956 and 956A to grant the right to process personal information, as for a tourist visa;
Air/sea tickets;
Sea transport tickets provided must contain arrival and departure dates and must confirm that the transit will not last more than 72 hours.
Visa to the destination country.

Additional documents for a work visa to Australia

A questionnaire in the appropriate form, this may be Form 1400 for a short-term contract or another for a long-term contract;
The special Visa Finder tool, available on the website of the Australian Embassy, will help you determine the required type of work visa.
A police certificate confirming the fact of no criminal record;
All necessary diplomas;
Health certificates in the prescribed form.

Additional documents for a student visa to Australia

Application on Form 157A;
CoE confirmation of enrollment;
OSHC student insurance for the entire duration of your studies in Australia;
A letter of motivation, in which you should indicate the reasons for your desire to study in this particular course;
Certificates of English proficiency, the level must correspond to the norm prescribed in visa legislation.

The remaining papers are identical to the list from the section on tourist visas.

Additional documents for a fiancé visa to Australia

Completed Application Form 956 if an independent agent/spouse/partner is assisting you in obtaining travel authorization;
Immigration Application 47 SP;
Form 40SP application completed and signed by partner/spouse;
Receipt confirming payment of the consular fee;
Copies of the applicant’s international and Russian passports, pages with biometric data, copies of the partner’s international passport or Australian passport, also with biometric data;
Copies of birth certificates of all people included in the application;
Three passport size photographs taken recently;
Copies of all certificates of previous marriages/divorces of both partners, if any, copies of certificates must contain a certified translation;
A copy of the document confirming the presence/absence of a criminal record, which must also contain a certified translation;
Completed Form 80;
Notice to NOIM of intent to enter into a marriage;
Evidence of the reality and truth of the relationship with the partner;
Relevant documents for children who emigrate/do not emigrate with the applicant.

A more detailed list of documents, as well as current requirements for it, can be found on the website of the Australian Department of Immigration.

By purpose

Various types of visas are available depending on the purpose of the upcoming visit.

Tourist

With a tourist visa, a foreigner can visit the country for the purpose of relaxation and sightseeing.

Citizens organize the trip independently or using a voucher purchased from a travel agency.

Tourist visa to Australia

The entry permit is valid for three months, six months or a year, with a processing time of about a month. The consular fee is 140 Australian dollars.

Business

This visa is issued by businessmen for meetings with business partners. The entry permit has a three-month validity period for multiple border crossings. Costs 140 AUD. Registration will take from 9 to 17 days.

The set of documents includes an invitation from an Australian company.

Working

A work visa depending on the applicant’s category is issued by:

professionals in various fields of activity who have received worldwide recognition;
investors and businessmen who have opened a business in Australia;
highly qualified employees;
representatives of in-demand professions.

There are more than 20 subclasses of work entry permits, valid from three months to five years. The price also varies - from 285 to several thousand Australian dollars. The processing time is from a month or more, taking into account the duration of verification of submitted documents.

Among other papers, the foreigner submits a contract concluded with a local company.

Temporary worker

Holders of fixed-term contracts with an Australian employer can obtain a subclass 457 visa. The validity of this visa document depends on the duration of the contract. The visa allows you to stay in the country from 4 months to three years. The duration of registration is about a month. Price – from 175 local dollars.

Foreigners are required to provide an invitation from the employer, a certificate of passing a medical examination, and the absence of problems with the law at the place of primary residence.

Student

Subclass 500 visas are issued to students or schoolchildren studying at local educational institutions (schools, colleges, universities). Valid for up to 5 years (for schoolchildren - up to two). Students are allowed to work part-time for a maximum of 20 hours per week.

The fee for such a visa is 575 AUD.

A subclass 407 visa requires an internship, training or course in Australia. The duration of validity is determined by the course of study (maximum period - up to two years). Price – 285 AUD.

Subclass 590 visas are issued to foreigners over 21 years of age accompanying minor students. Cost: AUD 575. The validity period depends on the duration of training.

A sponsorship or retirement visa is obtained by foreigners who have confirmed the financial support for the trip through sufficient personal income or when friends from Australia pay for the visit. It is possible for the deposit to be paid by Australian guarantors if the amount is determined individually. The sponsor must prove its own solvency.

The period of stay in the country on a sponsorship visa is up to one year. Holders of this visa cannot work while traveling. The consular fee is 140 Australian dollars. The duration of registration is from one and a half to two months.

Medical

A medical visa is issued to foreigners who need examination or treatment in local clinics. The foreign citizen provides an invitation from an Australian medical institution. The visa validity period is from three months to a year. The price is 140 Australian dollars and the processing time is about a month.

Transit

A transit visa is available free of charge to third-country travelers who enter Australia for a layover. This entry permit is relevant when Russian tourists travel to New Zealand, given the lack of direct flights.

With this visa you can stay in the country for up to 72 hours.

Bride/Groom

A fiancé (bride) visa is issued by a foreigner traveling to marry an Australian citizen. A subclass 300 permit is valid for up to 9 months. During the stay of the foreign visitor, the couple must formalize the relationship. The fee is 7,160 AUD.

After marriage, newlyweds apply for a temporary partnership permit 820, then a permanent partner permit under subclass 801. These visas cost AUD 1,195.

To confirm the fact of close acquaintance, future spouses, when applying for a visa permit for the bride or groom, must provide documentary evidence of the fact of the relevant relationship. If employees of the Australian representative office have doubts about the authenticity of the documents presented, an interview may be required.

Guestbook

With this entry permit you can visit Australian relatives and friends and take short-term courses. The set of papers includes an invitation from the Australian side.

A visitor visa is valid from three months to a year and costs 140 local dollars. Registration will take about a month.

Resident returns

Foreigners who have previously received permanent residence in Australia and are returning to the country can apply for a resident return visa. This document is an immigration document and gives the right to subsequent citizenship.

The validity of a resident visa is up to five years with a consular fee of 360 Australian dollars.

Long-term multiple visa

Foreign visitors who have close relatives living in Australia are entitled to apply for a long-term visa, valid for up to 5 years, with multiple entries into the country. The presence of family ties must be documented.

This multiple visa gives the right to obtain the status of a permanent resident of Australia with the subsequent issuance of citizenship.

Document requirements for a visa to Australia

When applying for a short-term Australian visa: tourist, transit, medical, visitor, etc., the following rules apply:

Bank certificates, work certificates confirming the availability of funds, copies of visas, passports do not need to be certified by a notary;
Documents can be submitted in Russian or English.

To obtain a long-term visa, the requirements are stricter:

Absolutely all copies of provided personal documents must be certified by a notary;
Work/study/bank certificates may be submitted without certification.

Moreover, there is a so-called “assessment factor” when submitting a package of papers for each visa category. It consists of a preliminary assessment of the completeness of the package and, based on the results, Consulate employees may require additional documents . Also, the applicant must show the so-called higher level of proof - a high probability of returning back to Russia. This level of proof is also assessed based on a package of documents.

In some cases, they may be referred for a medical examination. For all types of long-term visas, it is mandatory for the applicant, but applicants for short-term visas need to undergo it only in exceptional situations. Embassy employees in Moscow and the regions inform applicants of the need to undergo this examination.

Samples of all application forms are available on the Embassy’s website; a sample for a tourist visa even comes with a translation into Russian. Please, before you start filling out, read all the requirements of Australian immigration legislation, do not commit violations, comply with all conditions, otherwise there is a risk of not receiving an entry document.

Visa to Australia for a child

In order to be able to take a minor child under 18 years of age on a trip or go on vacation with the whole family, you will need to provide a separate package of documents for the child, including:

A copy of the birth certificate, notarized in advance;
Permission or a notarized power of attorney for the child’s right to travel if he is traveling alone, with one parent or with third parties. This permission/power of attorney must be accompanied by a copy of the remaining parent/both parents' identification document.

Immigration of children of any age to Australia with their family and their receipt of long-term visas is a wide-ranging, serious issue that is discussed in detail on the website of the Australian Embassy.

Applying for a visitor visa

It is important to understand that the most important thing for such a visa is the fact of the presence of an invitation. In addition to following a certain application template as well as correct translation, it must be certified by a special agency. There are two types of invitations:

Expenses for housing, insurance, and travel are paid by the host party.
The trip and expenses are paid by the guest.

In option 1, it is much easier to obtain a guest visa. You do not need to prove to the embassy that you really have the funds to travel. There will also be no need to check your financial situation.

It will be enough that you have income and living space. Provided that you fall into another category, the visa will be issued in a standard manner, with painstaking verification of documents.

If you prepare for the conversation in advance, everything goes smoothly. Key questions, in addition to your financial status, will focus on your attitude towards your homeland. You will need to assure the employees of one or another embassy that you are not thinking of staying abroad.

In addition to the interview and invitation, do not forget about the standard package of documents, including documents confirming material resources and identity.

Required list of documents for a guest visa

statement (tourism) . Each applicant, including dependent children, must apply using their own Form 1419. You must answer all questions on all sections. or statement (visiting relatives and friends) or statement (visiting business, for business purposes)
1 color photograph on a white background , size 35mm X 45mm
a copy of the personal data page of a valid foreign passport
marriage certificate, divorce certificate (must be certified by a notary and translated by an accredited translator)
copies of visas from your previous international trips
copy of bank statements . Cash and credit cards are not financial proof
confirmation of the source of your income: certificate from your place of work. A certificate from the employer indicating the period of employment, position and salary, as well as the duration of paid leave. And (or) documents confirming the registration of your organization, its current activities and profits, if you have your own business
for pupils and students: a letter from the school or university confirming your student status and approved period of absence
documents confirming ownership
confirmation of payment of the visa fee: 1) if you are outside Australia at the time of applying for a visa - 135 AUD (AUD - Australian dollars). 2) if you are in Australia at the time of applying for a visa - 340 AUD (AUD - Australian dollars)

If you are visiting a relative or friend in Australia, additionally:

copy of identification document: photocopy of the inviting person’s passport/driver’s license
a signed statement from the inviter specifying the degree of financial support and confirmation of the inviter’s income (salary receipts, bank account statements), if the inviter is paying for your trip and stay in Australia

For applicants under 18 years of age additionally:

notarized copy of the child's birth certificate
notarized written permission to travel to Australia from a parent not traveling with the child
personal data page of the passport or a copy of another identification document of this parent
or official document: court decision on deprivation of parental rights of the remaining parent/s

If you are over 75 years old:

you must provide medical insurance for the entire period of your planned stay in Australia

Notes

Copies of documents related to the departure of minor children (birth certificates, consent to leave, marriage/divorce/death certificates of parents) must be certified by a notary.
Copies of other documents, for example, certificates from place of work/study, bank statements, copies of visas, may not be certified.
Documents not in English must be provided with a translation into English (it is not necessary to have the translation certified by a notary).

Applying for a visa to Australia yourself

Any visa to Australia can be applied for independently in 2021 in two ways: submitting an application online on the Embassy website and submitting documents in the usual manner. All types of short-term visas can be applied for online.

Online application submission

The method of submitting documents remotely is the most convenient, since there is no obligation to visit the Embassy. You can find out how to obtain a visa to Australia in this way by reading the algorithm below:

Determine the type of visa;
Check if remote paper feeding is possible;
Create an account/register on the e-lodgement portal using ImmiAccount. These resources can be accessed from the Embassy website;
Through the account received after registration, fill out the form and upload all your documents along with a photo;
Pay the consular fee using a card and receive a receipt;
When everything is submitted, all that remains is to track the status of your application through ImmiAccount and wait for a response.

Submission through the Embassy

It is also possible to obtain a visa to Australia by submitting documents in the usual way. The algorithm is as follows:

Determine the type of visa;
Download the electronic application form, fill it out, sign;
Pay the cost of the consular visa fee;
Collect a package of documents and send to the address of the representative office/personally bring to the Embassy in Moscow (or Consulates in other cities).

To obtain a visa to Australia yourself, you do not have to come in person; you can entrust the shipment to an agent or do it via mail. Applications sent by email will not be accepted.

It should be noted separately that original passports are not needed . The embassy does not require these originals; copies are enough for them to make a decision.

Paying Australia Visa Fee

After I uploaded all the scans and clicked the “Next” button, I was taken to the visa fee payment page: 140 Australian dollars.

You can pay the fee by credit card or Paypal. Depending on the card or type of payment, a commission is charged:

As I wrote in my previous article about obtaining an Australian visa :

To check in for a flight to Australia at the airport, you need to show a printout that is sent to your email after your visa is approved.
in Australia itself you don’t need to show anything - the visa is electronic, and the border guard sees your case on the computer without any paperwork.

Vinsky Forum, section Australian visa: discussion, comments, solutions

Price

Previously, Australian visa prices were lower, but more recently a decision was made to increase consular fees. The official and current cost is shown in the table.

Visa type	Amount of consular fee
Tourist/guest/by business invitation	115-135 Australian dollars (AUD)
Transit	For free
Student	550 Australian dollars (AUD)
Working	From 175 Australian dollars (AUD)
Bride's visa	From 6865 Australian dollars (AUD)

Please note that payment of the consular fee is only possible electronically via a credit/debit card; cash in rubles or other currencies is not accepted. Credit card payments will be charged in Australian dollars at the current ruble exchange rate. By the way, previously payment was accepted in cash.

Registration deadlines

According to official information from the Embassy, applications for three-month Australian visas are processed within a minimum of 4 weeks, but in practice the process can be completed faster - the period is at least 5 or 10 days. It will take two weeks for your transit visa application to be processed.

To obtain a long-term entry document, you must be patient, since the review process takes a period of time from 10 to 14 months, especially in high seasons, when many applications are submitted. They take a very long time to process your application and issue a fiancé visa. Therefore, Australian Consulates ask you to take into account all the circumstances and submit a package of documents, focusing on these time frames.

Australia visa refusal

Like any member of the British Commonwealth, Australia has a complex and lengthy visa system and a high percentage of negative decisions, which is not easy to get through. Despite the fact that there is no need to include hotel reservations or reservations for other types of housing with the package of papers, as well as the seemingly not very long list of required papers, you should not let your guard down.

The most important circumstance that visa officers look at is, of course, not bookings or route descriptions, but whether the applicant’s ties with his homeland are strong enough and whether he intends to return. When submitting papers, you should pay the closest attention to this point: try to attach documents on property, certificates of good income and work . That is, to show that there is a place to return to.

Although it is easier to obtain a visa to Australia than, for example, to the UK, cases of refusal to issue are still not uncommon. This should be taken into account when planning your trip and applying for an Australian entry permit. It is necessary to provide the most complete and convincing package of documents, evidence of your reliable status, strong ties with Russia, and no intention to emigrate from your homeland or stay in Australia illegally.

And the most important point - please, if you are going to apply for a visa, provide only truthful information. If the submission or indication of false information is detected, such an applicant will never be allowed to enter Australia. Violations of immigration laws are also best avoided, since under strict rules there is a risk of being deported.