Visas and citizenship

Visas and citizenship applications are managed by the Department of Home Affairs.

For information on entering and leaving Australia, please visit entering and leaving Australia.

Please note that Australian citizens are expected to travel to Australia using an Australian passport.

If you require additional information, you may telephone the Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm your local time.

International calls may be subject to charges imposed by your local carrier. You may wish to consider using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider to avoid potentially high charges.

Visa information

All non-citizens need to obtain a visa prior to travelling to Australia.

This includes a visa to visit Australia, to transit Australia, and you are a crew member working on ships travelling to Australia.

Use ImmiAccount to lodge your application, make a payment, update your details or circumstances, upload documents, and track the progress of your application. If you have provided documents by email to the Department, you will receive an automated acknowledgement. Please remember to check your junk folder and add us as a safe sender.

If you are experiencing technical issues with ImmiAccount, please visit help and support.

The Department of Home Affairs recommends that you do not make non-refundable financial commitments in relation to travel prior to receiving a visa to Australia.

The Department is committed to building more efficient and effective ways of delivering accessible services through the use of digital channels as our default form of delivery. As such, you can complete a number of services online without needing to contact the Department directly. This includes:

Please note that we are unable to provide any updates on the progress of your application if it is within standard global processing times.

Visa processing times

For current global visa processing times, please visit visa processing times.

Attaching documents / translations to your application

Please ensure that any supporting documents required with your application are attached at lodgement of your application. A decision may be made at any time after the application is submitted.

Any document in a language other than English must be accompanied by an English Translation.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs is moving towards a global visa processing model. This means that any application may be processed in an office other than where it is lodged. As such it is important that all supporting documents attached to the application which are not in English, be accompanied by an English translation.

The English translations must be appropriately endorsed translations. In Australia, translators must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. Their accreditation details must be recorded on the translation.

Translations provided by non-accredited translators outside Australia should be endorsed by the translator with their full name, address, telephone number, and details of their qualifications and experience in the language being translated.

Please ensure that when providing an English translation, that a copy of the original document is also provided. Failure to provide an English translation of supporting documentation may delay processing and result in the document not being considered as part of the visa application.

For Departmental policy relating to supporting documentation, please visit who can help with your application.

Australian citizenship

Applying for Australian citizenship by Descent

You may be eligible for Australian citizenship by descent if you were born outside Australia and one (or both) of your parents was also an Australian citizen at the time of your birth. Check your eligibility before you apply.

Apply online through ImmiAccount. For more information on how to apply, please visit applying online.

For information on citizenship processing times, please visit citizenship processing times.

Applying for Evidence of Australian citizenship

An Australian citizenship certificate is an official document that shows that a person is an Australian citizen. If you meet requirements, you can get a certificate, or replace one that has been lost, destroyed or damaged. Check your eligibility before you apply.

Apply online through ImmiAccount. For more information on how to apply, please visit applying online.

For information on citizenship processing times, please visit citizenship processing times.

Biometric collection

Visa applicants may be required to provide their biometric identifiers (digital facial image and fingerprint scan). If required, you will be contacted to complete this process. Please visit biometrics collection process.

To find the nearest Australian Biometrics Collection Centre, please visit offices outside Australia.

If you have been requested to provide biometrics but are unable to do so, please attach a written statement to your application using your ImmiAccount explaining your circumstances.

General information