Australian Visa Application Required Documents, as well as document guidelines and verification. Australian visa requirements can be very confusing due to the sheer number of visa options available. They differ for each visa type, and some may be required for certain visas while others are optional. Knowing what documents are required makes the application process much easier.
Documents Required for Australia Visa
- Passport.
- Australian Visa Form.
- Paid Visa Fee.
- One Identity Picture.
- National Identity Card.
- Police Certificate.
- Family Certificates
- Evidence of Financial Means.
- Health Insurance.
- Authorised Recipient Form.
- Evidence of Temporary Stay
- Detailed Itinerary.
- Accommodation Reservations.
- Employer Permission Letter.
- Invitation Letter.
Passport
When applying for an Australian visa, you must have a valid passport (at least 6 months before the expiration date). When applying, include scanned and colored copies of your passport pages. You must also submit copies of previous passports if you have them.
Australian Visa Application Form
All visa applicants must submit a visa application form to Australia. Each visa type has its own form, so choose the one that corresponds to your visa.
If you are applying for a visa online, you can find a variety of forms in your ImmiAccount. If you are applying in person, you must download and complete the appropriate form.
Identity Picture and Biometrics Collection
Your Australian visa application photo must adhere to strict guidelines. The background must be white, and your entire face must be visible. In some cases, you may be required to submit your biometric information in addition to the visa photo.
Keep in mind that the number of photos required may vary depending on the visa subclass for which you are applying.
National Identity Card
If you have a national ID card, you must submit a scanned copy of it along with the rest of your documents. This may or may not be required depending on the type of visa or your country of residence, so please check with the competent Australian authorities closest to you.
If you have more than one national card (more than one citizenship/residency), submit the national card of the country in which you are currently residing.
Police Certificate
When applying for a visa, you must provide evidence of your good character. This means you must be completely honest about your criminal activity and submit a police certificate at some point during your application (before or after). This certificate will be used to determine whether you meet the Australian Immigration Office’s character requirements at the Department of Home Affairs.
Family Certificates
Valid copies of civil documents such as your birth certificate, marriage license, divorce papers, adoption papers (if applicable), and so on may also be requested. This includes certificates in cases where you have legally changed your name.
Evidence of Financial Means
When planning a trip to Australia, you must provide evidence that you can fund your trip on your own, which can include:
- Bank statements.
- Pay slips.
- Audited accounts.
- Taxation records.
- Credit card limit.
- Evidence of support from family members (student visa and family visa).
If you are invited by someone who is sponsoring your trip, you must provide proof that your sponsor has sufficient financial means.
Paid Visa Fee
Your visa application will not be considered until your payment is verified. You must pay through an ImmiAccount, but if you are unable to do so through the online service, you must contact the Australian embassy in your country to see if you can pay through their office. Here are the fees you must pay depending on the type of visa you are applying for.
Health Insurance
While health insurance is not always required when visiting Australia, the Australian government strongly advises visitors to purchase private insurance before departure.
Certain visa types have specific health insurance requirements (see below). Furthermore, visitors may be required to submit recent health exams or tests, but this will depend on a number of factors, which Australian officials will inform you of ahead of time.
Authorised Recipient Form
If you appoint someone to assist you with your visa application, you must complete this form and submit it with your application.
Evidence of Temporary Stay
You must provide evidence that you can meet the temporary stay requirement specified by your visa type. This means you can demonstrate that once your visa expires, you will leave Australia due to prior engagement in your home country, such as work or family obligations. A valid work contract, a letter from your employer, or real estate commitments can also be used.
This requirement is not applicable to long-term visas or continuous work visas.
Detailed Itinerary
A travel itinerary detailing all of your visits must be attached to your visa application. The itinerary must include the dates of your visits, the locations you intend to visit, proof of purchased tickets, how long you intend to stay, and other pertinent information.
Accommodation Reservations
When you apply for the visa, you must provide proof of any type of accommodation you’ve made for your visit. Hotel reservations, rental agreements, private lodging, Airbnb setups, or proof that you will stay with family or friends in Australia are all acceptable.
Employer Letter
If you are employed, you must also include a letter from your boss granting permission for your trip.
Invitation Letter
If you are invited to visit a family member or friend in Australia, you must submit a letter of invitation written by your host. If you were invited to work, this includes an invitation letter (work visa).
Australia Visa Requirements for Minor Applicants
If a person under the age of 18 applies for any type of Australian visa, the following documents must be included in the application:
- Letter of consent from parents/legal guardians.
- Filled in and signed permission form.
- Statutory declaration.
- Undertaking declaration (in cases when the minor applicant will be staying with an adult family member/friend in Australia).
Requirements to Study in Australia
Students who want to study in Australia must submit the following documents with their application:
- Confirmation of Enrolment.
- Health insurance.
- School enrolment for dependents.
- Genuine Temporary Entrant
Requirements to Work in Australia
For a work visa in Australia, you have to submit some of these required documents:
- Resume.
- Work Contract.
- Work Itinerary (for freelance work).
- Copy of Work License.
- Sponsorship Letter (for sponsored work).
Australia Visa Documents Guidelines
All of your documents must be written in English. If they are not, you must have your documents translated by a certified translator, but you must provide the original as well as the translated version.
If you are in Australia, you must have the documents translated by translators who have been accredited by the National Accreditation Authority of Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). If you are not in Australia, the translator must provide their full name, address, phone number, and qualification information.
Unless specifically requested, do not provide original versions of your documents. Scannable, color copies of your documents are acceptable. The only documents that can be original versions are police clearances.
Documents Guidelines for Online Australia Visa Application
When you apply online for an Australia visa, the documents you attach must follow specific rules:
- Scan each document carefully on both sides.
- Scanned copies have to be in color if the original is also in color.
- Attach files up to 5MB in size with the following extensions:
- DCM
- doc
- docx
- dot
- gif
- jpg
- png
- ppt
- pptx
- txt
- rtf
- xls
- xlsx
- png
- bmp
- Documents containing more than one page, have to be in a single PDF file.
- The limit for uploading documents can be from 30 to 60 depending on the application.
- Images have to be sized up to 500Kb.
- Images have to be scanned on both sides.
- Compressed and encrypted files will not be accepted.
Paper Application Documents Guidelines
When you submit a paper application for an Australia visa, you must include verified copies of your family certificates, such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, adoption papers, and so on.
How Do I Verify My Documents?
Make copies of your documents first. Then, present both versions to someone who can verify your documents (see below).
The person who verifies your documents must write or stamp the following statement on your documents: “This is a certified true copy of the original as sighted by me.”
If there are multiple pages, the certifier can write the statement on the first page and their initials on each subsequent page. Your verifier must provide the following information:
- Full name.
- Signature.
- Occupation.
- Phone Number.
- The Date of the Verification.
- Their Address (not obligatory).
Your photographs should also be verified, with your verifier writing or stamping “This is a true photograph of (insert your full name)” on the back of each one, and signed by the certifier.
Who Can Verify My Documents?
Your documents must be verified by an Australian or a citizen of your home country. They cannot be related to you or have any personal relationship with you, and they must work in any of the following occupations:
Australian diplomatic officer or consular officer (check if this service is available at your nearest Australian embassy or consulate)
- Bailiff
- Officer of a bank with at least 5 years of continuous service
- Officer of a building society with at least 5 years of continuous service
- Chiropractor (licensed or registered) (licensed or registered)
- Clerk of the court
- Affirmation Commissioner
- Declarations Commissioner
- Officer of a credit union with at least 5 years of continuous service
- Dentist (licensed or registered) (licensed or registered)
- National Tax Accountant’s Association Fellow
- Officer of a finance company with at least 5 years of continuous service
- A court of law’s judge
- A judge of the peace
- Legal professional (licensed or registered)
- Magistrate
- licensed or registered marriage celebrant under Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961
- a lord of the court
- Doctor of Medicine (licensed or registered)
- Chartered Secretaries Australia member
- Other than at the student level, member of Engineers Australia
- Member of the Taxation and Management Accountants Association
- Member of the Australian Defence Force who has served for 5 years or more.
- Member of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Australian Society of Certified Practicing Accountants, or the Australian Institute of Public Accountants
- Member of the Commonwealth Parliament, a State or Territory Legislature, or a State or Territory local government authority
- Subdivision A of Division 1 of Part IV of the Marriage Act 1961 authorizes or registers ministers of religion.
- Nurse (licensed or registered) (licensed or registered)
- Optometrist (licensed or registered) (licensed or registered)
- Employee of an Australian, state, or local government authority with at least 5 years of continuous service.
- Permanent Australian Postal Corporation employee with 5 years or more of continuous service
- Pharmacist (licensed or registered) (licensed or registered)
- Physiotherapist (licensed or registered) (licensed or registered)
- Officer of the law
- Psychologist (licensed or registered) (licensed or registered)
- A court’s registrar or deputy registrar
- Sheriff
- A full-time teacher employed at a school or tertiary education institution, or
- Veterinary specialist (licensed or registered).
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How Do I Verify My Documents?
Make copies of your documents first. Then, present both versions to someone who can verify your documents (see below).
The person who verifies your documents must write or stamp the following statement on your documents: “This is a certified true copy of the original as sighted by me.”
If there are multiple pages, the certifier can write the statement on the first page and their initials on each subsequent page. Your verifier must provide the following information:
Full name.
Signature.
Occupation.
Phone Number.
The Date of the Verification.
Their Address (not obligatory). -
What are the Requirements to Study in Australia
For a work visa in Australia, you have to submit some of these required documents:
Resume.
Work Contract.
Work Itinerary (for freelance work).
Copy of Work License.
Sponsorship Letter (for sponsored work).
