Visa to Australia for Russians 2021: is it necessary, how to get it, how much does it cost?

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Australia is a place where many travelers dream of going; it is a country with amazing nature, a high standard of living, large, interesting cities and unique fauna. But tourists from Russia do not go there very often because of the long and expensive flight, as well as the need to obtain a visa. At first glance, the process of submitting documents really seems complicated, but if you look into it, the system is convenient and well thought out; the main thing is to act step by step and comply with all the requirements of the embassy.

The easiest way to submit documents is online. Since a visa sticker is not placed in the passport, all papers can be submitted for processing without leaving home.

Types of visas

Travelers from Russia must apply for a tourist or visitor visa to Australia (subclass 600 according to the embassy classification).
It is also issued to those who plan to visit relatives and friends, or undergo training for a period of no more than 3 months. This visa does not give the right to get a job or open your own business. In addition to the tourist visa, there are the following types of visas:

business visa - for those making a business trip;
worker - for those employed in Australia;
student - for those who entered long-term study;
medical - for those who plan to undergo treatment;
transit;
Immigration visas include partner and intended marriage visas, which are issued to both women and men planning to start a family with Australian citizens, visas for children and other family members.

From November 19, 2021, fingerprints will be required for an Australian visa. This can be done in one of the five Australian centers for collecting biometric data - in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don

Applying for a visa yourself

To apply for a visa to Australia yourself, it is convenient to submit an application electronically. You must submit an application via ImmiAccount (in English), attach scans of all documents, pay the visa fee and wait for the decision.

Those who want to submit documents the old fashioned way, in paper form, will have to fill out a large form and submit it with a package of information to the embassy. For this purpose, there are special boxes installed where you simply drop the folder; you can also use courier services or mail.

It is very important to correctly determine the type of visa before submitting your application, since if you make a mistake, the visa fee will not be refunded and you will have to go through the entire procedure again.

The embassy asks you not to submit original passports, and you also don’t need to buy tickets or book accommodation in advance, this will not speed up or simplify the issuance of a visa.

The Australian Embassy has canceled visa stickers in Russian passports; all data exists only in electronic form.

If you wish and have the money, you can submit your application through intermediaries - visa center staff will help you prepare the documents correctly, make the necessary translations, and notarize the papers, but you will have to pay about 110 AUD for the services (charged in rubles), and also pay separately for all additional steps with the papers (translation into English, notary work, etc.). Prices on the page are for April 2021.

How to apply?

Some categories of citizens must undergo a medical examination to obtain a visa to Australia. This applies:

For applicants over 75 years of age.
Those applying for student visas.
For those planning to attend seminars in Australia for 12 weeks.
Persons planning to visit medical centers and clinics in the country.

Visa examinations can only be carried out by doctors accredited by the embassy.

To obtain an Australian visa, booking flights, hotels and health insurance (with a few exceptions) is not mandatory. In addition, applicants should remember that if a visa is refused, the consular fee is not refundable and will have to be paid again for each new application.

See also: All the beauty of pristine nature in Australia's national parks

Step-by-step instructions for Russians

Russian citizens can apply for a visa to Australia online. To do this you need:

Register on the official website of the Australian Immigration Service, enter your personal data, after which a personal account will be created.
Click on the button to create a new visa and fill out a special form.
Determine your visa type. It depends on the purpose of the trip. It is necessary to enter passport data, documents confirming financial solvency, and at the end answer questions that require a clear answer “Yes” or “No”.
Provide scanned copies of all required documents (this must be done no later than the next business day after submitting the application).
Save the information and pay the visa fee.
If everything is completed correctly, the application will be accepted.

After completing your application, you should periodically check your email; questions and comments from the visa officer may be sent there.

Documents for a visa to Australia

Required documents to obtain a visa:

Online application
Information about the application can be obtained at the office. Australian Government website;
Copy of international passport
Pages with personal data are required;
Consular fee
Online payment (more details below);
Copies of visas
of all existing and former visas to other countries;
Financial guarantees
Certificate of employment indicating position, length of service and vacation period, bank account statement, documents on ownership (credit cards and checks from ATMs are not accepted);
Resume (CV)
Filled out on embassy letterhead in English indicating studies from 18 years of age and work without passes, the form can be downloaded at the office. website of the Australian Embassy in Moscow;
Medical insurance
Medical insurance for the entire trip with a minimum coverage of 41,000 AUD;
Private visit
Anyone planning to visit family or friends must provide a copy of the inviter's ID and a statement confirming his income if he is paying for the trip;
Medical examination
In some cases, the embassy may ask applicants to undergo a medical examination, especially for people over 75 years of age.

All documents not written in English must be translated into English, but the translation does not need to be certified; it is needed in order to speed up the work of the consulate.

It is very important to send all the necessary papers at once, since the embassy extremely rarely requests information that is missing; the decision is made based on the documents provided.

Entry rules to Australia

When crossing the Australian border you must provide:

A foreign passport with a visa, which is valid throughout the trip.
Completed tourist migration card and/or customs declaration, if necessary.
Return plane or ship tickets in case of departure through third countries.
Hotel reservation (hotel, apartment, hostel) or tourist voucher.
Confirmation of financial solvency: cash, bank cards.
Medical insurance.

Importing things across the border

When passing through Australian customs, you must comply with the following rules:

Duty-free import is allowed up to 2.25 liters of strong alcoholic beverages, 50 cigarettes or 50 g of tobacco, goods with a total value of up to 900 Australian dollars per person.
The import of dairy products, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, raw fish, as well as biological materials, including vaccines for humans and animals, is prohibited.

Violating the goods transport regulations may result in a fine of up to A$2,000 or imprisonment. More information about customs regulations can be found on the Australian Immigration website.

Consular fee - $140

The visa fee must be paid at the time of application. The fee is paid online, by credit card, the amount is written off in Australian dollars and is equal to 140 AUD. If the payment has not gone through, you must contact the bank before sending the application, otherwise the documents will not be considered.

Those who plan to submit papers in person or by mail must fill out a special Authorization form for payment by card so that the embassy can write off the money independently; a sample can be found at the office. Australian Embassy website. In the absence of such a form, employees will not be able to process the payment and will return all documents to the applicant without consideration.

The embassy's work with the applicant's documents begins only after payment of the consular fee - 140 AUD.

Those travelers who have already been to Australia and plan to come there often can apply for a long-term visa (up to 10 years) with multiple entries. In this case, the visa fee increases to 1045 AUD.

When paying with different payment systems, they may charge an additional percentage for the transfer, usually from 1 to 2% of the amount; this information can be clarified with the bank that issued the card.

How to get it yourself?

Despite the fact that the process of obtaining an Australian visa is considered one of the most difficult in the world, anyone can obtain it on their own. To do this, you need to carefully fill out the application form and collect all the necessary documents.

You can apply for a visa online, on the website of the Australian Immigration Service or by contacting the country's Embassy in Russia.

What documents are needed?

To obtain a visa to Australia, the following documents are required:

Valid passport.
A special completed form.
A resume on a special form, which indicates the history of study and work, starting from the age of 18.
Certificate confirming the availability of funds (bank statement).
Confirmation of income (certificate from place of work, document confirming ownership, for businessmen - documents confirming the registration of the company, its activities and profits).
Letter from school or university (for pupils and students).
For minors (copy of birth certificate, written permission to travel from a parent if he is not accompanying the child).
Medical insurance for the entire duration of the trip (for applicants over 75 years of age).
If a visa is issued by invitation, then a copy of the inviter’s passport and a certificate confirming his income.

REFERENCE! The application form and resume must be translated into English, and the documents of minor applicants must be notarized.

Sample form

The application form is one of the most important documents for obtaining a visa to Australia. It is quite voluminous, for example, the tourist one contains 48 points. Particular attention should be paid to filling it out:

The form must be completed in English only.
All questions must be answered, no omissions are allowed.
The applicant must personally sign in the designated areas.
Be sure to carefully fill out the address and telephone fields (so that the visa officer can contact the applicant).

Most of the items in the questionnaire just need to be read carefully and ticked in the appropriate box. In the rest, provide as much information about yourself as possible, prove your financial solvency, talk about your plans to visit the country, and most importantly, prove to the visa officer that the applicant will not stay in Australia and will definitely return home.

See also: Old age does not mean the end of life - about pensions in Australia

To avoid mistakes when filling out, you can download a sample application form in Russian on the Internet.

Photo requirements

To obtain permission to enter Australia, two identical photographs must be attached to the package of documents. Requirements for them:

Photo size: 35 by 45 mm.
Face size: 31-36 mm (vertical).
Photos must be in color, on a white background and no older than 6 months.
The face is located in the center, emotions are neutral.
It is forbidden to be photographed wearing black glasses. Tinted glasses are allowed if the frame does not cover part of the eyes. Wigs, hair clips, etc. are possible as long as they do not change the person’s appearance. The presence of religious headdresses is allowed, provided that facial features are clearly visible in the photograph.

Cost and terms

The cost of a tourist visa to Australia is 115 – 135 Australian dollars.

Student – 550.
Working – from 175.
Fiancé visa – from 6500 Australian dollars.

Australian visas are valid for 3, 6 or 12 months.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship reviews the application within 4 weeks.

What to do in case of refusal?

Australia can only refuse a visa for two reasons:

Not all necessary documents have been collected.
It is unclear for what purpose the applicant wants to visit the country and whether he plans to return to his homeland.

The decision to refuse a visa is made by one person - the visa officer, based on the documents submitted. Immediately after refusal, regardless of the reason, you can reapply.

Only this time it is necessary to carefully study the list of submitted documents, correct it and add missing ones, as well as clearly document the reason for visiting Australia and the fact that the applicant will definitely return to his homeland after the trip. “Return documents” will help with this, which indicate the presence of real estate in their home country and family ties.

When re-submitting documents for a visa, in most cases a positive decision is issued.

IMPORTANT! When applying for a visa to Australia, you must provide only truthful information. All information is carefully checked and if false information is found, the applicant will never be allowed to enter the country.

Visa processing time

A tourist visa application must be submitted at least 6 weeks before travel. Sometimes the decision comes faster, in rare and complex cases it takes longer. During the high season - from September to January and especially during the Catholic Christmas period - the embassy asks you to submit documents as early as possible. After completing the online application, access to your personal account is available, where it is convenient to track the stage of consideration of the case.

After the decision is made, the applicant receives an email with information about the validity period of the visa and other data, the same information is reflected in the electronic system of air carriers. They do not put a sticker on the passport and generally do not make any marks about the presence of a visa.

Visa validity period

Most often, a tourist visa to Australia is given for a period of 3 to 12 months (with a single entry), but sometimes, in special cases, tourists are pleased with a longer entry permit - for 3, 5 and even 10 years, as well as the opportunity to visit the country repeatedly. This visa is only issued to frequent travelers and costs more.

The visa confirmation, which comes by email, indicates the maximum period of stay in the country; it is determined individually, and it is very important not to violate this rule.

What does it look like and what types are there?

Russian citizens require a visa to visit Australia. Moreover, regardless of the purpose of the trip.

Russians travel to this country as tourists, look for work there, open businesses, undergo treatment and get married.

There is information here about why they are leaving Russia.

Tourist

The most popular type of visa, issued for a period of up to 12 months. A tourist visa is issued for exploring the country, sightseeing and recreation. With this visa you can even study in Australia, but not longer than three months. But working and opening a business is prohibited.

In order to obtain a tourist visa, you need to collect a package of documents and pay a consular fee.

Working

Australia's economy is one of the most progressive in the world. The country has fairly strict migration conditions, but it is still possible to obtain a work permit. To do this, a foreigner will have to confirm his professional skills and a good level of English. And also negotiate with the employer.

A work visa to Australia for Russian citizens can be temporary or permanent. For the first time, as a rule, a temporary visa is issued.

The list of in-demand professions is here.

Student

Almost all universities in Australia are public. Higher education institutions in Melbourne and Sydney are very popular among international students.

For a student visa, you must obtain prior consent from the country's authorities and pass a serious English language test.

In addition to university studies, language courses are popular in Australia. Foreigners come to the country to learn English. And there are a number of reasons for this:

English courses in Australia are 20%-30% cheaper than in the USA and UK.
Language learning can be combined with active recreation (diving, windsurfing and other entertainment).
Safe country and friendly to foreigners.

However, there are also disadvantages to language courses in Australia:

Australian English, which not everyone understands.
Due to the remoteness of the country, the flight becomes expensive.
High prices for accommodation.

For volunteers

To protect the environment and cultural heritage of Australia, 10 thousand volunteers are attracted to the country every year. The volunteer organization that does this is called Conservation Volunteers. Volunteering is a good opportunity to visit Australia and contribute to the preservation of the country.

Volunteers plant trees, build walking trails, protect wildlife and perform various agricultural tasks. Any foreigner aged 18 to 70 with good knowledge of English can obtain such a visa. Those interested must submit a special application.

See also: Sands against the ocean - features of the Australian climate

IMPORTANT! Volunteers are provided with free food and accommodation. They must pay the cost of the visa, flights and insurance from their own funds. As well as a registration fee, the amount of which depends on the duration of the chosen program.

To do business

The Business Visa is seen by the Australian government as a way to attract additional funds and talented entrepreneurs to the country. It allows a businessman and his family to enter and leave Australia an unlimited number of times, as well as live in the country.

To obtain a business visa you must:

Open your own business in Australia.
Invest in government programs.
Invest in the activities of an existing company.

Guest or by invitation

A visitor visa or invitation visa is a great way to visit Australia without having to collect a huge amount of paperwork. To do this, a resident of the country (including non-residents) can issue a special invitation. The main thing is that it is sent by a person who has a legal and legal basis for staying in the country.

An invitation visa is most often issued for the visit of close relatives or friends. The receiving party thus takes responsibility for the foreign guest and attaches to the letter a salary certificate for the last three months.

For the bride

Marriage to an Australian citizen is not only an opportunity to visit the country, but also to stay in it for permanent residence. The so-called fiancé visa or marriage visa was created to ensure that as many strong international families as possible appear in Australia.

This type of visa has many advantages over others:

There is no requirement to know English.
It doesn’t matter your education, profession or income.
There are no age restrictions.

However, in order to obtain a fiancé visa, you must prove that the relationship with the Australian is truly sincere and not formal. In addition, according to all the rules, a marriage must be registered in Australia.

If you are already married, we recommend an article on how it is easier to emigrate as a family.

Is it possible to receive transit and electronically?

You can get an electronic visa of any type to Australia, including transit and for treatment. To do this, you need to fill out a special form on the website of the country’s Immigration Service, submit documents and pay a fee. A transit visa is provided free of charge.

An electronic visa is convenient because it does not require a visit to the country’s consulate, where you need to register in advance, and provides the opportunity to submit all documents via the Internet from home.