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Original poster

Visa for Australia

31 replies

Flute56 · 14/05/2023 16:05

I am going to Australlia on holiday in September and need to do my visa. I thought I would do it today to get it out of the way and when I looked online it mentioned that you have to pay for a visa. I mentioned this to my travel agent a few weeks ago and she said no you do not pay its completely free .

Either I wait until I can speak to my travel agent tomorrrow or if there is anyone here who knows something about whether they are free or not, I would be grateful and can do it today. I am not concerned about the visa because I have been to Australia before so the visa entry should not be a problem

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Flute56 · 14/05/2023 16:12

just looked on the visa website for an ETA visa for OZ and you apply then pay the fee thei wait for the confirmation email

Pay ETA Visa Fee

No idea why my travel agent said it was free and you dont have to pay.. I think I will phone her tomorrow

OP posts:
Roussette · 14/05/2023 16:13

Flute56 · 14/05/2023 16:05

I am going to Australlia on holiday in September and need to do my visa. I thought I would do it today to get it out of the way and when I looked online it mentioned that you have to pay for a visa. I mentioned this to my travel agent a few weeks ago and she said no you do not pay its completely free .

Either I wait until I can speak to my travel agent tomorrrow or if there is anyone here who knows something about whether they are free or not, I would be grateful and can do it today. I am not concerned about the visa because I have been to Australia before so the visa entry should not be a problem

Thanks

They are free. You are probably clicking on a paid for site that is not legitimate.

You want homeaffairs.gov.au and not any of the first four sites that come up on google which are sponsored ones.

Good move to do it early. They randomly pick out applications and do it manually. I got mine in approved in literally 2 minutes. My DH's went into manual checking, it took forever. I won't bore you with what happened. You should be fine for September.

PrincessofWellies · 14/05/2023 16:15

They are FREE

immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder/visit

Scalottia · 14/05/2023 16:16

They are free OP - here's the link:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/evisitor-651

Scalottia · 14/05/2023 16:20

Sorry cross post! The one I linked is the one my partner always uses to visit Australia. If you are just going as a tourist for less than 3 months there is zero cost.

There are lots of dodgy websites out there - just use the .gov one above.

Original poster
Flute56 · 14/05/2023 16:47

Thanks I have looked at the link. What makes me laugh is they say what is the purpose of your visit. The first is a holiday and next it says visit family or friends. when I went to Australia before 11 years ago it was to visit family but it was still a holiday at the end of the day. I was still a tourist not staying in a hostel or a hotel but with family so the visa should not be any different. The only difference is the accommodation you are staying in. I wonder if they treat you any differently if you have relative in the country which I do have but this time I am not visiting any of them simply because they live on one side of the country and I am going to Western Australia and besides I found staying with family quite restricting if I am honest. Yes I did not have to pay for accommodation so it was a very cheap trip but I felt I could not go on the trips I wanted because they wanted me to spend the majority of the time with them. Dont get me wrong it was nice to see them but going all that way just to stay in someones house and not go anywhere was a bit of a waste of time

OP posts:
Peridot1 · 14/05/2023 16:51

It is definitely free. But there are some scam sites that will charge you.

Scalottia · 14/05/2023 20:12

I always put holiday. They will ask which address you will spend the most time at. Nothing to be worried about 😀

Original poster
Flute56 · 14/05/2023 23:10

there are two types of visa the e visa or the visitors visa. which one do I use

I googled both and the e visa is only for certain countries

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Original poster
Flute56 · 14/05/2023 23:15

One of the main differences between the e-Visitor and Visitor visas is the eligibility requirements. The e-Visitor visa is only available to citizens of certain countries, while the Visitor visa is available to citizens of all countries that are not eligible for the e-Visitor visa.

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SillyMe101 · 14/05/2023 23:18

To answer your question, I believe they separate the holiday & visiting friends/family categories for statistical purposes. It doesn’t affect how the visa is processed.

SillyMe101 · 14/05/2023 23:20

Flute56 · 14/05/2023 23:15

One of the main differences between the e-Visitor and Visitor visas is the eligibility requirements. The e-Visitor visa is only available to citizens of certain countries, while the Visitor visa is available to citizens of all countries that are not eligible for the e-Visitor visa.

Well, which one are you eligible for? Apply for that 😉

BritWifeInUSA · 14/05/2023 23:47

I wonder if they treat you any differently if you have relative in the country

of course they do. Those with family members in a country, any country, are statistically more likely to overstay. Before I emigrated to the US and was back and forth visiting my now-husband (he’s an American), I was in the group of people considered most likely to overstay and faced some extra scrutiny at the airport. I was back and forth every 6 weeks over the 4 years we were long-distance and each entry was more difficult than the one before.

Original poster
Flute56 · 15/05/2023 00:36

I am so bloody annoyed. After filling in the evisa ten page rorm carefully answering all the questions I get to the last page and it says this

Attach the documents listed below then click Next to pay for and submit the application.

There are NO documents listed below to attach and I thought the visa is free so why are they asking me to pay???

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Original poster
Flute56 · 15/05/2023 00:37

it also says if you do not attach the documents listed below then your visa application will not be granted.

THERE ARE NO documents to attach and nothing stated below

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Original poster
Flute56 · 15/05/2023 00:43

i have just looked again and its saying travel documents. I presume they need proof of flight and hotel stay so I will send those with the application

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Original poster
Flute56 · 15/05/2023 00:52

did some more research online and it says you need a copy of your personal passport page but all places I have looked and research said you pay for your visa... can someone explain this

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Original poster
Flute56 · 15/05/2023 00:55

grrr ive filled out the wrong blinking form. I looked again at this thread and now clicked on the homeaffairs free one so will have to do it all over again

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Original poster
Flute56 · 15/05/2023 01:01

i am so confused now. Just checked that I have done the correct form which is the home affairs one and I have but it still says right on the last page that I have to submit travel documents and then pay

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Original poster
Flute56 · 15/05/2023 01:34

Although there is no fee for the visa ther is a service charge. I think I am going to ask my travel agent in the morning because there are different visas and different service charges to pay.

OP posts:
Original poster
Flute56 · 15/05/2023 01:38

BritWifeInUSA · 14/05/2023 23:47

I wonder if they treat you any differently if you have relative in the country

of course they do. Those with family members in a country, any country, are statistically more likely to overstay. Before I emigrated to the US and was back and forth visiting my now-husband (he’s an American), I was in the group of people considered most likely to overstay and faced some extra scrutiny at the airport. I was back and forth every 6 weeks over the 4 years we were long-distance and each entry was more difficult than the one before.

Fair enough but thats only if you are going to visit relatives. I have relatives in Australia but they live nowhere where I am going this time and so as far as they are concerned i am going just as a tourist. Even when I went to visit my relatives for almost 4 weeks, I would never outstay my worlcome in a country.

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CoronationKicking · 15/05/2023 01:42

Goodness me

meatbaseddessert · 15/05/2023 03:30

I get an e visitor visa (651) every year.

It is free. It mentions a payment but as it's free nothing is taken.

It's really quite straightforward! Docs to upload are a picture of your passport

Original poster
Flute56 · 15/05/2023 04:36

meatbaseddessert · 15/05/2023 03:30

I get an e visitor visa (651) every year.

It is free. It mentions a payment but as it's free nothing is taken.

It's really quite straightforward! Docs to upload are a picture of your passport

😀

OP posts:
Scalottia · 15/05/2023 07:11

meatbaseddessert · 15/05/2023 03:30

I get an e visitor visa (651) every year.

It is free. It mentions a payment but as it's free nothing is taken.

It's really quite straightforward! Docs to upload are a picture of your passport

This. There is no fee OP. It's free. I am not sure which visa you have applied for that is asking for you to pay a fee, but it's the wrong one.