Visas and Migration

News/Important Information

Latest news

For the latest immigration and citizenship news, see News archive.

Enquiries

Visa and citizenship applications are managed by the Department of Home Affairs. Embassy staff are unable to assist with general visa or citizenship enquiries.

The Department of Home Affairs website has the most up to date and comprehensive information on applying for visas and citizenship. The website also has useful definitions and tools to help you understand the department’s requirements. Visit the website at Immigration and citizenship.

If you are having trouble locating information on the department’s website, the Home Affairs Digital Assistant may be able to help. The Digital Assistant can help you find information on Australian visas, citizenship and border entry. Visit the Immigration and citizenship website, and click the Ask a question button to get started.

Global Service Centre

If you require additional information, you may telephone the Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196, Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm 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.

Using an interpreter

When you call the GSC, select option 6 to engage a Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) interpreter in your language. Option 6 can be selected straight after dialling the GSC number.

Alternatively, a TIS interpreter can also be engaged directly via:

TIS website: Search | Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) or
Home Affairs website See: Family and friends helping with your application

Compliments, complaints and suggestions

Your feedback is valuable to the Department of Home Affairs. The department uses your feedback to improve services and investigate and respond to any issues of concern. You can find more information on the department’s website at Compliments, complaints and suggestions.

Allegations related to suspicious border activities

If it doesn’t feel right, flag it anonymously with Border Watch. Border Watch is the single collection point for the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force (ABF) for allegations related to suspicious border activities and is not limited to immigration and citizenship. One small observation could help stop a much larger border crime. You can report suspicious immigration, customs and border related activity via the Border Watch Online Report.

If you do not hold a visa

Travellers of all nationalities, except citizens of Australia and New Zealand, must have a valid visa before they to travel to Australia. For further information about applying for a visa, see: Immigration and citizenship (homeaffairs.gov.au). If you do not know what type of visa you need, you can use our Visa Finder to Explore visa options (homeaffairs.gov.au).

You should not book flights or make travel arrangements until you have a visa to travel to Australia.The department will not be liable for any financial loss incurred by clients whose visa application was finalised later than expected or where an application is unsuccessful.

We strongly recommend that applications for visitor visas are lodged at least 1-2 months in advance of travel, if not earlier.

You can submit your visa application online through ImmiAccount.

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)

Certain passport holders (including Singaporeans) may be able to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via the Australian ETA app. Further information can be found at: Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).

After you have applied for an ETA, you should wait for a written notification which will be sent to you by email.

Please do not call or approach the Australian High Commission in person regarding your ETA application. If you are experiencing technical problems with the Australian ETA app, you may request assistance through the ‘Contact us’ form. You can find this from the ‘. . . More’ menu in the app. This form should only be used for technical issues.

Lodging a Visa Application

Most visa and citizenship applications can be lodged online through ImmiAccount, a self-service web portal that allows users to create, submit, pay for and manage all online applications in one online system.

To create an account or to log into an existing account, see: ImmiAccount

IMPORTANT NOTE

Information about visas can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website. Applications that do not include all the required documents may be delayed or, in some cases, refused. It is the applicant's responsibility to make sure the application is complete at the time of lodgement.

After your application has been lodged, you may receive a letter asking you to provide Personal Identifiers (PIDS). You will need to make an appointment to enrol your biometrics at VFS. See: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/sgp/en/aus

VFS Global - Australian Biometric Collection Centre
135 Cecil Street
#08-01 Philippine Airlines Building
Singapore 069536
Website: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/sgp/en/aus

Note that all applications are assessed by the Department of Home Affairs. VFS staff have no involvement in assessments or decisions.

Method of Payment

The Visa Application Charge (VAC) may be paid by credit card online through the 'My Payments' option in ImmiAccount.

See: How to Pay

Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa

The Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa allows young adults to have a 12-month holiday in Australia, during which they can undertake short-term work and study. The Department of Home Affairs has opened 2,500 Work and Holiday visas for the program year (1 July to 30 June) for eligible Singapore passport holders.

Applications must be lodged online. For further information, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

Visas for Diplomatic Passport Holders

Diplomatic passport holders travelling to Australia on official business should contact the Immigration section of the Australian High Commission directly. Diplomatic passport holders travelling for tourism or personal travel should apply for a visa online through ImmiAccount. The Visa Application Charge (VAC) and biometric requirement may be waived for diplomatic passport holders and applicants should answer 'yes' that they are travelling as a representative of a foreign government when applying. Applicants should also upload a copy of their diplomatic passport, Diplomatic Pass, and a Note Verbale.

Domestic Helpers

Domestic workers or assistants may be eligible for a Subclass 600 visa if they are required to accompany their employer(s) to Australia for a short visit. This policy recognises that it may be unreasonable or impractical to expect an employer based outside of Australia to replace an important member of their travelling group (for example, an existing nanny for the purposes of providing care or support while the family is in Australia for a short holiday).

It is not acceptable for a Subclass 600 visa applicant to travel to Australia for the purposes of providing domestic work or services for an Australian-based family or others for a longer stay period, as this would have an adverse impact on employment opportunities for an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Documentary Requirements:

Domestic worker's passport biodata page and Singapore work pass.
Employer and family unit’s passport biodata pages and Singapore visas or NRICs
Letter from employer stating purpose of visit, duration of travel and confirmation that the employer will pay all travel-related expenses for the domestic helper.
Flight bookings or proposed itinerary showing the domestic helper travelling to and from Australia with their employer(s).

Please note that if a domestic helper does not comply with their visa conditions, it may affect their employer's ability to sponsor domestic helpers in the future for travel to Australia.

Beware of Visa Scams

To avoid being scammed, you can check the Register of Migration Agents on the OMARA website to receive the protections of an OMARA registered Migration Agent.

There are Australian registered migration agents working all around the world. These agents are subject to the same Code of Conduct, professional development and regulations as registered migration agents based in Australia. More information about Australia’s efforts to ensure the integrity of the migration advice profession is available at: www.mara.gov.au

Australian Citizenship Applications

All citizenship applications are now processed in Australia.

For Australian Citizenship by Descent, see: Become an Australian citizen (by descent) Your parent was an Australian citizen when you were born overseas (homeaffairs.gov.au)

For other types of citizenship applications, see: Become a citizen (homeaffairs.gov.au)

To request evidence of citizenship or a replacement citizenship certificate, see: Evidence of citizenship (homeaffairs.gov.au)

For information on giving up (renouncing) Australian citizenship, see: Australian citizenship Give up Australian citizenship (renounce) (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Australians Adopting in Singapore

Australians considering adopting a non-Singapore citizen child whilst living in Singapore are advised to refer to the information on immigration and citizenship requirements in relation to expatriate adoption and inter-country adoption on the Department of Home Affairs website. Australian migration requirements for adopted children are quite specific, and an adoption that does not meet these legal criteria may result in the child not being able to migrate to Australia or acquire Australian citizenship. To meet migration visa requirements, amongst other criteria, Australians would be expected to have adopted a non-Singapore citizen child through the formal and legal adoption process in the child’s home country – a Singapore court adoption order for a non-Singapore citizen child is unlikely to meet Australia’s migration requirements.

Updating Passport Details

Australian visa holders must notify the Department of Home Affairs of their new passport details to ensure that their record is up-to-date. Failure to update passport details will result in delays when travelling to Australia. Visa holders or registered Australian organisations will be unable to check visa details online.

Visa holders (other than ETA holders) can update their passport details online through ImmiAccount. If you do not have an ImmiAccount, you may update your passport details by completing a Change in Situation online form and uploading a copy of your new passport. Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) holders with a new passport will need to apply for a new ETA.

Australia’s Visa Label Policy

The Australian Government does not require holders of Australian visas to have a visa label in their passport.

Australian visas are granted electronically and stored in a central database, enabling visa holders, registered Australian organisations and airline staff to check visa details online. Australian visa holders can provide evidence that they have the authority to travel to, enter and/or remain in Australia by showing the passport or ImmiCard that is linked to their electronic visa record.

Check Your Visa Status Online (VEVO)

The Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system is a free online service that allows holders of Australian visas, employers and other registered organisations to check current visa details and conditions. You can also use VEVO to obtain proof of your visa conditions to send to others.

See: VEVO

Health Requirements and Medical Examinations

Detailed information about health requirements for visa applicants can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website.

See: Health Requirements

Overseas medical examinations are only acceptable if conducted by approved panel physicians or clinics. A panel physician is a doctor or a radiologist who has been appointed by the Australian Government to perform medical examinations on visa applicants who have applied from outside Australia. For a list of Australian approved Panel Doctors

See: Panel Doctors

Not all applications require a medical examination. You should not have a visa medical examination until you have been formally requested to do so by the Australian High Commission or other office processing your application.

Character Requirement

In some cases, to meet our character requirement you may be required to provide penal clearances from countries in which you have resided for 12 months or more during the last ten years. For further information on how and where to obtain these clearances

See: Character Requirements

Requesting Travel Records and Visa Cancellations

See: Requesting travel records.

For visa cancellations, see the Frequently Asked Questions link below

Frequently Asked Questions

For a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions, click here.