Changes to Australian visitor visa system

Australia, 15th March: Australia is going to introduce simpler norms for Australian visitor visa process.

This has been announced by Australian immigration minister Brendan O’Connor.

Changed Australian visitor visa process—Australian immigration minister said from 23rd March onwards, new rules will become effective. This includes introduction of a new short stay activity visa as well as simplified process of Australian visitor visa.

Australia will have simple norms for visitor visas and cut Australian visa subclasses by fifty percent to eliminate red tape.

Introduction of a new short stay activity Australian visa—Australia is going to introduce a new short stay visa to help foreigners come to Australia for a short term period. These Australian visas will be meant for individuals wanting to come to Australia for high specialized work for a short period of time.

Such Australia visas will also be available to individuals from foreign nations having invitations to participate in events abroad. A point worth notable here is that such visas are not, in any way, related to the Australian 457 program meant for temporary skilled visas, said O’Connor.

Disappearance of following Australian visa categories--No acceptance of applications for following visas—

Australia will not accept any applications for following categories of Australian visas—

• Australian subclass 676(tourist visa);

• Australian sponsored family visitor visa(subclass 679);

• Australian sponsored business visitor(short stay);

• Australia business visa Subclass 456(short stay);

• Australian sponsored business visitor(short stay) visa Subclass 459;

•Australia medical treatment visa(short stay) Subclass 675;

• Electronic travel authority(business-short validity—subclass 977);

• Electronic travel authority(business-long validity)(subclass 956);

• Australian medical treatment(long stay) visa subclass 685;

• Australia electronic travel authority (visitor) (subclass 976).

Eligibility for other Australia visas—Applicants who had eligibility for the Australian visas discontinued now may have the eligibility for some other Australia visas. These may be---

• Australia temporary work visa(short stay activity)(subclass 400);

• Australia visitor visa(subclass 600);

• Australia medical treatment visa(subclass 602);

• Australia eVisitor(subclass 651);

• Australia electronic travel authority(subclass 601).

Changes aimed to cut red tape--All these changes will make sure to eliminate red tape, the immigration minister affirmed. Foreigners wanting to come to Australia on Australian visitor visas will find it easier to do so now due to simpler immigration requirements, O’Connor said.

No change has been introduced to the eligibility requirements for sponsored family visits, business visitor activities, medical treatment, care and tourism, he maintained. This will help in affirming that the integrity of Australian visa process remains unaffected, he further added.