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  1. Home
  2. Getting a foreign visa

Getting a foreign visa

Last Updated
Monday, 11/07/2022

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. Foreign governments often require you to get a visa before they let you enter.

This page provides general information only. We can't provide specific information about the kind of visa you'll need to enter a foreign country, or which entry and exit rules apply to you.

Contact the embassy or consulate of the country you'll be visiting for visa advice specific to your needs and circumstances.

This page provides general advice and information about visas overseas. It covers:

  • types of visas
  • how to get a visa
  • visa-free entry
  • consequences of breaching your visa.

Visa requirements can change at short notice. The Australian Government can't provide definitive information for every destination or situation.

It's your responsibility to make sure you have the right visa. If you don't, the Australian Government can’t help you.

This page is for Australians looking for information about visas to travel overseas. If you're from elsewhere planning to visit Australia, see getting an Australian visa (Department of Home Affairs).

Types of visas

Types of visas include:

  • transit visas, if you're just passing through
  • visitor or short stay visas, usually for tourism, business, study or volunteering
  • long stay or immigrant visas, if you're going overseas to live or work.

Within each type, there are usually many variations. The specific visa you need often depends on the nationalities you hold and the activities you plan to do there.

For example, a country may have a general tourist visa that covers most short-term visitors who want to see the sights. They may also have a series of tourist visas for specific activities. This could include yoga, Hajj, medical tourism or working holidays.

To find out which visa you need, ask an authority from your destination. Contact their embassy or consulate in Australia. 

How to get a visa

Each country determines their own process for visa applications and approvals.

  • Check the travel advisories for all destinations you'll be travelling to or through. Some provide basic visa information.
  • Visit the websites for your destinations' embassies or consulates in Australia. They usually detail the process for Australian visitors.
  • Some foreign embassies and consulates in Australia will direct you to an official immigration website. Others may refer to an authorised commercial service.

Read and understand all conditions on your visa. If you get the wrong visa, or breach your conditions, you're breaking the local law. You could be arrested or jailed overseas.

Visa on arrival

Some countries grant short-term visitor visas to Australians on arrival. This means you may not need to organise it beforehand.

A visa on arrival is not the same as visa-free travel. The authority at the border still issues you a visa. They may issue it electronically or in your passport as a stamp, sticker or attachment.

Applying for a visa directly or online

You may need to apply for a visa directly with your destination's authority. For some countries, you can apply through one of their embassies or consulates. They may ask you to apply in person, by mail or online. 

Some ask you to give your passport to their officials for processing. This could take some time. In the meantime, you won't have your passport and can't travel anywhere else. Don't leave your application to the last minute.

Applying for a visa through commercial visa services

Some governments authorise commercial services to coordinate or issue visas on their behalf.

Don’t get tricked into using a commercial visa service if you don’t need to. In some countries, legitimate services pose as official services online. Some charge more for visas.

Check the destination's government authority for their visa application process. Make sure any commercial service is authorised and legitimate.

Don't get scammed.

If they are legitimate, compare their costs to the government option. Some overcharge to make more profit.

Avoiding visa scams

Watch out for visa scams. There are illegal operators that take your money and give you a fake visa.

A fake visa won’t be recognised when you arrive. In some cases, you might be able to buy a real visa at the airport. You'll just lose the money you paid. In other cases, you could be accused of trying to enter the country illegally. You could be arrested or jailed. 

Visa-free entry

You may not need a visa to visit some countries for certain types of travel. This includes European countries in the Schengen area and destinations with visa waiver agreements.

Schengen area

The Schengen area is made up of 26 European countries that have common entry and exit requirements. This means you may not have to apply or pay for a visa to visit short term. 

Most travellers in the Schengen area can move freely between member countries. They don't have to go through border controls or get separate visas for each country.

Special visa rules apply in the Schengen area. See our general advice about travelling in the Schengen area. 

Bilateral visa waiver agreements

Australia has agreements with some countries to waive some visa requirements. This means you may not have to apply or pay for a visa for short visits as a tourist. You can enter and travel freely on your Australian passport. 

Countries can change their entry or exit requirements at short notice. Before you travel, get current visa information. Contact your destination's embassy or consulate in Australia. 

Consequences of breaching your visa

You could face consequences if you have visa problems. This includes getting the wrong visa or breaching a condition of your visa. Even if you didn't mean to make a mistake.

Consequences can include:

  • jail
  • fines
  • deportation.

The Australian Government is limited in how and when it can help Australians overseas. We can't tell you what visa to get or what to do if you get into trouble. We can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

It's your responsibility to stay within the law when you're overseas. This includes making sure you've got the right visa.

Learn what we can and can’t do for Australians overseas. Read the Consular Services Charter.

Read more

  • Each country determines its own visa requirements. See general entry and exit information in the travel advisories for your destinations.
  • Read the basics of getting or renewing a passport.
  • If you travel on the wrong visa, you could get arrested or jailed.
  • Learn what we can and can’t do for Australians overseas. Read the Consular Services Charter.

See also

  • Visa requirements can change suddenly. Before you go, contact your destination's embassy or consulate in Australia for current information.
  • If you're a foreign national coming to Australia, see getting an Australian visa (Department of Home Affairs).

Related content

Visas and entry requirements in Europe and the Schengen Area

This page has general information on visa waiver agreements with European countries.

View details
Advice for dual nationals

Many Australians hold two or more nationalities. If you're travelling to the country of your other nationality, find out how your citizenship can impact you.

View details

Main navigation

  • The basics
    • Planning to travel during COVID-19: step by step
    • Destinations
    • Passport services
    • Visas
    • Insurance
    • Schengen
    • Travel advice explained
  • Who you are
    • Children
    • Dual nationals
    • LGBTI++
    • Mature
    • School leavers
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  • Staying safe
    • Armed conflict
    • Assault
    • Cyber security
    • Demonstrations
    • Earthquakes and tsunamis
    • Kidnapping
    • Natural disasters
    • Partying safely
    • Piracy
    • Scams
    • Severe weather
    • Sexual assault
    • Terrorism
    • Theft and robbery
  • Laws
    • Carrying or using drugs
    • Child sex offences
    • Female genital mutilation
    • Forced marriage
  • Getting around
    • Air travel
    • Boat travel
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Emergency consular assistance

The Australian Government provides 24-hour consular emergency assistance.

+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas

1300 555 135 from within Australia

For how we can help you overseas see the Consular Services Charter.

Enquiries and feedback

For non-urgent enquiries, or to provide feedback on consular services that you've recently received, contact us online.

For information on notarial services, email legalisations.australia@dfat.gov.au

For information about Australian visas, contact the Department of Home Affairs.

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For more information go to about us.

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Main navigation

  • HomeHome
  • Before you go
    • The basics
      • Planning to travel during COVID-19: step by step
      • Destinations
      • Passport services
      • Visas
      • Insurance
      • Schengen
      • Travel advice explained
    • Who you are
      • Children
      • Dual nationals
      • LGBTI++
      • Mature
      • School leavers
      • Women
    • Activities
      • Adoption
      • Adventure
      • Backpacking
      • Business
      • Living and working overseas
      • Marriage
      • Studying
      • Surrogacy
      • Volunteering
    • Major events
      • Cultural events
      • Religious events
      • Sporting events
    • Health
      • Mental health
      • Disability
      • Infectious diseases
      • Medical assistance overseas
      • Medical tourism
      • Medication
      • Pregnancy
      • Reciprocal health
      • Vaccinations
      • Death
    • Staying safe
      • Armed conflict
      • Assault
      • Cyber security
      • Demonstrations
      • Earthquakes and tsunamis
      • Kidnapping
      • Natural disasters
      • Partying safely
      • Piracy
      • Scams
      • Severe weather
      • Sexual assault
      • Terrorism
      • Theft and robbery
    • Laws
      • Carrying or using drugs
      • Child sex offences
      • Female genital mutilation
      • Forced marriage
    • Getting around
      • Air travel
      • Boat travel
      • Cruising
      • Public transport
      • Road safety
  • Destinations
    • View all destinations
    • AfricaBrowse destinations in Africa.
    • AmericasBrowse all destinations in the Americas.
    • AsiaBrowse all destinations in Asia.
    • EuropeBrowse all destinations in Europe.
    • Middle EastBrowse all destinations in the Middle East.
    • PacificBrowse all destinations in the Pacific.
  • While you're away
    • When things go wrong
      • Arrested or jailed
      • Lost property
      • Medical assistance
      • Money problems
      • Someone is missing
      • Someone died
    • Crime overseas
      • Assaulted
      • Kidnapped
      • Robbed or mugged
      • Scammed
      • Sexually assaulted
    • Crisis or emergency
      • Demonstration
      • Armed conflict
      • Earthquake
      • Severe weather
      • Terrorist situation
      • Volcanic eruption
      • Bushfire
      • Nuclear incident
    • Australia's biosecurity and border controls
  • Urgent helpLinks to help
  • Our servicesLinks to services
    • Consular Services Charter
      • Arabic
      • Chinese Simplified
      • Chinese Traditional
      • Indonesian
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
    • Travel advice explained
    • Subscription
    • Crises
    • Passport services
    • Notarial services
      • Documents
      • Documents in Australia
      • Documents overseas
      • Certificate of No Impediment
      • Notarial forms
    • Voting overseas
    • Communities
      • العربية (Arabic)
      • Bahasa Indonesia
      • 中文 简体 (Chinese Simplified)
      • 中文繁體 (Chinese Traditional)
      • 日本語 (Japanese)
      • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
      • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
      • Filipino community
      • Indian community
    • Resources
      • Consular State of Play
      • CHOICE travel insurance guide
      • Fact sheet: Travel Smart
      • Fact sheet: Missing overseas
      • Fact sheet: Arrested or jailed overseas
      • Fact sheet: Sexual assault overseas
      • Fact sheet: Death overseas
      • Consular Privacy Collection Statement