| A visa generally refers to a formal endorsement which | | | | If ever you belong to any of the countries approved |
| is endowed by a certain government on a person's | | | | for this visa, you may apply online. Once you're on the |
| passport, and this denotes that the individual's passport | | | | official government web site, click on the "Apply for |
| has been thoroughly checked and found valid by the | | | | ETA" button, and thoroughly read as well as accept |
| country he or she wishes to visit. This also allows the | | | | the information stated. An ETA application has a A$20 |
| bearer to legally travel to his or her destination. An | | | | application fee levied, but you could use your credit |
| entry visa indicates that the bearer has gotten official | | | | card to pay for this too. Next, provide all personal |
| permission to enter a country as a visitor, but this does | | | | information required. Once you complete all necessary |
| not however guarantee outright admission. The other | | | | forms and provide the pertinent information, start |
| major purpose of a visa is to allow a government to | | | | waiting for approval. According to Australian visa |
| limit, as well as control, the entry of aliens into a | | | | experts, most applications made online are approved |
| country. Generally, there are two types of visas | | | | or denied in 30 seconds. However, if you encounter |
| commonly issued, and these are the passport entry | | | | any delays, you may re-check your status every 12 |
| visa and the immigrant entry visa. The passport entry | | | | hours, to verify your ETA application status. |
| visa allows for the person to visit the country on a | | | | For those who wish to do business Down Under, |
| specified duration, while the immigrant visa is given to | | | | special business visas are also offered. However, the |
| those who want to settle permanently in that country. | | | | length of stay for business travelers who get this type |
| So how should one get an Australian Visa? | | | | of visa will depend on the agreement that will be met |
| Based on information posted on the Australian | | | | upon after the person consults the Australian visa |
| Government's official web site, most visa applications | | | | office. Business visa are usually valid for up to 5 years. |
| are approved or denied in 30 seconds, but there will be | | | | There are also temporary visas for those who wish to |
| times when the standard application process takes a | | | | go to Australia to do some special activities like |
| bit longer to undertake. For starters, the most common | | | | sporting competitions, entertainment performances, or |
| Australian visa issued is the Electronic Travel Authority | | | | temporary short-stay company assignments. Those |
| or ETA. This is valid for 12 months from the date of | | | | wishing to be granted temporary residence visas in this |
| issue, and allows for multiple visits to Australia with up | | | | country however need to be sponsored by an |
| to three months for each visit. Applications for these | | | | Australian company or organization. Those who get |
| are usually quick, and the applicant will know the result | | | | temporary residence visas need to remember that the |
| in a short span of time. In getting an ETA however, | | | | exact length of the stay indicated on the document |
| you first need to check if you're qualified for this. | | | | needs to be strictly complied, and when the visa |
| Foremost, only passport-holding individuals from | | | | expires and you still need to stay quite longer, then you |
| selected nations like the United Kingdom, the United | | | | are advised to immediately consult with the country's |
| States and Canada are allowed to apply for an ETA. | | | | Department of Immigration and Multicultural affairs |
| You could check out the complete list of eligible | | | | office. Failure to do so will incur the person a hefty fine, |
| countries from the Australian Government web site. | | | | along with the imposition of other penalties. |