Transiting through Australia requires a visa. If you hold an ETA, eVisitor or Visitor visa, you do not require a transit visa. About 67 nationalities are eligible to transit without a visa (TWOV). The rest must apply for a transit visa.
Australia transit visa allows you to enter and stay in Australia for up to 72 hours. Applications for transit visas must be made online through the ImmiAccount portal.
The Transit Visa has subclass 771 in Australia’s visa documentation.
Quick summary:
- Who requires it: All nationalities except 67 TWOV eligible nationalities
- Duration of stay: Up to 72 hours inside Australia
- Visa fee: Free of charge
- Processing time: 50% of applications are processed in 3 days and 90% in 17 days.
If you haven’t already, read the Australia Visa Guide to familiarize yourself with Australia visa types, requirements, eligibility and entry procedures at the border.
Table of Contents
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Understanding Australia Transit Visa
Transit visa validity
The transit visa is valid for the specific trip you submit travel plans for.
Duration of stay
You can transit in all Australian airports and seaports. You are also allowed to leave the airport/seaport and enter Australia for up to 72 hours.
Allowed number of entries
The transit visa is for a specific trip. It expires after the first entry.
Allowed ports of entry and exit
You can arrive and leave through all borders via air or sea using a transit visa.
You cannot mix these. You cannot arrive by sea and leave by air or visa versa. If you arrive by air to board a cruise ship, you will need another visa such as a maritime crew visa for crew members.
When to apply
You must apply for a transit visa right after you have concrete travel plans to transit in Australia.
You would need your confirmed flight tickets and visas to the next destination, so you would need to have concrete plans to apply for the transit visa.
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Australia Transit Visa Requirements
Who requires a Transit Visa?
A Transit Visa is required for all nationalities to transit through Australia, except for the following:
- New Zealand passport holders
- Passport holders who hold one of the following visas:
- Transit without a visa (TWOV) eligible passport holders, who don’t leave the transit zone of an airport and meet all other requirements.
To be eligible for TWOV, you must meet all of these criteria:
- You are a citizen of an Australia TWOV eligible country
- Arrive in Australia by air
- Leave Australia by air to a third country within 8 hours
- Hold all necessary documents to enter the destination country
- Do not transit overnight unless at Melbourne International Airport
In addition, TWOV is only possible at these airports:
- Adelaide (only for entry/exit on the same aircraft)
- Brisbane
- Cairns
- Darwin (only for entry/exit on the same aircraft)
- Gold Coast (only for entry/exit with the same carrier)
- Melbourne
- Perth (only for entry/exit through the same terminal)
- Sydney
If you’re transiting at any other airport, or do not meet the airport’s condition in brackets or transit overnight (except at Melbourne), then you cannot take advantage of the TWOV program and must obtain a transit visa.
Documents required
The following documents are required for an Australia transit visa.
- Passport (valid for the duration of the stay)
- National ID card (if from a country that issues them)
- Residence Permit/Visa (if residence and citizenship differ)
- One passport-size photo
- Travel plans/itinerary in Australia
- Confirmed flight ticket to a third country
- Visa for another country (if required)
- Health Insurance
At a later date, you may be required to obtain and submit the following:
- Medical Certificate
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
All non-English documents (except for police certificates) need to be translated into English and all documents’ copies (both original and translations) must be certified.
Photo requirements
The photo for the transit visa must meet the following requirements.
- Taken in the last 6 months
- Showing your head and shoulders against a plain background
- Neutral facial expression with mouth closed, eyes open, and looking at the camera
- Religious head coverings are allowed but must not obscure the face
- Piercing is allowed but must not cause any reflections or shadows
There is no official guidance for the size and resolution of pictures uploaded online but the file type must be JPG. You will get to move the photo to position your face within a frame.
As long as the picture is clear, crisp, and not excessively big, it will be accepted.
Transit visa fee
The Australian Transit Visa is free of charge.
Processing time
Australian immigration reports that 50% of applications are processed in 3 days and 90% are processed in 17 days. These periods start after you submit your biometrics.
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Transit Visa Application Process
How to apply
You must apply for the transit visa online through the ImmiAccount portal. Applying on paper is not possible for the transit visa.
The Transit Visa is part of Australia’s biometrics program. After you apply, you will be informed by email that you need to visit an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC) to have your biometrics collected. This is typically a face photo and fingerprint scan.
Find the nearest ABCC to you and follow the steps to schedule your biometric appointment.
How to track status
You can track the status of your transit visa in your ImmiAccount and also via the emails you receive from the Home Department.
How to download approved visa
You don’t need to download or print anything. The transit visa is electronically linked to your passport.
If you’re ever asked to show proof, you can use the Grant Notification you received in your email. You can also download it from your ImmiAccount under “Visa Grant Details”.
Customer service
For problems with the application, the best resource is these Self-help Guidelines. Problems with your ImmiAccount or the transit visa application, use the webform below.
Web: ImmiAccount Technical Support Form
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Procedure at the Airport
The transit visa is digitally attached to your passport so you don’t need to print anything.
When you arrive, present your passport and be ready to answer a few basic questions about your transit in Australia.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need a visa for Australia if I am in transit?
You need a visa to transit through Australia. But, if you’re from 67 TWOV eligible nationalities, transit at an eligible Australian airport, don’t exit the transit zone, and leave for a third country within 8 hours, you don’t need a transit visa for Australia.
If you don’t meet any one of these requirements or you go through immigration and enter Australia, you will need a visa.
Can you leave Sydney airport while in transit?
If you have a transit visa or any other visa that allows you to enter Australia, you can leave Sydney Airport.
If you’re using the TWOV program (you must be an eligible nationality), you must stay within the transit zone of Sydney Airport and cannot leave.
Is it difficult to get a transit visa for Australia?
It is relatively easy to get a transit visa for Australia if you submit a complete application with all required documents. Applications are entirely online, cost nothing, and processing time for 50% of applications is only 3 days.
