Australia has very many visitors every year.

If you have not previously applied for a Visitor Visa and you come from a “low risk country” then you may do so online at http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ETAAus1En.html.

A “low risk country” as at 17 September 2004 was defined by the Australian Government as being one of the following:

If you have problems getting a visa to visit Australia

Sponsored Visitor Visa

The sponsored visitor visa was been designed for people who may not be able to obtain a visitor visa due to doubt that they are genuine visitors who will abide by their visa conditions.

An Australian sponsor can provide an undertaking that their visitor will abide by visa conditions, including that they depart Australia before their visa expires.

In some cases, a financial security bond may be requested to ensure that the person leaves at the end of their visit.

The aim of the sponsored visitor visa is to:

• accommodate the many requests from relatives in Australia who wish to guarantee that their nominated guest will leave Australia before the expiry of their visa
• reduce the high non-return rates for applicants from some countries
• emphasise to sponsors the importance of their undertakings, and
• emphasise to visitors the need to abide by their visa conditions.

The three key features of the visa are:

• a mandatory sponsorship
• a discretionary security bond
• penalties that will apply to the sponsor if the visitor breaches visa conditions.

In the Sponsored Family Visitor (Short Stay), only relatives and Federal, State and Territory Members of Parliament, government agencies and local government mayors can provide a sponsorship.

A relative is defined in the Migration Regulations as a spouse, parent, brother, sister, child, adopted child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild and the 'step' or adopted equivalents of these.

There are no provisions for fiancé, in-laws, cousins or friends or partners of the same sex to provide a sponsorship.

A sponsor must be a settled Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 years or older in Australia. Sponsors are only able to sponsor one person (or one family unit or one business delegation) at a time.

The sponsorship application must be lodged at the overseas office together with the visitor visa application form and the correct visa application charge.

The security bond
The sponsored visitor visa also enables Immigration officers to request a security bond, which may be forfeited if the visitor breaches visa conditions.

The amount of the security bond is determined on a case by case basis by the Australian Government office overseas, and may range from A$5,000 - A$15,000 per person.

The bond enables the Government to recoup some of the costs incurred in locating and removing visitors who breach visa conditions and become illegal.

You will be advised what to do if a security bond is required. It must be paid in full in Australia before a final decision can be made on the application.

The security bond is not payable at offices of the Australian Government overseas.

Refunds are arranged once the visitor has lawfully left Australia. Information on refunds is provided at the time the bond is requested.

The security bond will normally not be refunded if the visitor stays longer than the period authorised on their sponsored visitor visa or is granted another temporary or permanent visa.

Visa conditions and penalties
The sponsored visitor visa is for a maximum stay of three months.

Conditions attached to the visas are:

• 8101 - no work
• 8503 - no further stay
• 8531 - must depart within the validity of the Sponsored Visitor visa
• 8205 - where relative over 16 years and intends to study for a period greater than four weeks, they must pass an X-ray examination.

If for any reason the visitor does not depart before their sponsored visitor visa expires, or if hey breach any of their visa conditions, penalties will be imposed upon the sponsor. This may include forfeiture of the security bond and ineligibility to provide further sponsorships under this visa class for five years.

If a request for waiver of the no further stay condition is made, which results in the visitor remaining in Australia after their sponsored visitor visa expires, it will be taken that the 'must leave before visa expiry' condition has been breached. Penalties will then be imposed upon the sponsor, even if the no further sta condition is waived and a further visa is granted.

If you come from a country other than one that is listed above then we may be able to help, in that case you should

Click here to take your online Pre-qualification Test.