When will label free visa processing be introduced?
As of 1 September 2010, the Visa Office of the Australian Embassy in Brasilia will no longer be issuing visa labels for all temporary visa applications. ie student visas, business visas and visitor visas.
Why go label free?
A large number of non-citizens travelling to Australia already apply for their visa online through electronic processes and travel to Australia without the need for a visa label in their passport. Whilst these systems are not currently universally available in Brazil, label free visa processing is a clear progression towards electronic lodgement of visa applications. It will also mean that visa applicants will be notified immediately after grant of a visa decision. This will particularly benefit applicants travelling to Australia with short time frames and they will be notified as soon as a visa has been issued.
Do I still need a passport and visa to travel to Australia?
Yes. The only difference is that applicants will no longer be required to submit their passports with their visa application. A visa will instead be linked to the applicant’s passport through our computer systems. Applicants will then need to present this passport at the airport.
What documents will I have to submit instead of an applicant’s passport?
Instead of their passports, applicants will be required to submit a coloured certified photocopy of the bio page and a coloured certified copy of both sides of their national ID card. Applicants submitting poor quality photocopies will be request to submit new copies which may delay visa processing. In deciding visitor visa applications, consideration is given to prior overseas travel. Therefore, although not mandatory, applicants may wish to also submit a copy of any visas issues by other countries with their applications.
How will I be notified of a visa decision?
When a visa has been granted, applicants, authorised recipients and/or agents will be sent a letter by post or by email. This letter will be signed by the visa processing officer. To obtain the maximum benefit of label free visa processing it is strongly recommended therefore that an email address for correspondence be included in all visa applications as this will enable applicants to be notified immediately following visa grant.
What if I submit my passport with my visa application after 1 September?
The passport will be returned without a visa label. Applicants will be provided instead with a visa grant letter. The grant letter will be returned with the passport. This will increase the time taken to notify an applicant of a visa decision.
Which nationalities will go label free?
Currently only nationals from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay who apply for a temporary visa will be eligible for label free visa processing at the Brasilia Visa Office. Nationals from all other countries will be required to submit their passport even though they may be living in Brazil or have residency in Brazil.
Will I have any problems departing Brazil without a visa label for Australia?
It is very unlikely that label free visa holders will have trouble departing Brazil without a visa label in their passports.
What if I get a new passport?
If your label free visa is still valid and you obtain a new passport, you will need to notify the Visa Office in Brasilia or a Visa Office in Australia, to request that the visa in your old passport be transferred to your new passport. Visa holders who obtain a new passport and seek to enter Australia on a label free visa issued to their old passport will experience difficulties at check in.
Do I need to always carry the label free visa letter?
No. Airlines will check a visa holder’s visa status at their last point of departure before Australia. That said, check-in staff at some airports may have some concerns as to a visa holder’s right to enter Australia. It is therefore preferable while airline staff get used to label free travel to Australia, that you present your label free letter at check-in.
Can I transit through a third country with a label free visa in my passport?
If a visa holder needs a visa label to transit through a third country they will need to submit their passport with their application. Currently this only applies to people wishing to transit through the United States of America (USA). Visa holders wishing to transit through Argentina or Chile will not need a visa label to do so. Visa holders transiting through other countries such as South Africa and the Middle East will need to be cleared for entry to Australia at their last point of departure before Australia.
Are all countries in South America able free for travel to Australia?
No. The capacity to go label free is determined by a number of factors. At this stage only nationals from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay can be granted label free travel to Australia.
Will airport staff know about label free visa processing?
Yes. Information will be provided to airport staff to assist them in understanding that people travelling to Australia may not have an Australian visa label in their passport. Airport staff will also receive training on the implementation of label free visa processing.
If I have work rights attached to my visa, how will employees know that I can work in Australia?
If a visa holder has work rights attached to their visa, Australian employers, and government agencies in Australia can check visa details and entitlements by using the Department of Immigration’s online Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service. VEVO is a free online facility that allows a visa holder or organisations to check the visa entitlements of a visa holder. There are over 18,000 registered organisations using VEVO. Users include employers, Commonwealth and State government agencies, education providers and financial institutions.
How will other countries know that I have travelled to Australia?
Australia has entry and exit controls where stamps are placed in a visa holders passports. This will indicate that a person has entered and departed Australia. It will not however indicate what visa the person entered Australia on.
Disclaimer
Please note that some e-mail servers have anti spams that may prevent you from receiving e-mail communication from us including refusal and approval letters. We therefore recommend that you contact your server to allow receipt of messages from the following e-mail address - [email protected]