How to Apply For an Australia Tourist Visa from Nigeria

Australia Tourist / Visitor visa

Australian Tourist visa or Australian visitor visa is a temporary visa issued by the Department of Home Affairs, Australia, to Non-Australian citizens to:

Visit their family members, friends, or relatives who are based in Australia
Visit Australia as a tourist, other than for work or medical treatment.

The question which comes to mind is, ‘how long can I stay in Australia with a tourist visa?’

Australia Tourist/Visitor visa can be a single entry or multiple entry. It entirely depends upon the purpose of the visit to the applicant. Generally, Australia Tourist/ Visitor visa grants a stay period of 3 months, but you can get a stay of up to 12 months with the Australia Tourist/Visitor Visa in certain circumstances.

Even based on your Australian tourist/ visitor visa, you have the right to study or get trained for up to 3 months.

Please note- the Australian government may grant Australia Tourist/ Visitor visa to an applicant for up to 5 years where if you are the parent of Australian PR holders or citizens.

An Australian Tourist visa will be issued only if you,

intend to come to Australia for visit purposes
have enough funds to stay in Australia and travel to Australia
not to get involved in any job or business in Australia

Australia Tourist / Visitor Visa Requirements

There are no specific criteria for an Australian Tourist Visa; however, meeting the below requirements will increase your chances of getting approval for an Australia Tourist/Visitor Visa.

Be a genuine visitor.
While an Australian visa officer assesses your Australian Tourist/Visitor Visa application, they will check whether you are a genuine visitor. You will stay temporarily in Australia or intend to live or work in Australia. So always prepare your Australia tourist visa file in a way that proves your purpose is only to visit Australia for a short period before the expiry of the visa; you will leave Australia.
Have enough money
Have sufficient money in your account to play an essential role in Australian tourist/ visitor visa decision-making. So it is always advisable to maintain sufficient funds or money to support your travel expenses.
Have health insurance
Although it is not mandatory to have Health insurance, we recommend you take out health insurance to cover any unforeseen medical treatment.
Good Health
You may have health examinations to prove your health condition, and if you suffer from any diseases, you will not be permitted to enter Australia.

1. Tuberculosis
2. HIV / AIDS
3. Cancer

Other essential requirements for an Australian tourist visa application:

1. Home Attachment
2. Fixed annual Income
3. Invitations from Australia will add an advantage.
4. Flight tickets
5. NOC

How to apply for Australia Tourist/ Visitor Visa?

To apply for an Australian Tourist / Visitor visa, you need to follow the below steps.

Step 1: Gather your documents.

The first step towards Australia tourist visa/ Australia visitor visa is document preparation. So gather the required supportive documents per the Australia tourist visa document checklist. Kindly note that all the documents must be translated into English. Also, the clarity of the scanned documents and photos must be legible and up to the standards.

Step 2: Apply for an Australian Tourist Visa

Once you prepare all the required documents, selecting the appropriate Australian tourist/ visitor visa subclass is crucial. The type of Australian tourist visa subclass depends upon the purpose you would like to be served.

Australia has the following major subclass to apply for Australia Tourist / Visitor visas.

1. Australia Tourist / Visitor visa (subclass 600);
2. Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601); and
3. E- Visitor (subclass 651)

After you choose the correct visa subclass, you can apply for your Australia Tourist visa by following the steps:

1. Create or log in to the ‘ImmiAccount’ profile;
2. Attach Australia tourist/visitor visa application Form 1419;
3. Submit your supportive documents; and
4. Pay Application fee

Step 3: Visa outcomes

Once a decision is made on your Australia Tourist/ visitor visa application, the DHA will inform you. Department of Home Affairs, Australia also has the authority to ask for any other documents on the,

1. Biometrics, or
2. Health examinations

Once your Australia tourist visa application is approved, you will receive your visa grant number and the date your visa starts from.

If your Australia Tourist/ Visitor visa application is refused, DHA will inform you in writing. You will also be conveyed whether you can appeal or review the visa decision.

Australian Tourist Visa Documents Checklist

Below you can find the documents that you are required to submit to apply for an Australian Tourist/ Visitor Visa:

Personal Documents

To apply for an Australian tourist/visitor visa, you need the following personal documents:

1. An original passport with a strict six months validity;
2. Two passport-size photographs;
3. Any national ID proof;
4. A copy of your PAN Card or Aadhar Card;
5. Marriage Certificate (if applicable); and
6. Date of Birth certificate

Financial Statement

To prove you have sufficient money/funds to support your trip, you must provide your bank account’s six months bank statement.

Income Tax Return

You need to provide your last three financial years filed Income Tax Returns (ITR).

Accommodation details

You must provide accommodation details in Australia if you apply for an Australia tourist visa. Itinerary detail, and if you are filing visitor visa, then the fact of your relative/ friend where you will be staying.

Cover letter

An attractive cover letter containing all the details regarding your purpose of visit to Australia, such as passport, travel details, and details of the person who will bear all your expenses while you are in Australia based on an Australia tourist visa.

Invitation letter

If your family members/blood relatives/friends are sponsoring you, it is requisite to attach their details, such as an Initiation letter, Residence proof, utility bills, etc.

Other documents you may need for an Australia visitor visa are given below:

1. Travel insurance;
2. Reservations, i.e., flight tickets;
3. The hotel booking confirmation;
4. Home attachment;
5. Proof of being a genuine visitor; and
6. NOC code Employers

Please note- You must translate all required documents into English. Please note that the documents required may vary from case to case. It depends upon the applicant’s circumstances.

Australian Tourist Visa Processing Cost

To apply for an Australian tourist/ visitor visa, you need to pay the Australian tourist/ visitor visa cost.

Australian tourist visa cost is AUD 145 for each applicant.

You also have a chance to process your Australia visa application in a fast-track way, where you will get a decision within two days.

Australian Tourist visa fast track cost is AUD 1000 for each applicant in addition to the Australia tourist visa application fee.

How to pay Australian Tourist Visa Cost?

You can use any one of the following ways to pay the Australian tourist visa fee:

1. Credit Card;
2. PayPal;
3. UnionPay; or
4. BPAY

If you are paying through a credit card, the following credit cards will be acceptable:

1. MasterCard;
2. VISA;
3. American Express (AMEX);
4. Diners Club; and
5. JCB

A surcharge is also applicable if you use a credit card.

Australia Tourist / Visitor Visa Processing time

Australian tourist/ visitor visa processing time varies from case to case. Providing correct information and a complete set of documents speeds up your Australia tourist visa application decision and increases the chances of approval.

Please find below the current processing time for Australia tourist/ visitor visa applications.

75% of applications in 3 months
90% of applications in 7 months

Australian tourist/visitor visa may take a longer time based on the below-given conditions:

If the application forms are filled incorrectly;
If you do not respond quickly on ADR from DHA;
If verification takes time; and
If the required fee is paid or not

How much is the bank balance required for an Australian Tourist Visa?

You need to show certain funds to support your application for an Australian tourist visa. Funds requirements depend upon the number of applicants and the intended duration of the visit.

For a single applicant – AUD1,000-1,200 if you apply to stay for one month.

For a couple of applicants – AUD1,500-1,800 if you apply to stay for one month.

For each additional applicant, you are required to pay AUD 500.

Kindly note- Providing proof of required funds is not enough; you must also provide maintenance proof for a minimum of 3 months.