COVID-19 and the Australian Border
From 6 July 2022 - all COVID-19 border restrictions to be lifted
People travelling to Australia will no longer have to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status. See Home Affairs Media release 3 July 2022
The changes also mean that all visa holders can travel to Australia without needing a travel exemption.
The best way to find out information about immigration and citizenship is by visiting the Department of Home Affairs website: Department of Home Affairs.
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, you can contact the Department of Home Affairs Global Service Centre on telephone +61 2 6196 0196, or visit: Contact us (homeaffairs.gov.au). The Global Service Centre is available Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm (GMT +1, German time).
Key Topics
Australian Citizenship |
Explore Visa Options |
Visa processing times |
Providing Biometrics |
Update personal details |
Changing visas |
Health requirements |
Importing goods and medication |
Known issues with German passports |
Frequently Asked Questions |
Work and Holiday - Status of Country Cap |
Temporary Changes to visa work conditions for Students and Working Holiday Makers
On 19 January 2022, the Australian Government announced a series of visa measures to provide an incentive for fully vaccinated Student and Working Holiday Maker visa holders to return to Australia as soon as possible. These measures are to help address current workforce shortages caused by COVID-19.
Amongst other changes, the measures include:
- Refunds of Visa Application Charges
Working Holiday Maker visa holders who are currently offshore and come to Australia during the next 12 weeks (namely on or before 19 April 2022) will be eligible for a refund of their Visa Application Charge.
For a full copy of the press release please see Joint media release with the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP - Student and Working Holiday Maker visa holders (homeaffairs.gov.au)
There is also a News item on the Department of Home Affairs website at News (homeaffairs.gov.au)
For information about visa options and any government announcements on visa or travel changes, please regularly review the Department of Home Affairs website at https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
Online-only lodgement for Visitor visa (subclass 600)
The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) is introducing 100 per cent online lodgement for Visitor visas (subclass 600). The changes will be introduced in two phases commencing from September 2021. Following these changes, paper applications will not be accepted as valid for lodgement:
- From 30 September 2021 (phase 1), all applicants applying for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) from outside Australia in any stream must lodge their application online via ImmiAccount. Applicants applying for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) in Australia in the Tourist stream may lodge their application online via ImmiAccount or by posting their application to the Sydney office. The courier option will no longer be available.
- From early 2022 (phase 2), all applicants applying for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) in Australia in the Tourist stream must lodge their application online via ImmiAccount.
How can I apply for a Visitor visa online?
ImmiAccount is an online service that provides a simple, efficient and convenient way to apply for a visa. You can create an ImmiAccount, select the visa type you want to apply for, attach documents, submit family applications together and pay the application fee online at https://online.immi.gov.au
You can also get help from a family member, friend or migration agent to submit your application if required.
Australian Visa Application Centres outside Australia may also offer assisted online lodgement services, depending on local country arrangements.
Where can I get additional information?
Information about these changes will be updated on the Department’s website for each Visitor visa (subclass 600) stream page. A list of all streams is at:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600
Information and guidance about applying online and using ImmiAccount is available on the Department’s website at:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/applying-online-or-on-paper/online
Applying for Australian Citizenship by Descent
You may be eligible for Australian citizenship by descent if you were born outside Australia and one (or both) of your parents at the time of your birth was also an Australian citizen at that time. Check your eligibility before you apply.
Apply online through ImmiAccount. More information about how to apply is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Information about processing times is also available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Applying for Evidence of Australian citizenship
An Australian citizenship certificate is an official document that shows that a person is an Australian citizen. If you meet requirements, you can get a certificate, or replace one that has been lost, destroyed or damaged. Check your eligibility before you apply.
Apply online through ImmiAccount. More information about how to apply is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Information about processing times is also available on the Department of Home Affairs website.
Beware of visa scams
To avoid being scammed, you can check the Register of Migraiton Agents on the OMARA website at www.mara.gov.au, to receive the protections of an OMARA registered Migration Agent.
There are Australian registered Migration Agents working around the world in countries such as India, the United Kingdom, China and New Zealand, just to name a few . These agents are subject to the same Code of Conduct, professional development and regulations as Registered Migration Agents based in Australia. More information about Australia's efforts to ensure the integrity of the migration advice profession is available at www.mara.gov.au.
Locations for providing biometrics
There is no biometrics collection centre in Germany. If you are in Europe and have received a requirement to provide biometrics, the nearest biometrics collection centre may be in France or Greece. Further information is available at https://visa.vfsglobal.com/fra/en/aus/ and https://visa.vfsglobal.com/grc/en/aus/
Australia - Switzerland trainee program
For information on the Memorandum of Understanding on trainees between Australia and Switzerland, see https://germany.embassy.gov.au/beln/Swiss_trainee_exchange.html
Applying for a partner visa
Information about applying for a partner visa is available at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/partner-offshore. For answers to some Frequently Asked questions, see https://germany.embassy.gov.au/beln/Partner_FAQ_en.html
Applying for a student visa
Information about applying for a student visa is available at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500. For further information, see https://germany.embassy.gov.au/beln/student_engl.html
What's New?
21 November 2019: Please help the Australian Government improve its new Digital Assistant online chat for Visa and citizenship enquiries
We are currently trialling a new Digital Assistant online chat that will make it easier and faster to find answers to Australian visa and citizenship questions.
The Digital Assistant trial will be available on the Australian Government’s Immigration and Citizenship website pages for approximately three months. You can open the Australian Visa and Citizenship Digital Assistant by clicking on the ‘Digital Assistant’ orange tab located at the bottom right hand side of the screen on our Immigration and Citizenship webpages. We are asking for your help to improve the Digital Assistant by using it as much as possible throughout the trial for your Australian visa and citizenship questions, and sending any feedback you have on the Digital Assistant. Feedback can be provided by clicking on the blue feedback tab at the bottom of the screen.