Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Dec 21st 2006, 6:47 am
#1
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Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
It’s about to become easier and cheaper for European Union (EU) citizens to visit Australia, said Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Amanda Vanstone.
‘From July 1, 2007, EU citizens staying in Australia for up to three months will be able to obtain electronic tourist visas and business short stay visas without paying an application charge,’ Senator Vanstone said today.
‘The change will mainly affect nationals from new EU member countries, as some European citizens can already travel free of government charges through the Electronic Travel Authority system.
‘The new EU member countries whose nationals will benefit from the move are Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
‘This initiative is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to ensuring visa reciprocity with the EU and equal treatment of all member states.
‘The Government is committed to ensuring Australians can continue to travel to one of their favourite holiday destinations – the European Union.
‘Visa fee-free access is an important part of reciprocating bilateral immigration arrangements with the EU.’
The Australian Government is also taking steps to ensure that the application process will be more convenient for EU citizens. Visa processing times will be reduced with most applications processed within minutes.
‘These initiatives will vastly improve client service and processing times for travellers from the EU,’ Senator Vanstone said.
‘Other initiatives already announced this year to improve visa access for EU citizens include a new e-visitor system for all Europeans travelling to Australia and the expansion of the existing auto-grant visa system, allowing citizens from some EU countries to have their visa approved within a few minutes of applying online at any day or time.’
The number of visitors to Australia from EU countries continues to support Australia’s tourism industry.
In 2005/2006, the number of arrivals from the 10 new member states in the EU exceeded 23,000, an increase of 24 per cent on 2003/2004.
‘From July 1, 2007, EU citizens staying in Australia for up to three months will be able to obtain electronic tourist visas and business short stay visas without paying an application charge,’ Senator Vanstone said today.
‘The change will mainly affect nationals from new EU member countries, as some European citizens can already travel free of government charges through the Electronic Travel Authority system.
‘The new EU member countries whose nationals will benefit from the move are Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
‘This initiative is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to ensuring visa reciprocity with the EU and equal treatment of all member states.
‘The Government is committed to ensuring Australians can continue to travel to one of their favourite holiday destinations – the European Union.
‘Visa fee-free access is an important part of reciprocating bilateral immigration arrangements with the EU.’
The Australian Government is also taking steps to ensure that the application process will be more convenient for EU citizens. Visa processing times will be reduced with most applications processed within minutes.
‘These initiatives will vastly improve client service and processing times for travellers from the EU,’ Senator Vanstone said.
‘Other initiatives already announced this year to improve visa access for EU citizens include a new e-visitor system for all Europeans travelling to Australia and the expansion of the existing auto-grant visa system, allowing citizens from some EU countries to have their visa approved within a few minutes of applying online at any day or time.’
The number of visitors to Australia from EU countries continues to support Australia’s tourism industry.
In 2005/2006, the number of arrivals from the 10 new member states in the EU exceeded 23,000, an increase of 24 per cent on 2003/2004.
Dec 21st 2006, 9:41 am
#2
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by optimist66
‘The change will mainly affect nationals from new EU member countries, as some European citizens can already travel free of government charges through the Electronic Travel Authority system.
Australia remains the ONLY country in the world which EVERY other country requires a visa to enter.
Buzzy
Dec 21st 2006, 9:57 am
#3
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Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 188
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee
So what's the AU$20 for the ETA then? A tip???
Australia remains the ONLY country in the world which EVERY other country requires a visa to enter.
Buzzy
Australia remains the ONLY country in the world which EVERY other country requires a visa to enter.
Buzzy
Dec 21st 2006, 10:21 am
#4
Born to be wild....
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Northants to Brisbane.
Posts: 5,450
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by optimist66
It’s about to become easier and cheaper for European Union (EU) citizens to visit Australia, said Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Amanda Vanstone.
‘From July 1, 2007, EU citizens staying in Australia for up to three months will be able to obtain electronic tourist visas and business short stay visas without paying an application charge,’ Senator Vanstone said today.
‘The change will mainly affect nationals from new EU member countries, as some European citizens can already travel free of government charges through the Electronic Travel Authority system.
‘The new EU member countries whose nationals will benefit from the move are Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
‘This initiative is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to ensuring visa reciprocity with the EU and equal treatment of all member states.
‘The Government is committed to ensuring Australians can continue to travel to one of their favourite holiday destinations – the European Union.
‘Visa fee-free access is an important part of reciprocating bilateral immigration arrangements with the EU.’
The Australian Government is also taking steps to ensure that the application process will be more convenient for EU citizens. Visa processing times will be reduced with most applications processed within minutes.
‘These initiatives will vastly improve client service and processing times for travellers from the EU,’ Senator Vanstone said.
‘Other initiatives already announced this year to improve visa access for EU citizens include a new e-visitor system for all Europeans travelling to Australia and the expansion of the existing auto-grant visa system, allowing citizens from some EU countries to have their visa approved within a few minutes of applying online at any day or time.’
The number of visitors to Australia from EU countries continues to support Australia’s tourism industry.
In 2005/2006, the number of arrivals from the 10 new member states in the EU exceeded 23,000, an increase of 24 per cent on 2003/2004.
‘From July 1, 2007, EU citizens staying in Australia for up to three months will be able to obtain electronic tourist visas and business short stay visas without paying an application charge,’ Senator Vanstone said today.
‘The change will mainly affect nationals from new EU member countries, as some European citizens can already travel free of government charges through the Electronic Travel Authority system.
‘The new EU member countries whose nationals will benefit from the move are Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
‘This initiative is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to ensuring visa reciprocity with the EU and equal treatment of all member states.
‘The Government is committed to ensuring Australians can continue to travel to one of their favourite holiday destinations – the European Union.
‘Visa fee-free access is an important part of reciprocating bilateral immigration arrangements with the EU.’
The Australian Government is also taking steps to ensure that the application process will be more convenient for EU citizens. Visa processing times will be reduced with most applications processed within minutes.
‘These initiatives will vastly improve client service and processing times for travellers from the EU,’ Senator Vanstone said.
‘Other initiatives already announced this year to improve visa access for EU citizens include a new e-visitor system for all Europeans travelling to Australia and the expansion of the existing auto-grant visa system, allowing citizens from some EU countries to have their visa approved within a few minutes of applying online at any day or time.’
The number of visitors to Australia from EU countries continues to support Australia’s tourism industry.
In 2005/2006, the number of arrivals from the 10 new member states in the EU exceeded 23,000, an increase of 24 per cent on 2003/2004.
Dec 21st 2006, 10:31 am
#5
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,316
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee
So what's the AU$20 for the ETA then? A tip???
Australia remains the ONLY country in the world which EVERY other country requires a visa to enter.
Buzzy
Australia remains the ONLY country in the world which EVERY other country requires a visa to enter.
Buzzy
Dec 21st 2006, 10:35 am
#6
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
Do kiwis need a visa to enter - I didn't think they did, but I may be wrong
Buzzy
Dec 21st 2006, 10:42 am
#7
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Posts: 9,316
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee
Kiwis do need a visa - its called SCV TR 444 and is stamped in their passports on arrival. However they can in rare cases be denied this eg if they have been convicted of serious crime.
Buzzy
Buzzy
Dec 21st 2006, 10:43 am
#8
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Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
Fair enough. Is it passports they don't need?
Buzzy
Dec 21st 2006, 10:47 am
#9
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Posts: 9,316
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee
I think you will find they need both, oh, and plane tickets....
Buzzy
Buzzy
Cheers
Dec 21st 2006, 10:49 am
#10
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Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
I just looked it up. They don't need to get a visa before travelling to Aus. They get it when they arrive. I knew they had some special arrangement.
Cheers
Cheers
it's still a visa though, unlike if Brits go to France, the US, New Zealand etc
Buzzy
Dec 21st 2006, 10:54 am
#11
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Posts: 9,316
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by Buzzy--Bee
err yes that's what I just said in post 6 above......
it's still a visa though, unlike if Brits go to France, the US, New Zealand etc
Buzzy
it's still a visa though, unlike if Brits go to France, the US, New Zealand etc
Buzzy
Dec 21st 2006, 11:01 am
#12
Victorian Evangelist
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne, by the beach, living the dream.
Posts: 7,704
Re: Australia reciprocates fee-free visa arrangements with EU
Originally Posted by MartinLuther
You just said that it was stamped on arrival you never said it was given to them on arrival. If you can't be clear don't be cocky
Kiwis like my wife and my 2 daughters get a Special Category Visa Temporary Resident Visa Number 444 on arrival in Australia and production of a New Zealand passport.Now can we get back to talking about something more serious like the price of beetroot
Buzzy
