Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
passport, a completed visa application
form, and the appropriate payment to
your nearest Australian embassy or
consulate. In the United States,
Canada, the United Kingdom, Ire-
land, and many other countries, most
agents and airlines are ETA-compati-
ble. You will also need to go the old-
fashioned route if you are someone
other than a tourist or a business trav-
eler—for example, a student studying
in Australia; a businessperson staying
longer than 3 months; a long-term
resident; a sportsperson; a member of
the media; a performer; or a member
of a social group or cultural exchange.
If you fall into one of these categories,
you will need to apply for a Tempo-
rary Residence visa. There is a A$65
(US$42) fee for non-ETA tourist and
business visas for stays of up to 3
months, and A$160 (US$104) for
business visas for stays between 3
months and 4 years. Non-ETA visa
application fees for other kinds of
travelers vary, from nil to thousands of
dollars. Contact the nearest Australian
embassy, consulate, or high commis-
sion to check what forms of payment
they accept.
Apply for non-ETA visas at Aus-
tralian embassies, consulates, and high
commissions. In the United States,
apply to the Australian Embassy, 1601
Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20036 ( & 202/797 3000; dima-
washington@dfat.gov.au). The web-
site of the Australian Embassy in
North America is www.austemb.org.
In Canada, contact the Australian
High Commission, 50 O'Connor St.,
No. 710, Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2
( & 613/783 7665; www.ahc-ottawa.
org). For business-visa inquiries in the
United States and Canada, call & 800/
579 7664. In the United Kingdom
and Ireland, contact the Australian
High Commission, Australia House,
The Strand, London WC2B 4LA
( &
recorded information, or 020/7379
4334; www.australia.org.uk). You can
obtain an application form for a non-
ETA visa via the Internet at the Aus-
tralian Department of Immigration
and Multicultural Affairs website
(www.immi.gov.au). This site also has
a good explanation of the ETA system.
Allow at least a month for process-
ing of non-ETA visas.
For information on how to get a
passport, go to the “Fast Facts” section
of this chapter—the websites listed
provide downloadable passport appli-
cations as well as the current fees for
processing passport applications. For
an up-to-date country-by-country list-
ing of passport requirements around
the world, go the “Foreign Entry
Requirement” Web page of the U.S.
State Department at http://travel.
state.gov/foreignentryreqs.html.
CUSTOMS
WHAT YOU CAN BRING
INTO AUSTRALIA
The duty-free allowance in Australia is
A$400 (US$260) or, for those under
18, A$200 (US$130). Anyone over 18
can bring in up to 250 cigarettes or
250 grams of cigars or other tobacco
products, 1.125 liters (41 fl. oz.) of
alcohol, and “dutiable goods” to the
value of A$400 (US$260), or A$200
(US$130) if you are under 18.
“Dutiable goods” are luxury items
such as perfume, watches, jewelry,
furs, plus gifts of any kind. Keep this
in mind if you intend to bring pres-
ents for family and friends in Aus-
tralia; gifts given to you also count
toward the dutiable limit. Personal
goods that you're taking with you are
usually exempt from duty but if you
are returning with valuable goods that
you already own, file form B263. Cus-
toms officers do not collect duty of
less than A$50 (US$33) as long as you
declared the goods in the first place. A
helpful brochure, available from Aus-
tralian consulates or Customs offices,
020/09065 508900 for 24-hr.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search