Visa - Frequently Asked Questions

 

BEFORE APPLYING

1.  What type of visa should I apply for?

For information about different visa options, you can use the Visa Finder. 

Back to top of page

 

2.  How can I apply for a visa?

You should lodge your application online through ImmiAccount. 

Online lodgement offers benefits such as 24/7 accessibility, faster processing, electronic payment and the ability to check the status of your application.

If you are unable to lodge an application online, you can use the Assisted Online Form Filling service offered by VFS Global in Phnom Penh. VFS will charge a fee for this service.

There is no option to lodge by mail for most visa applications.

For general information on application lodgement, click here. 

Back to top of page

 

3. I am having technical difficulties lodging my application or adding attachments online

If you experience technical difficulties applying online, please visit ImmiAccount Technical Help.

Back to top of page

 

4. My date of birth is unknown, what do I enter on my application form?

If your actual or probable date of birth is unknown (for example, your passport lists your date of birth as ‘XX/XX/YYYY’), you should record the information as it appears in the machine readable zone in your passport (usually located at the bottom of the identity page).

 Back to top of page

 

5. Do I need to undergo a health assessment?

This will depend on your personal circumstances and the visa that you have applied for. All permanent visa applicants and certain temporary visa applicants will be required to undergo health examinations as a part of the visa application process.

If you have received a request to undergo a health assessment please note:

• you must complete the examination within the requested timeframe
• you must pay any associated costs, and
• you must be examined by one of the Department’s approved panel physicians or clinics.

All necessary information to undertake the required assessment(s) is provided in our request and is also available via the Department’s website. The Department will not respond to further queries on how to action these requests.

If you have been requested to undertake a health examination there is no guarantee of a positive visa outcome. If you fail to meet the health requirement your visa may be refused, however this will depend on the visa subclass you have applied for. Some visa subclasses allow a health waiver to be exercised in certain circumstances.

For more information about the health requirement, including how to contact a panel physician near you, please click here. 

Back to top of page

 

6. Do I need to provide biometrics?

All applicants in Cambodia must complete biometrics (face photograph and fingerprint scan) collection for each application lodged, irrespective of their nationality, unless they are excluded or exempt from the program.

When you lodge your application online, you will be sent a request to provide personal identifiers (biometrics) via email. You should make an appointment to attend an Australian Biometric Collection Centre (ABCC) in person to provide your biometrics. Take a copy of that email and your identity documents, including passport, to the appointment.

For more information on Australia’s biometrics requirements, please click here.

Back to top of page

 

7. Do I need to provide a police clearance?

We may request you to obtain a police clearance.  If you receive a request, the type of checks required, and how to action them, will be included in the correspondence we send you.

For more information on the requirement to provide police clearances visit Character requirements for visas.

Back to top of page

 

8.  I am a sponsor for a partner visa, why do I need a police check?

We take the safety and security of visa applicants very seriously. To help keep visa applicants safe, if you are a sponsor of a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa applicant you will need to:

• provide Australian and/or foreign police checks when requested
• consent to us disclosing their convictions for relevant offences to the visa applicant(s).

If you do not provide this consent, the visa application will be refused. We could also refuse an application if you do not provide the police checks within a reasonable time. 

Back to top of page

 

AFTER APPLYING 

9.  How do I check the status of my application? 

Due to the volume of applications and enquiries we receive, we are not able to provide individual updates on the status of applications.

For current processing times, please click here.

Each application is unique and not all applications can be decided within the stated processing time.

If you lodged online, you can see if your application has been finalised on ImmiAccount.

Do not make travel commitments or bookings before your visa application is finalised.  We cannot be held responsible if your application is not finalised in time for your pre-booked travel. Making and paying for a travel booking cannot be accepted as reason to request urgent processing of the grant of a visa.

Back to top of page

 

10.  I lodged online but haven’t received a request to provide personal identifiers (biometrics)

When you lodge your application online, you will be sent a request to provide personal identifiers (biometrics) via email. If you have not received the email, please check your junk folder and add the homeaffairs.gov.au domain to your list of trusted and safe senders.

Alternatively, you can view a copy of any correspondence we send you in your ImmiAccount. 

To check messages:

1. log in to ImmiAccount
2. select your application
3. select 'View Details'
4. select ‘Messages’
5. select the correspondence link.

If there is no record of a Request to provide personal identifiers in your ImmiAccount, please contact us via the mailbox [email protected]

Back to top of page

 

11.  I need more time to provide personal identifiers (biometrics)

If you receive a request to provide personal identifiers (biometrics), you must do this in the timeframe requested, or your application may be refused.

Extensions are not generally provided and will only be granted in certain circumstances.

If you require more time, please submit a request to us via email to [email protected]. Please ensure your request contains supporting documentation or other information (for example, medical certificate or travel itinerary). You request will not be considered if you do not provide sufficient information.

Back to top of page

 

12.  I attended my biometrics appointment – do I need to advise the Department?

No, there is no need to advise us once you have attended your biometrics appointment.

Back to top of page

 

13.  I attended my biometrics appointment but it is still showing as ‘required’ in ImmiAccount

ImmiAccount will not show that your biometrics have been collected. You do not need to take any further action on this.

There is no need to advise us once you have attended your biometrics appointment.

Back to top of page

 

14.  I need to travel urgently – what can I do?

If your application is urgent due to compelling or compassionate reasons (for example, a close family member has become ill suddenly in Australia), please email [email protected]. Please ensure your request contains supporting documentation or other information (for example, medical certificate). Your application may not be able to be expedited if you do not provide relevant supporting evidence.

We do not consider urgent requests to travel to attend business meetings or where your flight is departing soon as genuine emergencies. We try to process all applications as quickly as we can, however we cannot be held responsible if you have pre-booked your travel and your application is not lodged early enough to allow the processing of your application. Some applications will also require us to undertake further assessments, which may take more time.

To ensure your application can be processed quickly, please ensure you submit all relevant documentation, including identity documents, and complete biometrics as soon as possible after lodgement.

Back to top of page

 

15. Can I have an extension to provide the information you have requested?

If you receive a request from the Department to provide more information or undertake additional assessments, you must do this in the timeframe requested, or your application may be refused.

• If you lodged your visa using ImmiAccount, upload your extension request and any supporting documentation to ImmiAccount.

Extensions are not generally provided and will only be granted in certain circumstances.

The Department recognises that it can take longer than the provided 28 days to obtain documentation from external agencies in relation to character requirements. You must provide evidence (such as an application receipt for a police certificate) that you are obtaining the requested documentation before an extension of time will be considered. When you have provided this evidence, you can consider an extension of the time of 28 days has been approved, unless you are advised otherwise.

Back to top of page

 

16. Have you received my documents?

Due to the large volume of correspondence received, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of documents.

• If you have applied or have uploaded documents through ImmiAccount you can login to ImmiAccount to see the current status of your application. Do not send documentation by email or through the post, unless requested to do so, as this will cause delays in processing your online application.
• If you sent your documents to the email address provided in the request we sent you, you will receive an auto-response, which acts as confirmation that we have received your correspondence.

Back to top of page

  

17. I wish to withdraw support for a Visitor visa applicant

If you wish to withdraw support for a Visitor visa applicant, contact us via our mailbox [email protected].  Your request will be forwarded to the appropriate area for consideration. We cannot discuss the progress or outcome of the application and will not respond to your request.

You may also wish to refer your enquiry to Border Watch.

Back to top of page

 

18. I wish to withdraw my sponsorship for a Partner visa applicant

If you wish to withdraw sponsorship for a Partner visa applicant, and the applicant has not yet been granted a partner visa, contact us via our mailbox [email protected] and include:

• your full name and date of birth
• transaction reference number (TRN) or file reference number (FRN) for the application
• a statement that you withdraw sponsorship from the Partner visa application

Removing an online application from ImmiAccount does not withdraw it. You must tell us in writing that you no longer want to sponsor your former partner or spouse.

Your sponsorship withdrawal will be recorded in our systems. We will not respond to your request.

If the applicant has already been granted a provisional partner visa (subclass 309 or subclass 820), please use the online form to update us about your circumstances  Partner (Permanent) Processing Centres Enquiry Form (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Importantly, please note:

• Australian privacy laws prevent us from providing you with further information in relation to your former partner’s visa application.
• Withdrawal of support for the partner visa applicant does not lead to the automatic refusal of that person’s visa application or their automatic removal from Australia. Under migration legislation the applicant may have other grounds for remaining in Australia. Following withdrawal of sponsorship, the applicant is notified of the withdrawal and invited to provide us with information supporting any claim to remain in Australia notwithstanding that withdrawal. As a former sponsor you will not be advised of the outcome of the partner visa application.

Back to top of page

 

19. I want to withdraw my application

For information on withdrawing an application that has not yet been decided, please click here.

If your application is in ImmiAccount, please attach the completed Form 1446 to your application.

If you lodged a paper application, please submit the completed Form 1446 to us via email.

Requests for refunds must be received in writing.

Important: If you withdraw your application:

• you are not eligible for a refund of the visa application charge simply because the application has been withdrawn;
• once an application is withdrawn, you cannot ask for this to be reversed; and
• you have no access to have this reviewed by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Back to top of page

 

20. Can I travel to Australia while my Partner visa is being processed?

If you wish to visit Australia while your Partner visa is being processed, you can apply for a Visitor visa.  You will need to meet all the criteria, including demonstrating you have incentive(s) to depart Australia at the end of your intended stay.  

The Visitor visa is designed to allow temporary travel to Australia for tourism purposes or to visit family and friends. It cannot be used for long-term stays or residence. To be eligible for a further Visitor visa in the future, you must maintain extended periods outside of Australia.  

You may be eligible to apply for other visas. For information about different visa options, you can use the Visa Finder. 

Back to top of page

 

AFTER DECISION

21. My application was refused – what can I do?

If your visa application has been refused, no further action can be taken by the Department.  Except in very limited legal circumstances, the Department cannot change the decision once made.

It is not possible for you or a family member to attend the Embassy to discuss your refused application or otherwise discuss your application with an Embassy staff member.  

The reasons for refusal are outlined in the decision letter.  This letter will also contain information on whether merits review is available at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) website.

It is open to you to lodge a new application and provide additional information in your new application, for example, addressing the reasons for refusal of your first application. Each application is assessed independently from the last however please note that unless you have provided new/more information, or your circumstances have changed, the decision may be the same.

Please also note that some visa refusals, or visa cancellations, prevent future visas from being granted for a temporary, or permanent, period. If your visa was refused for this reason, it will be indicated in your decision letter.  Generally such conditions apply where you have not complied with visa conditions while in Australia, have not provided accurate information with your current or past visa application, or you have had your visa cancelled for character reasons.

The Embassy will not respond to complaints or requests to reassess all or part of your application.

To lodge a complaint, provide feedback or a compliment please visit Compliments, complaints and suggestions.

Back to top of page

 

22. How do I get a copy of my visa grant notification?

If you lodged your visa application online the notification was sent to your authorised email address. If you did not provide an email address in your application the notification was sent to your authorised postal address. You can also view any notifications that we have sent to you in your ImmiAccount.

The Department will not provide another copy, but the information is available via Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO).

You do not require a copy of your grant notification to enter or exit Australia. The required visa information is linked automatically to the passport declared in your application.

Back to top of page

 

23.  I want to check my visa conditions, entitlements, or length of stay

You can check your visa status with Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO). VEVO is a free online service that gives visa holders, employers and other registered organisations access to visa entitlements and status information 24 hours a day.

Alternatively, for a fast and convenient way to view and email your visa details and conditions, download myVEVO for free from your app store.

Back to top of page

 

24.  I hold a Visitor (subclass 600) (Business stream) visa, can I visit Australia as a tourist?  

Australia allows APEC Business Travel Card holders and Visitor (subclass 600) (Business stream) visa holders to travel to Australia for non-business purposes, such as to have a holiday or visit family and friends.

Back to top of page

 

25.  I want to request a refund

Refunds can only be paid in limited circumstances.

Before requesting a refund, review the information here. If, after reviewing the information, you believe you may be eligible for a refund, log into you ImmiAccount and request a refund. If you didn’t submit your payment using ImmiAccount, complete a Form 1424 – Refund Request and submit it to us, along with relevant supporting documents, via email to [email protected].

We will not respond to incomplete refund requests. 

Back to top of page

 

26. My visa was cancelled – where can I find information?

Visa holders outside of Australia may be subject to cancellation without notice under Section 128 of the Migration Act.

As a result of the cancellation you no longer have a valid visa to travel to Australia and you may be restricted from being granted another visa.

If your visa has been cancelled, notification of the decision including the reasons for cancelling your visa have been sent to you at your nominated address for correspondence. There is no right of merits review by a Tribunal for this decision because the decision was made while you were outside the Australian migration zone.

You have the opportunity to comment, in writing, on the ground(s) for cancellation identified in the decision notification letter, and give reasons why your visa should not have been cancelled. Refer to your notification letter for instructions and further information on the request for revocation process. The Department will not review or comment on the decision without a formal request for revocation being received in writing. It is not possible for you or a family member to attend the Embassy to discuss the cancellation of the visa or discuss with an Embassy staff member.

For further information on cancellations, please click here.

For further information on re-entry bans (exclusion periods), please click here.

Back to top of page

 

OTHER INFORMATION

27. How can I update my personal and/or passport details?

If your passport or contact information changes during the processing of your application or during the life of any visa you may hold, it is important that you advise us of these changes ASAP. Failure to update the Department of any changes may result in you having issues when trying to use your visa or may prevent you from receiving important information from the Department.

Before decision

• If you lodged online, update your information through your ImmiAccount on the 'Update us' tab.
• If you lodged a paper application, please submit a Form 929 and email [email protected]. 

After decision

• If you lodged online, update your information through your ImmiAccount on the 'Update us' tab. Do not submit any changes to our office as your request will not be actioned.
• If you lodged a paper application, please submit a Form 929 to [email protected]. Do not submit any changes to our office as your request will not be actioned.

Please visit Changes in your Situation for further information.

Back to top of page

  

28. I submitted a Form 929 but have not received a response. Can I travel?

If you already hold a visa and submitted a Form 929 to [email protected], there is no need to do anything further. Do not send follow up enquiries for previously submitted forms as this further delays processing of requests.

Back to top of page

 

29. I hold an APEC Business Travel Card – where can I find information?

If you hold an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) valid for travel to Australia you are able to enter and leave Australia without lodging a separate visa application.

We are not able to respond to queries regarding ABTCs. For further information, refer to:

• APEC Business Travel Card
• Home Affairs – APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

Back to top of page

 

30. Can I claim a superannuation refund when I have worked in Australia, after I leave?

If you wish to have your money stored in your Australian superannuation fund returned to you after you leave Australia, refer to the steps on “Departing Australia Superannuation Payment” on Leaving Australia.

The Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) is coordinated by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). For further information refer to the ATO.