Section 1: General Information

1. Who needs a visa for Australia?
Everyone, other than Australian citizens, requires a visa or authority to enter Australia.

2. What kind of visa should I apply for?
The category of visa you apply for depends on the purpose of your visit. You can use the Visa Wizard facility of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website http://www.immi.gov.au/visawizard/ to assist you with determining which visa category to apply for and the requirements for that category of visa.

3. When should I apply for a visa?
You should apply as early as possible, and well ahead of your intended date of travel.
The average processing times of visa applications depend on the category of visa being applied for. See: http://www.fiji.embassy.gov.au/suva/visa_visiting.html

4. What documents are required with a visa application?
The documents required depend on what visa you are applying for. Please refer to the TTS website for specific information on checklist requirements.
It is your responsibility to ensure that an application is complete and accompanied by relevant documents and information. An incomplete application form and/or the absence of required or relevant information and documents may result in delays in processing or in the application being refused.

5. Do I need to submit original documents?
No. You must submit certified copies of original documents.

6. How do I find out about the progress of my application?
If you have lodged a visa application through TT Services, you can track the location of your passport on line at the “Track Your Application” section of this website or you can contact TTS. Kindly quote your passport number or TTS Unique Receipt Number for all status enquiries made on TT Services.
Clients can choose to also receive a SMS and Email alerts at various stages of their application via the contact number and email address provided at the time of lodgment. This service is optional and additional charges apply.

Stage I: Your application is forwarded to the Australian Mission for processing.

Stage II: Application is received by Australian Mission for processing.

Stage III: A decision has been made, and is either “sent by courier” or “Ready for collection”.

Stage IV: Outcome of application is collected from Australia Visa application centre in the Pacific Region.
TT Services is unable to provide information on the status of application assessment or the decision taken on an applicant’s visa application.
Please note that Australian privacy legislation generally prevents the Australian High Commission, Embassy or Consulate General from disclosing information about visa applications to anyone other than the applicant. This means that if someone contacts the High Commission, Embassy or Consulate General to inquire on your behalf, they will not be able to provide them with any information unless you have provided written authorization.

7. Who decides if I will get a visa?
The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship assesses and decides all visa applications.
TT Services staff are not employees of the Australian Government and do not have the authority to assess or decide applications.

8. What is the role of TTS?
TT Services is the Service Delivery Partner (SDP) for the Australian Government’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), in the Pacific Region.
The role of TT Services is to accept visa applications and to dispatch passports and documents back to applicants, on behalf of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
TT Services does not play any part in or influence the outcome of your visa application. If a TT Services employee claims to be able to influence your visa application, you should inform the Australian High Commission office immediately.

9. Which visa applications can I lodge with TT Services?
Some visas and other applications are processed in Australia in specialized processing centres, which are listed at
http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/australia/processing-centres/index.htm
TTS can only accept applications for visa categories that can only be lodged and processed offshore.
Some of the common visa and other applications that can be lodged in the Pacific Region, through TTS include:

• Visitor visas
• Student visas
• Spouse migration visas,
• Child migration visas,
• Temporary business short stay visas and certain business long stay visas
• Evidencing
• Transit visa
• Citizenship by descent
• NZ Family Member

Categories that are not accepted by TT Services include Applications for Australian Citizenship, Humanitarian and Refugee visas, Skilled Migration visas, Parent Migration visas, Sponsored Visitor visas, Entertainment visas, and Temporary Business Long Stay Visas, where the sponsoring business is in Australia.

10. Where can I apply for grant of Australian Citizenship?
Applications for Australian Citizenship may be lodged at the Australian High Commission, Embassy or Consulate. TT Services does not accept applications for Australian Citizenship. For further information on citizenship applications, please refer to www.citizenship.gov.au.

11. Can I submit my passport to receive a visa label through TTS if my visa application was processed and approved in Australia?
Yes. If you have lodged an application for a visa in Australia and you have been advised in writing by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Office in Australia that your visa has been granted, you can submit your passport to our office to receive a visa label.
Before you submit a passport for stamping of a visa label, please ensure that you have a blank page in your passport and the passport itself is not damaged.

12. Can TTS assist me in completing my Visa Application Form?
TTS employees are not permitted to assist applicants in completing their visa application forms or to endorse any information contained in an application.

13. Where are TTS Australia Visa Application Centres located?
For the complete address of the Australian Visa Application Centre, nearest to you, visit the “Contact us” section under relevant country.
You can also send your applications through Post/Courier to the Australian Visa Application Centre.

14. Do I need an appointment to lodge my application with TTS?
Individual applicants do not need an appointment to lodge their application.
Travel Agents, or others wishing to lodge more than 10 applications at a time, should make an appointment through phone or e-mail with TTS, to avoid delays. TTS contact details are provided in the "Contact Us” section of this website.

15. Do I need to use a migration agent to lodge my application?
No. You are not required to use a migration agent.
However, if you intend to use a migration agent you are strongly advised to use a registered migration agent. A list of registered migration agents is available from the Migration Agents Registration Authority website. You can authorise a migration agent to act on your behalf by completing and lodging Form 956 - Appointment of Migration Agent, which can be downloaded free of charge from the DIAC website.

16. What is required for a valid visa application?
To make a valid visa application, applicants must:

• Submit the correct visa application form;
• Pay the correct visa application fee

Note. There is an additional TTS Service Charge.
You should also provide all required documents and relevant information. Incomplete applications may take longer to process and may result in visa refusal.
Please make sure that you use a current application form. Forms can be downloaded from www.immi.gov.au/allforms/application-forms/ or can be collected from any Australian Visa Application Centre.

17. How do I pay?
Applicants are required to pay a Visa Application Charge (Visa fee), and a TT Services service charge.
Visa Fee
The visa fee must be paid in local currency. Payment options are available at Australian Visa Application Centres.
Applicants can also organise their visa fee paid on their behalf, in Australia at a DIAC Office. For information regarding payment in Australia, please visit http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/how-to-pay.htm.
TTS Service Charge
TTS service fees can be paid in cash.
To find out about visa fee and TTS service charge amounts, please visit the “Visa Fees” & “Our Service Fee” section of this website

19. How will my application and/or passport be returned to me?
Visa decision outcomes and passports can either be couriered to applicants or collected from the TTS counter at an Australian Visa Application Centre.
Courier Service
Should you request to use the courier service, please provide the correct return address at the time of lodgment. If the applicant has an authorized recipient (through form 956); the passport will be couriered to the address provided by the authorized recipient.

20. I have got a new Passport but have a valid Australian visa on my old passport. Can I travel?
Yes, you can travel with a valid Australian visa on your old passport by carrying both the old and new passport together. However, this does not apply for ETAs where new passport details must be entered.

Section 2: Medical Requirements

21. Am I required to undergo a medical examination or chest X-Ray?
All applicants for a visa to Australia must meet the health requirement. Whether you are required to undergo a medical examination and/or chest x-ray depends on your age, how long you intend to stay in Australia and your intended activity in Australia.
The DIAC processing office will advise you if you need to have a medical check or an x-ray.

22. Where can I get my medical examination or chest X-Ray done?
If required, the medical examination must be undertaken by a nominated Panel Doctor. Please visit the Panel Doctor section of this website to find out the contact details of panel doctors.

23. Can I undertake medical examinations before lodging the application?
It is preferred that applicants are notified by the DIAC post before undertaking medicals. Please note that medicals are only valid for one year.
Further information about medicals, panel doctors and the medical forms is at
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/health-requirements/index.htm

Section 3: ETA

24. What is ETA?
An ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) is equivalent to a visa, but there is no stamp or label in the passport and there is no need for the applicant to visit an Australian diplomatic office to submit an application. Only citizens of certain countries are eligible to apply for an ETA. For more information on ETA and eligibility, please see www.eta.immi.gov.au

25. Can I submit my Passport for ETA at TTS?
Yes, you can submit your passport for ETA at TTS Visa Application Centre. There is no Visa fee for an ETA lodged with TTS; however, there is a TTS Service Charge for the processing of an ETA Application.

Section 4: eVisitor

26. What is eVisitor?

An eVisitor can only be applied for online and applicants must be outside Australia to be granted a eVisitor. For more information on how to apply and eligibility, please see http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/evisitor.htm