Applications for an E visa must be done through an Australian embassy or consulate in your home country. You will then need to come to Australia as a visitor, with a visit of up to three months.
During this time you can look for employment, so it’s important to make sure that everything is legal before applying. Once you have found employment, you can apply for residency at a later date!
If you are already living in Australia as a resident, there is no need to reapply for citizenship unless you want to change your national identity card (for example, due to marriage).
In order to prove your income, residence in Canada, and ability to pay for an extended stay in Australia, you will need to provide appropriate documentation. You do not have to bring every document with you while visiting, but you should be prepared!
It is best to gather as many of these documents as possible before leaving home so that you are not rushing during your trip. This way you can easily pick and choose what to include or omit depending on how much time you have at a specific location.
Some of the more common documents includes; proof of Canadian citizenship, proof of permanent residency (this does not mean just a work visa!), bank statements, tax returns, and evidence of monthly expenses. Make sure to keep all of these in a safe place, separate from other documents.
You do not want to lose any key pieces due to theft or accident.
It is completely free to apply for an E visa if you meet the qualifications, but you will need to pay a small administration or filing fee. This cost typically ranges from $100-$200 depending on how many documents you include in your file and whether you are applying online or through our office.
There is no time limit on when you can apply for this visa so you do not have to wait until after you leave Canada to be able to stay here.
For those seeking an E visa, one of the biggest hurdles is proving you have enough money to live in Canada or move here long term. This can be tricky as most countries do not require this as a requirement for citizenship.
Typically, employers are asked to attest to your employment eligibility by confirming that there is sufficient income to support yourself and your family. If you cannot prove this through pay stubs, job descriptions, direct deposit receipts, or other records, then it may be difficult to come up with the necessary funding.
There are many ways to fulfill this financial obligation. You could speak with friends, relatives, and/or coworkers about investing in apartments or houses, opening business accounts such as credit cards or loans, or looking at online resources to find sources of capital.
General tips: Do not overspend so much that you run out of money quickly- unless you have a plan B! Also remember that everything you own belongs to someone else (i.e., house, car, savings), and they might try to take back what you have if things go south.
After you have gathered all of your documents, set up an appointment at one of our visa centers around the world to apply. Make sure to check with us first to see if there is any processing time due to high demand!
Our consultants will go through all of your documents and information and ask about your plans after you arrive in Australia. They will also do a quick review of your applications to make sure everything is correct and that you have not left anything out!
We recommend doing this as soon as possible after arriving in Sydney or Melbourne so that you don’t need to wait until later to start applying.
After receiving your visa application, it will be reviewed by Australian authorities before being approved or denied. This process can take anywhere from several days to weeks, especially during high season when there are many applications.
In some cases, you’ll be notified that your application has been rejected and why. In other cases, you’ll receive no explanation at all. If this happens, you’ll need to start the visa processing journey again!
You should keep in touch with Australia Immigration via their website or app to find out the status of your application. You can also call them directly to check on its progress. They may even send you an email update if one is available.
After you have received your E-Visa, you will need to pay an additional VISA FEE. This is typically done through online methods or at a Visa Centre location.
There is no specific timing as to when this should be paid, however it is advised that you do so within six months of applying for the visa. It is also important to remember who you are paying this money back to!
As mentioned before, the Australian Government does not exist in the form of large organisations, rather there are various levels that play a part in processing visas. Therefore, it is essential to know which organisation you will be refunding your fees to!
The most common ones are embassies, international consulates and other related government agencies. Make sure you check with these individuals to see if any refunds are available!
General Refund Provisions
Under Section 65 of the Immigration Regulations (IR), IR65(1) states that “the Minister may direct that all or some payments under this regulation shall be returned”.
This can include both the application and subsequent payment fees. If the regulations allow it, you can get a full refund up until one year after you leave Australia. You would then need to prove that you have departed country grounds and documents proving this must be kept for three years.
Proof of departure ground such as plane tickets, house rentals or vehicle registrations means that you meet the requirements.
A common way to work while on an E visa is as a consultant or independent contractor. As such, you will need to prove that you are running your own business by showing proof of business ownership (such as a business license) and a documented office space where you conduct business.
It’s also important to understand what documents count as evidence of employment. Make sure to have at least two copies of each!
CTPs like The Smart Visas Guide‘s “I Work Here” checklist can help make this process easier for you. This article goes into more detail about some of the other items on this list.
If you have received an email confirming that your application has been accepted, then you are now ready to travel!
Before leaving for the airport, make sure to check if there’s anything you need to do before arriving at the destination country. For example, you may be required to complete certain forms or procedures within a specific time frame, so don’t forget them!
In addition to this, some countries require you to remain there for a set period of time after landing, which can be very difficult to coordinate when you are travelling abroad.
So once again, double check before departing! Luckily, our website offers helpful information about how to apply for an E visa for Australia.
