Australia visit visa for Pakistan passport holders

Pakistani passports cannot use Australia's quick online travel authorities. The ETA is limited to the passports on Australia's eligible list, and eVisitor is for European passports. Pakistani travellers apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead, and for a holiday or a visit to family and friends that means its Tourist stream, applied for from outside Australia. Australia's visitor visa rules (Migration instrument LIN 21/056) say a Tourist stream application is made online on form 1419 through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs portal.

There is no paper or counter route through the Australian High Commission in Islamabad. The High Commission says it does not answer visa enquiries or give application updates, and its staff cannot advise you on how to apply. You also do not need an agent. The High Commission says you can apply on your own using the Department of Home Affairs website. If you want help, it points to registered migration agents listed by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.

Everything is uploaded into ImmiAccount, so prepare clear scans before you start. You need your passport biodata page, your CNIC and a recent photo. Add evidence of money for the trip, such as your bank statements or a sponsor's financial documents, and proof that you will return to Pakistan, such as an employment letter with approved leave, business or property papers, or family commitments. Include a travel plan and, if you are visiting relatives or friends, an invitation letter from your host. Copies of earlier visas help show your travel history. You only need a health examination or police certificate if the Department asks for one.

If biometrics are needed, the Department sends you a biometrics letter. The High Commission says you no longer need to book an appointment in Pakistan. Walk in to an Australia Biometrics Collection Centre with your passport, photo identification and the biometrics letter. VFS Global's website lists the centre locations. The visa itself is electronic, with no label in your passport. Once it is granted, you can check its conditions and dates in the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system.

Home Affairs publishes global visa processing times, which are updated monthly, and the Department will not answer progress enquiries while your application is still within those times. Fees are set by the Department, so use its visa pricing estimator on the day you apply. The High Commission warns about immigration scammers and says that giving false or misleading information can lead to a refusal. If you or a member of your family unit has a visa refused for bogus documents or false information, the Department might not grant you a visa for three years. For complex issues, the Department's Global Service Centre is on +61 2 6196 0196, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.