Australia entry requirements for travellers from China
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes. Holders of a passport from the People’s Republic of China must obtain a visa before travelling to Australia. China is not covered by the Electronic Travel Authority or the eVisitor visa, so travel is made on a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
China is Australia’s second largest source of visitors and its largest source of visitor spending, and the visa system reflects that with three separate routes: the ordinary tourist stream, the Approved Destination Status stream for organised group tours, and the frequent traveller stream for people who come often.
Note that Hong Kong SAR passport holders follow a different and much simpler route, the Electronic Travel Authority.
How long can you stay in Australia?
A Visitor visa in the tourist stream can be granted for three, six or twelve months, at the department’s discretion. The frequent traveller stream works differently: the visa itself can be valid for up to ten years, but each individual visit is limited to three months.
Approved Destination Status visas are granted for the period of the organised tour and you must remain with the tour group.
Passport validity requirements
Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay. Australia does not require six months of validity beyond your departure date, though airlines and transit points may. If you are issued a new passport after your visa is granted, tell the department so the visa can be linked to it.
Proof of funds
You must show you can pay for the visit and your return travel. There is no fixed minimum. Bank statements covering several months, evidence of employment or business ownership, and property or investment records all help establish a settled position. A large balance deposited shortly before applying is treated with more caution than a steady one.
Onward or return travel
A confirmed return ticket is not required at the application stage and buying non refundable flights before a decision is a poor idea. Your application should nevertheless make it obvious when and why you intend to leave.
Applying for your Australian visa
Apply online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. The tourist stream costs from AUD250. The frequent traveller stream costs AUD1,845 and can be granted for up to ten years, which works out well for anyone travelling for business several times a year.
Biometrics are required at an Australian Biometric Collection Centre, and the frequent traveller stream requires them without exception. Book the appointment promptly, as processing does not continue until they are received.
If you are travelling with an organised group through an approved travel agent, the agent applies under the Approved Destination Status arrangement rather than you applying individually.
Health requirements
A health examination may be requested, particularly for longer stays, for travellers who will spend time in healthcare environments, and for those who will be working with children. The department issues referral letters if an examination is needed.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required only if you have been in a yellow fever risk country in the six days before arrival.
Other entry requirements
You must complete the Incoming Passenger Card given out on the flight. Australian biosecurity is strict and enforced with on the spot fines. Traditional medicines, dried seafood, meat products, seeds, fresh fruit and herbal preparations are the items most often seized from travellers arriving from China. Declare anything of this kind, even where you believe it is permitted.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the equivalent in renminbi, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ten year Australian visitor visa?
It is the frequent traveller stream of the Visitor visa (subclass 600), open to citizens of China and several Southeast Asian countries. The visa can be valid for up to ten years with stays of up to three months on each entry, and it costs AUD1,845.
What is an Approved Destination Status visa?
It is a visa for Chinese citizens travelling to Australia in a tour group organised by an approved travel agent. You must stay with the group for the duration of the tour, and the agent handles the application.
Do I have to give biometrics?
Most applicants do, and frequent traveller stream applicants always do. You attend an Australian Biometric Collection Centre in person for fingerprints and a photograph.
Can I work on a visitor visa?
No. Visitor visas do not permit work. Business visitor activities such as meetings and conferences are allowed, but selling goods or services is not.
Is the process different for Hong Kong passport holders?
Yes, and it is far simpler. Hong Kong SAR passport holders apply for an Electronic Travel Authority through the Australian ETA App instead.
Do children need their own visa?
Yes. Each traveller needs their own visa, including babies and children travelling with parents.