Australia entry requirements for travellers from Sri Lanka
Do Sri Lankan citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes. Sri Lankan passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling. Sri Lanka is not on the Electronic Travel Authority list and is not covered by the eVisitor, so tourism and family visits are made on a Visitor visa (subclass 600), tourist stream. There is no frequent traveller option for Sri Lankan citizens.
How long can you stay in Australia?
The tourist stream can be granted for three, six or twelve months, at the department’s discretion. Three months is the usual outcome for a first application, with longer grants generally reserved for applicants with a clear reason and a solid travel history.
Passport validity requirements
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay. Australia does not require six months of validity beyond your departure date, although airlines and transit countries commonly do. If your passport is renewed after the grant, tell the department so the visa can be linked to the new document.
Proof of funds
You must show that you can support yourself for the whole visit and pay for your return travel. No minimum figure is published. Bank statements covering three to six months, evidence of employment or business ownership, and property or land records all help. A balance that appears shortly before you apply is treated with caution.
If family in Australia are paying, include their income evidence, their status evidence and a letter confirming what they will cover.
Onward or return travel
You do not need a confirmed return ticket to apply, and non refundable bookings before a decision are a bad idea. The application should still show your intended dates and your reasons for returning.
Applying for your Australian visa
Apply online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. The tourist stream costs from AUD250.
Prepare your passport biodata page, a photograph, evidence of funds, proof of employment or business, your itinerary, and details of anyone you are visiting in Australia.
Biometrics at an Australian Biometric Collection Centre are normally required. Book as soon as you are asked, because the application does not progress until they are received.
Health requirements
A health examination may be requested, and is more likely for stays over six months, for applicants who will spend time in healthcare settings or with children, and where tuberculosis screening is indicated. The department issues referral letters naming the clinics you may use.
A yellow fever certificate is required only if you have been in a yellow fever risk country in the six days before arrival.
Other entry requirements
Complete the Incoming Passenger Card on the flight. Australian biosecurity is strict, and the items most often seized from travellers arriving from Sri Lanka are spices, dried fish, seeds, fresh fruit, coconut products and homemade foods carried for relatives. Declare everything.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the equivalent in Sri Lankan rupees, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the visitor visa take from Sri Lanka?
It varies with demand. The department publishes an indicative guide rather than a fixed standard, so apply two to three months ahead, and earlier if a medical is likely.
Will I need a medical examination?
Possibly, particularly for longer stays. Wait for the department to issue referral letters before arranging anything.
Can I work on a visitor visa?
No. Work is not permitted on any visitor stream. Business visitor activities such as meetings and conferences are allowed.
Is there a ten year visa for Sri Lankan citizens?
No. The frequent traveller stream is limited to specified countries and Sri Lanka is not one of them.
Do children need their own visa?
Yes, including infants.
What causes most refusals?
Insufficient evidence of funds, an unclear purpose of travel, and little evidence of ties that will bring you home. Address each one in the application rather than leaving it to be inferred.