Australia entry requirements for travellers from the UAE
Do UAE citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes. United Arab Emirates passport holders must hold a visa before travelling. The UAE is not on the Electronic Travel Authority list and is not covered by the eVisitor, so visits are made on a Visitor visa (subclass 600), tourist stream.
The same applies to the large number of expatriates living in the UAE: your visa requirement follows your nationality, not your residence. An Indian or Pakistani national living in Dubai applies as an Indian or Pakistani citizen, while a British citizen living there can use the eVisitor.
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 grant for a first application.
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, though airlines and transit countries commonly do. Tell the department if your passport is renewed after the grant.
Proof of funds
You must show you can support yourself for the visit and pay for your return travel. There is no published minimum. Bank statements covering three to six months, salary certificates and evidence of employment or business ownership all help.
Residents of the UAE applying on another nationality should also include evidence of their UAE residence status, since it goes to the question of where they will return.
Onward or return travel
A confirmed return ticket is not needed to apply. Your application should still make your intended dates and reasons for returning clear.
Applying for your Australian visa
Apply online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. The tourist stream costs from AUD250.
Prepare your passport biodata page, a recent photograph, evidence of funds, proof of employment or business ownership, your itinerary, and details of anyone you are visiting in Australia.
Biometrics at an Australian Biometric Collection Centre may be required. Book as soon as the department asks.
Health requirements
A health examination may be requested, particularly for longer stays or where you will spend time in healthcare settings.
A yellow fever certificate is required only if you have been in a declared yellow fever risk country in the six days before arrival, which is worth checking if you are connecting through Africa.
Other entry requirements
Complete the Incoming Passenger Card on the flight. Australian biosecurity is strict, and items most often seized from travellers arriving through the Gulf include dates and other fresh or dried fruit, nuts, seeds, spices and camel or other meat products. Declare all of it.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the dirham equivalent, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
I live in Dubai but hold another passport. Which rules apply?
Your own nationality decides. Check whether your passport is on the ETA list, the eVisitor list, or neither, and apply accordingly. Your UAE residence does not change the pathway.
How long does the visitor visa take?
It varies with demand and the department publishes an indicative guide rather than a guarantee. Apply two to three months before travel.
Can I work on a visitor visa?
No. Business visitor activities such as meetings and conferences are allowed, but paid work is not.
Is there a ten year visa for UAE citizens?
No. The frequent traveller stream is limited to specified countries and the UAE is not one of them.
Do children need their own visa?
Yes, including infants.
Can I apply while I am transiting Australia?
No. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the decision is made, and transit passengers need the correct transit arrangements before travelling.