To stimulate the growth of the country’s education, economy, and tourism, the Australian Government has made an attempt to attract international citizens by implementing a wide range of visa policies, including the Australian visa for Belgian citizens. Requirements for an Australian visa for Belgian citizens are also included. Thus, with the aim of assisting Belgian nationals in gaining approval for entry into Australia, we have collected all the data about visas for this nation in this post at E-vissa.com.
Officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, Australia is a sovereign nation that consists of the Australian continent's mainland, the island of Tasmania, and many other islands. Additionally, it is the sixth-largest country in the world and the largest country in Oceania by area.
With a diverse and rich biological system and unique culture, Australia has become an attractive destination for many travel enthusiasts in recent times. Visiting this amazing nation, you will be fascinated by the unique and magnificent architectural works and countless new experiences.
Australia has become an attractive destination for many travel enthusiasts in recent times
Obtaining a visa is very necessary to receive approval for entry into Australia. However, it will be different if your nationality is eligible for the visa-exempt policy regulated by the Australian Government. Regretfully, Belgian nationals are not available for this policy. This means that you—a Belgian passport holder—must obtain an Australian visa.
A visa for Australia gives you authorization to visit the country for a set amount of time. Australia does not place visa stamps or labels on your passport, in contrast to the majority of other nations.
A Belgian passport holder must obtain an Australian visa to enter this beautiful nation
Your visa privileges are instead electronically stored in an internet database, which the immigration officer will check when you come to Australia to verify if you are in possession of a valid visa. Only Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO), a digital verification tool offered by the Department of Home Affairs, can be used to view visa records.
In 2013, the Australian government made it easier for Belgian citizens to obtain an Australian visa in an effort to draw in more tourists. Citizens of Belgium just need to apply for an eVisitor, which is an electronic travel authorization, to enter this stunning country.
However, this type of visa just allows Belgian citizens to travel to Australia mainly for certain purposes, such as tourism, business, etc. This means that you may need to apply for a sticker visa for Belgian nationals at a competent Australian authority if you want to travel to this nation for other purposes, for example, residency, further education, employment, etc.
Citizens of Belgium are eligible to apply for an eVisitor visa to have a vacation in Australia
E-Visa applications can bring you a lot of benefits, such as:
You can experience a time-saving and effective E-Visa application process.
You can apply for an Australian E-Visa anywhere you want, for example, at home or even at your workplace, through the official website of the Australian Government.
You do not need to submit physical documentation.
The fees you must pay for an E-Visa may be lower than normal visa fees.
Therefore, it is advised that you contact an Australian Embassy to verify your eligibility for a certain type of E-Visa before applying for your visa. If the visa types you choose are eligible for an Australian E-visa, please do not hesitate to register for it due to its aforementioned advantages.
It is advised that you contact an Australian Embassy to verify your eligibility for a certain type of E-Visa before applying for your visa
A wide range of types of Australian visas are available for application for different purposes. To help you make a good decision on the option of an appropriate visa, we have compiled some common visas and their subclasses in the table below:
|
Type of Australian visa |
Subclasses |
|---|---|
|
Visitor visas |
Those who must travel to Australia for a brief period of time for business or tourism need to apply for visitor visas. The validity for this type of visa is typically for a maximum of three, six, or even twelve months. Visas valid for 10 years may be granted to certain Chinese nationals upon application submitted from China as of the end of 2016. It includes the following subclasses:
For a period of three, six, or twelve months, you can travel to Australia to see family, for tourism, or on business. If you already have a visa and would like to visit Australia for a shorter period of time, you can use this one to stay longer. However, you must keep in mind that this is not a long-term visa.
The Electronic Travel Authority Visa, also referred to as the subclass 601 visa, is only available to citizens of particular nations, including Belgium. With this visa, you can visit Australia as often as you want for a maximum of three months throughout a twelve-month period.
With this visa, you can visit Australia for a maximum of twelve months, staying for up to three months for each entry. However, certain passport holders are the only ones eligible for this visa. You can spend three months staying in this nation for purposes related to business, vacation, or study. |
|
Permanent work visas |
Skilled workers may reside and work continuously in Australia with this visa if their employer nominates them. Direct entry, labor agreements, and temporary residence are the three streams available for this subclass of visa.
With the help of this visa, skilled people from regional Australia who are nominated by their company are able to live and work there permanently. In addition to meeting the prerequisites and qualifications, you must be nominated and under the age of 45.
This visa is available in two streams, including the points-tested stream and the New Zealand stream. You have five years of Australian residency under your New Zealand citizenship, or you are invited to apply via the points-based method. Living and working in Australia is permitted with this permanent visa.
Thanks to this visa, skilled professionals who have been nominated are allowed to live and work in Australia permanently. It enables you to apply for Medicare (Australia's public health insurance program), sponsor your family members to immigrate to this nation, and eventually get Australian citizenship (if qualified).
You are able to work and study in Australia permanently with this visa. Besides, you are able to enroll in Medicare, sponsor your relatives' visits, travel to and from Australia for five years, and even seek Australian citizenship (if qualified).
With this permanent visa, you can stay in Australia and pursue employment and education. To apply for this subclass, you must be in possession of an applicable visa and have resided or worked in a regional area of Australia during the designated time. |
|
Temporary work visas |
Holders of subclass 400 visas can work in Australia for brief periods of time in highly specialized jobs. If you possess specialized knowledge, abilities, or experience that are not often found in Australia, it might be appropriate. This visa normally only allows you to stay for three months; however, you can stay for up to six months under some circumstances.
You can choose one of the six streams to apply for this visa, including government agency, foreign government agency, domestic worker, privileges and immunity, seasonal worker program, and Pacific labor scheme.
To obtain a subclass 408 visa, you can use one of the following ten different types of streams:
This visa subclass is available for individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who originate from Belgium, Finland, Canada, Cyprus, South Korea, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, or the United Kingdom and who would like to take an extended vacation while boosting their income with up to 12 months of short-term work (not more than 6 months with one employer). If you fulfill the conditions and have completed the required three months of work, you may apply for a second holiday visa. Canadian and Irish applicants may apply until the age of 35.
Young individuals (18 to 30 years old) from eligible nations may use this visa to travel to Australia for vacation purposes as well as earn money for their trip. If you finish the required three months of work, you may be eligible for a second work and holiday visa.
For a maximum of 18 months, fresh engineering graduates are permitted to reside, work, or study in Australia with this visa. You have to be under 31 years old and have graduated from an approved school within the last two years with a degree or higher certification.
You can enter Australia for up to four years by applying for this visa via the three streams available. Thanks to this temporary visa, a suitable skilled worker can be sponsored by an employer to fill a position that Australians are unable to fill. Families may apply for this subclass of visa through additional streams.
This visa is allowed to be obtained in two streams. Those with foreign degrees that meet Australia's occupational requirements can apply for the graduate employment stream. Another option is the post-study work stream, which is available for overseas students who have recently completed their studies at an Australian university.
With the help of this temporary visa, qualified workers and their families are able to reside in Australia. You might be qualified for a permanent (subclass 887) visa once you receive this one. With this visa, you can remain in Australia for a maximum of four years, or until the expiration of the visa held by your family member. The Invited Pathway, Extended Stay Pathway, and Subsequent Entry Pathway are the three options available for obtaining this visa.
For international maritime travel to Australia, this visa is required for foreign crew members aboard non-military ships. It is also intended for a foreign crew member's spouse or dependent child. The normal duration of this visa is a maximum of three years.
International airline crew members who travel to and from Australia for work but do not possess a valid Australian visa or an Australian or New Zealand passport are eligible for this authority. Before taking off for Australia, it enables them to be verified via the Advance Passenger Processing system. |
|
Business and investment visas |
This visa enables you to engage in business ownership and management, investment and business activities, and entrepreneurial pursuits in Australia. The streams available for this subclass 188 visa consist of the entrepreneur stream, business innovation stream, premium investor stream, investor stream, significant investor stream, and business innovation stream.
A subclass 188 visa holder can apply for a business innovation and investment visa (subclass 888). There is a difference between the two visas: subclass 888 visas are permanent, while subclass 188 visas are just provisional, lasting only a few years. Prior to submitting your application for a permanent Australian subclass 888 visa, you must have had a provisional business and investment visa (subclass 188). The entrepreneur stream, premium investor stream, significant investor stream, investor stream, and business innovation stream are among the various streams available to holders of the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188). Applying for this permanent visa requires that you fulfill eligibility standards.
Those who run and own a business in Australia are eligible for this visa. You have an unlimited amount of time to stay in Australia. Applying as a primary applicant requires you to already have a valid visa that has been issued under certain conditions. With this visa, you can sponsor a qualifying family and go on with your business operations in Australia. |
|
Student visas |
The holder of this visa is permitted to go to Australia and enroll in any approved course there. You are free to travel to and from Australia as you like and work up to 40 hours each two weeks. After that, you may be able to submit an application for a different type of temporary or permanent visa.
If you possess this visa, you can participate in professional development training programs in Australia or workplace-based occupational training activities to better prepare you for your chosen career path, tertiary course of study, or area of expertise.
You may be able to remain in Australia and provide support for a student who is under the age of 18 and has a valid student visa because of extraordinary circumstances. The length of the student's visa stay period determines the validity duration of this visa subclass. |
|
Other short-term visas |
This subclass of visa is not intended for individuals seeking medical care in order to become surrogate mothers. Instead, it is available for those seeking medical care or consultations, organ donation, or support for someone receiving medical treatment in Australia.
A transit visa (subclass 771) is used by those who want to travel through Australia for a shorter period of time than 72 hours but are not eligible for visa-free transit or by those who are coming to work as crew members on vessels. The holder of this visa is permitted a 72-hour transit through Australia. |
In addition to these types of visas, you can opt to apply for other visas and their subclasses, such as child visas, the adoption visa (subclass 102), the dependent child (subclass 445), orphan relative visas, carer visas, contributory parent visas, etc. However, you must check out the requirements of these visas and consider which one is the most suitable for you to apply for prior to entry into Australia.
Note:
If you—Belgian citizens—want to travel to Australia without a regular visa for a short-term duration, you can apply for an E-Visa because you are eligible for the two types of Australian E-Visas, including the subclass 651 visa and subclass 601 visa. These two visas we have mentioned in the table above can be checked out again to fully understand them.
A wide range of types of Australian visas are available for application for different purposes
To apply for a visa for Australia, you must satisfy all the visa requirements, especially those for the necessary documents. Here is a list of the necessary visa requirements for documents that you should notice:
|
Document |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Passport |
If you want to apply for an Australian visa for Belgian citizens, you need to have a passport that is valid at least six months before it expires. Providing scanned, colored copies of your passport pages is a must-do. You must also submit copies of any prior passports you may have. |
|
Visa application form |
An Australian visa application form must be submitted by every applicant for a visa. Choose the form that is appropriate for your visa, as it varies depending on the type of visa that you intend to apply for. The forms you need are available in your ImmiAccount if you are applying for a visa online. You must download and complete the appropriate form if you are applying in person. |
|
Photo |
Your application photo for an Australian visa must adhere to certain requirements. The background must be white, and your complete face needs to be visible. In certain circumstances, submitting your biometric data in addition to the visa photo may be required. You had better remember that depending on the visa subclass you intend to apply for, different amounts of photos may be needed. |
|
National ID card |
You must submit a scanned copy of your national ID card, if you have one. Based on the type of visa or your country of residence, submitting a national identity card may or may not be required, so please confirm with the closest competent Australian authorities. Kindly present the national ID card of the current country of residence if you hold several national cards (more than one citizenship or residency). |
|
Police certificate |
Verification of your moral character is a requirement for your visa application. This implies that you must be entirely truthful about any illegal conduct you have committed and that you must provide a police certificate at some point throughout the application process, either before or after. The Department of Home Affairs' Australian Immigration Office will utilize this certificate to determine if you meet their character standards. |
|
Family certificates |
It may be required for you to submit valid copies of your civil records, such as your marriage license, divorce documents, adoption certificate (if applicable), birth certificate, etc. In the event that you have lawfully changed your name, certifications also need to be included in this. |
|
Proof of financial means |
You must provide proof that you have enough money to maintain your life during your trip to Australia. You can submit documents such as statements from banks, pay slips, tax documentation, audited accounts, proof of family support (for both family and student visas), etc. If someone extends an invitation to you and finances your trip to Australia, you will need to show proof of your sponsor's financial stability. |
|
Paid fee for your visa |
If payment for your visa fee is not confirmed, your visa application will not be accepted. You must use an ImmiAccount to make payments; however, if you are unable to do so, get in touch with an Australian Embassy in your nation to check if you can pay the payment through their mission. Depending on the type of visa you are applying for, there are different amounts of fees that you must pay. |
|
Health insurance |
Travelers to Australia are not generally required to have health insurance, although the Australian government strongly advises getting private insurance prior to departure. There are particular health insurance requirements for some types of visas. Australian officials will notify you in advance of any requirements about recent health checkups or tests that may be required of visitors; nevertheless, this will vary depending on different circumstances. |
|
Proof of temporary stay (if required) |
You must present proof that you are able to fulfill the requirements for a temporary stay specified by the type of visa you hold. In other words, you can demonstrate that you have pre-existing ties to Australia, such as employment or family obligations, and that once your visa expires, you will depart from the nation. A letter from your job, a legitimate labor contract, or real estate commitments may also be used as proof. Continuous work visas and long-term visas are exempt from this requirement. |
|
Detailed itinerary |
A travel itinerary with the schedule of all your visits must be attached to your visa application. The itinerary needs to include your visit dates, the locations you intend to visit, confirmation that you have purchased tickets, the length of time you plan to stay, and other pertinent details. |
|
Reservations for lodging |
When you apply for the visa, you must present proof of any accommodations you have made for your visit. This includes confirmation that you will be staying with family or friends in Australia, hotel reservations, rental agreements, private accommodations, etc. |
|
Invitation letter |
If you are working, a letter from your company approving your trips must also be attached. |
|
Employer letter |
If you receive an invitation to visit a family member or friend in Australia, you must submit a letter of invitation from your host. If you are invited to work and apply for a work visa, you will also be required to submit a letter of invitation. |
If you want to apply for an Australian visa, you need to have a passport that is valid at least six months before it expires
If you want to receive an approved visa to enter Australia, you must undertake exactly the following steps in the process of applying for an Australian visa for Belgian citizens:
The steps in the process of applying for an Australian regular visa for Belgian citizens include:
Find an Australian Embassy that is closest to your location:
Applications for a regular visa must be processed at an Australian representative office. It is crucial to locate the Embassy in advance since the closest office may occasionally not even be in your home nation.
The Australian missions can assist you in determining the best type of visa for you and the paperwork you need to bring with you when you apply.
Furthermore, certain paper applications can be submitted via courier or post; however, you must first check with a local Embassy to determine if these are feasible for you.
Make an appointment at an Australian Embassy:
You can schedule an appointment by emailing the closest diplomatic mission or by visiting them in person once you have confirmed its location. It is noteworthy that you need to schedule an appointment in advance to submit your application.
Once your appointment has been verified, you can begin preparing your Australian visa application.
Verify the necessary paperwork:
The first thing you should do after collecting your paperwork is to verify it. There is a list of required documents that you must gather in advance, such as a passport, family certificates, insurance, a visa application form, etc. Verified copies of the originals of these papers are required.
Your documents can be verified by someone who is an individual from Australia, a national of the nation where you now live, someone who is unrelated to you (either through marriage, birth, or love relationship), or someone employed in a profession recognized by the Australian government.
On a one-page document, the document verifier must state that they acknowledge these copies of your original documents. For multi-page paperwork, the statement must appear on the first page, along with the initials of each subsequent page.
Complete an Australian application form:
Next, you must complete and sign the appropriate Australian visa application form. The form will provide textual instructions on how to fill it out. After completing the application, you must attach it to the other supporting documentation and submit it all at once.
Make a payment for your application fee:
To pay for the visa cost, you can utilize an ImmiAccount. In certain circumstances, you may be able to pay the application fee on the day that you submit your visa application. Nevertheless, the best course of action is to verify it with the Australian visa application center in your nation, as the payment may be required to be completed beforehand.
Submit the application for your visa:
Finally, you must submit your application at the local Embassy once your fee payment has been confirmed. Each applicant's visa application processing time is not the same. However, you must keep in mind that paper visa applications require more time to process than those submitted online.
You must complete and sign the appropriate Australian visa application form
Regarding the process of applying for an Australian E-Visa, you must carry out the following steps:
Create your own online account:
To apply for an Australian visa for Belgian citizens, you must first create an individual online account (ImmiAccount) on the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official website. All you need to do to create an account is enter your personal details, create a password, and receive an email confirming your account. It is noticeable that you can open an account for free.
You may manage your E-Visa application, upload your necessary documentation, and track the visa review process with the functions of the online service. Furthermore, you may also choose to create an organizational account if you are a registered migration agent, a staff member of an organization, or a staff member of a sponsoring enterprise.
Choose a suitable type of visa:
You can select one suitable visa from a number of different types of Australian ones. These will primarily depend on why you want to visit Australia.
Complete an Australian application form:
Completing an application form for each type of visa is required. You can proceed with the form's completion after choosing the appropriate type of visa. You must fill out the form with your full name, date of birth, marital status, your travel itinerary, your intended length of stay, and other details.
If you enter Australia with your friends or relatives, each of your accompanying applicants must have their own application form.
Upload your collected documentation:
Attaching documentation to your online application is a must-do step. Depending on the type of visa you apply for, different documents may be needed for your Australian visa application.
However, you will surely need to have the following common documentation: a passport, identity photos, travel insurance, bank statements, and other documents. It is noteworthy that your documents are colored copies.
Make a payment for your application fee:
Depending on the type of visa, there are different fees for your visa. Nevertheless, in order for your application to be considered, the application fee must be paid before your application is submitted.
You have multiple options for paying the visa cost when using the online application. Payments for your Australian E-Visa can be made with credit cards, debit cards, or PayPal.
Submit your visa application:
After the completion of these steps, you can submit your application. If anything has changed, you can use the ImmiAccount to get in touch with the Australian authorities again. For instance, you can use the account to notify the Department of Foreign Affairs if your address changes.
Via the account, you can monitor the status of your E-Visa application. Although processing times change based on the individual application, if there are no problems, you may have your E-Visa in a matter of days.
You will receive the confirmation letter along with an authorized E-Visa via your email address. The PDF version of the E-Visa will be sent to you.
You can apply for a visa online via the official website of the Australian Government
In order to help you fully understand this procedure, we have also collected plenty of useful information and explained the following queries:
The time it takes to process an Australian visa for Belgian citizens varies depending on its category. For example, applications for visitor visas are typically handled from a few weeks to a maximum of four months. However, if all the steps of your visa application are seamless and free of mistakes, it may just take a few days.
The processing time for long-term visa applications might range from several months to over a year, depending on the type of visa you intend to apply for. It is advisable for you to contact a competent Australian authority to update the processing time.
If you apply for a normal visa to gain permission for entry into Australia, you can apply at the Australian Embassy in Brussels, Belgium. In the event that you want to apply for an Australian E-Visa, you must visit the official website of the Australian Government. It will be the only webpage where you can complete all the steps to apply for your E-Visa application.
It is advised by the Department of Home Affairs that Belgian nationals apply for a visa up to four months before their intended departure date. However, there are a number of variables that affect how long it takes to obtain a visa. This means that your visa application can be processed faster or slower. However, it is advisable that you apply for your visa as soon as possible.
Your visa application can be processed faster or slower based on different variables
Anyone else can be given permission to assist you with your application submission. However, you need to take note that you must still fill out and sign the form yourself because this authorized person is only permitted to receive correspondence related to your visa.
Form 956A can be used to add or remove an authorized receiver. Alternatively, you can designate an authorized recipient through your ImmiAccount.
You have 28 days to provide justification for the revocation of your visa refusal if your application is rejected. You need to check out all the necessary details about how to appeal a rejection letter. It is notable that you may not be able to obtain another Australian visa for Belgian citizens, depending on the reasons for your visa's denial.
You need to check out all the necessary details about how to appeal a rejection letter
To sum up, applying for an Australian visa for Belgian citizens is a simple procedure. Therefore, you should do it as soon as possible in the event that you want to travel to Australia. It is noteworthy that you also need to take into account the various types of visas and the prerequisites for a visa application beforehand. You can visit the official website of the Australian Government or contact the Australian Embassy in your nation to learn more about relevant guidelines and information. We can provide you with the most helpful guidance or assistance if you contact us at [email protected].
