Australia Transit Visa (Subclass 771): Eligibility, TWOV and Documents

What Is an Australian Transit Visa?

The Transit visa subclass 771 is for people who need to enter or pass through Australia while travelling to another country. The principal purpose of the journey must be transit rather than an ordinary visit to Australia.

Who Should Apply for a Transit Visa Subclass 771?

You should consider applying for a Transit visa if you need to pass through Australia and you do not qualify to transit without a visa, or if your travel arrangements require you to clear immigration.

For ordinary transit, you must generally:

• be outside Australia;
• be genuinely transiting Australia on your way to another country;
• have a confirmed booking to leave Australia for another country within 72 hours of arrival;
• have the travel document, visa or other authority needed to enter your destination country;
• meet applicable health and character requirements;
• have paid, or arranged to pay, any relevant debt owed to the Australian Government; and
• meet any other requirements applicable to your circumstances.

Applicants aged 18 or older must acknowledge the Australian Values Statement as part of the application process.

Can You Transit Australia Without a Visa?

Some travellers from eligible countries or with specified travel documents can transit through Australia without obtaining an Australian visa. This is known as Transit Without a Visa (TWOV).

To use TWOV, you must meet all applicable requirements, including:

• arrive in Australia by aircraft;
• hold a confirmed ticket to leave Australia by aircraft for a third country within 8 hours of arrival;
• hold a valid travel document and any visa or authority needed to enter the destination country; and
• not need to clear immigration or leave the airport transit lounge for any reason before boarding the onward flight.

Eligible passport and travel-document holders

The Home Affairs TWOV list includes citizens of many countries and specified travel-document holders. The list can change, so travellers should check the current official TWOV page before every journey rather than relying on an older country list.

For Indian travellers, current Home Affairs guidance includes an Indian official passport holder within the specified TWOV travel-document categories, provided all other TWOV requirements are met. Ordinary Indian passport holders should not assume that this exception applies to them.

Australian Airport Transit Facilities

Airport facilities are an important part of determining whether TWOV is possible. Some airports have limited transit facilities, may not allow overnight transit, or may require passengers to clear immigration when changing terminals, carriers or baggage arrangements.

Common reasons for needing an Australian visa even when the traveller otherwise meets TWOV criteria include:

• collecting and re-checking baggage;
• changing to an onward flight departing from another terminal;
• an overnight connection where the airport does not permit overnight transit;
• the airport not providing TWOV transit facilities; or
• having to leave the international transit area for any reason.

How Long Can You Stay on a Transit Visa?

An ordinary subclass 771 visa holder can be in Australia for no longer than 72 hours while waiting to depart by air or sea.

Home Affairs currently confirms that a Transit visa holder may go sightseeing or visit family or friends during the permitted transit period before departure. However, the visa remains a transit visa and cannot be extended simply to stay longer in Australia.

Maritime Crew Travelling by Air to Join a Ship

A person travelling by air to Australia to join the crew of an eligible ship must hold a Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988) as well as the visa or authority needed for air travel to Australia.

Where subclass 771 is used for this purpose, the crew member must:

• hold a valid Maritime Crew visa subclass 988;
• have the necessary crew and seafarer documentation;
• provide evidence of employment on the ship;
• provide evidence that the ship is an eligible ship; and
• sign on to the eligible ship within 5 days after arriving in Australia.

A Maritime Crew visa itself cannot be used for air travel to Australia. A crew member flying to Australia must hold another appropriate visa or travel authority that permits entry by air.

Documents Required for an Australian Transit Visa

The current Home Affairs online checklist should be followed. For an ordinary transit application, supporting documents generally include:

Identity documents

• certified copy of a National Identity Card, both sides, if applicable;
• certified copy of the passport pages showing photograph, personal details, passport issue date and expiry date; and
• one recent passport-sized photograph of the full face against a plain background.

Transit and onward-travel documents

• details of your plans while in Australia;
• confirmed booking or ticket showing departure from Australia to another country within 72 hours of arrival; and
• evidence that you can enter the destination country, such as a destination-country visa or other entry authority where required.

Sea crew documents

A crew member travelling to Australia to join an eligible ship should also provide:

• evidence of employment on the ship;
• travel arrangements;
• evidence that the ship is eligible;
• seafarer's identity document or card; and
• evidence of the valid Maritime Crew visa subclass 988.

Immigration Assistance and Authorised Recipients

If you appoint a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person to provide immigration assistance, or another person to receive correspondence, Home Affairs may require the relevant current form.

How to Apply for a Transit Visa Subclass 771

1. Check whether you already hold an Australian visa that permits transit.
2. Check whether your nationality or travel document qualifies for Transit Without a Visa.
3. Confirm your connection time, baggage transfer and terminal arrangements.
4. If a Transit visa is required, prepare your identity and onward-travel documents.
5. If you are joining a ship, confirm that you hold a valid Maritime Crew visa and collect the required seafarer and ship documents.
6. Create or sign in to ImmiAccount and complete the current Transit visa application.
7. Attach clear supporting documents requested in the application.
8. Submit the application well before travel.
9. Monitor ImmiAccount and respond promptly to any request for further information.
10. Wait for the written visa decision before relying on the visa for travel.

Australian Transit Visa Cost

The Department of Home Affairs currently lists the Transit visa subclass 771 as free. This means there is no visa application charge for the visa itself.

Applicants may still incur separate costs for services such as document certification, translation, medical examinations, police certificates, biometrics or professional assistance where applicable.

Already Hold Another Australian Visa?

You may not need a Transit visa if you already hold another valid Australian temporary or permanent visa that permits you to transit Australia.