One Mans Odyssey

If you plan on working on your travels to Australia then you will definitely need a Permanent Australian address. The address will be required for things like setting up your tax file number, bank account and if you qualify for medicare. If you have friends or family in the country this could be a little easier. Otherwise for those of us that don't and have to travel between many different locations there is an answer.

A company I discovered in Sydney can actually provide you with an address for your time in Australia.They charge you $50 for the privilege but if you can find someone to register with you then this is lowered to $45. This is marketed as a special deal for couples but you do not have to be in a relationship. In fact when I registered I just signed up with a guy who happened to be applying at the same time as myself.

The beauty of the address they provide is that it is unique t you and can be  used for the duration of the trip. But Also you are notified whenever post is delivered so that you can pick it up from thier office or even have it forwarded to a specified address of your choice i.e. your hostel or similar even if you are on the other side of the country.

If you are interested in this service then you may find the details here.

If you are planning to work in Australia you will need to get yourself a Tax File number (TFN). Not only is it compulsory but will bring the tax that you pay down from 49% to a slightly healthier 27-29%. Even as a non-resident if you are working it is a requirement to pay tax. There is some light at the end of the tunnel though. If you are going to stay for over 6 months then you may able to claim some of this tax back. I won't go into the details in this article but do know that it is possible and might give you a reason to stay a little longer.

Back to the topic at hand. Getting an Australian TFN is not that much trouble. In fact if you are reading this online now you could be applying for one within 10 minutes or even less. Your application is made online and should only tak 10-20 minutes. Below is a guide for sorting your TFN(Correct as of Nov 2007):

1. Visit www.ato.gov.au and select "Apply for Tax File Number" under the Individuals menu.
2. Select Online individual tax file number (TFN) registration and click apply.
3. After reading the information presented on the next page press "Next" until you can begin the application.
4. Enter all of your details and provide a permanent address within Australia. (If you don't have one Click Here for the Service I use)
5. Once this process is complete then you may print of the final page as prrof that you've applied. From this point it will take between 2-4 weeks for the TFN to be sent to your permanent address.

You must keep the document that is sent to you as it is an official document and may be required for legal purposes or claiming tax back etc.

So you've decided you want to visit Australia and you probably have an idea of the type of trip that you want. One of the first hurdles to get over will be getting your visa to enter the country. You will need a Visa for whatever type of trip you take. The main visas that I am aware of are:

• ETA (Electronic Travel Authority)
• Working Holiday Visa
• Student Visa
• Migrants Visa

Which visa you choose will obviously depend n your reason for traveling to the country. This article is mainly about the Working Holiday Visa as this is the one I went for and therefore where most of my knowledge is based. By now you should know which one you need and you need to start looking for information.

A Word of Warning: As I looked around there were many companies who would kindly fill out the forms for you and go through the process on your behalf to "save you time and hassle". DO NOT bother wih this companies unless you have a real aversion to filling out forms. Seriously the process took me no more than half an hour and the visa arrived the next day. By the the end of this guide you should be ready to complete the process in this time or even less.

So you came to find out how to get an australian visa…

The number one bit of advice I shall give you here is that you should check out the official Australian Immigration site(linked at the end of this guide and from the links page). Here you will find more than enough information on all the types of visas out there, the specific details and restrictions on each. This is where I got all the useful information I need about getting a visa. It will give you up to date prices, I paid around £80 at the time for mine in September 2007 as a reference.

The application process could be slightly more in depth if you hold any criminal records or health related issues. It is possible that you will be asked to an interview or for a check up with a doctor before leaving. They will notify you if any of this is necassery after you have sent off your application for  review. There is both a paper and electronic application. I took the electronic version though I am sure they ask similar details.

To complete the form will require:

• Your Passport
• Basic Details about your address etc.
• Know your Reasons for Travelling
• What type of job you expect to have (If a visa that allows you to work)

There was nothing too in depth and once you are finished you submit it. You will then recieve your reply via email had you selected this option, it is not instant. This arrived for me within 24 hours but can take longer so don't worry if yours has not arrived within that time. Once you have this print  you can print if you wish but the document is stored electronically and linked to your passport.

Good Luck & Happy Travelling

 
Get your Australian Visa