You'll need a valid Australian visa to enter the country; New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of visas, including tourist visas and working holiday visas at your nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate. You can apply for certain types of visas on the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection website. The Working Holiday Maker program encourages young adults (18 to 30 year olds) to have an extended holiday supplemented by short-term employment. For more information on working holidays and backpacking jobs visit the Backpacker Job Board website.
VISAS
VISA TYPES
WORKING HOLIDAY VISA (SUBCLASS 417)
For applicants with a passport from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
WORK AND HOLIDAY VISA (SUBCLASS 462)
For applicants with a passport from Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, USA and Uruguay.
VISITOR VISA (SUBCLASS 600)
The Visitor visa is designed for people who are not eligible for the eVisitor or Electronic Travel Authority visa. This visa allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business purposes, for up to three, six or 12 months. The base application fee for this visa ranges from $135 to $340.
ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORITY VISA (SUBCLASS 601)
This visa allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want, for up to a year, and stay for three months each visit. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions, who live outside Australia. There is no visa application charge for an ETA, however a $20 service charge applies for online applications only.
EVISITOR (SUBCLASS 651)
This is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of European countries and it cannot be extended.
QUARANTINE AND CUSTOMS
South Australia has strict quarantine laws in addition to national laws. The laws are in place to protect our agricultural industries and unique environments against some of the world’s most serious pests and diseases. When arriving by plane, you must declare all food, plant and animal products. If you have items you don't wish to declare, you can dispose of them in quarantine bins in the airport terminal. There are also quarantine checkpoints consisting of roadblocks and fruit disposal bins if you are arriving by road.
KANGAROO ISLAND SANCTUARY
Kangaroo Island is a Ligurian Bee Sanctuary and a Potato Protected Production Area. Carrying honey, bees and bee products onto the island is prohibited. Potatoes are also prohibited unless they have been washed or brushed free of soil and are in new packaging. Rabbits are prohibited on Kangaroo Island.
Do not take fresh, unprocessed fruit and fruiting vegetables (including capsicum, chilli, tomato and eggplant) into the Riverland of South Australia without an itemised receipt from an SA retail outlet or a plant health certificate.
FRUIT FLY
South Australia is the only mainland state without a permanent population of fruit fly. Please do not bring fruit or vegetables into South Australia. Use the dumping bins around the State to prevent being penalised. Of particular importance is the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone (FFEZ) which specifies that no fruit (including peppers, tomato and aubergine) can be carried over its borders.
South Australia has quarantine checkpoints placed throughout the state consisting of roadblocks and fruit disposal bins. There are mobile quarantine roadblocks that operate on country roads in South Australia.
For more information, visit the Interstate Quarantine website.
PHYLLOXERA
South Australia is free of phylloxera, a tiny insect pest that destroys grapevines. If you have been driving through or walking in vineyards locally, interstate or overseas, please thoroughly clean your car, clothes and shoes before entering any South Australian vineyard. Please obtain permission before entering a vineyard in South Australia and look out for designated photo zones, easily accessible from many cellar doors. Alternatively, join a guided tour. You can help protect South Australia's world-class wine industry. For more information visit vinehealth.com.au