Do I need a visa?
 

I hope this isn't too stupid of a question but I am travelling to New Zealand next year and we have a short layover in Sydney ( I will not be leaving the airport) but as Australia requires a Visa and NZ does not, do I need to get a Visa for Australia to make it through to NZ?

No, you don't need a visa you will be in transit.

Craigsgirl,

Very important - YES, you do need a Visa! A Visa is required to enter Australia - doesn't matter where your final destination is - you still need one. Without it, you'll be denied boarding your flight out of the US.

Hope this is helpful.

Melodie
Certified Aussie Specialist

Are you sure Melodie? I know in the United States you don't have transit and you have to go through customs and immigration even when you are just changing planes on the way to somewhere else, as I discovered when I went to Canada.

But if you have a connecting flight in Australia and are not leaving the airport my understanding is you don't go through either customs or immigration, like many other places, UK, Chile etc, you are in transit. That's what they seem to suggest on the Qantas frequent flyer site (see below), but maybe there has been a recent change? If they charge for a visa this would be very cheeky!


http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/comm...ort-14262.html

From what I suppose must be considered the horse's mouth:

"When a passenger arrives at an Australian airport, and will be leaving Australia on an outbound flight without passing through immigration clearance, the passenger will be classified as a transit passenger.

"Some transit passengers will require a visa, however nationals listed at Attachment B* can Transit Australia Without a Visa (TWOV)."

From attachment B:

"Transit Passengers Without Visas (TWOV)
8. passengers transiting to a third country by the same, or a
connecting aircraft within eight hours of scheduled arrival time.
These passengers must:
• hold a ticket, or evidence of an e-ticket, with confirmed
onward reservation
• hold all documents required for their next destination and
• not leave the transit lounge."

* This includes nationals of the USA

From "Australia's APP (Advance Passenger Processing System)" - Australian Government, Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publica...ull_manual.pdf

I should have added that in view of Melodie's warning about the possibility of being denied boarding, you might want to check with your airline.

I'm assuming - stress "assuming" - that if the airline refuses to board you because you're lacking a valid visa, their action would be based on a knock-back by the Australian Department of Immigration, not US authorities. This in turn would be based on advance information on passengers and crew that all airlines are required to submit to that department under the Australian Advance Passenger Processing System. On the face of it, providing you've met the requirements listed, you'd think the APP wouldn't have a problem.

But I'm sure greater minds than mine are at work (as usual).

Hi Susan,

Geez, now I'm NOT sure! I'm trying to remember what I've done with clients in this situation in the past, but I think they've stayed on rather than be in transit at the Sydney airport. From what Neil's copied from the website it would appear that a Visa's NOT needed; however, I think his suggestion about calling Qantas is a good one; it's too important not to double check. In fact, now I'm so curious that I'm going to call the T.A. Help Desk myself and check! Be back with info!

Melodie

Hi Susan,

I've just gotton off the phone with the very helpful Ryan at the Qantas' Travel Agent Help Desk, who has confirmed, that you do NOT need a Visa.

I told him that I thought that was the case, but best to double check as it wouldn't be good for a client to show up at SFO (for example) and be denied boarding - he told me that actually, Qantas could now issue an Australian Visa for clients at the gate ($25), which is really good to know just in case!

Melodie

That's great Melodie, thanks for the update!

Wow! Thank you all for all the research! One less thing I must worry about on my very first flight out of the country! :-)