Media Release
Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC)

1 August 2007

Australia: A Popular Destination, So Plan For Your Visa

Indonesians planning to travel to Australia for holidays over the next few months should lodge their visa applications as soon as possible.

First Secretary of the Australian Embassy’s immigration section, Dr Leanne Blackley, said Australia processed nearly 60,000 visitor visas for Indonesians planning a holiday or short stay in Australia in the last year, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year.

“Going by previous experience, September and October are particularly busy for us – our tourists applications often double at this time,” Dr Blackley said.

The Australian Embassy is anticipating that Australia will be a popular holiday destination for Indonesians over Idul Fitri in 2007.

“We are encouraging people to plan ahead and lodge their applications in August,” Dr Blackley said. “If our clients lodge in August, we can process the majority of them in 5 working days or less. When our applications double later in the year, these visas may take longer to process.”

“I know from the airlines that people are making holiday bookings already - and in some cases they are scheduling additional flights to meet the demand,” she said.

The Embassy is issuing more clients with a 12-month multiple entry visa, meaning they can travel as often as they likein the 12 months after the visa is issued.

“So there is no reason not to apply now,” Dr Blackley added.

Dr Blackley said the vast majority (96 per cent) of visa applications lodged in Indonesia were approved last year.

Visa applications can be lodged Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm, at:

The Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC), Level 22, Plaza ABDA, Jl Jend. Sudirman Kav. 59, Jakarta (Opposite Sudirman Place Shopping Mall), or in Bali, Perkantoran Duta Wijaya Unit 12, Jl. Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar.

Starting in September, to avoid the rush and queues at AVAC, applicants will also have the option of selecting a courier service and applying for visas from the comfort of home - call 5140 1590-91 (Jakarta) or (0361) 264 958 (Bali) to arrange this service.

Applications are generally decided by the Embassy/Consulate within 5 working days after delivery.

Media Inquiry:
John Williams, Counsellor (Public Affairs), Australian Embassy, Jakarta,
mob 0812 105 3989

For further information on visas:
e-mail to: [email protected] (preferred)
fax to: +62 21 2550 5695 or 2550 5697
telephone: +62 21 2550 5700 between 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm Monday to Thursday.