Visitors to Australia encouraged to lodge applications early

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

The Australian Embassy processes more than 60 000 visas each year for Indonesians planning a holiday or short stay in Australia. The second half of the year traditionally sees a sharp rise in the number of applications received by the Embassy due to school holidays, Eid-ul-Fitri and Christmas.

“If Indonesian visitors lodge visa applications now, we can process most applications in five working days or less,” Australian Ambassador Bill Farmer said. “As the number of applications doubles in the weeks and months ahead, visas may take longer to process.”

Routine annual adjustments to visa application charges will be applied in Australian Immigration offices around the world from 1 July. All applications received from 1 July must be accompanied by the correct fee. The new application charge for a tourist visa will be AUD100 (IDR 910 000). Fees for other visas can be found on the embassy’s website www.indonesia.embassy.gov.au.

More clients in Indonesia are being issued with 12-month multiple entry visas so they are able to travel as often as they like in the 12 months after the visa is issued. This makes Australian visas cheaper and more convenient for frequent travellers.

In another client service initiative, the Embassy has recently entered into an arrangement with registered “Aussie Specialist” travel agents to provide a streamlined service to valued clients.

Visa applications can be lodged Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4pm, at the Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC), Level 22, Plaza Asia, Jl Jend Sudirman Kav 59, Jakarta (opposite Sudirman Place Shopping Mall), or in Bali, Perkantoran Duta Wijaya Unit 12, Jl Raya Puputan, Renon, Denpasar.

AVAC will not receive new applications from midday on 30 June due to a routine stocktake. Passport collections will continue as usual. AVAC will make special arrangements on 30 June for clients who have an urgent need to apply. Normal service will resume on 1 July.

To avoid the queues at AVAC, applicants 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.

Media Enquiries:
Fiona Hoggart, First Secretary (Cultural) Tel. (021) 2550 5260, hp. 0811 936 302