Transit visa (Subclass 771)

Transit Visa or Transit Without a Visa?

Many travellers who change planes in Australia do not need a Transit visa at all. Before you apply, work out which of these three groups you fall into.

1. You can transit without a visa

Citizens of certain countries can pass through an Australian airport without a visa if all of the following apply:

• you arrive and leave by air
• you have a confirmed onward flight to another country that leaves within 8 hours of your arrival
• you have the documents you need to enter your destination country
• you stay in the international transit area and do not need to pass through immigration clearance for any reason, including to collect bags or change terminals

See our list of travellers eligible to transit without a visa to check whether your passport qualifies.

2. You already hold an Australian visa

If you already hold a valid Australian visa that lets you enter Australia, such as an ETA (subclass 601), an eVisitor (subclass 651) or a Visitor visa (subclass 600), you can use that visa to transit and do not need a separate Transit visa.

3. You need a Transit visa

You will usually need a Transit visa if you are not eligible to transit without a visa and do not hold another Australian visa, and:

• your connection is longer than 8 hours
• you need to clear immigration to collect bags, change terminals or catch a domestic flight to your departure airport
• you want to leave the airport during your layover, for example to stay at a hotel
• you are a seafarer flying into Australia to join a ship

Airport Transit Facilities Differ

Not every Australian international airport has a transit lounge that suits every connection. Some airports do not allow passengers to stay overnight in the transit area, and at some airports you must pass through immigration to transfer your bags or move between flights. When that happens, you need a visa even if your nationality would otherwise let you transit without one. Transit arrangements can change, so check with your airline or travel agent before you book, and apply for a Transit visa if you are unsure.

What You Can Do on a Transit Visa

• Leave the airport: A Transit visa lets you pass through immigration, so you can stay at a hotel or visit the city during your layover.
• Stay up to 72 hours: You must leave Australia within 72 hours of arriving. Plan your connection with enough buffer for delays.
• Travel on to your destination only: The visa is for passing through Australia on the way to another country. It is not a tourist or business visa, and you cannot work or study.

Maritime crew joining a ship

If you are a seafarer flying into Australia to join a non-military ship, you can use a Transit visa together with a Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988). You must leave Australia by sea on that ship within 5 days of arriving by air. Bring a letter from the ship’s agent or employer that names the vessel and confirms when you will join it.

How to Apply for the 771 Visa: Step by Step

1. Check whether you need it. Confirm you cannot transit without a visa and do not already hold another Australian visa.
2. Book your onward travel. You need a confirmed ticket out of Australia within 72 hours of arriving (or, for crew, confirmed joining arrangements with your ship).
3. Check your destination’s entry rules. Make sure you have a visa or entry permission for the country you are travelling to next.
4. Gather your documents. See the checklist below.
5. Lodge the application from outside Australia. Each traveller needs their own application, including children. Family members can lodge their applications at the same time so they are processed together.
6. Provide biometrics if asked. Applicants of some nationalities are asked to give fingerprints and a photo at a collection centre, which adds time.
7. Wait for the outcome before you fly. Your airline can refuse to let you board if you do not have the right visa.

Document Checklist

• passport, valid for your whole journey
• confirmed flight bookings showing your arrival in Australia and your departure within 72 hours
• a visa or entry permission for your destination country, if you need one
• evidence that you can cover any costs during your stopover, such as accommodation if you are leaving the airport
• health insurance details
• for children travelling without both parents, consent from the parent or parents who are not travelling
• for maritime crew, your Maritime Crew visa, seafarer identity document and a letter from the ship’s agent or employer

Documents that are not in English must be translated into English by an accredited translator.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming you can transit without a visa when your connection requires you to collect your bags or change terminals.
• Booking a long layover and not realising the 8 hour limit for transiting without a visa has been exceeded.
• Applying too close to your departure date. Allow plenty of time, especially if biometrics are needed.
• Not having a visa for your final destination.
• Applying for a Transit visa when you really plan to holiday in Australia. If you want to spend time in Australia, apply for a visitor visa instead.
• Lodging one application for the whole family. Each person needs their own application.

Transit Visa 771: Frequently Asked Questions