If you are from an eligible country (see eligible countries listed below) you can transit Australia on your way to a third country. You can do this without an Australian visa, provided you meet all of the following criteria:
- will arrive in Australia by aircraft
- have a confirmed ticket to leave Australia to travel to a third country, by aircraft within 8 hours of arriving
- have a valid travel document to enter the country of destination
- must not need to clear immigration or leave the airport transit lounge for any reason before boarding your onwards flight. If you need to clear immigration, for example to collect baggage or to board an onwards flight, you will need an Australian visa. This includes people from eligible countries who meet all other criteria. For more information, see Transit facilities at Australian airports below.
Eligible countries
If you are:
- a citizen of Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (including its colonies), United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu and Vatican, who is the holder of a valid travel document. The valid travel document must be acceptable for entry into the destination country, this may include, but is not limited to a passport, permanent resident card, National Identity Card or Military ID and a visa (if required).
OR
- a resident of Hong Kong who holds a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport or a British National Overseas (BNO) passport
- a resident of Taiwan who holds a passport issued by the authorities of Taiwan (other than passports purported to be official or diplomatic passports)
- an Indian official passport holder, that is, an official passport issued by the authorities of the Republic of India, that is issued to officials of the Government of India
OR
- a diplomatic passport holder (This does not include diplomatic passport holders of Arab Non-National Passports and diplomatic passports from Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Comoros, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen and Zimbabwe. Passport holders of these mentioned countries must get an appropriate visa to enter Australia.)
This information is not applicable to stateless persons and refugees.
Transit facilities at Australian airports
Some Australian airports have limited transit facilities. Airport limitations may mean that you will require an Australian visa such as a Transit (subclass 771) visa in order to clear immigration, even if you have met all other ‘transit without a visa’ (TWOV) requirements. The below information may assist you to decide whether you will need to clear immigration during your transit through Australia and will therefore need an Australian visa.
Sydney (SYD), Cairns (CNS), Gold Coast (OOL)
Do not operate on a 24 hour basis and overnight stays are not permitted. Passengers transiting overnight will need an appropriate visa for Australia to leave the airport to access overnight accommodation.
There are airport transit lounge facilities that allow TWOV eligible passengers to connect to their onwards flight.
Melbourne (MEL), Brisbane (BNE)
There are airport transit lounge facilities that allow TWOV eligible passengers to connect to their onwards flight.
Perth (PER)
There are airport transit lounge facilities that allow TWOV eligible passengers to connect to their onwards flight provided they arrive and depart from the same terminal.
In every case a passenger’s departing flight leaves from a different terminal from the terminal they arrived at, an Australian visa is required to clear immigration.
Darwin (DRW)
There are airport transit lounge facilities that allow TWOV eligible passengers to connect to their onwards flight.
There are no inter-aircraft baggage transfer arrangements at this airport. Therefore in all cases you are boarding an onwards flight that is a different aircraft from the aircraft you arrived on, you will also need to clear immigration to collect and transfer baggage. You will need an Australian visa such as a Transit visa to clear immigration.
Adelaide (ADL)
Does not operate on a 24 hour basis and overnight stays are not permitted. Passengers transiting overnight will need an appropriate visa for Australia to leave the airport to access overnight accommodation.
Transit facilities are only available for passengers arriving and departing on the same aircraft. The transit lounge will be made available for TWOV eligible passengers if the airline provides advance notice.
Canberra (CBR), Sunshine Coast (MCY)
Do not operate on a 24 hour basis and overnight stays are not permitted. There are no airport transit lounge facilities to facilitate transit of TWOV eligible passengers. All passengers transiting through these airports will require an Australian visa such as a Transit visa.
Important note
The need to collect and transfer baggage onto, and/or to board, an onwards flight are common reasons for needing to clear immigration. You must have a visa to clear immigration. You should check with your travel agent and/or airline to confirm the details of your transit arrangements through Australia before considering visa options. If you are still not sure whether you are TWOV eligible, you should consider applying for a Transit visa.
Circumstances at airports change from time to time and the above information is only intended as a guide. Airport specific websites may provide more up to date and further information that may also assist, such as airport operating hours and accommodation options.
Related:
- How to extend your stay in Australia on a Visitor visa?
- Reasons for Australian Visitor Visa Refusal
- Australia Visa Waivers and Refunds
- Australia and New Zealand Safe Travel Zone
- Permissible Activities on Visitor Visas
- Bringing Family Members to Australia
- Visitor Visa options for Parents after COVID-19
- Australian borders likely to open in beginning of 2022
- Australia’s four-phase plan to open its border
