Press Release
2014-05-09
Macao SAR Passport Holders are Eligible for Online Visitor Visa Application on Australian Government’s Website
The Identification Services Bureau of the Macao Special AdministrativeGeneral in Hong Kong that, with effect from 9th May 2014, holders of Macao SAR
Passport are eligible to lodge online application for Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) on the
website of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection of the Australian
Government. Applicants who intend to visit Australia as tourists, for business visitor
activities or visit friends or family can lodge their visa application by logging in the
online system under “Online Service” on the website (www.immi.gov.au), without the
need to lodge visa application in person at the Australian Consulate-General in Hong
Kong nor by post nor by email.
Tourists from countries around the world are required to obtain a visa to visit
Australia. In order to facilitate visa applications for Macao residents to Australia, the
Australian Government introduced “Label-Free Visa Arrangements” in 2012. Last
year, the Australian Government and the Macao SAR Government have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding on immigration matter, which has strengthened the
exchange and cooperation between the two governments, and consequently promoted
the facilitating measure on personnel exchange to a brand new stage. The measure
that the Australian Government provides to Macao residents is the latest simplifying
method on visa application. Residents of many countries or regions are also using this
method to lodge their visa application to the Australian Government.
Physical visa labels will not be affixed in the travel document of the applicant
under the new simplifying measure. Visa information is instead recorded in
Australia’s immigration system database. These computerized records are available
to airline staff at the airports for verification of those flights’ check-in passengers
bound for Australia. If the applicant’ visa application is approved, the notification of
visa approval will be sent to the designated postal or email address of the applicant.
The Macao SAR Government has been striving to request greater facilitation
on entering Australia for Macao residents. The introduction of the above-mentioned
measure is attributed to the persistent close cooperation between the Australian
Consulate-General in Hong Kong as well as the Australian Government, and the
Macao SAR Government. It will further deepen the relationship between the two
places and strengthen the ease of travellers and therefore to boost in the tourism, and
socio-culture between Australia and the Macao SAR.
For more information on the application of visas to Australia, please visit the
following website of the Australian Government
www.hongkong.china.embassy.gov.au.