Australian Embassy in the UK

British Council Australia


Visas
All foreign nationals must obtain a visa before travelling to Australia, with the exception of New Zealand citizens travelling on a New Zealand passport who are issued with a visa on arrival. The Australian Department of Immigration website is very informative and gives the option of obtaining a visa online, to citizens of the countries listed on the website. This is known as an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). The local British Council office is unable to get visas for visitors – you need to apply from outside Australia.

A number of venues (eg Sydney Opera House) require performers to hold an 'entertainer's visa' which the venue will often need to apply for on the performers' behalf. This does not apply across the board, so visitors - artists, performers etc should liase with the venue of festival they are attending as to the type of visa they require.

Tax
A federal government 10% Goods and Services Tax applies on most goods and services.  However, certain things, including basic food, exports, and health services are GST-free.  

Overseas visitors may claim GST back in certain circumstances. On their departure from Australia, visitors are able to claim a credit for the GST paid on any purchase from the one store of at least AU$300 inclusive of GST. All that is required as proof of purchase is a 'Tax Invoice' (normal till receipt) that shows the suppliers ABN (Australian Business Number), that GST was paid on the goods, and how much the GST was. Australian Point of Sale system generates receipts that fulfil these requirements.

A few conditions apply to the process:

• There must have been at least A$300 spent at the one retail outlet and a detailed 'Tax Invoice' as proof of purchase made available to customs on your departure.
• The$300 may be made up of several smaller items that total A$300 or more.
• The goods to which the refund will be claimed must be carried with you as hand luggage when leaving the country.
• The refund is claimed at TRS booths of international air terminals within Australia.

Another alternative that is beneficial to overseas visitors, is one where a purchase is packaged and sent, by the retailer, to an overseas location.  In this case the sale is treated as an export sale and can be sold free of GST.

Insurance
Visitors are strongly advised to take out medical insurance prior to travelling.