Australian High Commission
Malaysia
No. 6 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur - Telephone: 21465555 - Fax: 21415773

Immigration, Visas and Citizenship

The Visas and Immigration Section of the Australian High Commission processes visa applications for people intending to travel to Australia as well as Resident Return Visas, Australian Declaratory Visas and Citizenship by Descent applications. Travellers of all nationalities, except citizens of Australia and New Zealand, will need to obtain a visa to travel to Australia.

If you are unsure about the visa you will require the Visa Wizard can help you.

For information on all services provided by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship visit: www.immi.gov.au

Please Read
To Determine HOW and WHERE to Lodge your Application


•Clients lodging visa applications by post or courier from Brunei.

• Clients from Malaysia living near the Singapore border. Only visa applicants residing in the Johor Bahru region of Malaysia, who hold appropriate work or employment passes for Singapore and are working in Singapore, can lodge their applications with the Australian High Commission in Singapore. http://www.singapore.embassy.gov.au/sing/Visas_and_Migration.html

• All clients from Malaysia applying for a Standard Business Sponsorship for an overseas business, as well as the nominations and the subclass 457 Business (Long Stay) visas associated with that overseas business must lodge applications at the Australian High Commission, Singapore www.singapore.embassy.gov.au/sing/Business_Sponsorship.html

• All other clients from any region of Malaysia will find specific information relevant to the visa they are applying for in the sections below. Please note that applicants for most visas will need to provide their biometrics at the Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC), where they will also be able to lodge their application at the same time.

• From 11 April 2011 clients will need to make an appointment to lodge their application at either the AVAC or the Australian High Commission depending on the visa type for which they are applying.  


Important Update
New Visa Application Lodgement Procedures in Malaysia

   Biometrics Collection

From 11 April 2011 Australia is introducing a new visa application procedure for visa applicants lodging their applications in Malaysia.

Clients lodging paper-based applications in Malaysia, regardless of nationality, will need to provide biometrics in the form of digital fingerprints and a digital facial photograph at the Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) as part of visa application processing.

There will be no additional cost to visa applicants.

Malaysian nationals have an extensive range of electronic visa options available to them including eVisitor and eStudent visas. Applicants who are eligible for electronic visas and apply online will not need to provide their biometrics.

Applications for Citizenship by Descent, Australian Declaratory Visas, Resident Return Visas and Refugee and Humanitarian Visas will continue to be lodged at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur and will not require biometrics. Clients will need to make an appointment to lodge their application by sending an email to: immigration.kuala-lumpur-visaenquiries@dfat.gov.au

For further information on biometrics: 

Biometrics Collection Outside Australia

Frequently Asked Questions for Clients

Fact Sheet Malaysia.  

Please note:  For clients lodging applications before 11 April 2011 current lodgement procedures continue to apply.
 

Where to Lodge Your Application – Australian Visa Application Centres (AVACs)

VFS Global has been contracted to collect biometrics and accept visa applications on behalf of the Visa and Immigration Section in Malaysia. All paper-based applications for Visa subclasses that will require biometrics can be lodged in person at the AVAC in Kuala Lumpur.
 

Please note that the AVAC does not accept mailed or couriered applications.
The AVAC in Kuala Lumpur is located at:
Suite 19.06, 19 Floor,
Wisma MCA,
163 Jalan Ampang, 50450
Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: 03 2166 6550
Email: info.aumy@vfshlepline.com
Web: http://www.vfsglobal.com/australia/malaysia 
 

VISA APPLICATION FORMS AND FEES

All visa applicants must submit the correct form and fees.

Methods of payment for applications lodged at the Australian High Commission.

If you are paying via credit card at the Australian High Commission, you must complete the Credit Card Authorisation Form  (PDF)

Methods of payment for applications lodged at the AVAC.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS AND MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS

Detailed information regarding health requirements for visa applicants

CHECKLISTS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Please ensure that you refer to the appropriate checklist when you are applying for a visa. The visa application checklist helps you check that you have included all of the necessary documentation that is needed by the department to process your visa application.


How to use the checklist

  1. Before you sign your visa application form, use this checklist to make sure that you have included all relevant documentation.

  2. When you are satisfied that you have correctly completed your visa application form and all of the relevant documentation is included, you should sign and date your visa application form.

  3. Include the completed visa application checklist when you lodge your visa application form and relevant documentation.

Please be aware that the decision on your visa application may be decided on the information and documentation that you provide at the time of lodgement.

Translations
Documents that are not in English must be translated by a qualified translator. 

Processing Times

The average processing times for complete applications processed by the Australian High Commission in Malaysia are:

Student                             AL 1 & 2 - Average 2 weeks 
                                         AL 3 & 4 - Average 8 weeks.
Transit                              Average 1 week
Work and Holiday             Average 2 weeks
Temporary Residence      Average 4 to 6 weeks
Medical Treatment            Average 2 to 4 weeks
Child                                 Average 1 to 2 months
Partner                             Average 3 to 10 months
Other family                      Varies from Case to Case

  VISA TYPES

Visit and Short Stay Business (non-work) visas
There are many reasons to visit Australia. Information on types of visitor visas.

Electronic Visitor Visas (No biometrics required) 

ETA (Visitor)
An electronically stored authority for short-term visits to Australia of up to 3 months. Available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions, who are outside Australia. 

ETA (Business Entrant – Short Validity)
To be eligible to apply for an ETA (Business Entrant – Short Validity), subclass 977, you must:
be outside Australia; and hold a citizen passport of an ETA eligible country.

Eligible Passports for Online Applications

   Non-electronic Visitor Visas (Biometrics required)

Visitors not eligible for electronic visas will need to lodge an application form (paper-based) 48R for tourism or form 456 for short business visits of less than 3 months.
 

Requirements Checklist - visiting family or travelling for tourism visas

Requirements Checklist - Domestic Helper Visas

Requirements Checklist - travelling for business visas (eg meetings, contract signing) 

   Medical Treatment Visas

Information on Medical Treatment visa options.
Requirements Checklist - Medical Treatment Visas 

   Student Visas

All persons other than Australian citizens or permanent residents and New Zealand citizens who wish to undertake studies in Australia need a valid student visa. A student visa allows students to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester/ school term.

Lodgement of student visas can be done up to 4 months prior to course commencement date.

Information on types of Student Visas.
Country Assessment level.

   Assessment Level 1- lodging e-Student Visas (No biometrics required)

Assessment Level 1 Students can apply for e-Student visas. 

If you received an error message when applying for a further student visa online, please complete the Request for assistance form an email it with the following attachments:

  1. Screenshot of  the online error message,

  2. The complete form and

  3. A copy of your passport's biodata and signature pages

   Assessment Level 2, 3 and 4 Students (Biometrics required)

All AL2, AL3 and AL4 students will need to lodge paper based applications and provide biometrics.

Please note that AL1 Students lodging paper-based applications will also be required to provide their biometrics at the AVAC.

Requirements Checklist for a Student Visa – AL 1

Requirements Checklist for a Student Visa - AL2

Requirements Checklist for a Student Visa – AL3

Requirements Checklist for a Student Visa – AL4

Requirements Checklist for a Student Guardian Visa

Requirements Checklist for a Student Dependent Visa  
 

   Post Graduate Students 

If you are undertaking a postgraduate course in Australia, regardless of your assessment level, please complete the Supplement for Postgraduate Student form. 

   Transit visa

Information on Transit visa options.
Requirements Checklist for a Transit Visa.

    Work and Holiday Visa

The Work and Holiday visa is for tertiary educated people aged 18 to 30 who are interested in a working holiday of up to 12 months in Australia. This visa allows you to supplement the cost of your holiday through periods of temporary or casual employment Information on the Work and Holiday visa. 

Please note: Under the Malaysia/Australia Work and Holiday program an annual limit of 100 Work and Holiday visas are available per year. Australia has now issued all the visas for this year so there will be no more visas available until July 2012. If you are still interested you should have an application ready to lodge on 01 July 2012.  For more information please visit: www.vfsglobal.com/australia/malaysia or Australia High Commission in Malaysia.  

Requirements Checklist for a Work and Holiday Visa  

   Family Migration Visas

Information on permanent migration for family members including partners and children.
Requirements Checklist for a Partner Visa
Requirements Checklist for a Fiance Visa
Requirements Checklist for a Child Visa
Requirements Checklist for a Carer Visas

Requirements Checklist for a Remaining Relative Visas

   Work and Skilled visas

Information on skilled visa options.
Details on where to lodge in Australia.
Requirements Checklist for Temporary Resident Visas

   Resident Return Visas

Resident Return Visas are lodged at the Australian High Commission and no biometrics are required. Clients will need to make an appointment to lodge their application by sending an email to: immigration.kuala-lumpur-visaenquiries@dfat.gov.au

Information on Resident Return Visas.

Requirements Checklist for Resident Return Visas

   Citizenship 

Citizenship and Citizenship by Descent applications are lodged at the Australian High Commission and no biometrics are required. Clients will need to make an appointment to lodge their application by sending an email to: immigration.kuala-lumpur-visaenquiries@dfat.gov.au

Information on Citizenship.

Requirements Checklist for a Citizenship by Descent Application

   Australian Declaratory Visa

Australian Declaratory Visa applications are lodged at the Australian High Commission and no biometrics are required. Clients will need to make an appointment to lodge their application by sending an email to: immigration.kuala-lumpur-visaenquiries@dfat.gov.au

Application Form for an Australian Declaratory Visa.

Requirements Checklist for an Australian Declaratory Visa.

   VISA EVIDENCING

If you have lodged an application in Australia and have been granted a visa, you are required to have a visa attached to your passport. You can obtain your visa label by sending your passport to the Australian High Commission.
If you wish to bring the passport in person you will need to make an appointment by sending an email to: immigration.kuala.lumpur-visaenquiries@dfat.gov.au

   Requests for visa cancellation

If you hold a temporary residence visa and no longer require that visa you may request to have your visa cancelled.

If you want your visa to be cancelled so you can claim superannuation benefits, please note that these requests are processed by the department's Hobart office. Please click on the following link for information about this process www.immi.gov.au/allforms/superannuation/#f.

If you want your visa to be cancelled so you can apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), please follow the steps below.

  1. Click on the following link to download the Request for visa cancellation form.
  2. Complete and sign the form.
  3. Scan the completed form as well as the photo page of your passport and email to integrity.kuala-lumpur@dfat.gov.au 

Please note that the processing time is three (3) working days from date of submission of this form. If you have requested an ETA you will be notified of your ETA grant by email.  

  MIGRATION AGENTS

Before engaging a migration agent, we recommend you consider the following information:

Information about migration agents operating outside Australia

You Tube -Don't get caught out

For information on how to protect yourself against migration fraud including email and internet scams please read the following information.

www.immi.gov.au/migration-fraud/
 

   CLIENT SERVICE

    'People Our Business'

We are continually striving to improve our client services and welcome feedback and suggestions Compliments and Complaints.


Our Client Services Charter outlines service standards for visa processing.

 


 

 

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