This visa lets people be in Australia for up to 72 hours before they must leave Australia. Maritime Crew visa holders can use it to enter Australia by air to join a non-military ship. Some people are eligible to transit without a visa.

Stay

No longer than 72 hours

Cost

Free

Processing Time

• 25% of applications: 1 Day
• 50% of applications: 4 Days
• 75% of applications: 11 Days
• 90% of applications: 19 Days

With this visa, you can

• transit through Australia for no longer than 72 hours
• enter Australia by air before joining the crew of a non-military ship as a Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988) holder

You Must

• be outside Australia and have a confirmed booking to travel to another country within 72 hours of arriving in Australia and the correct documents to enter that country
• if you are joining the crew of a non-military ship, be outside Australia and hold a Maritime Crew visa and the necessary crew documents

You might not need it

Before you consider your visa options for transiting through Australia, check transit facilities at Australian airports, your travel arrangements and if you are eligible to transit without a visa.

With this visa, you can

• enter Australia and stay for no longer than 72 hours before leaving by air or sea
• enter Australia by air to join the crew of a non-military ship as a Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988) holder

Maritime Crew

You have 5 days from arrival by air to sign onto the ship. You will need to apply for a new Transit visa on each occasion you are seeking to enter Australia by air to join a ship. Your Maritime Crew visa will cease if you do not sign on to your ship within 5 days of arriving in Australia by air on your Transit visa.

Stay longer

You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. If you want to stay longer, you should apply for another visa.

Include family

You can't include family. You must make a separate application for each person travelling. This includes babies on their parent's passport.

Apply from

You must be outside Australia when you apply and when we decide on your application.

Your obligations

Your obligationsYou must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws.

Leave Australia within 72 hours

You must leave Australia within 72 hours.

Meet our health requirement

You must meet our health requirement.

Meet our character requirement

You must meet our character requirement.

Meet our biometrics requirement

You must meet our biometrics requirement

Have health insurance

You are personally liable for all your healthcare costs while you are in Australia. Medical insurance helps limit your financial liability.

We might make adequate health cover for the whole of your stay a requirement for grant of this visa. Your health cover should cover you for medically necessary treatment, including transport.

Reciprocal healthcare agreements

Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia. Find out more from Services Australia about reciprocal healthcare agreements.

Have paid back your debt to the Australian Government

If you or any family members (including those who don't apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.

Where applicable, hold a Maritime Crew visa

If entering by air to join the crew of a non-military ship, you must hold a Maritime Crew visa.

Sign the Australian values statement

If you are 18 years of age or older, you must acknowledge the Australian Values Statement. This confirms you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws when you apply for the visa.

Best interests of the child

We might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.

Step 1

Before you apply

Find out if you need a transit visa by checking the eligible to transit without a visa

Ensure you apply for the visa well ahead of your travel. We may need more information from you and time to assess that information.

Get help with your application

Only some people can help you with your application. If you appoint someone to give you immigration assistance they must be:

• a registered migration agent
• a legal practitioner, or
• an exempt person.

You can appoint anyone to receive documents on your behalf relating to your visa matter.

Step 2

Gather your documents

Provide accurate information

Provide accurate informationSee what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide accurate information.

Direct transit

Identity documents

Provide:

• certified copy of National Identity Card (both sides) if you have one
• certified copy of the pages of your current passport showing your:
  • Photo
  • Personal Details
  • passport issue and expiry dates
• one recent passport sized photograph of your head and shoulders against a plain background

Other documents

Provide:

• your plans while in Australia
• confirmation of booking from Australia to another country within 72 hours of arrival. This can be in the form of a ticket
• evidence that you can enter the other country, such as a visa

Sea crew transit

Identity documents

Provide:

• certified copy of National Identity Card (both sides) if you have one
• certified copy of the pages of your current passport showing your:
  • Photo
  • Personal Details
  • passport issue and expiry dates
• one recent passport sized photograph of your head and shoulders against a plain background

Documents from you

Provide documents:

• showing your employment on the ship you are joining in Australia
• showing your travel arrangements to another country
• that show the ship you will be joining is not a military ship
• that show your seafarer’s identity, such as your seafarer’s Identity Document or Card

Documents from the shipping agent

Documents from the shipping agentWe need a statement from the vessel's local shipping/handling agent. The statement must include:

• your name
• the name of the person you are replacing
• the name of the company employing you
• the name of the ship you will join
• the date you intend to arrive in Australia
• the port and date you expect to join the ship
• if the person writing the statement is not the ship's owner, a copy of the request for crew from the ship’s agent in Australia. The request should contain the details of all crew members applying for visas

Tell us you are getting help

To nominate someone to:

• receive your correspondence, use Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
• provide immigration assistance, use Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Prepare your documents

Translate

Have all non-English documents translated into English.

Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.

Translators outside Australia do not have to be accredited. But on each translation, they must include their:

• full name
• address and telephone number
• qualifications and experience in the language they are translating

These details must be in English.

Certify

Do not certify police certificates. You need to send us the originals.

For all other documents we need a certified copy. This includes:

• non-English documents
• English translations

Send

Send us:

• original police certificates
• certified copies of all other documents
• as much information as possible to help us decide on your application
• one copy of each document, even if you are using it to show more than one thing
• all relevant documents with your application

Step 3

Apply for the visa

Provide accurate information

Provide accurate information. See what happens if you can't prove your identity or don't provide accurate information.

Apply online

• Apply in ImmiAccount
• Attach documents
• Submit family applications together

Step 4

After you apply

See what you can and must do after you apply.

What will happen after you apply

We will let you know when we have received your application.

Status updates

We can’t give updates on applications within the standard processing time.

You can check if we need more information from you in ImmiAccount.

Biometrics

We might ask for biometrics (fingerprints and photo). We will let you know if you need to provide them.

Mistakes on your application

Let us know as soon as you can if you made a mistake on your application.

Complete Form 1023 Notification of incorrect answers (168KB PDF).

Help with your application

Let us know if you no longer want someone to:

• receive your correspondence - complete Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (301KB PDF)
• provide immigration advice - complete Form 956 Appointment of a registered migration agent, legal practitioner or exempt person (308KB PDF).

Upload your written notification or your forms to ImmiAccount.

For more information see Who can help you with your application.

Tell us if things change

Tell us if things changeTell us if things change after you lodge your application but before we have made a decision.

Things you need to let us know about include:

• you want to withdraw your application
• changes to your phone number, email, address or passport
• changes to your relationship status
• the birth of a child

See what to do if your situation changes.

Step 5

Visa outcome

You must be outside Australia when we decide your visa application.

We will let you know our decision in writing.

If we grant your visa, we will tell you:

• your visa grant number
• the date your visa starts
• your visa conditions, if applicable

Keep a copy of the decision.

If we refuse your visa, we will tell you:

• why we refused the visa
• whether you have a right to a review of the decision

Coming to Australia

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have:

• a valid visa to enter Australia
• a valid passport or other travel document

At the border

Completing an Incoming Passenger Card

All people arriving in Australia must complete an Incoming Passenger Card. You will receive this onboard your flight.

Leaving the airport faster

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

In Australia

What you can do when you have this visa

You can be in Australia no longer than:

• 72 hours while you wait to leave by air or
• five days if you are a Maritime Crew visa holder and leaving by sea and signing onto a non-military ship

You can go sightseeing or visit family or friends before you depart.

Your visa will come with conditions attached to it. To see your conditions use VEVO.

What you must do on this visa

You must meet all visa conditions and obey Australian laws. See your visa grant letter or your conditions in VEVO.

Tell us if things change

Things you might need to let us know about include:

• changes to your relationship status
• the birth of a child

See how long you can stay

You can stay for no longer than 72 hours, or five days if you are a Maritime Crew visa holder.

To see when you must leave, use VEVO.

Staying longer

You can't stay in Australia longer by extending this visa. You must apply for a new visa if you want to stay longer.

Proving you have a visa

To prove you have a visa and show your conditions to someone, use VEVO.

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.

Leaving Australia

Before you leave

Check your travel documents

You must have a valid passport or other valid travel document to leave Australia.

At the border

At the borderLeaving the airport faster

We have an automated process that uses facial recognition technology and your ePassport. You might be able to leave the airport faster if you use SmartGate.

After you leave

Proving you have been to Australia

Request your international movement records to get proof of your travel in and out of Australia.