Latest news
For the latest immigration and citizenship news, see News archive.
Enquiries
Visa and citizenship applications are managed by the Department of Home Affairs. Embassy staff are unable to assist with general visa or citizenship enquiries.
The Department of Home Affairs website has the most up to date and comprehensive information on applying for visas and citizenship. The website also has useful definitions and tools to help you understand the department’s requirements. Visit the website at Immigration and citizenship.
If you are having trouble locating information on the department’s website, the Home Affairs Digital Assistant may be able to help. The Digital Assistant can help you find information on Australian visas, citizenship and border entry. Visit the Immigration and citizenship website, and click the Ask a question button to get started.
Global Service Centre
If you require additional information, you may telephone the Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196, Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 5:00pm your local time.
International calls may be subject to charges imposed by your local carrier. You may wish to consider using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider to avoid potentially high charges.
Using an interpreter
When you call the GSC, select option 6 to engage a Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) interpreter in your language. Option 6 can be selected straight after dialling the GSC number.
Alternatively, a TIS interpreter can also be engaged directly via:
- TIS website: Search | Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) or
- Home Affairs website See: Family and friends helping with your application
Compliments, complaints and suggestions
Your feedback is valuable to the Department of Home Affairs. The department uses your feedback to improve services and investigate and respond to any issues of concern. You can find more information on the department’s website at Compliments, complaints and suggestions.
Allegations related to suspicious border activities
If it doesn’t feel right, flag it anonymously with Border Watch. Border Watch is the single collection point for the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force (ABF) for allegations related to suspicious border activities and is not limited to immigration and citizenship. One small observation could help stop a much larger border crime. You can report suspicious immigration, customs and border related activity via the Border Watch Online Report.
WARNING: Jobs/Phishing Scam Alert
The Australian Government advises all persons interested in visiting, working or living in Australia to please be aware of a number of Job Scams that may be related to Phishing Scams.
Social media sites and the wider Internet present many opportunities to earn extra money; many of which are not legitimate. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Always ensure that any potential employers and requests are legitimate and be wary of the following:
- any job where you are asked to accept and transfer money from one bank account to another
- being asked for your bank account number or for the bank account number of another person so that someone’s salary or money owing to them can be credited to the account
- instructions to forward funds to persons abroad
- visa application through third parties/agents and invitations to live in Australia
WARNING: Cruise Ship Employment Scam Alert
The Australian Government is aware that clients in the Caribbean have been targeted by unsolicited e-mails fraudulently offering employment from Australian cruise ship companies. Victims of this scam are defrauded of fees supposedly for visas or fictitious "foreign worker certificates". It appears the fraudulent e-mails originate from other countries, not Australia.
The Australian High Commission is unable to verify employment offers from Australian companies. Job-seekers are, however, strongly advised to verify all job offers using publicly available contact details for the relevant companies.