Visas and Citizenship

Welcome to the Department of Home Affairs at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

COVID-19 and the border From 21 February 2022, all fully vaccinated visa holders can travel to Australia without a travel exemption.  Unvaccinated visa holders will still need a valid travel exemption to enter Australia. For more information:, please see: COVID-19 and the border (homeaffairs.gov.au) Digital Passenger Declaration replacing the Australia Travel Declaration All passengers arriving by air into Australia should complete the Digital Passenger Declaration, unless they are flight crew. You can start a DPD seven days before your flight to Australia, but you can only submit a DPD within 72 hours before your departure. This is because you must provide your health information and declaration within 72 hours before your flight. The DPD contains declarations that are considered to be critical health information. Passengers must be able to provide evidence that they made this declaration before boarding the aircraft. To complete the DPD, visit: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/digital-passenger-declaration If you do not hold a visa If you do not hold a visa you can not travel to Australia. Applicants should apply for a visa as soon as they make travel plans to ensure sufficient time for processing of the visa. Processing times may vary, however we recommend you apply 4-6 weeks in advance of planned travel dates and do not confirm your booking until you hold a visa.  With the reopening of borders to fully vaccinated visa holders from 21 February 2021, ETAs are now exclusively available through the new Australian ETA app channel for all eligible jurisdictions.    Travellers can apply for an ETA through the app if they meet all ETA eligibility requirements and can visit an app store to download the Australian ETA app: Apple or Android. The ETA app provides an improved user experience through a simple, secure, convenient, fast and flexible platform from an individuals’ mobile device by automating a number of steps within an ETA application. Notification of the result of an application lodged through the ETA app will be received within 12 hours.   Those applications that require further information will be sent a link to complete the “ETA Request for further processing form” which is then submitted to the Department for consideration. Apply for a visa: Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority (homeaffairs.gov.au) Applying for a visa | COVID-19 and the border (homeaffairs.gov.au) Biometrics Collection Please visit the AVAC website for current operating arrangements. You can use your existing Requirement to provide personal identifiers (biometrics) letter to book and attend an appointment when available. If you have applied for your visa online, a copy of this letter is available in your ImmiAccount. To make an appointment to provide biometrics, visit the AVAC website. The AVAC will not accept paper applications. You should lodge a visa application online (see below). Refunds & waivers of visa application charges Some visa holders impacted by Australia's COVID-19 travel restrictions may be able to access a refund or a waiver of their Visa Application Charge (VAC). Prospecitive Marriage (subclass 300) visa holders unable to enter Australia before their visa ceased may be eligible for a refund of the VAC If you were granted a Working Holiday Maker (subclass 462) visa, you may be able to receive a VAC waiver for a future application or a refund. A VAC waiver will apply for a further application if you were unable to travel to Australia because of travel restrictions or had to depart Australia early due to COVID-19. If you have since passed the age limit for a WHM visa and are not eligible to lodge a further application, you will be able to receive a refund instead. A VAC waiver will be available for Visitor (Tourist) (subclass 600) visa holders whose visas expired while outside Australia following implementation of COVID-19 travel restrictions on 20 March 2020. Eligible applicants can request a refund through the online form: COVID-19 travel restrictions – Visa application charge (VAC) refund request form (homeaffairs.gov.au). For further information, please visit: Refunds and waivers of Visa Application Charges | COVID-19 and the border (homeaffairs.gov.au)

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)

Information about applying for an ETA is here.

If your ETA application cannot be processed and you need to provide further information, follow the instructions here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can find answers to all our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.

Electronic Travel Authorities (ETAs)

• My Online ETA application was not approved automatically - what should I do?
• I have an ETA - can I get a job picking fruit in Australia?
• My ETA has been cancelled.  What can I do?

Applying for other visas

• What type of visa should I apply for?
• How do I lodge an application in Malaysia?
• How do I lodge an application in Brunei?
• How do I lodge an application online?
• What happens after I lodge my application?
• What is a complete application?
• I am subject to an exclusion period – does that mean I can never go to Australia again?
• Can I take my domestic helper with me to Australia while on holiday?

If you have already lodged a visa application

• How long will it take for the Department to process my visa application?
• Can I request priority processing?
• Can someone else make enquiries or receive information in relation to my application?
• Do I need a visa label to travel to Australia?
• My application was refused and I don’t think it was a fair decision - can this be appealed?
• My visa application was refused. Can I apply for a refund of the Visa Application Charge (VAC)?
• How can I provide further information to the Department after my visa application has been lodged?
• How do I apply for a refund of the Visa Application Charge (VAC)?

I already have a visa

• My passport has been lost or stolen / I have a new passport / I've changed my address. What should I do?
• How do I apply to have my visa cancelled?
• Can I extend the validity of my visa?
• My visa specifies a 'first entry / arrive by' date. Can I extend this?
• I don't have my visa grant letter. How do I find out about my visa details?

Australian Citizenship by Descent

• How do I apply for Australian Citizenship by Descent?

Warning regarding visa scams in Malaysia

For information on known visa scams in Malaysia, click here.

International surrogacy arrangements

The Department of Home Affairs  exercises extreme caution to ensure that, where surrogacy arrangements are made outside Australia, our citizenship provisions are not misused to circumvent adoption and other child welfare laws.

Persons considering bringing a child to live in Australia must apply for either a visa or Australian citizenship by descent and should first read the information available on the Department’s website. It is important to consider any visa, citizenship and passport application requirements, as well as processing times, before entering into any arrangements.

Citizenship by descent applications through surrogacy may take longer to process than other citizenship by descent applications due to the additional assurance measures required in assessing such applications.

News/Important Information

Singapore travel to Australia

From 21 November 2021, Singaporean citizens who are considered fully vaccinated will be able to travel to Australia without seeking a travel exemption and quarantine-free to participating states or territories*. (Singapore | COVID-19 and the border (homeaffairs.gov.au))

*Participating states and Territories

• New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory have announced they will allow quarantine free travel for fully vaccinated people arriving in Australia.
• If an eligible Singaporean citizen seeks to travel to an Australian state or territory other than those participating, they must adhere to all the entry rules of that state or territory, including quarantine requirements.
• Note: Any change in the COVID-19 situation in Australia or Singapore could lead to a pause in quarantine-free travel arrangements without notice. Travellers are responsible for checking the entry requirements for each state and territory in Australia, including quarantine arrangements.

Mandatory online lodgement for Visitor visas

From 30 September 2021, anyone applying for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600) from outside Australia in any stream must lodge their application online via ImmiAccount. Anyone applying for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600) in Australia in the Tourist stream may lodge their application online via ImmiAccount or by posting their application to the Sydney office. The courier option will no longer be available.

The Australian ETA app is the only available channel to apply for an ETA. Travel Agents are able to use the app to lodge ETA applications on behalf of clients. Grant of an ETA does not mean the person has been considered, or approved for, a travel exemption to enter Australia. For more information see: Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority (homeaffairs.gov.au)

More information relating to ImmiAccount, Visitor Visas can be found on the Department’s website at homeaffairs.gov.au

General Enquiries

The Australian High Commission is unable to respond to  visa, citizenship or customs enquiries.  You should visit the Department of Home Affairs website at Immigration and citizenship (homeaffairs.gov.au) or call the Home Affairs Global Service Centre number on +61 2 6196 0196, open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (Malaysia time).

Citizenship by Descent 

Citizenship by Descent applications lodged on or after 1 October 2020 will be processed in Australia.  

We strongly recommend that you lodge an application using the Department’s online service here.

If you are unable to lodge online please post your citizenship by descent application to the following address:

Citizenship Section      Department of Home Affairs      GPO Box 794      HOBART  TAS  7001

 

 

 

For information on ways to become an Australian citizen and citizenship services, see the Australian Citizenship page of the Department's website.

Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas

• The Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa program is open to eligible Malaysian nationals.

• There are 1,100 places available for Malaysian nationals each year.  You should apply as soon as possible if you wish to be considered for a Work and Holiday visa. 

• Applicants from Malaysia must lodge online. For information about applying please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.

 

Previous News

• From 1 July 2018 applications for Partner and Prospective Marriage visas must be lodged online, via ImmiAccount.  More information on the changes is available on the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ website.  Payment of the visa application charge will need to be made online via the ImmiAccount portal.

• From 1 July 2018 applications for Other Family (Carer, Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative) visas must be sent by post or courier to the Perth Visa and Citizenship Office. More information on the changes is available on the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ website. Payment of the visa application charge will need to be made online via the ImmiAccount portal.

• From 1 July 2018 applications for Transit visas must be lodged online, via ImmiAccount.  More information on the changes is available on the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ website.

• From 31 May 2018 Student visa applicants who apply in Malaysia will be required to provide biometric identifiers. This will assist the Department of Home Affairs' capacity to identify and authenticate visa applicants - strengthening Australian border security measures. Biometric data is an important tool in identity management globally, helping countries facilitate the arrival of travellers and combat fraud and integrity risks.

• The Australian Government has announced the establishment of a Community Support Programme (CSP) from 1 July 2017.  The CSP will enable communities and businesses, as well as families and individuals, to propose humanitarian visa applicants and support new humanitarian arrivals in their settlement journey.  More information can be found here.
• New sponsorship requirements for Partner and Prospective Marriage Visa applications

Contact us

We want you to find what you’re looking for. Save time by using our online services and guides, or get in touch with us.

Contact us (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)

If you have a complex issue or can't find the information on the website, you can call our Global Service Centre (GSC). Have your documents ready to e​stablish your identity.

Global Service Centre

You can contact us Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm local time. We receive a high volume of telephone enquiries each day. Monday is our peak day and wait times may be longer. ​Our GSC is closed on Australian National Public Holidays.

Outside Australia
Phone: +61 2 6196 0196​

In Australia
Phone: 131 881

This page was last updated on 1 October 2020.