Australian High Commission
Malaysia

Australian Visa Scams

Warning: Fake website

We are aware of a fake Department of Home Affairs website. Please ensure you use our official website (www.homeaffairs.gov.au) to find information about visas and citizenship products, and lodge applications.

It is your responsibility to maintain the safety of your personal information online. You can report instances of alleged fraud on our website at: http://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa/migration-fraud-and-scams.

Warning regarding Australian visa scams operating in Malaysia

The Australian Government manages a range of visitor and migration programs, including for international tourists, business visitors and family migration. Australia and Malaysia enjoy close people-to-people linkages, which are facilitated through these programs.

The Department of Home Affairs (the Department) warns people to be very cautious regarding claims that Australian visas are allegedly for sale.  These claims are not true.  Australian visas are not for sale. Visas can only be obtained through official channels. 

We are also aware of facilitators in Malaysia organising visas and flights to Australia for people to undertake paid work (such as fruit picking). This is a scam attempting to intentionally mislead people, often for money or other personal gain.  Don't be fooled by these scams.  If you work in Australia in breach of your visa conditions, you may be detained and removed, and subject to a three year exclusion period.  It is your responsibility to know what your visa allows you to do while in Australia.

More information on proper processes and reputable channels to obtain Australian visas in Malaysia are set out in:

More information on migration fraud, and how to protect yourself from it, is available  here.

Protect yourself from ETA Work Scams

An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is not a work visa. You are not allowed to work in Australia on an ETA. If someone says you can work on an ETA, they are lying to you. The Department of Home Affairs is aware of individuals and agents who are attempting to organise ETAs and flights to Australia for people to work illegally.

Don’t risk it. You can be refused entry to Australia by the Australian Border Force if you are suspected of coming to Australia to work illegally.

The Australian Border Force is identifying and refusing entry to people every day who are attempting to come to Australia to work illegally.

Be aware that you are being scammed if:

  • the advertisement lists only a first name and number
  • the employer or agent demands that you pay them a large upfront amount of cash for an ETA
  • you are told to get an ETA for work
  • you are told to set up a company and to apply for an Australian Business Number (ABN) in order to work
  • the agent organises fake documents and photographs
  • the agent will only provide you with a handwritten contract or handwritten agreement
  • you are promised permanent residence in Australia 
  • the employer or agent uses the Australian coat of arms on their website to deceive people into thinking that what they are offering is approved by the Australian Government
  • you are told you will be paid in cash only
  • you are told you won’t be required to get an Australian Government Tax File Number (TFN)
  • the employer or agent in Australia does not have an ABN
  • you are offered a rate of pay below the minimum Australian wage, which all foreign workers are entitled to (see www.fairwork.gov.au).

If you choose to engage in visa fraud, you risk:

  • losing any upfront cash that you have paid to the agent
  • having your ETA refused
  • not being permitted on the flight to Australia
  • being refused entry to Australia at the Australian border by the Australian Border Force
  • being stranded at an Australian airport or city
  • being exposed to forced or slave labour
  • not being paid at all by the employer or agent
  • being located and detained by the Australian Border Force and removed from Australia
  • going home with far less Ringgit than when you arrived.

In order to protect yourself from visa scams, you should only deal with reputable travel agents, or official Australian Government channels which are the Department of Home Affairs (www.homeaffairs.gov.au), and the Department’s service delivery partner, VFS Global, who operate the Australian Visa Application Centre in Kuala Lumpur (vfsglobal.com).

If you are aware of, or suspect a scam in relation to ETAs and working in Australia, please report it to Australia’s Border Watch by visiting www.homeaffairs.gov.au/report or inform the Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur, by sending an email to [email protected].

Lindungi diri anda dari penipuan kerja ETA

Autoriti Perjalanan Elektronik (ETA) bukan visa kerja. Anda tidak dibenarkan untuk bekerja di Australia menggunakan ETA. Jika ada sesiapa yang mengatakan anda boleh bekerja dengan ETA, merekamenipu anda. Pihak Jabatan Imigresen dan Perlindungan Sempadan menyedari bahawa ada individu dan ejen yang sedang cuba untuk menguruskan ETA dan penerbangan ke Australia bagi mereka yang ingin bekerja secara haram.

Jangan undang padah. Anda boleh dihalang daripada memasuki Australia oleh Pasukan Sempadan Australia (Australian Border Force) jika anda disyaki datang untuk bekerja secara haram di Australia.

Setiap hari Pasukan Sempadan Australia (Australian Border Force) mengenal pasti dan menolak kemasukan orang yang cuba memasuki Australia untuk bekerja secara haram.

Sedar bahawa anda sedang ditipu jika:

  • iklan berkenaan hanya menyenaraikan satu nama dan nombor sahaja
  • majikan atau ejen memaksa anda untuk membayar mereka sejumlah besar wang tunai pendahuluan bagi mendapatkan ETA
  • anda disuruh mendapatkan ETA untuk bekerja
  • anda disuruh untuk menubuhkan sebuah syarikat dan memohon untuk mendapatkan Nombor Perniagaan Australia (Australian Business Number) (ABN) untuk bekerja
  • ejen menguruskan dokumen dan gambar palsu
  • ejen hanya bersedia untuk memberikan anda sebuah kontrak atau perjanjian dalam bentuk tulisan tangan
  • anda dijanjikan taraf pemastautin tetap di Australia
  • majikan atau ejen menggunakan Jata Negara Australia pada laman web mereka untuk mengelirukan orang agar mereka percaya bahawa apa yang mereka tawarkan adalah diluluskan oleh pihak Kerajaan Australia
  • anda diberitahu anda akan dibayar dengan wang tunai sahaja
  • anda diberitahu anda tidak perlu mendapatkan sebuah Nombor Fail Cukai Kerajaan Australia (Australian Government Tax File Number (TFN)
  • majikan atau ejen di Australia tidak mempunyai ABN
  • anda ditawarkan kadar gaji di bawah had gaji minimum Australia, yang berhak diterima oleh semua pekerja asing (sila lihat www.fairwork.gov.au).

Jika anda memilih untuk melibatkan diri dalam pemalsuan visa, anda berisiko untuk:

  • hilang sebarang wang tunai pendahuluan yang anda telah bayar kepada ejen
  • ETA anda ditolak
  • tidak dibenarkan untuk menaiki penerbangan ke Australia
  • dilarang masuk ke Australia di sempadan Australia oleh Pasukan Sempadan Australia (Australian Border Force)
  • terkandas di sebuah lapangan terbang atau bandar Australia
  • didedahkan kepada kerja paksa atau perhambaan
  • tidak dibayar sama sekali oleh majikan atau ejen
  • dijejaki dan ditahan oleh Pasukan Sempadan Australia (Australian Border Force) dan dihalau dari Australia
  • pulang dengan jumlah wang ringgit yang jauh berkurangan berbanding sewaktu anda tiba.

Untuk melindungi diri anda daripada kes penipuan visa, anda hanya berurusan dengan ejen perjalanan yang diperakui atau saluran rasmi Kerajaan Australia iaitu Jabatan Imigresen dan Perlindungan Sempadan (www.homeaffairs.gov.au), dan rakan penyampai perkhidmatan Jabatan berkenaan, VFS Global, yang mengendalikan Pusat Permohonan Visa Australia di Kuala Lumpur (vfsglobal.com).

Jika anda tahu mengenai atau mengesyaki terdapat kes penipuan berhubung dengan ETA dan bekerja di Australia, sila laporkan kepada pihak Pengawasan Sempadan (Border Watch) Australia dengan melayari www.homeaffairs.gov.au/report atau memaklumkan kepada Pejabat Suruhanjaya Tinggi Australia, Kuala Lumpurdengan menghantar e-mel ke [email protected].

Media releases

Ensure you have the right visa to travel to Australia

14 February 2017: The Australian High Commission reminds Malaysians planning to work in Australia to ensure they have the correct visa before they travel. Read more...

Australia takes strong action against exploitation of foreign workers

16 November 2016: The exploitation of migrant workers in Australia is both illegal and unacceptable.  The Australian Government is taking strong action to eliminate organised criminal networks and unscrupulous employers and agents seeking to profit from exploiting vulnerable migrant workers. This action includes the establishment of Taskforce Cadena in 2015 and the Migrant Workers Taskforce in 2016. Read more...

Appropriate visa vital for working in Australia

11 August 2016: Australia welcomes Malaysians who wish to travel to Australia for tourism, business, work or study.  A range of visa options are available for these purposes. Read more…