Apply for a visa

Whether you are visiting Australia for a short period of time or planning to stay several years, you must have a valid Australian visa.

Australian Immigration and Trade Services  (AITS) is the bureau for Australian Tourist Visas, Student Visas, Work and Holiday Visas, Working Holiday Visas, Business Visas, Work Visas, Temporary Activity Visas, Internship Visas, and Migration.

AITS is based in Switzerland and assists visa applicants of Switzerland and the EU since 1997.

Temporary Visas

Permanent Visas

FAQ’s

NEWS

February 2022

From 21. February 2022, all fully vaccinated visa holders can travel to Australia without a travel exemption. 

Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia and will be subject to state and territory quarantine arrangements. 

All travellers to Australia need to comply with requirements in the state or territory of their arrival, and any other state or territories that you plan to travel to. This may include quarantine and post-arrival testing requirements. Restrictions may change at short notice.

January 2022
Work and Holiday Visa arrangements in Switzerland

On 01. January 2022, Swiss passport holders meeting eligibility criteria may access Australia’s Work and Holiday program. For further information, contact us

December 2021
COVID-19 International Travel and Exemption Information


Australia’s borders to all visitors coming to Australia remain closed with the exception of Australian citizens/permanent residents and their immediate family members and individual exemptions. Immediate family members include spouse, de facto partner, parent of Australian citizen/permanent resident child usually resident in Australia, dependent child or legal guardian of an Australian citizen/permanent resident. It is necessary to hold a valid Visa and a Travel Exemption before travel is permitted.

December 2021
Australia’s international border re-opening for eligible visa holders who are fully vaccinated

Australia’s international borders opened on 15. December 2021 to allow travel to Australia without the requirement for travel exemptions for fully vaccinated “eligible visa holders” including holders of Student Visas, Working Holiday Visas, some Skilled Visas and other specified visas.

Other requirements for Australian Travel Declarations and pre-flight COVID testing will continue. Travellers to Australia need to comply with the quarantine requirements in the State/Territory of their arrival, and any other States/Territories to which you plan to travel. Travellers to Australia may enter and travel between NSW, Victoria and ACT without quarantining. Restrictions may change at short notice.

July 2021
Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List

The Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) identifies 44 ​occupations which fill critical skills needed to support Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19. Three occupations of Hospital Pharmacist (251511), Industrial Pharmacist (251512) and Retail Pharmacist (251513) have been added to the PMSOL “Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List_July 2021″

July 2021
COVID-19 travel restrictions & Australia’s Migration program

Australia’s borders remain closed to all travelers coming to Australia, with the exception of Australian citizens/permanent residents and their immediate family members (spouse/partner/child/legal guardian).

Australian Border Force guidelines indicate that an individual exemption may be granted if traveling for compelling or compassionate circumstances eg with critical skills or working in a critical sector in Australia.

Employer sponsored applicants with occupations in the PMSOL “Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List_July 2021” will be given priority processing and may request an individual travel exemption.

COVID-19 is impacting Australia’s migration programs, and the priority categories within the Skilled stream for 2021-22 are: Business Innovation and Investment Program, Global Talent Visa Program and Employer Sponsored. State/Territory migration plans will largely be determined by the COVID-19 pandemic outcomes. State/Territory Government Nominations are re-opening.

December 2020
Global Talent Migration program
Global Talent target industries include: AgTech; Space and Advanced Manufacturing; FinTech; Energy and Mining Technology; MedTech; Cyber Security; Quantum Information, Advanced Digital, Data Science and ICT

October 2020
COVID-19 & Australia’s Migration program

Australia’s 2020-21 Federal Budget reveals planned changes to our migration program. Changes include Partner Visa reforms and priority for Global Talent, Business Innovation and Investment and Employer Sponsored for health care/construction/IT occupations.

The Global Talent quota has been tripled to 15,000 for fast tracked processing. Target industries include advanced manufacturing, health and emerging technologies (FinTech, Energy & Mining, MedTech, Digital).

Additional places are available for high net worth investors, business owners and entrepreneurs.

For further information, contact us

Information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Australian Government is monitoring the Corona Virus situation closely.

Australia has well-established measures and safeguards in place to deal with the threat of viruses including at our airports.  For the latest information on the Corona Virus click here