Australian 10-year visitor visa category: It remains a new sub-class of the 600 visa, known as the Frequent Traveller visa. The visa is intended for visitors engaged in tourism or business activities, and the application fee is 1,000 AUD.
Residency requirements: You may stay for a maximum of 12 months within any 24-month period. (This effectively limits the difference between a 10-year visa and permanent residency; you cannot stay in Australia indefinitely for 10 years, but rather for a maximum of 1 year every two years.)
This also means that Chinese applicants only need to apply for the visitor visa once to be able to enter Australia within 10 years without having to reapply.
However, applying for a 10-year visitor visa does not mean that once granted, you can live in Australia for 10 consecutive years; this is a matter of validity period not being equal to the permitted stay duration. Generally, Australian visitor visa holders must depart the country after staying for 3 months.
What application documents are required to apply for a 10-year visitor visa?
1. Passport and a copy of the passport
2. Passport-sized photos
3. National ID card
4. A full copy of the household registration book (Hukou)
5. Application form (Form 1419)
6. If employed, a certificate of employment provided by the employer; if a business owner, a copy of the business license; if a student, a copy of the student ID and a certificate from the school confirming the student's travel to Australia; retired personnel must provide a copy of their retirement certificate.
7. Proof of assets, such as real estate, stocks, cars, etc., to demonstrate the applicant's financial ability to travel to Australia.
Additionally, please note: The 10-year visitor visa allows the applicant to engage in tourism and business visits, but it strictly prohibits the applicant from meeting the cohabitation requirements for partner migration or working in Australia. Once discovered, the 10-year Frequent Traveller visa will be cancelled, and the applicant will be barred from reapplying for three years. So, how does Australian immigration law define "tourism" and "business visitor activities"?
Tourism: Primarily includes leisure activities such as travel, sightseeing, relaxation, and amateur sports.
Business visitor activities: Refers to inquiries regarding general business activities and employment, business investigations and contract negotiations, government and official visits, and attendance at international conferences, trade fairs, or seminars.
The 10-year visa explicitly prohibits those who plan to work for Australian companies or provide commercial services, such as selling products or services to local Australian consumers. Furthermore, once a 10-year visitor visa is refused, there is no right of appeal, so we remind all applicants that the materials provided must be authentic.
China's status in Australia is increasingly prominent, and everything is trending towards "visa-free travel between China and Australia"! In terms of tourism alone, according to official Chinese and Australian statistics, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Australia reached a record 1 million last year. Australia has already implemented a policy for Chinese passport holders that allows for self-service customs clearance without the need for queuing for questioning.