Special purpose visa

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Australia operates a universal visa regime which requires that every non-Australian citizen entering or who is present within the Australian migration zone holds a valid visa. In Australian migration law, to exempt certain persons from the visa and immigration clearance arrangements, a so-called special purpose visa applies by operation of law to certain non-citizens. [1]

The special purpose visa arises under section 33 of the Migration Act 1958 to effectively exempt certain persons from the normal processes for entry into Australia, including: [2]

No visa application is required to claim a special purpose visa, and no fee is charged. It is possible to hold a special purpose visa simultaneously with another type of Australian visa.

People holding a special purpose visa must abide by the legal conditions attaching to their status, otherwise they becomes an unlawful non-citizen liable to immigration detention and removal from Australia in the normal manner.

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References

  1. "Migration Act 1958, taking into account amendments up to Migration Amendment (Temporary Sponsored Visas) Act 2013". Australian Government - ComLaw. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  2. "Migration Regulations 1994, taking into account amendments up to Migration Amendment (Visa Application Charge) Regulation 2013". Australian Government - ComLaw. Retrieved 25 September 2013.

See also