Visas and Citizenship

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Welcome to the webpages of the Department of Home Affairs in Chile. These pages contain visa and citizenship information in English and Spanish for clients residing in Chile and Ecuador.

Australia has a universal visa system. This means that all non-Australian citizens require a visa to enter or stay in Australia. You must have a visa before you travel to Australia. We do not recommend booking flights or making travel commitments until you have a valid visa to travel to Australia. The Department of Home Affairs will not be liable for any financial loss incurred by travellers unable to obtain a visa before their intended travel date.

Refer to the Department of Home Affairs website before applying for a visa or citizenship. Visa options on the department's website help you find an appropriate visa type.

Latest news and changes

Please note, on 18 December 2023, Australian Biometric Collection Centre locations and Service Delivery Partners changed in this region. If required, links to make a biometric collection booking and the new ABCC location can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/contact-us/offices-and-locations/offices-in-australia/outside-australia

Also, from Monday 29 April 2024, VFS Global, the Australian Department of Home Affairs service delivery partner the Americas, including Colombia, will commence providing biometric collection and other services at Cali. The addition of biometric collection services in this location makes providing biometrics for Australian visa applicants easier and more convenient. To make an appointment for biometric collection after 29 April 2024 at the biometrics collection centre in Cali, please visit Offices outside Australia (homeaffairs.gov.au). From Monday 22 April 2024, VFS Global will be accepting bookings for biometric collection appointments occurring on or after 29 April 2024. The VFS Global operated Australian Biometric Collection Centre in Cali is located at:

· Calle 6N # 1N-42 Oficina 303, Torre Centenario, Cali, Colombia

In addition to biometrics collection, all VFS Global locations provide digital assistance to help visa applicants lodge their Australian visa application, and online payment assistance to assist visa applicants pay relevant visa application charges.

Further information, including relevant service fees, may be found at the VFS Global website – Welcome to VFS Global | For Individuals | Home

For the latest immigration and citizenship news, see News archive.

Enquiries

Visa and citizenship applications are managed by the Department of Home Affairs. Embassy staff are unable to assist with general visa or citizenship enquiries.

The Department of Home Affairs website has the most up to date and comprehensive information on applying for visas and citizenship. The website also has useful definitions and tools to help you understand the department’s requirements. Visit the website at Immigration and citizenship.

If you are having trouble locating information on the department’s website, the Home Affairs Digital Assistant may be able to help. The Digital Assistant can help you find information on Australian visas, citizenship and border entry. Visit the Immigration and citizenship website, and click the Ask a question button to get started.

We also encourage you to review supporting information in English or Spanish at:

Applying for a visa or citizenship

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Global Service Centre

If you require additional information, you may telephone the Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm your local time.

International calls may be subject to charges imposed by your local carrier. You may wish to consider using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider to avoid potentially high charges.

Using an interpreter

When you call the GSC, select option 6 to engage a Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) interpreter in your language. Option 6 can be selected straight after dialling the GSC number.

Alternatively, a TIS interpreter can also be engaged directly via:

TIS website: Search | Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) or
Home Affairs website See: Family and friends helping with your application

Global visa processing times indicate how early travellers should apply for a visa. Actual processing times are subject to a number of factors including whether an application includes all necessary supporting documents, how promptly applicants respond to requests for additional information, the time of the year, and other variables. As stated above, we do not recommend booking your travel to Australia until you have obtained a visa.

Australian visas do not have passport labels. Present your passport and visa grant notification letter at the airport when you check in to travel. You can check your visa details, including validity and conditions, online using VEVO. As your visa is linked to your passport, notify the department if you obtain a new passport.

If you are unable to locate information on the Department of Home Affairs website or your case requires urgent processing due to compassionate or compelling reasons, you may telephone the Global Service Centre in Australia on +61 2 6196 0196. International call charges apply.

If you require assistance, refer to who can help with your application. If you wish to appoint a migration agent to act on your behalf, complete and upload to your ImmiAccount Form 956. If you wish to appoint any other person to receive correspondence on your behalf, complete and upload to your ImmiAccount Form 956A.

Agents

We encourage agents representing visa or citizenship applicants from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador Peru and Venezuela to subscribe to our MailChimp distribution list to receive tips, news and invitations to webinars. Sign up here.

Compliments, complaints and suggestions

Your feedback is valuable to the Department of Home Affairs. The department use your feedback to improve services and investigate and respond to any issues of concern. You can find more information on the department’s website at Compliments, complaints and suggestions.

Allegations related to suspicious border activities

If it doesn’t feel right, flag it anonymously with Border Watch. Border Watch is the single collection point for the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force (ABF) for allegations related to suspicious border activities and is not limited to immigration and citizenship. One small observation could help stop a much larger border crime. You can report suspicious immigration, customs and border related activity via the Border Watch Online Report.