Are you planning a trip to Australia with your children? The Land Down Under is a perfect destination with interesting sights and activities for all ages.
Traveling to Australia with a Kid: Step by Step
However, this country has strict border control rules, according to which each foreigner must possess a visa to enter its territory.
Follow this post to find out how to apply, as well as how to plan your trip to make it smooth and unforgettable. Traveling to Australia with a Kid: Step by Step
1. Do Minors Need a Visa?
Every person regardless of their age must obtain a valid traveling document. Even if you plan to take a toddler along, you have to provide them with separate permissions.
But don’t worry, the process is simple thanks to an online system. Use it to send your application without visiting the Embassy.
2. What Type of Visa Do We Need?
It depends on how long you want to stay. But as you’re visiting this country for short-term tourism purposes, opt for the ETA or eVisitor electronic permission.
They both allow you to stay in Australia for 12 months since the issue with up to 90 days at a time.
The ETA stands for Electronic Travel Authorization and is a quicker substitute for a full-fledged visa. This type is only available in 8 countries: the United States, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, and Brunei.
The eVisitor serves the same purposes but for a different group of countries. It includes the EU nations, as well as 8 Schengen Area Agreement countries: Vatican City, Switzerland, San Marino, Norway, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Andorra.
Online application for these 2 visa types is the quickest and most convenient option for a trip with a family. But if you fail to choose the right one, you’ll be denied permission to cross Australian borders.
3. How to Apply with Kids?
If your children have a passport, use it to fill in their individual applications. If they are too young, use kids’ personal information from your own passport (name, sex, country of birth, date of birth).
Don’t forget to attach additional documents to their applications:
- The birth certificate
- Medical examination certificate
- A statement from the school
- Permission from the parent to cross the border (if the other stays at home)
Check the full list of required documents on the official website of the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.
4. Photo Standards for Online Application
The wrong format of the photo is the most common reason for visa denial. Take a look at the Australian photo requirements. To ensure 100% acceptance, use a trusted online service like Visafoto.com.
It’s designed to make your photo fit the required specifications when submitting documents for visas both online and offline. Just take a selfie and upload it to the software. It’ll change it and provide you with the download link.
5. Important Tips
Budget Planning
Traveling with a large family can be financially challenging if you don’t plan your expenses in advance. Think about all possible sources of expenditure and try to stick to the plan to avoid being strapped for cash.
Safety First
Children move a lot and get hurt or simply catch a cold. So think about getting reliable insurance to cover the risks. It’s also a good idea to bring an aid kit and undergo a medical first aid course, just in case.
Another precaution concerns cars. If you’re going to rent one, make sure it’s equipped with child safety seats.
Choose the Best Season
April, May, September, and October are the best times for the trip. It’s not as cloudy in the south and not as rainy in the north.
Show Your Kids the Coolest Places
Australia has a lot of crowd-drawers that will be entertaining both kids and adults. But it’s difficult to visit them all in one trip, the country is big.
So, decide in advance where you’d like to go. Get kids involved and discuss what they want to see and try. Here is a list of the most popular tourist spots:
- The National Zoo and Aquarium (Canberra, ACT)
- The Blue Mountains (Sydney, NSW)
- Luna Park (Melbourne, VIC)
- Wet N’ Wild Waterworld (Gold Coast, QLD)
- The Great Barrier Reef (Sydney, NSW)
- The Red Centre (the Kings Canyon, Uluru-Kata Tjuta, etc.) (Alice Springs, NT)
Conclusion
To make a trip to Australia with kids an exciting event, apply for your visas in advance. So that if something goes wrong, you have enough time to solve the problem without a hassle.
Schedule your stay, count possible expenses, and enjoy the rich culture together with your kids.
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