Applying for a working visa in Australia for Malaysians - 2023 guide
Thinking of working in Australia? Read here how to apply for a working visa in Australia for Malaysian and how to get the visa from Malaysia.
How to apply for Australia visa for Malaysians - 2023 travel guide
Australia is a dream destination for travellers looking to enjoy beautiful scenery, exciting cities, and a laid back culture with famously friendly people. Whether you’re looking to hit the beaches or sample the best of Australian wine, there’s something for you. However, as a Malaysian citizen you’ll need a visa to enter Australia - so you’ll have to figure out the Australian visa application process before you confirm your plans.
This guide covers all you need to know about how to apply for an Australian visa from Malaysia, including the fees and processing time. We’ll also introduce the Wise card as a perfect way to manage your money across MYR, AUD and more - with low fees and the Google exchange rate.
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Do Malaysians need a visa to Australia?
Before we get into too much detail about getting a visa to Australia from Malaysia, let’s start with the obvious question - do you really need a visa to visit Australia?
If you’re Malaysian you’ll always need a visa of some type before you travel to Australia. There are a few different visa options - including the ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) which is a digital permission to enter Australia, equivalent to a visa¹.
We’ll look at the most commonly used visas for Australia, for people entering the country primarily as tourists, in this guide.
Types of visa in Australia
As with most countries, there are lots of different types of visa in Australia, so you’ll need to make sure you’re getting the best one for your visit type. For example, you could choose visas which fall under the following categories:
- Visas for visits and tourism
- Visas to study, or accompany someone who is studying in Australia
- Working visas
- Permanent resident visas
- Visas to join a partner or family member who already lives in Australia
- Refugee or humanitarian visas
- Visa extensions and renewals for people already in Australia
The Australian home affairs office has a helpful visa finder tool² online which lets you enter the reason for your visit to Australia and your nationality, to see which visa categories you may be eligible for. This guide will mainly focus on the types of visa which are popular with Malaysians travelling to Australia to visit or as tourists.
Australia visa for Malaysian visitors - key options
As we’ve seen there are lots of different Australia visa types, depending on what you’ll be doing in Australia, and how long you want to stay. If you’re planning a visit as a tourist - or looking to take up some temporary work while you’re in Australia, there are a few visa options which might suit your needs:
- An Australian ETA
- An Australian visitor visa (subclass 600)
- An Australian working holiday visa
We’ll break down what these visas are used for next.
Australia ETA visa Malaysia
An ETA³ is the equivalent of a visa to enter Malaysia for up to 3 months, for tourism or as a business visitor. You’re not able to work in Malaysia under the terms of this visa. Once you have an active ETA it can be used to enter and leave Australia as many times as you want in the next 12 months (or until your passport runs out if that’s sooner).
You can apply for an ETA via the Australian ETA app. Start your application at least 4 weeks in advance, as some applicants are required to upload additional documents and information, which can make for a longer processing time.
There’s no fee to apply for your ETA, but you may need to pay a 20 AUD service charge. There are also many agents who will help you to arrange an ETA, and who will charge their own fees for the services they offer.
Australia visitor visa (subclass 600)
An ETA is usually a pretty simple visa to get if you’re planning a short visit to Australia as a tourist. However, it’s not intended for long stays.
If you want to stay for longer than the 3 months you’re able to visit under an ETA, the subclass 600 tourist visa⁴ might be a good fit for you instead. You can apply for this visa from Malaysia, or once you’re already in Australia if you’re there and want to extend your stay. Visas are usually issued for up to 12 months, and allow you to enter as a tourist, on a cruise, or to visit family and friends.
The fees to apply for this visa depend on whether you’re in Australia or not at the time you apply - from about 150 AUD onwards.
Australia working holiday visa
Another popular way to visit Australia is the working holiday visa⁵. If you’re aged between 18 and 30, you can apply for this visa to mix travel and casual work in Australia, which means you can earn a little to pay for your visit while you’re there.
If you’re eligible for the working holiday visa for Australia you may be able to apply for a stay of up to 12 months, with up to 2 renewals possible. To renew you’d have to reapply, pay fees, and fulfil eligibility criteria - but this could be a handy route to a longer visit if you’re planning on a mix of travel and work.
You’ll usually pay a fee of 510 AUD for this visa type.
Australia visa application (Malaysia): process
The easiest option for making an Australian visa application online is to apply for an ETA, using the Australian ETA app. Here are the steps you need to take:
- Download the Australian ETA app, and follow the prompts to submit an ETA request
- Wait for an approval or notification - it may take up to 12 hours after applying to receive your notification.
- If you are asked to provide further information, click on the link provided to submit an online form through ImmiAccount
- Log in or create your ImmiAccount
- Complete and attach Form 1554: ETA request for further processing and your supporting documents in ImmiAccount
- You’ll be notified by email once your application has been processed
If you’ve decided to apply for one of the other Australian visas for Malaysians, you’ll need to visit the immigration authority website, and follow the links to apply for an ImmiAccount. From here applications can usually be made online, with all required documents uploaded electronically.
How much is a visa to Australia from Malaysia?
Let’s take a look at what you’re likely to pay for your visit visa for Malaysia. These are the basic fees levied by the Australian authorities. Don’t forget you may also need to pay charges to have documents copied or translated, or agent fees if you decide to use an agent to assist you in your application.
| Visitor visa type | Fee |
|---|---|
| ETA | No fee for the visa - a 20 AUD administration fee may apply |
| Visitor visa (subclass 600), apply from outside of Australia | From 150 AUD |
| Working holiday | 510 AUD |
Travelling to Australia? Save money on MYR to AUD rates with the Wise card
Getting your Australian visa sorted is an important part of planning your trip. One other crucial thing to think about is how to manage your money in different currencies. The last thing you want is for your card provider or money changer in the airport to rip you off with bad exchange rates, high fees, or both.
The Wise card could be a perfect companion for your travels - and make your money go further when you’re down under. You can add MYR directly to your Wise account and make payments in Australia with ease. The card automatically exchanges your money to AUD with the mid-market exchange rate and the lowest available fees every time.
Considering a longer stay in Australia, or visits to other countries? Wise can help there too. The Wise account supports over 50+ currencies to send, exchange and hold and also provides you free bank details for 10 currencies - including AUD and MYR. So if you need to receive a payment from someone while abroad, people can just send you a local transfer, which are often free for the sender, and come with no Wise fee for you⁶.
All in all, Wise could save you a lot on currency conversion fees when travelling. This means more spending money for your trip and less for unnecessary bank fees.
Get a free Wise account today!
Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information
Australia visa for Malaysians: conclusion
The process to get an Australian visa as a Malaysian should not be too tricky - and can often be completed entirely online. However, you’ll need to make sure you’re picking the right visa type for your needs - and apply in good time, as it may take several weeks for your application to be processed and your visa issued.
Use this guide to help you pick the right Australian visa for your trip - and don’t forget to pick up a Wise card. It could make it easier and cheaper to spend and withdraw dollars when you arrive in Australia.
Sources:
- High Commission Malaysia - Australia ETA
- Australia visa finder
- Immigration authority - ETA
- Australian visitor visa (600)
- Australian working holiday visa
- Receiving USD wire transfers is an exception, there’s a fixed receiving fee of 4.14 USD
Sources checked on 15/01/2023
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