Visas

A visa is a document that gives permission for someone to enter a country they are not a citizen of. People require different visas depending on your reason for entering a country, such as tourism, study, work, or as a refugee.

Australia has many different kinds of visas, and are based on why you want to enter the country, and how long you intend to stay.

For a full list of visas available, go to the Australian Government Home Affairs page. You can also contact the Inner City Legal Centre who offer a state-wide free legal service for trans and gender diverse people.

Visit and tourism

For holidays, tourism, visiting friends or family, or attending conferences.

Study

To study, or learn a trade or profession.

Work

For the purpose of employment.

Live here permanently

To become a permanent resident or citizen.

Join partner or family

To join loved ones who are Australian, or who are in Australia.

Stay longer in Australia

When you have a visa and are in the country, but want to stay longer.

Refugee and humanitarian

These include refugee visas, if you are experiencing or afraid of persecution in your home country, and humanitarian visas, if you are experiencing or afraid of discrimination or human rights abuses.

To figure out what visa might be right for you, you can visit the Australian Government Home Affairs page here and find out more about each of these visa options.

Accessing healthcare

If you’re not an Australia citizen and do not have a Medicare Card, accessing health services may not be Bulk-Billed and so come at an additional cost. This may be offset by your own insurance or healthcare in your country of origin. It’s important to contact your doctor and check what the cost might be for your appointment and any further testing.

Medication will typically be charged at the full price if you don’t have a Medicare card.

Visas to enter a country are managed by that particular country.

Australian citizens are able to travel to over 100 countries without applying for a visa, including New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and more. However, there may be a cost associated with entering that country. A full list of countries that Australian citizens can travel to is available here. For more information about what visas are required for various countries, find out more at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Smart Traveller website here.

Australian passports require a gender marker on them, but are able to display ‘M’, ‘F’, or ‘X’. For more information visit our page on passports.

When travelling for surgery, it’s important to know the legal and medical requirements before your trip. This may include obtaining a visa, getting vaccinations, getting a letter from your health professional about carrying medication or medical supplies internationally, and more.

Having a regular doctor or GP in Australia that you trust and who knows about where you’re going and what you’re doing can be a good idea too. They can help coordinate your care, and look after you and your health needs once you return back to Australia.

COVID-19 related travel and transport advice from the NSW Government can be found here.
Information to assist trans people during the COVID-19 pandemic is available at our COVID-19 page.