PA/24/12 26 September 2012
LABEL-FREE TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA
Australia will introduce label-free visa travel arrangements for Indian travellers from 1 October 2012.
“Travelling to Australia will now be a lot quicker and easier for Indian travellers as they will no longer need to have a visa label placed in their passport,” said Mr Peter Varghese, the Australian High Commissioner to India.
“People wishing to visit Australia will still need to apply for a visa but they will no longer need to include their passport with their application. Instead of a visa label, travellers will receive an electronic visa grant letter the day their visa is granted that will explain all the conditions of their visa”.
“This new approach will not only provide Indian travellers with better information about their visas but also reduce processing times and costs as travellers will no longer need to wait to have their passport returned to them by courier,” said Mr Varghese.
Label-free travel is not only simpler for the traveller but is also more secure. Unlike a label, which can be misread or manipulated, electronic verification at check-in confirms the real-time status of a person’s visa. For example, the electronic verification will not proceed if a visa has been cancelled for some reason.
“The decision to introduce label-free travel arrangements from India has been welcomed by the Indian Government, airlines, and travel and education agents in India,” said Mr Varghese.
“The High Commission has conducted an extensive information campaign across India to assist travellers and the travel industry to understand these changes and all agree that travelling to Australia will be much easier from October onwards.”
For more information visit the Australian High Commission’s website: http://www.india.embassy.gov.au/ndli/vmol1.html