Special purpose visa
Australia operates a universal visa regime which requires that every non-Australian citizen entering or who is present within the Australian migration zone holds a valid visa. In Australian migration law, to exempt certain persons from the visa and immigration clearance arrangements, a so-called special purpose visa applies by operation of law to certain non-citizens.
The special purpose visa arises under section 33 of the Migration Act 1958 to effectively exempt certain persons from the normal processes for entry into Australia, including:
- members of the Royal Family
- members of the royal party accompanying the Royal Family
- official guests of the Australian government, including dependents and staff members
- members of the crew of a non-military ship visiting an Australian port or being imported into Australia, provided they hold valid passports and seafarers' documentation
- crews of foreign naval ships visiting Australia
- members of the armed forces of certain countries with status of [forces agreement]s with Australia with valid military documents and travel orders, together with spouses and children holding valid national passports and military identification
- airline crew, with valid passports and employer documentation
- persons visiting Macquarie Island with advance permission of the Tasmanian Environment Department
- transit passengers from specified countries in airside transit in Australia for less than eight hours
- traditional Indonesian fishermen visiting the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
People holding a special purpose visa must abide by the legal conditions attaching to their status, otherwise they becomes an unlawful non-citizen liable to immigration detention and removal from Australia in the normal manner.