AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

World Youth Day pilgrims: lodge visa applications now, says Australian Immigration Minister

Wednesday, 9 April 2008

If you want to travel to Australia for the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day, you’d have to apply for your visa as soon as possible, Chris Evans, Australia’s Immigration Minister advises.

Since the 2000 Olympics, World Youth Day will be the largest event held in Sydney with the global gathering of Catholics to include the first visit to Australia of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

In about three months’ time, about 125,000 pilgrims will make their way to Sydney for the big event.

“With such a large amount of people attending, people cannot afford to wait until the last minute to lodge their visa applications,” says the Immigration Minister.

“As part of the Australian Government’s support for World Youth Day, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is providing visas for registered pilgrims free of government charges.”

To make sure your visa will be processed in time for World Youth Day in Australia, which takes place from the 15th to the 20th of July, it’s best not to procrastinate.

The Immigration Minister warns that while the rate of applications for visas has been increasing over recent weeks, people must understand that the department cannot guarantee that applications lodged after 1 June will be processed in time for pilgrims to travel to Australia in July.

More than 10 000 visas have already been granted by the Australian Immigration Department for World Youth Day.

Pilgrims are expected from more than 170 countries, which include Mexico, Poland, Italy, Canada, Germany, the United States, the Philippines and New Zealand.

Remember to register for the event through the World Youth Day website and have your nomination supported by your local bishop.

If you hold a passport from one of the 33 countries or regions that are eligible for an ETA, your registration process will include an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) application.

However, if you don’t hold such a passport, you’d have to apply separately for a Visitor Visa through normal processes, which would attract a government charge.

To start your process, please visit our website or contact us to speak to one of our migration consultants.