771Temporary
Transit visa (subclass 771)
Transit visa (subclass 771)
Visa Cost
Free (no visa application fee)
The visa has no application fee (VAC=0), but you may have other related costs at your own expense, such as a health examination and police clearance. Some travellers can use Transit Without Visa (TWOV) and do not need this visa; whether it applies depends on nationality and itinerary, so check TWOV eligibility first.
Processing Time
Usually fast; apply well in advance to avoid disrupting your trip
Eligibility
- The trip is solely for transit to a third country, with a stay in Australia of no more than 72 hours.
- Be outside Australia at application and grant.
- Hold a valid passport.
- Hold a confirmed onward ticket/booking proving an arranged itinerary to a destination outside Australia; or hold a Maritime Crew visa to join a non-military ship and leave by sea within 5 days of arriving in Australia.
- Meet character requirements, being able to provide police clearances for any country lived in for 12 months after age 16 within the past 10 years.
- Bear your own medical costs while in Australia, unless your country has a reciprocal health agreement with Australia.
- No work in Australia, and the stay must not exceed 72 hours.
Key Information
Validity / Stay / Residence
For transit only, with a maximum stay of 72 hours from entry; you must hold an onward ticket and the valid documents needed to travel to the next country.
Eligible Dependants
Each transit traveller usually holds their own; accompanying family members must each meet the transit conditions.
Common Visa Conditions
Full explanations of condition codes are in the Visa Conditions Lookup
Application Steps
1
Check if you need a transit visa
Check if you need a transit visa
First check whether transit without visa (TWOV) applies or whether your country needs a transit visa.
- Some nationalities/itineraries can use TWOV and do not need to apply for 771.
- Consult the official 'Do I need a Transit visa' guidance.
- Chinese passport travellers usually need a transit visa or an eligible visitor visa.
2
Prepare onward travel evidence
Prepare onward travel evidence
Have confirmed onward tickets/bookings to a third country ready.
- The onward flight must show a stay in Australia of no more than 72 hours.
- Maritime crew members prepare evidence such as a Maritime Crew visa.
- Ensure the passport is valid for the transit trip.
3
Create ImmiAccount and apply online
Create ImmiAccount and apply online
Lodge the 771 application online through the official ImmiAccount.
- 771 must be applied for online, with no application fee.
- Each family member must apply separately.
- Truthfully complete the transit details and character declaration.
4
Upload supporting documents
Upload supporting documents
Upload the onward ticket, passport and (if needed) police clearance with the application.
- Upload all relevant documents to speed up processing.
- Prepare police clearances from each country as required.
- Apply well before your travel date to avoid disruption to your trip.
5
Await decision and transit
Await decision and transit
After grant you can travel to Australia under the 72-hour transit conditions.
- You must leave within 72 hours of arriving in Australia.
- Must not work and must not overstay.
- The visa cannot be extended, and you cannot apply for another transit visa onshore.
Required Documents
| Document Name | English Name | Required | Description | Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Valid passport | A basic prerequisite for grant; the passport must remain valid throughout the transit. | Ensure validity and blank pages are sufficient for the transit and onward trip. | |
| Confirmed onward ticket/booking | Confirmed onward ticket/booking | Prove you have arranged onward travel to a third country outside Australia and will not stay more than 72 hours. | The onward flight's departure time must fall within 72 hours of arriving in Australia; this is the core condition of 771. | |
| Valid visa for onward destination (if required) | Valid visa for onward destination (if required) | If the destination country requires a visa, holding it corroborates that the onward arrangement is genuine and feasible. | Obtaining the destination country's visa in advance makes the transit case more complete and helps the grant. | |
| Transit itinerary details | Transit itinerary details | Full flight segment details, setting out the arrival and departure times and connecting flights. | Provide a clear arrival and departure schedule, highlighting that it does not exceed 72 hours. | |
| Police certificates | Police certificates | Where you have lived in any country for 12 months after age 16 within the past 10 years, you must be able to provide that country's police clearance to meet the character requirement. | May be requested; obtain it in advance to avoid delays, as some countries take a long time to issue it. | |
| Maritime Crew visa / crew evidence (if applicable) | Maritime Crew visa / crew evidence (if applicable) | Required for crew transiting to join a non-military ship and leaving by sea within 5 days of arriving in Australia. | Applies to seafarers; you must prove arrangements to leave by sea within 5 days. | |
| ImmiAccount online account | ImmiAccount online account | 771 must be lodged online through the official ImmiAccount; there is no offline/third-party paid channel. | Each family member must apply separately. | |
| Travel health insurance | Travel health insurance | Bear your own medical costs during transit, unless your country has a reciprocal health agreement with Australia. | Travel medical insurance covering the transit period is recommended, as Medicare generally does not cover it. | |
| Passport-style photograph | Passport-style photograph | A recent compliant passport photo may need to be uploaded as required by the application. | White background, taken within the last 6 months, meeting Australian visa photo specifications. | |
| Character declaration | Character declaration | Truthfully declare criminal convictions and other character matters to meet the character requirement. | Declare truthfully; provide a police clearance if needed. |
FAQ
Do Chinese passport holders always need a transit visa when transiting through Australia?
It depends on the itinerary. Some travellers can use Transit Without Visa (TWOV, usually requiring you to stay in the airport transit area and meet specific conditions); otherwise you must apply for the 771 transit visa or an eligible visitor visa. Check the official 'Do I need a Transit visa' guidance or the airline's requirements first.
How long can you stay on the 771 transit visa?
Up to 72 hours from arriving in Australia, during which you must transit and depart. The visa cannot be extended, and you cannot apply for a new transit visa onshore.
Is there a fee for the transit visa?
The 771 visa itself has no application fee (free). But you may have other related expenses at your own cost, such as a health examination or police clearance.
Can you leave the airport into the city during transit? Can you work?
Once admitted on a 771 transit visa you can stay briefly within 72 hours (subject to the entry conditions), but absolutely must not work and must not exceed 72 hours. If you only transit at the airport without entering, TWOV may apply.
What if the connection time is just slightly over 72 hours?
771 strictly requires transit of no more than 72 hours. If your stay would exceed 72 hours, you should apply for a visitor visa instead (such as subclass 600); otherwise you may not meet the transit visa requirements.
Common Refusal Reasons
- Unable to prove a genuine transit purpose (lacking a confirmed onward ticket/itinerary)
- Lacking the visa or entry documents needed to travel to the next destination country
- An intention to stay beyond transit (in fact tourism/business/long-term stay)
- Health or character requirements not met
Can you appeal after a refusal? See the Visa Refusal & Review (ART) Guide.