Transit Visa at Sydney Airport; Indian passport holder
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Transit Visa at Sydney Airport; Indian passport holder
Hi All,
This is my first post to this forum; however I am a regular reader here.
I am an Indian passport holder but live in Singapore (Permanent Singapore resident). I am planning a trip to New Zealand, I have booked Qantas Airways which changes planes in Sydney (Layover time less than 2 hrs both ways). I understand I do not need any transit visa in Australia?
Please let me know if it is otherwise. Its better safe than sorry :-)
Starting new thread because I couldnt find this info on any other thread.
Regards,
Ajay
This is my first post to this forum; however I am a regular reader here.
I am an Indian passport holder but live in Singapore (Permanent Singapore resident). I am planning a trip to New Zealand, I have booked Qantas Airways which changes planes in Sydney (Layover time less than 2 hrs both ways). I understand I do not need any transit visa in Australia?
Please let me know if it is otherwise. Its better safe than sorry :-)
Starting new thread because I couldnt find this info on any other thread.
Regards,
Ajay
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Just an update for any other Indian passport holder with this inquiry -
I called Embassy and today I got lucky that they answered. They suggested "YES", Indian citizens DO NEED a transit visa even if they are just changing plane. No matter what is the layover time 1 or 8 hrs (upto 72 hrs).
This is bad... Aussies are not at all confident about their airport security? How can someone vanish from airport and enter in their country from transit lounge. Phew... I have to apply a visa for a country I am not even visiting to..!
I called Embassy and today I got lucky that they answered. They suggested "YES", Indian citizens DO NEED a transit visa even if they are just changing plane. No matter what is the layover time 1 or 8 hrs (upto 72 hrs).
This is bad... Aussies are not at all confident about their airport security? How can someone vanish from airport and enter in their country from transit lounge. Phew... I have to apply a visa for a country I am not even visiting to..!
#3
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
Yes, I fear that this is correct: see this page, which lists those passport holder that may transit without a visa.
What the Australian authorities are worried about, I think, is not people absconding uncaught from the airport but rather people arriving in Australia ostensibly in transit and then going on to claim asylum there. I'm not saying that this is (or is not) a sensible policy, but I think that this is the reason for it.
What the Australian authorities are worried about, I think, is not people absconding uncaught from the airport but rather people arriving in Australia ostensibly in transit and then going on to claim asylum there. I'm not saying that this is (or is not) a sensible policy, but I think that this is the reason for it.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: LHR, HKG, SYD
Posts: 139
The visa is free, only mildly inconvenient and you always have the option of booking SQ or JQ direct...
#5
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SYD
Programs: DJ, QF, SPG, Hilton
Posts: 2,984
I don't understand how applying a visa implies a lack of confidence in security.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,015
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Thanks guys for the reply... Unfortunately I have to go and apply a visa which takes 5 days... Free or not doesnt matter.. Time is more imp than money. It takes time and effort to collate all docs, go to high commission to apply and then collect for just transit..!
Cheers..!
Cheers..!
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Yes, I fear that this is correct: see this page, which lists those passport holder that may transit without a visa.
What the Australian authorities are worried about, I think, is not people absconding uncaught from the airport but rather people arriving in Australia ostensibly in transit and then going on to claim asylum there. I'm not saying that this is (or is not) a sensible policy, but I think that this is the reason for it.
What the Australian authorities are worried about, I think, is not people absconding uncaught from the airport but rather people arriving in Australia ostensibly in transit and then going on to claim asylum there. I'm not saying that this is (or is not) a sensible policy, but I think that this is the reason for it.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
India has a rule - No tourist can return to India within 2 months after his/her departure. Why?? If I you go to India in July and then want to go there again in Aug - you cant..!!
Why ??
Because they fear that you might be spying for terror attacks etc... And their own agencies are not that capable to catch you... (I am telling this being an Indian).
If anyone comes to Aissie airport just to catch a plane in 2 hrs, why you need to give him a visa??
#11
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
Australia is not alone in requiring transit visas for some nationalities: the UK and at least some of the Schengen countries have a similar approach, for example.
#12
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Is there a reason you can't apply by mail?