Recently, I have been needing to apply for visa’s for various countries – and it just dawned on me that as an Australian passport is not necessarily the most convenient viz other countries.
The question is – is this a reflection of the competency of DFAT and them not fighting hard enough for Australian interests overseas?
For example:-
China
1/ Visa-exemption (e.g. Singapore, Japan, Brunei and a whole host of other smaller Caribbean countries...)
2/ 10 year reciprocal visa (USA)
At best, Australian passport holders can apply for a 1 year multiple entry visa as I understand. At the very least, shouldn't DFAT be fighting for a 10 year reciprocal visa like the US, given we just signed an FTA, and already offer Chinese nationals 10 year visa access (albeit for an exorbitant A$1,000 fee)?
Vietnam
1/ 15 countries are already visa free (e.g. Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy etc etc)
2/ Apparently the Vietnam government has launched an “e-visa” pilot program for 40 countries (saving people the hassle of getting the VOA or embassy visa).
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/d...list.pdf/6d522d1e-25ed-410b-b966-27198ae58b49
Australia is not on the list. Why? Illogical given we have a big Vietnamese diaspora (ok maybe they are mainly from the capitalist South?)
Indonesia
1/ Ok - so Australia belatedly got onto their visa free program (delayed due to the diplomatic spat over the Bali nine)
The question is – is this a reflection of the competency of DFAT and them not fighting hard enough for Australian interests overseas?
For example:-
China
1/ Visa-exemption (e.g. Singapore, Japan, Brunei and a whole host of other smaller Caribbean countries...)
2/ 10 year reciprocal visa (USA)
At best, Australian passport holders can apply for a 1 year multiple entry visa as I understand. At the very least, shouldn't DFAT be fighting for a 10 year reciprocal visa like the US, given we just signed an FTA, and already offer Chinese nationals 10 year visa access (albeit for an exorbitant A$1,000 fee)?
Vietnam
1/ 15 countries are already visa free (e.g. Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy etc etc)
2/ Apparently the Vietnam government has launched an “e-visa” pilot program for 40 countries (saving people the hassle of getting the VOA or embassy visa).
https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/d...list.pdf/6d522d1e-25ed-410b-b966-27198ae58b49
Australia is not on the list. Why? Illogical given we have a big Vietnamese diaspora (ok maybe they are mainly from the capitalist South?)
Indonesia
1/ Ok - so Australia belatedly got onto their visa free program (delayed due to the diplomatic spat over the Bali nine)