Competency of DFAT

[Boca68]

Just for clarity is that us or US (of A)?

Us as in Australians

As Juddles as clarified for me.

 

[Boca68]

Regarding Chile's reciprocity fee, which I suffer and pay from time to time, I believe (am I correct?) that it is exactly that - reciprocity for what Chilean's are forced to pay to visit Australia?

In general though, I LOVE being an Australian passport holder. A friend of mine is Mongolian - God she suffers!!

You are correct

 

[Moopere]

tbh, I think its mostly other countries returning to us our stance on them. China for example, probably couldn't really give a hoot either way, but we make it incredibly difficult and expensive for Chinese nationals to visit australia - so, they have probably just returned the favour. 20 years ago I barely needed a visa to go anywhere, and even if I did, it didn't cost anything, or no more than pocket change. As we've raised the bar ourselves over the years, mostly with cost barriers, its been reciprocated around the world in their view towards us.

 

[dajop]

20 years ago I barely needed a visa to go anywhere.

25 years ago ... I remember my first to trip to Europe (24 to be precise), and needed visa's for France, Spain and Hungary, three out of the 7 countries I was visiting.

Although some of the improvements have come from countries themselves, not particularly from the Aus. govt's efforts - take for example India, now can travel there for tourism or casual business visits on an e-visa applied for in advance and granted on arrival, much better than sending passport off to processing centre for a week. Ukraine, another example in recent years, for example grants visas on arrival too for AU citizens.

 

[puppysparkes]

Moot point really.

 

[cmon0005]

I agree Australian passport holders on the whole have quite good access to the world, there will always be exceptions where visas are needed but sometimes that is half the fun especially when the visa is a nice souvenir in your passport!

 

[clifford]

sometimes that is half the fun especially when the visa is a nice souvenir in your passport!

Like the visa on arrival for Egypt which now (as from 1/3/17) costs USD 60 a pop. Makes Indonesia look very reasonable (yes I know there's no charge for Australians at the moment).

 

[JohnPhelan]

It tends to be that Australia's attitude to visitors from those countries is reflected in those countries' attitudes to us - if we make it hard for them to come here, they make it hard for us to go there.

 

[whatmeworry]

I remember many a year ago, crossing from Croatia to Bosnia-Herzegovina to visit my Dads village 5km from the border. BiH in a hissy fit, decided Oz citizens had to apply for a visa, get a letter from a guarantee plus 100 Deutsch marks to enter, in retaliation for Australia putting restrictions on their citizens.

My aunt got angry at the border control official for why descendants can't enter. The border official told her 'it's your fault for leaving'.

Anyway, went to a smaller border crossing which let us through. After female cousins gave up some false mobile numbers.

These days I have EU citizenship, mainly because of what happened that day. I just want to visit a country. Not bloody leave Australia.

 

[AisleSeat]

Like the visa on arrival for Egypt which now (as from 1/3/17) costs USD 60 a pop. Makes Indonesia look very reasonable (yes I know there's no charge for Australians at the moment).

Gone up quite a bit then. If memory serves correctly, in 2002 an Egyptian visa on arrival was US$10, and for that you got two postage stamps stuck in your passport.

 

[opusman]

The Egypt price rise has been postponed: Egypt Postpones Decision To Increase Tourist Entry Visa Until July

 

[clifford]

The Egypt price rise has been postponed: Egypt Postpones Decision To Increase Tourist Entry Visa Until July

Oh good. That means I should at least get a couple more visas at the old price.

I can't understand the logic behind this increase. Isn't Egypt supposed to be trying to attract more tourists? I don't think this will do it.

 

[seanpodge]

The Australian passport is a pretty good one to have (even if it is pretty expensive to buy!).

RE: the China issue, most countries don't have any general visa on arrival access to China (I think only Japan, Singapore and San Marino do). Part of this is due to China, certainly, although it also reflects in visa policies of other countries to PR Chinese passport holders. A 10 year visa a la the Americans would be great. I know that Australia now offers a 10 year visa but at $1000 it's a rip off. For example, Singapore now also offers a 10 year visa but doesn't see it as an opportunity to rip people off as they charge the same price as a single entry tourist visa. I don't think I'd even bother with it for my PRC wife.

Also, the application process could be streamlined significantly. The Chinese tourist visa form is 4-5 pages + some photos. The Australian equivalent is a 20 page form (to be filled in in English only!) + photos + bank records + letter of leave from an employer + letter of invitation + photocopies of ID card and household registration booklet + translations + $130 visa fee + processing fee (non refundable, of course) + postage. It's just a personal example, but it's a bit of an effort for us to gather up all this just for my wife to visit her in laws. But then again, the government likes ripping people off (see passport fees).

 

[Strategic Aviation]

EU Parliament votes to End Visa-Free Travel for Americans

tbh, I think its mostly other countries returning to us our stance on them.

Reciprocity is a wonderful thing.

US Citizens May Soon Need Visas To Visit The EU - One Mile at a Time

EU Parliament votes to End Visa-Free Travel for Americans! – Grab a Mile

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Also, the application process could be streamlined significantly. The Chinese tourist visa form is 4-5 pages + some photos.

Although they do offer either 72 or 144 hour transit without visa. Pretty generous and zero cost (except to make sure you have a compliant itinerary, which is easy for award bookings)

 

[straitman]

Although they do offer either 72 or 144 hour transit without visa. Pretty generous and zero cost (except to make sure you have a compliant itinerary, which is easy for award bookings)

Unfortunately this has not worked for my trips.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Unfortunately this has not worked for my trips.

Depends on the length of stay and where you need to be. I combine two awards - non-stop to China (40K UA miles) with something like a China-HKG-AU or China-BKK-AU on the return (straight through). It adds a couple hours on to the journey, but for ~AUD1600 return and no visa it works for me for a week in Shanghai.

 

[ermen]

Depends on the length of stay and where you need to be. I combine two awards - non-stop to China (40K UA miles) with something like a China-HKG-AU or China-BKK-AU on the return (straight through). It adds a couple hours on to the journey, but for ~AUD1600 return and no visa it works for me for a week in Shanghai.

Or... maybe the Australian Govt could have negotiated for a 10yr visa for Australians... like the yanks who only have to pay US$140!

I generally like flying *O to China