Sydney Travel Forum

Hi there!

I'm going to Australia next week (04/04) from London and just have a question I hope you can help me with:

I've got some contradicting information wether it is neccessary to have any proof of financial security on check in or entering the country and going through immigration. Do I need to prove I have enough money and I'm not intending to stay in australia?
I'm only to be there for a 3 Week holiday and got the required Visa (I'm German, so no problem) and my passport is still valid for a few years.
I heard you only need proof if you are on a work holiday visa. Is that the case?
Please let me know if I need any bank statements and if how old can they be and what qualifies you as "financial secure".

Thanks a lot for your help!

Never had any kind of problem of that sort in OZ, but then I had a onward ticket...do you?

Check for any useful info on the Australian Embassy in Germany website:

http://www.germany.embassy.gov.au/

I couldn't find any answers in the English version though.

Even if you have a return ticket and have been granted a visa it is still possible (albeit unlikely) that you may be required to prove that you can support yourself during your visit. For that reason I would take copies of my most recent bank statements, to show that I have sufficient funds. Just in case.

Sorry, does onward ticket means return ticket? If so, yes I do have a return ticket for the 26/04

Onward simply means a paid ticket to another destination; could be return or on to another place.

In my case it was onwards to NZ -> BKK -> Home. The entire trip was for 6 1/2 weeks with the first 3 of them in OZ.

With a paid return ticket you are very unlikely to need anything other than your visa.

Oh yes, they do ask you to fill out a landing card and to write the name of the hotel you will be at - at least for the first night.

With a tourist visa you don't need proof of finance. This (what was it, 5000 Dollars if I remember correctly?) rule applies to people with Working Holiday Visa.

BUT if you look destitute, confused, have no money or not much money in your pocket - have no luggage - obviously can't suport yourself - you may be denied entry and shipped back even if you have a return ticket

not the case in this instance of course

I don't think you'll experience any problems as long as you have the electronic visa, an initial hotel reservation, and if you have an onward/return ticket. They might ask you about your purpose in visiting Australia ("tourism" is the answer). I've visited Australia for many years and have never been asked for a financial statement, just purpose of visit. As Craig suggested, the only people they might query are those who look destitute and might want to stay in the country without proper funds/credentials. If you feel nervous about this, then, yes, maybe take last month's bank statement showing you have a few thousand $$$. But I don't think it's necessary.

there is a programme i watch called Border Security I think - and people have to be pretty suspicious looking to be pulled out of the line - shambling, incoherent, dirty etc

word of warning though - they have drug sniffer dogs - one guy was held up for ages because there were traces of cocaine on his american money

it wasn't him it appears - he just got the money in change - and another guy had been smoking something the night before with his gf - the dogs got all excited - but they don't care about what you did the night before - just if you are carrying drugs

also very strict about fruit and veg and honey and meat - be sure to declare any food you have - the dogs can tell

i went to another state and you aren't allowed to take food across state borders and the beagle dogs got very interested in a girl's back pack

she may have just peeled an orange near her backpack

but as always innocence is the best defence - and tourism is the right answer

Craic (Jen) is absolutely right. And of course, we're seeing those drug-sniffing dogs at many international airports. The food regulations in Australia are very strict, so it's advisable to read up on their government website for Customs/Agriculture exactly what you can bring in, which is mostly -- no dairy, meat, cheeses, fruits, veggies. I always examine my carry-on right before arrival to make sure I'm not carrying anything that is not allowed. The same is true for arriving in the US, BTW.

I watch the same TV programme as Jen (craic) and am always hugely amused how stupid people can be when entering Australia (or another country). Looking back, I have to say that they do not only check out dirty and confused people but also a lot of non-European people of whom they think they could come to Australia to work illegally. In this case the first thing is to check their funds. If they come without credit card and only little cash, they immediately are taken to an interrogation room, and the drama starts.

Theoretically they can ask for proof that you have enough funds to finance your holiday but practically it never happens - apart from the mentioned exceptions.

You are also immediately suspicious if they ask you what you will do in Australia. Ok, you will have stated "tourism"/"holiday". Be prepared to tell them where you will travel to, which main attractions you will visit, etc. If you cannot go into detail you are suspicious again. For this reason it is always good to have accommodation booked for the first night. This shows them that you will not stay at an illegal workers' cottage at a vineyard...

Once a friend of mine was not prepared to tell immigration that she would stay with me (exactly the same procedure here in NZ...) - which was very stupid. They searched her whole luggage.

Without return/onward ticket they normally do not let you on the airplane in London if you do not have a permanent resident's visa for Australia.

fascinatingly 5 romanians have just been arrested in melbers for an atm skimming scam

we are a bit naive here and many of us were caught

they got through customs (must have had their stories straight)

Jen, they had enough cash from other scams when they were checked out by immigration LOL

i know at the bar i used to go to in rome i got chatting to the bouncer (not all bars and pubs in rome have bouncers) and he was a street wise german and he said if he sees a group of romanians come in and sit at separate tables as if they don't know each other - he slings them out

very racist i know - but i went to that bar i lot because i could trust the bouncer

they got away with nearly a million - maybe romanian passport holders will get an extra hard time from now on

In Rome I also watched them. There they normally are Romanian gypsies.

sad eh? and also scarey

i was a bit freaked the romanians had followed me to melbers (they know we are naive here)

luckily i was in perth so i missed getting skimmed

Thanks to everybody's advise and comments. Looks like I don't have anything to worry about. Just looking forward so much to my first time in Australia and try to avoid any nasty surprises which could be avoided easily.

You said you are German - did you find the probably best German travel page and forum about Australia: www.reisebine.de?
Heaps of information on the pages and a forum in German with lots of competent people.
(I'm a member there but no, I don't hold shares with them...)

Wow!

Didn't know about that page. Will check it out.
Thanks a lot!!