Australian Consulate-General
Noumea
New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna

Home Affairs - Immigration Citizenship and Border Protection

 

Outside of consular, passport and notarial services, which are provided by the Australian Consulate-General, we are unable to provide further information than is outlined below.

Please also note the Australian Consulate-General does not manage enquiries relating to visas or entry-exit requirements to Australia, New Caledonia or Wallis-and-Futuna, or Canada and we are unable to escalate applications or issues with the authorities in Australia, New Caledonia or Wallis-and-Futuna, or Canada.

Please read carefully all the information provided below and contact relevant authorities directly.

 

 

The Australian Department of Home Affairs does not have an office at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea. The Australian Consulate-General in Noumea has no visa or other Home Affairs function and does not process visa applications or respond to visa or other Home Affairs enquiries.

For assistance with Australian immigration (including visas), travel conditions and citizenship matters, please read the comprehensive information provided below by Home Affairs or call the Home Affairs Global Service Centre (in Australia 131 881 ​​– outside Australia +61 2 6196 0196), open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (local time). For foreign language assistance (including in French), press 6 and say your language in English.

 

Home Affairs recommends foreign travellers hold a passport valid for at least six (6) months and to enter Australia on a visa appropriate to their circumstances.

Home Affairs advises you should not book flights or make travel commitments until you have an appropriate visa to travel to Australia. Home Affairs further advises it will not be liable for any financial loss incurred by clients whose visa application was finalised later than expected or where an application is unsuccessful.

 

Please check all the Home Affairs information and advice provided below as appropriate to your circumstances and contact Home Affairs directly for further assistance as required:

 

Australian citizenship


You can apply online for Australian citizenship through ImmiAccount. For further information, please check information and application processes for Australian citizenship by descent or for Australian citizenship for children adopted outside Australia.

If you require further proof of your Australian citizenship, you will need to apply online with Home Affairs for an Evidence of citizenship (homeaffairs.gov.au).

Once you have been granted Australian citizenship by Home Affairs, you will need to apply for an Australian passport.

Home Affairs advises Australian citizens should depart from and return to Australia on an Australian passport and should not apply for visas to Australia on their foreign passports. Home Affairs further advises Australian citizens seeking to enter Australia on another country's passport may experience difficulties and delays while their identity and citizenship is confirmed by Home Affairs.

 

Australian Customs and Biosecurity
 

For customs information and mandatory declarations (entering and leaving Australia by air or sea, including arrival policies, what you can bring, duty-free and tourist refund scheme), please check out the Australian Border Force (ABF) online information, including the Australian Border Force Duty free concessions (abf.gov.au) information (also available in foreign languages including in French) and Biosecurity Australia information on Travelling to Australia - DAFF (agriculture.gov.au), also available in foreign languages including in French.

Visit the Home Affairs webpage Entering and leaving Australia (homeaffairs.gov.au) for the most up-to-date information.

 

Travel and border information 


Regulations and procedures can be subject to change at short notice. Please read the information provided below carefully and regularly check all official links for the most up-to-date information and instructions applicable to your circumstances.

Visit the Home Affairs webpage Entering and leaving Australia (homeaffairs.gov.au) for the most up-to-date information.

For information on entering and leaving Australia, visas, Australian citizenship, what Home Affairs does, settling in Australia, importing-exporting-buying, and for help and support, please visit the Home Affairs website at Department of Home Affairs (homeaffairs.gov.au). Please also check the information and links provided below to assist you as best possible with your Home Affairs enquiries. Please read these carefully as applicable to your circumstances and contact your airline including Aircalin or Qantas, travel agent, employer or Home Affairs directly as required for assistance. Check also with your airline including Aircalin or Qantas, or cruise line on their boarding conditions and on regulations applicable to travel by minors, including those unaccompanied.

Before you book your travel, check regulations as applicable to your circumstances - It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the requirements of the airline or vessel operator you are travelling with and of countries you are travelling to or transiting through. You are responsible for checking requirements applicable to your circumstances regarding visas, entry permits and exemptions, quarantine (possibly at your own expense), mandatory health and other declarations, COVID-19 testing and vaccination, use of face masks, as well as insurance to cover your specific travel, condition and circumstances. Also check the safety and COVID-19 plans applied by the airline or cruise company you intend travelling with and ensure you meet their requirements. If you need information or assistance, please contact your airline or travel provider, employer and the relevant competent authorities in Australia, New Caledonia and in Wallis-and-Futuna directly.

Comprehensive travel insurance - If you’re leaving Australia, travel insurance is just as essential as a passport. Without it, you or your family could suffer financially if things go wrong. Ensure your travel insurance (check the CHOICE travel insurance buying guide) covers you for the places you’ll visit, the things you’ll do and any pre-existing medical conditions you have. Some destinations may also require travellers to hold travel insurance as a condition of entry. No matter who you are, where you're going and what you're doing, get insurance as the Australian Government will not pay your medical costs or your medical evacuation costs.

Canadian nationals are invited to check the Canadian travel advice for Australia at Travel advice and advisories for Australia and to follow Canadian recommendations.

French nationals are invited to check the French travel advice for Australia at Australie - Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères (diplomatie.gouv.fr) and to follow French recommendations.

Other nationals are invited to check the travel advice of their country of nationality or to contact their foreign consular representation in Australia and to follow their country's recommendations.

 

Vaccination requirements, pre-departure testing and domestic health regulations


Visit the Home Affairs webpage Entering and leaving Australia (homeaffairs.gov.au) for the most up-to-date information.

Home Affairs advises that, from 6 July 2022:

  • People entering Australia do not need to provide evidence of vaccination status;
  • People entering Australia do not need to complete the Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration;
  • People leaving Australia will not be asked to provide evidence of their vaccination status;
  • Unvaccinated visa holders do not​ need a travel exemption to travel to Australia.

Home Affairs advises it is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

Australia does not require you to undertake any pre-departure COVID-19 testing to enter, leave or transit Australia. However, some states and territories may require you to take a COVID-19 test soon after arrival.

International passengers arriving in Australia may not be automatically permitted to transit to another state or territory, domestic travel restrictions may apply. Check Australian State and Territory regulations, including for children, entry registration forms, quarantine, domestic vaccination requirements and domestic transit travel in Australia. Check the below links regularly as regulations and procedures can be subject to change at short notice. 

 

Visas to Australia including Visa-Finder


Visit the Home Affairs webpage Entering and leaving Australia (homeaffairs.gov.au) for the most up-to-date information.

Home Affairs advises Australian citizens should depart from and return to Australia on an Australian passport and should not apply for visas to Australia on their foreign passports.

Home Affairs recommends foreign travellers hold a passport valid for at least six (6) months and to enter Australia on a visa appropriate to their circumstances.

Home Affairs advises you should not book flights or make travel commitments until you have an appropriate visa to travel to Australia. Home Affairs further advises it will not be liable for any financial loss incurred by clients whose visa application was finalised later than expected or where an application is unsuccessful.
 

 

Biometric data collection, health examinations, travel records and English language testing
 

 

Troubleshooting guide and contacting Home Affairs


If you are having issues with your ImmiAccount or visa or citizenship application, Home Affairs recommends you follow their troubleshooting guide below or call their Global Services Centre (GSC) for assistance or to use the Australian Immigration Enquiry Form to contact the nearest Home Affairs Office (for New Caledonia and Wallis-and-Futuna, the nearest Home Affairs’ office is located in Suva, Fiji), as applicable to your circumstances:
 

  • If you wish to speak to Home Affairs or discuss your circumstance with Home Affairs, please call the Home Affairs Global Service Centre(GSC) (in Australia 131 881 ​​– outside Australia +61 2 6196 0196) open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (local time). The Home Affairs GSC provides language support services using the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) across the service window, in over 160 languages, including French. Home Affairs advises to listen to the options available when calling their GSC number and to press 6 to engage a TIS interpreter in your language. Option 6 can also be selected straight after dialling the GSC number.
     
  • Check the Global visa processing times. Home Affairs advises they will not respond to progress enquiries if the application is within Global visa processing times.
     
  • Please also check Family and friends helping with your application (homeaffairs.gov.au) for information on who can help you with your application.
     
  • For technical help and support with you ImmiAccount and error messages received, please check the Home Affairs information available under Technical Help for ImmiAccount (homeaffairs.gov.au).
     
  • Submit the ImmiAccount technical support form including with a screenshot of the issue you are experiencing where possible and a copy of the biodata page of your passport.
     
  • If you already hold a visa you can check your visa status and entitlements using Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO). If you cannot find your departmental reference number or you no longer have your visa grant notification you can request this information by completing the Request for reference number form. Your reference number will then be emailed to you.
     
  • If all of the above have not allowed you to resolve your issue, contact the Visa Office at the Australian High Commission in Suva (Fiji) using the Australian Immigration Enquiry Form (for New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna, select Suva in the contact section and provide copies of supporting documents as applicable to your circumstances, including your passport biodata page). Home Affairs advised the expected response time for your enquiry is currently 5 business days and that you should not send multiple enquiries within this time period.

 

Feedback to Home Affairs

 

Home Affairs values your feedback and uses it to improve their services and investigate and respond to any issues of concern. Please check Provide feedback – compliments, complaints and suggestions to provide your feedback to the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

 

The Australian Department of Home Affairs does not have an office at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea. The Australian Consulate-General in Noumea has no visa or other Home Affairs function and does not process visa applications or respond to visa or other Home Affairs enquiries.

 

For information on travel to and from New Caledonia and Wallis-and-Futuna, including visas and arrival-departure conditions, please check Visas and travel conditions for New Caledonia and Wallis-and-Futuna (consulate.gov.au).

For information on travel to and from Canada, including visas and arrival-departure conditions, please check COVID-19: Travel, testing and borders - Travel.gc.ca.