Welcome to the Department of Home Affairs at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.
The Department processes visa applications and applications for citizenship by descent, for people who are resident in Malaysia and Brunei. Everyone, with the exception of Australian or New Zealand citizens, requires a visa prior to travelling to Australia.
Please do not finalise flights or travel commitments until you have a visa to travel to Australia. The Department 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.
COVID-19 – Current restrictions on travel to Australia and changes to visa processing services
Travel Restrictions
From 9pm AEDT 20 March 2020, only Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members can travel to Australia.
All persons, including current visa holders, who are not Australian citizens, permanent residents or immediate family members cannot travel to Australia at this time.
Please see the following page on the Department of Home Affairs website for more information: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions#3 . Travel restrictions are subject to change and you should check the website regularly. See below for detail on exemptions.
During this period:
- All visa processing from Malaysia will be delayed until further notice, including all Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) applications and all other applications previously lodged with the Australian High Commission.
- The High Commission has limited capacity to issue Citizenship certificates. You will be notified in writing if your Citizenship by descent application is approved. Your certificate will be issued at a later date. A certificate will not be required in order to obtain an emergency travel document
Travel Restriction Exemptions for Visa Holders
Limited exemptions apply for some visa holders.
- You can travel if you are an Australian citizen, or permanent resident of Australia.
- You can travel if you are a New Zealand citizen usually resident in Australia and can demonstrate your residency.
- If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident but are an immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident (spouse, dependent or legal guardian), you may apply for an exemption, but only if you hold a visa.
- Partner and Child visa holders (except for Prospective Marriage visa holders) may travel to Australia
If you are the immediate family member (spouse, dependent child or legal guardian) of an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and you hold a temporary visa, you must obtain an exemption from the ABF Commissioner before you attempt to travel to Australia.
For more information on the travel ban and to apply for an exemption, visit the Home Affairs website: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/travel-restrictions#3 (link to exemption application at bottom of page).
Please note: if you hold a temporary visa and have obtained an exemption to travel to Australia, you can contact us at visakl@dfat.gov.au to request a support letter. But please be aware the Malaysian government is currently imposing restrictions on the departure from Malaysia of Malaysian citizens, and may still prevent you from departing Malaysia if you are not a Permanent Resident of another country.
If you do not hold a visa
If you do not hold a visa you cannot travel to Australia. Apply for a visa and provide proof of your relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Apply for a visa through this website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder.
If you urgently need to travel to Australia you can email us at visakl@dfat.gov.au, if you are the immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident. We will not otherwise respond to your request if unless you demonstrate compelling / compassionate circumstances that justify urgent travel. Please quote your passport number in the subject line.
If we grant you a visa you must not travel until advised that you are exempt from the travel restriction.
Apply for the exemption here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/covid19-enquiry-form.
All visa holders and applicants should continue to monitor the Department of Home Affairs website for any changes in travel restrictions to Australia.
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Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
Information about applying for an ETA is here.
If your online ETA application was not approved, follow the instructions here.
Note: the processing of ETAs will be delayed until further notice.
Visa related FAQs
You can find answers to all our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.
Electronic Travel Authorities (ETAs)
- My Online ETA application was not approved - what should I do?
- I have an ETA - can I get a job picking fruit in Australia?
- My ETA has been cancelled. What can I do?
Applying for other visas
- What type of visa should I apply for?
- How do I lodge an application in Malaysia?
- How do I lodge an application in Brunei?
- How do I lodge an application online?
- What happens after I lodge my application with the Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC)?
- What is a complete application?
- I am subject to an exclusion period – does that mean I can never go to Australia again?
- Can I take my domestic helper with me to Australia while on holiday?
If you have already lodged a visa application
- How long will it take for the Department to process my visa application?
- Can I request priority processing?
- Can someone else make enquiries or receive information in relation to my application?
- Do I need a visa label to travel to Australia?
- My application was refused and I don’t think it was a fair decision - can this be appealed?
- My visa application was refused. Can I apply for a refund of the Visa Application Charge (VAC)?
- How can I provide further information to the Department after my visa application has been lodged?
- My passport has been lost or stolen / I've been issued with a new passport / I've changed my address. What should I do?
Warning regarding visa scams in Malaysia
For information on known visa scams in Malaysia, click here.
International surrogacy arrangements
The Department of Home Affairs exercises extreme caution to ensure that, where surrogacy arrangements are made outside Australia, our citizenship provisions are not misused to circumvent adoption and other child welfare laws.
Persons considering bringing a child to live in Australia must apply for either a visa or Australian citizenship by descent and should first read the information available on the Department’s website. It is important to consider any visa, citizenship and passport application requirements, as well as processing times, before entering into any arrangements.
Citizenship by descent applications through surrogacy may take longer to process than other citizenship by descent applications due to the additional assurance measures required in assessing such applications.
News/Important Information
Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas are currently available
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The Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa program is open to eligible Malaysian nationals.
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There are 1,100 places available for Malaysian nationals in 2019-20. You should apply as soon as possible if you wish to be considered for a Work and Holiday visa.
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Applicants from Malaysia must lodge online. For information about applying please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
Previous News
- From 1 July 2018 applications for Partner and Prospective Marriage visas must be lodged online, via ImmiAccount. More information on the changes is available on the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ website. Payment of the visa application charge will need to be made online via the ImmiAccount portal.
- From 1 July 2018 applications for Other Family (Carer, Remaining Relative and Aged Dependent Relative) visas must be sent by post or courier to the Perth Visa and Citizenship Office. More information on the changes is available on the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ website. Payment of the visa application charge will need to be made online via the ImmiAccount portal.
- From 1 July 2018 applications for Transit visas must be lodged online, via ImmiAccount. More information on the changes is available on the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ website.
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From 31 May 2018 Student visa applicants who apply in Malaysia will be required to provide biometric identifiers. This will assist the Department of Home Affairs' capacity to identify and authenticate visa applicants - strengthening Australian border security measures. Biometric data is an important tool in identity management globally, helping countries facilitate the arrival of travellers and combat fraud and integrity risks.
- Mandatory appointment system - From 1 November 2017, it is mandatory to have an appointment for the submission of visa application and enrolment of biometrics at the Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC).
- The Australian Government has announced the establishment of a Community Support Programme (CSP) from 1 July 2017. The CSP will enable communities and businesses, as well as families and individuals, to propose humanitarian visa applicants and support new humanitarian arrivals in their settlement journey. More information can be found here.
- The Australian Government has announced it will enhance the way visa and citizenship services are delivered using the latest digital technologies. More information can be found here.
- On 18 April 2017, Prime Minister Turnbull announced that the subclass 457 visa would be abolished and replaced with a new temporary work visa. Further details on this announcement can be found here.
- For visa arrangements for Australian students travelling to Malaysia, click here.
Applying for a visa to Australia
For information on where to apply for your visa see here.
Not sure what visa to apply for? Use the Visa Finder tool on the Department’s website.
Applying for Australian Citizenship
Applications for Australian citizenship by descent are processed at the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. A person born outside Australia who is the child of an Australian citizen parent at birth may acquire Australian citizenship by descent. See here for more information about Australian citizenship by descent eligibility.
All other categories of citizenship application (grant/adoption/renunciation/resumption/evidence) must be lodged in Australia. For details, see the Australian Citizenship page of the Department's website.
This page was last updated on 10 August 2018.