Special purpose visa


operates a universal visa regime which requires that every non-Australian citizen entering or who is present within the Australian migration zone holds a valid visa. In Australian migration law, to exempt certain persons from the visa and immigration clearance arrangements, a so-called special purpose visa applies by operation of law to certain non-citizens.
The special purpose visa arises under section 33 of the Migration Act 1958 to effectively exempt certain persons from the normal processes for entry into Australia, including:
No visa application is required to claim a special purpose visa, and no fee is charged. It is possible to hold a special purpose visa simultaneously with another type of Australian visa.
A person holding a special purpose visa must abide by the legal conditions attaching to his or her status, otherwise he or she becomes an unlawful non-citizen liable to immigration detention and removal from Australia in the normal manner.