Visa information
If you are traveling to the UK or Australia to complete a Flying Fish course then depending on your residency status you may need a visa to travel.
The links and FAQ’s below will help you to research your status and to apply online. In most cases, your visa will be confirmed electronically without delay.
General advice about your passport
If you are a UK citizen traveling to Australia, you do not need to have six months’ validity remaining on your passport to enter the country. However, it’s recommended to have a valid passport for at least six months beyond the date of your departure from Australia, as this may be required by airlines or other countries you may visit during your trip.
It’s always a good idea to check the entry requirements of the country you’re visiting before you travel, including passport validity, as these may vary depending on the destination and your nationality.
If in doubt, you should contact a consular office of the country you are going to visit, in the country where you normally live.
Travelling to the UK
Citizens of most countries can enter the UK for a period of up to six months without formalities.
If you do need a visa to join Flying Fish in the UK it will be a General Visitor Visa.
DO NOT apply for a Student Visa.
To find out if you need to apply for a visa go to the Visas and Immigration section of the UK Government website.
Travelling to Australia
General comments
Apart from New Zealanders, all other nationalities require a visa to enter Australia.
If you are joining a Flying Fish course or event and you have no intention of working after your course then you need a Visitor Visa, usually issued electronically.
DO NOT apply for a student visa or tick any box on the application form that mentions “study”. If you apply for a Student Visa, it will be refused and this may prejudice any later application you make for another calss of visa.
Almost all visa’s are applied for online.
Please note that from 6 April 2022, all ETA-eligible passport holders can now apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app
If you are booked onto the either of the three courses listed below then there are two routes to apply for the standard tourist visa, which allows entry into Austraia for a period of up to 3 months.
Note: All Visitor visa’s are issued electronicly, there are no paper visas.
You can apply for a visitors visa, called the “eVisitor subclass 651” via the Department for Home Affairs IOS app or Andriod app,
The eVisitor subclass 651 will take around 24 hours to be processed
Option 2 – apply online
If you prefer to apply online using a PC/MAC then you choose the “subclass 600” visa, which is the same a 3-month visitors visa.
If you apply online for the subclass 600, processing times are between 4 and 35 days.
The Yachtmaster Ocean course is either 16 or for the September start date 18 weeks. The standard Subclass 600 allows a stay for 3 month, 12 weeks. In this case there are are two options:
- If you are under 30 years old (UK citizen) then you can apply for a working holiday visa, known as the subclass 417
- Apply for a Sublass 600 visitors visa online. On page 9 of the application process you can can change the “length of stay” in Australia to 6 months, allowing enough time to complete the Yachtmaster Ocean Course.
Note: Your request may not be granted, decisions are made on a case by case basis.
No problem. The best visa to apply for is the “working holiday or seasonal work visa” know as the subclass 417. If you are a UK Citizen then you must be under 30 to apply for a subclass 417
Advantages of the working holiday or seasonal visa
- Allows a stay of up to 12 months
- Can work for upto 3 months in that 12 month period
- Can study for up to 4 months
Apply for the working holiday or seasonal work visa using the link above.
Please note, the visa costs $510 AUD and can take upto 14 days to be approved.
DO NOT apply for a Student Visa. This type of visa is designed for a Universtity student applying to complete a Uni course.
If you apply for a Student Visa, it will be refused and this may prejudice any later application you make for the correct visa.
We recommend applying for a Visitor visa or working holiday visa. Please see “what visa to I need”.
Almost all nationalities can apply for a Visitors visa to enter Australia as a tourist.
You can apply for a visitors visa, called the “eVisitor subclass 651” via the Department for Home Affairs IOS app or Andriod app,
The eVisitor subclass 651 will take around 24 hours to be processed
If you prefer to apply online using a PC/MAC then you choose the “subclass 600” visa, which is the same a 3-month visitors visa.
If you apply online for the subclass 600, processing times are between 4 and 35 days.
Still not sure?
If you would like further advice then please contact us using the button below or tap on the live chat button and talk to one of our team.