Border Control

Australia is a sovereign country and has the right to decide who can enter and stay on its territory. Only Australian citizens have the right to travel freely in and out of the country. All other people must have an authority, in the form of a visa, to enter and stay in Australia.

Australia's migration laws and regulations set the criteria and standards that foreign nationals must meet if they wish to travel to and remain in Australia for a period of time.

The Australian Government is firmly committed to ensuring the integrity of Australia's borders and to the effective control and management of the movement of people to and from Australia.

The administration of Australia's immigration laws is a function of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC).

DIAC has key responsibilities to:
• ensure that Australia's immigration border controls are an effective barrier to the entry of persons who have no legal entitlement to enter
• prevent the travel to Australia and entry of those whose presence in Australia is not in the public interest
• coordinate the entry and processing of all unauthorised arrivals, regardless of mode of transport to Australia
• investigate and prosecute offences under the Migration Act 1958
• detain and remove unlawful non-citizens who have no legal ground to remain in Australia, and
• assist those with a legal entitlement who wish to regularise their status.

In conjunction with the Australian Customs Service, DIAC provides an immigration clearance service to international passengers at Australia's airports and seaports.
The documentation of international passengers travelling to Australia is checked as they board their aircraft and checked on arrival to ensure that people entering the country are here lawfully.