City guide article

General Visa Information

There are three types of tourist visas offered by the Australian government.

Overview

1. Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) – This electronic visa can be obtained via the internet or through a travel agent, airline or specialist service provider and allows a maximum stay of three months. ETA is offered to passport holders from 32 countries.

2. Tourist Visa (subclass 676) – This temporary visa must be processed through the Australian consulate and can be obtained for a period of three, six or 12 months. Applications can be submitted in person, by mail, or online.

3. Sponsored Family Visitor Visa (679) – This three-month-stay visa allows family members of Australian citizens to apply for a visa. This involves a two-step process in which the relative confirms that she or he will sponsor the familial visitor.

To get information on country-specific visa requirements, visit www.immi.gov.au/visitors/index.htm

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The currency used in Australia is the Australian Dollar. Notes include A$5, A$10, A$20, A$50, A$100 and so on. On the other hand, coins include: 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, and A$1, and A$2. Foreign currency can be changed at the airport, banks, and Bureau de Change venues.

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Sydneysiders

Since then, Sydney has grown to become Australia's largest city with a population of just over two million people. Sydney also has the seventh largest foreign-born population in the world (ahead of London and Paris). These foreign-born residents come mainly from the United Kingdom, China, and New Zealand. Moreover, the immigrant population in Sydney is at about 32 per cent of the whole. Shocking, however, is the low percentage of Aborigines, Australia's indigenous people, who make-up only one percent. Sydney is said to have the largest concentration of Aborigines in Australia, yet they are not found wandering about often and are implicitly discriminated against.

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Public Holidays

January 1- New Year’s Day January 26- Australia Day March 21 - Good Friday March 22 - Easter Saturday March 24 - Easter Monday April 25- Anzac Day June 11- Queen’s Birthday October 1- Labor Day December 25- Christmas December 26- Boxing Day

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