Australian Embassy
China

Important News: Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 - Visa arrangements for family members and officials

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The Australian Embassy Beijing expresses its condolences and sympathies at this difficult time for the family members of passengers and crew on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370).

The Australian Government has made special arrangements to assist the family members of passengers and crew on MH370 to obtain a visa for travel to Australia.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), through its overseas network, is working with Malaysia Airlines and counterparts in China to facilitate visa arrangements for family and officials planning to visit Australia.

As the Australian Prime Minister announced on 25 March 2014, arrangements have been made to grant tourist visas to eligible relatives of the missing passengers and crew. Visa fees for these individuals will be waived, effective 26 March 2014. While visa fees will be waived, the Australian Government will not be funding travel to Australia, nor accommodation while in Australia.

Visa applications will still need to be assessed according to the normal processes and criteria associated with the Visitor (subclass 600) visa (tourist) stream.

In China, the Australian Embassy is cooperating closely with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and Malaysia Airlines to make sure visa arrangements are as streamlined as possible for relatives of those Chinese nationals on MH370. Family members should speak to their local Malaysia Airlines representative about these visa arrangements.

Additionally, the Australian Embassy Beijing is on +8610 5140 4111 and stands ready to respond to enquiries from family members.

The Australian Minister of Immigration and Border Protection has also put in place special purpose visa (SPV) arrangements for foreign search, rescue and recovery teams.

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Page last updated 28 March 2014