Australian Consulate-General
Noumea
New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna

Home Affairs - Immigration (visas) Citizenship and Border Protection

 

Outside of consular, passport and notarial services, which are provided by the Australian Consulate-General, we are unable to provide further information than is outlined below.

Please be advised that the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea does not process visa and citizenship applications for Australia. All visa and citizenship applications for Australia are to be lodged online with the Australian Department of Home Affairs on www.homeaffairs.gov.au. Some Home Affairs information is available below to assist you.

If you require further information or assistance, please speak to the Home Affairs multilingual Global Services Centre (GSC) directly. The Home Affairs multilingual GSC is open Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm (except Australian national public holidays):

  • The Home Affairs multilingual GSC can be contacted directly on +61 2 6196 0196 (outside Australia) or on 131 881 (in Australia). Alternatively, callers from New Caledonia or Wallis-and-Futuna can call +687 27 24 14 and press option 2 to be transferred to the Home Affairs multilingual GSC, from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm (except local public holidays).  
  • the Home Affairs phone options are provided in English but if you prefer to speak with someone in your language, press 6 and say your language in English (for French-speakers, say “French”) and confirm “Yes” when prompted. If the operator speaks to you in English, keep saying your language in English to be put through to an interpreter.

Home Affairs does not have an office at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea. The Australian Consulate-General in Noumea will not respond to Home Affairs enquiries and will not escalate these to Home Affairs.

Canadian nationals are invited to check the Canadian travel advice for Australia at Travel advice and advisories for Australia and to follow Canadian recommendations.

French nationals are invited to check the French travel advice for Australia at Australie - Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères (diplomatie.gouv.fr) and to follow French recommendations (Ce que le consulat peut faire pour vous - Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères (diplomatie.gouv.fr)).

Other nationals are invited to check the travel advice for Australia of their country of nationality or to contact their foreign consular representation in Australia and to follow their country's recommendations.

Please read carefully all the information provided below and contact relevant authorities directly.

 

Home Affairs information to assist you:

 

Home Affairs news and recommendations to Australian citizens, permanent residents of Australia and foreign nationals travelling to Australia


For the latest immigration and citizenship news, see News archive.

Australian citizens - Home Affairs advises Australian citizens should depart from and return to Australia on an Australian passport and should not apply for visas to Australia on their foreign passports. Home Affairs further advises Australian citizens seeking to enter Australia on another country's passport may experience difficulties and delays while their identity and citizenship is confirmed by Home Affairs. Further Home Affairs information available at Travel documents for Australian citizens.

Permanent residents of Australia - Home Affairs information for permanent residents of Australia is available at Permanent resident (homeaffairs.gov.au) and Travel documents for permanent residents of Australia.

Foreign travellers - Home Affairs recommends foreign travellers hold a passport valid for at least six (6) months and to enter Australia on a visa appropriate to their circumstances.

Home Affairs advises you should not book flights or make travel commitments until you have an appropriate visa to travel to Australia. Home Affairs further advises it will not be liable for any financial loss incurred by clients whose visa application was finalised later than expected or where an application is unsuccessful.

Home Affairs advises it is important to remember that airlines, vessel operators and other countries may have specific requirements that travellers need to comply with.

COVID-19 information - Australia does not require you to undertake any pre-departure COVID-19 testing to enter, leave or transit Australia. However, some states and territories may require you to take a COVID-19 test soon after arrival.

Check the links below regularly as regulations and procedures can be subject to change at short notice. 

 

Contacting the Home Affairs multilingual Global Service Centre, Using an Interpreter, Registered Migration Agents, Australian Immigration Enquiry Form


The Department of Home Affairs website has the most up to date and comprehensive information on applying for visas and citizenship. The website also has useful definitions and tools to help you understand the department’s requirements. Visit the website at Immigration and citizenship.

If you are having trouble locating information on the department’s website, the Home Affairs Digital Assistant may be able to help. The Digital Assistant can help you find information on Australian visas, citizenship and border entry. Visit the Immigration and citizenship website, and click the Ask a question button to get started.

Home Affairs Multilingua Global Service Centre

If you require additional information, please call the Home Affairs multilingual Global Services Centre (GSC) directly. The Home Affairs multilingual GSC is open Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm (except Australian national public holidays):

  • The Home Affairs multilingual GSC can be contacted directly on +61 2 6196 0196 (outside Australia) or on 131 881 (in Australia). Alternatively, callers from New Caledonia or Wallis-and-Futuna can call +687 27 24 14 and press option 2 to be transferred to the Home Affairs multilingual GSC, from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm (except local public holidays). 
  • the Home Affairs phone options are provided in English but if you prefer to speak with someone in your language, press 6 and say your language in English (for French-speakers, say “French”) and confirm “Yes” when prompted. If the operator speaks to you in English, keep saying your language in English to be put through to an interpreter.

Alternatively, a TIS interpreter can also be engaged directly via:

Other Home Affairs links to assist you

 

Australian citizenship


You can apply online for Australian citizenship through ImmiAccount. For further information, please check information and application processes for Australian citizenship by descent or for Australian citizenship for children adopted outside Australia.

If you require further proof of your Australian citizenship, you will need to apply online with Home Affairs for an Evidence of citizenship (homeaffairs.gov.au).

Once you have been granted Australian citizenship by Home Affairs, you will need to apply for an Australian passport.

Home Affairs advises Australian citizens should depart from and return to Australia on an Australian passport and should not apply for visas to Australia on their foreign passports. Home Affairs further advises Australian citizens seeking to enter Australia on another country's passport may experience difficulties and delays while their identity and citizenship is confirmed by Home Affairs (Travelling as a dual citizen (homeaffairs.gov.au) and Dual nationals leaving and returning to Australia. Which passport should you use? | Australian Passport Office).

 

Visas to Australia including Visa-Finder


Home Affairs advises Australian citizens should depart from and return to Australia on an Australian passport and should not apply for visas to Australia on their foreign passports.

 

Biometric data collection and Health examinations

 

Biometric data collection by Home Affairs is available on the Home Affairs website at Biometrics (homeaffairs.gov.au).

Medical and health examinations required by Home Affairs for visa applications - please check Meeting Home Affairs health requirements for more information and select your country of residence to find a Home Affairs registered Panel physician.

 

English language testing

 

Information on English language proficiency tests and examination centres is available on the Home Affairs website at Meeting our requirements - English language.

Please contact the language testing centres directly for further information and assistance:

 

Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS)

 

International travellers (including Australians) might be able to claim a GST (Goods and Services Tax) and/or WET (Wine Equalization Tax) refund for some goods bought in Australia that you can take on the plane or ship.

Further information and process available at Tourist Refund Scheme (TRS).

 

Back from Australia (proof of exit and travel records)

 

If you need a record of your specific dates of travel in and out of Australia, you may request an international movement records from the Australian Department of Home Affairs at International movement records (homeaffairs.gov.au).

If you require a certified copy of your passport as proof of exit from Australia, the consular section of the Australian Consulate-General may be able to provide you with this service.  For further information, please follow the link Notarial Services, including witnessing, certifying issuing legal documents.

 

Australian Customs and Biosecurity
 

For customs information and mandatory declarations (entering and leaving Australia by air or sea, including arrival policies, what you can bring, duty-free and tourist refund scheme), please check out the Australian Border Force (ABF) online information, including the Australian Border Force Duty free concessions (abf.gov.au) information (also available in foreign languages including in French) and Biosecurity Australia information on Travelling to Australia - DAFF (agriculture.gov.au), also available in foreign languages including in French.

Visit the Home Affairs webpages Entering Australia and Leaving Australia for the most up-to-date information.

Please also contact your airline including Aircalin or Qantas, travel agent, employer or Home Affairs directly as required for assistance. Check also with your airline including Aircalin or Qantas, or cruise line on their boarding conditions and on regulations applicable to travel by minors, including those unaccompanied.

 

Compliments, complaints and suggestions to Home Affairs including Allegations related to suspicious border activities  

 

Compliments, complaints and suggestions

Your feedback is valuable to the Department of Home Affairs. The department uses your feedback to improve services and investigate and respond to any issues of concern. You can find more information on the department’s website at Compliments, complaints and suggestions.

 

Allegations related to suspicious border activities

​​​​​​​​​​​If it doesn’t feel right, flag it anonymously with Border Watch. Border Watch is the single collection point for the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force (ABF) for allegations related to suspicious border activities and is not limited to immigration and citizenship. One small observation could help stop a much larger border crime.  You can report suspicious immigration, customs and border related activity via the Border Watch Online Report. 

 

The Australian Department of Home Affairs does not have an office at the Australian Consulate-General in Noumea.

If you require further information or assistance, please speak to the Home Affairs multilingual Global Services Centre (GSC) directly. The Home Affairs multilingual GSC is open Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm (except Australian national public holidays):

  • The Home Affairs multilingual GSC can be contacted directly on +61 2 6196 0196 (outside Australia) or on 131 881 (in Australia). Alternatively, callers from New Caledonia or Wallis-and-Futuna can call +687 27 24 14 and press option 2, from Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm (except local public holidays). 
  • the Home Affairs phone options are provided in English but if you prefer to speak with someone in your language, press 6 and say your language in English (for French-speakers, say “French”) and confirm “Yes” when prompted. If the operator speaks to you in English, keep saying your language in English to be put through to an interpreter

The Australian Consulate-General in Noumea will not respond to Home Affairs enquiries and will not escalate these to Home Affairs.