Australian High Commission

Canada

Address: Suite 710, 50 O'Connor Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2 - Tel: 613-236-0841 - Fax: 613-236-4376

Important Tips When Making an Application in Ottawa

1. Application Charges and Fees

a. Payment must be in Canadian dollars only.
b. Payment must be in the form of a certified cheque, money order, international bank draft or credit card. We accept VISA and Mastercard. We do not accept personal cheques.
c. Payment must be made payable to DIAC.
d. Payment must be in the correct amount (eg current applicable charge at the time the application is received in the office).
e. Payment is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application.

NOTE: If your payment does not meet all of the above conditions, we will contact you (by telephone or email in the first instance) with instructions on how to make an acceptable payment. Your application cannot be considered valid for assessment and processing until payment issues are resolved.

Information on the current charges and fees and the Currency Converter is available from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website.

2. Return of passports and other documents

To ensure the speedy and secure return of passports and other documents following the processing of your application, we recommend the following:

a. For return within Canada:
- provide a prepaid self addressed Express Post or Priority Courier envelope available from any Canada Post outlet.
- please make sure the envelope is large enough to contain your passport(s) and all the documents to be returned to you.

b. For return to the Caribbean:
We may return passports by courier. Specifically, by Federal Express or DHL only. Otherwise, we can return passports and other original documents by regular mail.

By FEDEX

You must provide the account number and the account holder’s name. If you are using a third party’s account number, you MUST provide that party’s written and signed authorisation to charge the courier costs to their account.

If you do not have an account, you MUST open one and provide the requested details with your application. Please note:

1. You should indicate that you wish to open a ‘Personal’ account.
2. The account MUST be associated to a valid credit card that is in the name of the person opening the courier account.
3. The account must be valid for delivery/import into the country of destination.
4. You should indicate that documents (not passports) are being shipped.
5. You MUST provide a street address for delivery as they will not deliver to PO boxes

By DHL

If you already have an account with DHL, please provide your account number and the account holder’s name. If you are using a third party’s account number, you MUST provide that party’s written and signed authorisation to charge the courier costs to their account.

If you do NOT have an account with DHL but would like your documents returned by DHL, you MUST indicate this on a covering note to accompany your visa application. When your documents are ready for pick up, our office will contact you (by email in the first instance) to advise you that your documents are ready to be returned to you and that you should now arrange for DHL to pick up the package.

To arrange pickup, you should contact your local DHL office (either in person in their office or calling their customer service line – go to www.dhl.com). You will be asked to provide:

1. Details as to where the package is to be picked up. (You should provide them with our complete office address and your case officer’s contact details.)
2. Details as to where the package is to be delivered (eg your address).
3. Details on what is being picked up. (NOTE: Please mention that documents (not passports) are being picked up.)
4. A valid credit card that will be used to charge the courier costs.

DHL Canada will then contact our office to verify and to arrange for a dispatcher to come to our office (with a DHL envelope and waybill) to pick up the package.

BY REGULAR MAIL

You must provide a written and signed authorisation for us to return your passports and other original documents by regular mail. Please note that if you choose this option, we will not be able to track the progress of the delivery of your passports and documents once the package leaves our office.

3. Non-Canadian citizens – evidence of legal visa status for Canada

Applicants for temporary visas who are in Canada at the time of application are required to provide evidence of legal visa status for Canada. For example:

a. A Permanent resident/immigrant MUST provide the original or certified/notarised copy of their Permanent Residence Card.
b. A person working in Canada MUST provide the original or certified/notarised copy of their Work Permit.
c. A person studying in Canada MUST provide the original or certified/notarised copy of their Student Permit.

4. Please submit the required supporting documents with your application

Complete applications are likely to be processed more quickly. Incomplete applications may be delayed or, in some cases, refused.

5. How to submit your application

By Mail:
Immigration and Citizenship Section
Australian High Commission
Suite 710, 50 O’Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6L2 CANADA

In Person:
At the Visas and Immigration Counter in the Australian High Commission, Ottawa
By appointment only.

You may make an appointment:

By calling the Information Service for Australian Visas (10 am to 5 pm Eastern time)
1 905 280 1437 (long distance charges apply)

By email http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/forms/americas
Please provide the following information:
1. Your full name
2. The type of application and/or service you require. Please provide as much details as possible
3. Your telephone number