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The
post office |
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Post offices
are open from 9am to 5pm during the week and have a poste restante
service for visitors. In the capital cities you will also find
some post office counters open on Saturday mornings. Certain
newsstands sell stamps.
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Passeport
et visas
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All visitors
must have a passport and a visa to enter Australia, with the
exception of New Zealanders. French nationals can enter Australia
with a valid diplomatic, service or common passport. A visa
is not necessary any more for trips not exceeding three months.
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ELECTRONIC
TRAVEL AUTHORITIES |
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For any
tourist stays in Australia of less than three months, you can
obtain an Electronic Travel Authority ( ETA) from an approved
IATA travel agency. It is the agency which takes care of formalities
and which issues an ETA on the spot, replacing the conventional
passport visa. This system has existed since 1997 and applies
at the moment only to certain countries: United Kingdom, the
USA, most European countries including France, Scandinavian
countries, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and Korea. For stays exceeding
a duration of three months, the conventional visa remains compulsory
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The nationals
of countries that signed the Working Holiday visa agreement
can obtain this visa if aged between 18 and 25, even up to 30
years of age for the United Kingdom.
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The main
countries concerned are: the United Kingdom, Canada, Netherlands,
Malta, Ireland, Korea, Japan. Other countries are negotiating
a similar agreement: the USA, France, Italy, Greece and Singapore.
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WORK
VISAS |
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Working
Holiday : this visa allows a maximum stay of 12 months but
authorizes only casual employment not exceeding three months
of activity with the same employer. It is however possible to
work for 12 months with different employers. This visa can be
applied for up to 12 months before departure. Be careful: this
visa is subject to an annual quota.
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Conditions:
you must have a sum equivalent to the amount of your return
ticket, and have private medical insurance cover.
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Working
in Australia : Be careful: you cannot work in Australia
if you have only a tourist visa. You will run the risk of being
deported from the country and being blacklisted for a period
of up to three years. With the Working Holiday visa you can
do many seasonal jobs, ranging from factory work, to working
in the food industry, to arboriculture work.
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Be
careful : if you obtain a work visa, remember to get a Tax
File Number (TNF) which you have to give to your employer. The
TNF is not compulsory but it will allow you to reduce the tax
levy made on your salary.
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Deduction
without TNF: 47 % of the weekly salary |
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Deduction
with TNF: 29 % if the weekly salary is less than $397 |
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The
rate is limited to 47 % for income for weekly income of more than
$961. |
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TNF
applications should be made at the local Australian Taxation office
- Tel: 132861 |
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"TRAINEE
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Occupational
Trainee : this visa is intended for students who want to
do their training in an Australian company. The application
should be to make by the company with the Department of Immigration
and Multicultural Affairs of its place of residence and make
an application of Nomination for Occupational Trainee. This
procedure requires one month. As for the young student, (s)he
will have to make his/her own application for a work visa. For
French nationals, it is worthwhile to get the list of French
companies or with French interest set up in Australia from the
international trade bookshop.
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Extension
of visas : The maximum stay authorized in Australia is one
year, including visa extensions. Extensions are granted by the
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and it is
best to apply two or three weeks before the visa expires.
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Customs
regulations |
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Visitors
over 18 years old can bring with them 250 cigarettes or 250g
of cigars or tobacco and 1.125 litres of alcohol, as well as
various goods not exceeding $400 in value. Very strict bans
apply to weapons and drugs, moreover the Australian customs
officers are very efficient at searching.
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Medicine
should be accompanied with a prescription and should not exceed
the quantity required for one month. |
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Concerned
about protecting its agriculture, Australia is extremely severe
regarding the smuggling of insects and different animals, plants,
seeds and even certain foodstuffs. It is wise to declare all
food, plants and seeds you are carrying. This also affects products
of vegetable origin (bamboo hats, …).
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On
arrival in Australia, the inside of planes is systematically disinfected
with sprays. |
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TAXES
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Most products
can be imported into Australia without being subject to tax
as long as customs officers consider that they are for personal
use.
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Particular
recommendations: |
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Alcohol:
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Minors cannot
purchase alcohol and the level of alcohol in the blood is limited
to 0.5 g / litre for drivers. The law is very strict and severely
punishes any excess.
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DRUGS
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Any person
importing, transporting or consuming drugs is liable to a minimum
prison sentence of 5 years. Foreigners and tourists generally
cannot obtain a suspended sentence for this type of conviction.
If you are arrested, you are allowed to make two calls:
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·one
to the consulate |
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one to a lawyer |
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CORRUPTION
OF A MINOR : |
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Any
relations with a person under 17 years old are considered to be
a criminal offence (can entail a minimum sentence of 25 years
imprisonment) as well as pornography involving minors. |
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PRECAUTIONS
TO BE TAKEN FOR TRAVELLERS : |
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Make photocopies of important documents such as: · passport ·
visa · driving licence · plane ticket |
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USEFUL
NUMBERS : |
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Police
assistance 24 hours a day : 000 |
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Federal
police 24 hours a day : 11 444 |
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Police
stations : |
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Canberra
: (02) 62.45.72.08 - Sydney : (02) 93.39.02.77 - Darwin
: (08) 89.22.33.44 - Perth : (08) 92.22.19.97 - Brisbane
: (07) 33.64.64.64 - Melbourne : (03) 92.47.66.66 -
Adelaide : (08) 82.04.29.94 (emergency) or (08)
82.07.50.00 |
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