Australia visa through cruise line

[mitchdew]

Hello,

We booked the Regal Princess from LA to Sydney and my roommate has a Salvadorian passport. The agent advised me that the cruise line was collecting a fee for our visas. I asked her if Salvadorians would be ok and she said "i hope it is ok". I did not like that answer.

Do you think that there is a risk that my roommate would not be allowed in Sydney if she buys her visa through Princess??

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[Ransome]

Try the Department of Imigration web site (http://www.immi.gov.au/). They have information there on what countries need Visa's and how to go about it.

[Globaliser]

We booked the Regal Princess from LA to Sydney and my roommate has a Salvadorian passport. The agent advised me that the cruise line was collecting a fee for our visas. I asked her if Salvadorians would be ok and she said "i hope it is ok". I did not like that answer.

 

Do you think that there is a risk that my roommate would not be allowed in Sydney if she buys her visa through Princess??

Someone holding a passport from El Salvador will need a tourist visa, but can apply online - see this page.

 

Note: This is not the same as the Electronic Travel Authority for which nationals of a limited number of countries are eligible, including nationals of the USA.

 

I would therefore make sure that Princess is prepared to apply for a proper visa for this person. Princess will be used to applying for ETAs, as most US-originating travellers will be elgiible for them.

 

If the person does not have the proper visa, Princess ought, strictly speaking, to deny boarding. However, in truth, on a cruise there is ample time after boarding to apply for a visa online, although there is obviously no guarantee that it will be issued before arrival in Sydney.

 

Personally, I would make sure that I applied for the visa myself.