Head Office
6 Chan Street
Belconnen ACT 2617
Customer Service
Phone: 000
Phone: 133 177 (feedback)
Phone: 1300 362 072 (Commonwealth Ombudsman)
Phone: 02 6264 1111 (national office)
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About Australian Border Force
Australian Border Force (ABF) is a federal agency overseeing Australia’s borders, including customs and immigration. The agency was formed with the merger of Australian Customs and Border Protection and Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) in 2015. ABF is responsible to the country’s Department of Home Affairs. The website states the force’s mission is to “protect Australia’s border and manage the movement of people and goods across it”. According to the website, the ABF is responsible for operational border, investigations, compliance, detention and enforcement functions. It investigates illicit goods and immigration malpractice. ABF operates offices in Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Eden, Newcastle, Norfolk Island, Richmond, Sydney, Wollongong, Darwin, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Cairns, Gladstone, Townsville, Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Hobart, Tasmania, Melbourne, Bunbury, Perth and Geraldton.
If you are a traveller or business owner, visit the website to access a number of resources dealing with wide range of topics. Some of them include topics on Australian citizenship, student visas, refugee and humanitarian programmes, importing goods, duty-free concessions, among others. Create an ImmiAccount to submit or manage your visa and access the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s other online services. Additionally, check your visa details and conditions via Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO). To use the system you need to input your passport and ImmiCard details.
Looking for information on visas? You have visitor visas (eVisitor), ETA, Transit visa, visitor visa, working and skilled visas, student visas, family and spousal visas, and refugee and humanitarian visas. The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system was introduced in 1996 to help visitors who are on short-term tourist or business visits. It replaces the visa label or stamp in a passport. The system is available to only a select number of countries. There is the eVisitor for passport holders from the European Union and a number of other European countries wanting to visit Australia for tourism or business. If you dint know, eligible travellers can apply for an eVisitor using the form available on the department’s website. Besides the above mentioned, there is the Tourist e600 visa available for eligible tourists and business visitors. For those who are needing stay of less than three months, the application may be approved in minutes.
For business and trade professionals, Australian Border Force has published a number of resources to help with a wide range of issues, including cargo support, prohibited goods, licensing, importing goods, among others. Visit the forms section on the website to download departmental forms, information forms and enquiry forms.
