Consular FAQs

VISAS, IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP

Where can I find information on Australia visas, immigration and citizenship?

Please visit the Home Affairs website to obtain information on visas, immigration and citizenship.

 

I have applied for an Australian visa and haven’t heard back from you. What’s the status of my application?

The Australian Embassy does not have a visa section and is therefore unable to provide any updates on the status of your visa application.
Please consult the Home Affairs website for more information.

 

Where can I have my biometrics done in France?

Biometrics can be done at TLS Contact's Australian Biometric Collection Centre in Paris 9e. For more information or to book an appointment, please visit the TLS Contact's website.

 

Who do I contact about my French titre de sejour, Working Holiday, Schengen visa?

The Australian Embassy is unable to provide any immigration advice.
Please contact your nearest Prefecture if you are in France or the French Embassy of the country you are in to obtain information.

BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES

Can I obtain an Australian birth, death or marriage certificate from the Embassy?

The Australian Embassy cannot issue Australian birth, death or marriage certificates or obtain them on your behalf.

To obtain a copy of your existing Australian birth, death or marriage certificate, you can apply through the official web site of the relevant state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Western Australia
• South Australia
• Australian Capital Territory
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory

 

How do I register my French marriage in Australia?

While you can't register an overseas marriage in Australia, in most cases, the marriage will be legally recognised in Australia. The rules governing whether a marriage is valid under Australian law are in the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth).

• The marriage must be recognised as valid under the law of the country at the time it was entered into.
• The marriage would have been recognised as valid under Australian law if the marriage had taken place in Australia.

See our Smartraveller page for more information about getting married overseas.

 

How do I register the overseas death of a loved one?

It's distressing when a family member or friend dies, but when the death happens overseas this can be even more difficult.

You don't have to register the death in Australia, but you may wish to. The registrar of births, deaths and marriages in your state or territory can help you.

You may also wish to seek assistance through the Australian Embassy. We will do what we can to assist, within the legal and practical limits.

If we're notified that Australians have died overseas, we can:

• help you to understand the legal and administrative processes that apply in that country
• provide a list of local funeral directors and lawyers
• make the local funeral director aware of Australian quarantine regulations
• give you a list of translators if you can't find an English-speaking funeral service company
• give an estimate of cost for local burial, local cremation or transport back to Australia
• advise on how to transfer funds from Australia to meet any costs
• provide advice on managing media enquiries.

We can't:

• recommend a specific funeral director or lawyer
• investigate the death of an Australian citizen
• interpret or translate documents
• give legal advice
• pay for or organise a burial or cremation,
• pay for or organise for the deceased and/or their belongings to return to Australia
• get involved in legal matters
• pay any outstanding debts.

See our Smartraveller page for additional resources about a death overseas.

 

BENEFITS AND PAYMENTS

Am I covered by Medicare while in France?

There is no reciprocal health agreement between Australia and France. Therefore, medical or health care costs will not be covered by Medicare. Medical costs in France can be costly. In order to avoid excessive fees, ensure that you take out comprehensive travel insurance for the duration of your stay that will cover any medical costs (noting that you may not receive cover for pre-existing medical conditions).
Consular staff cannot assist you with obtaining insurance or determining what is or is not covered by your existing policy.

 

Am I entitled to receive Australian Social Security benefits?

The Centrelink program delivers a range of payments and services for retirees, the unemployed, families, carers, parents, people with disabilities, Indigenous Australians, and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and provides services at times of major change.

To determine your eligibility, apply or obtain further information, contact Centrelink International Services on +61 3 6222 3455 or visit Services Australia - Centrelink page. Centrelink services are provided between 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

 

Will I continue to receive my Centrelink payments while I'm in France?

You should notify Centrelink if you are travelling or living outside of Australia, as your payments might need to be adjusted or discontinued.
Further information on how travelling outside Australia may affect your payments can be found on the Services Australia - Australians Overseas page.

 

MONEY AND SUPERANNUATION

How can I transfer money between Australia and France?

Banks, money transfer services, payment apps and forex brokers can all be used to transfer money between Australia and France.
Bank transfers typically take between 1 and 3 days.

If you require funds urgently, you may wish to utilise a payment app or a commercial money transfer service such as Western Union or Moneygram. Depending on the money transfer service you use, funds may be sent to a bank account or collected in cash from an agent location and may be available almost immediately. Fees may apply.

Consular staff cannot coordinate these transactions for you or source funds on your behalf.

 

Where can I find information about my tax obligations in Australia and in France?

Understanding your obligations and ensuring that you have appropriate taxation arrangements in place is your responsibility.
Questions relating to Australian taxation, including how to lodge your tax return from France, should be directed to your accountant or the the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Questions regarding French taxes should be directed to Impots.gouv.fr

 

How can I access my superannuation?

Consular staff cannot assist with enquiries about superannuation.
For information or advice about your entitlement or access to superannuation, contact your provider directly.

 

Can the Australian Embassy help me financially if I run out of money?

You're responsible for your finances when you're overseas. If you run out of money while you're away, consider all options for financial support – for example, insurance, family, friends, bank or credit card company, travel agent and employer.

The Australian Embassy cannot:

• give out money
• post bail or pay your fines or legal expenses
• pay for medical services
• pay your pension or social security benefits
• pay for, or make your travel arrangements.

See our Smartraveller page on what to do if you are experiencing money problems overseas.

 

PUBLIC SAFETY, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Can the Australian Embassy provide me with legal advice or help me find a French lawyer?

The Australian Embassy is unable to provide any legal advice, and we recommend direct these questions to a lawyer.
You can find a list of some English-speaking lawyers and notaries here.

 

How can I obtain an Australian Police Clearance or Criminal History Check?

Australian national police checks are managed by the Australian Federal Police. You can apply for these online, and will be delivered to you via email as a secure PDF file. For a certificate to be notarised, you will need to request a hard copy certificate as we cannot certify print-outs of the PDF.

Plese see the Australian Federal Police website for more details.

 

Can the Embassy help ensure my safety?

The Australian Embassy cannot guarantee your safety. There are some things you can do to ensure your own safety. The better prepared you are, the safer and more enjoyable your travel will be.

We recommend you browse our general advice pages on a range of travel topics, including the advice on how to stay safe.

Get comprehensive travel insurance to cover you and your belongings. Check the fine print - get insurance that’s right for you and covers your activities. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.

Familiarise yourself with the travel advice of the country you are travelling to, and read the Consular Services Charter to understand when and how we can help.