Australian High Commission
Pretoria
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, eSwatini

Urgent Travel

Urgent/Compassionate Travel

Please Note:

  • If your reason does not meet compelling or compassionate grounds, your application will be processed within Global visa processing times, see: global visa and citizenship processing times .
  • Flight bookings and confirmed travel purchases, attending a wedding as a guest, or birthday celebrations, are generally not considered compassionate and compelling grounds for priority processing.
  • We do not recommend that you book flights or make travel commitments until you have been advised that you hold a valid visa to travel to Australia.
  • Please note already booked trips, financial losses incurred or late visa applications will not be considered as compassionate or compelling grounds for urgent travel.

 

 

 

 

Process 

Where possible, we will prioritise your visa application if you have a compassionate and compelling reason to urgently travel, such as severe illness or a death in the family.  So that we can identify if your application requires priority processing, you should follow these steps:

  • Complete your visa  application using your ImmiAccount .
  • Submit biometrics (if required).
  • Review your declaration in relation to your intention to visit a medical facility (if applicable).
  • Complete health checks (if required).
  • Submit an enquiry by completing the Australian Immigration  Enquiry Form 
    • You will need to select the Overseas Post as 'Pretoria' and
    • under type of enquiry please select 'Documented compassionate request for travel (hospitalised family in Australia) or Government Officials'.
    • Provide your application reference number, full name, date of birth and passport.
    • Detail the nature of the compassionate reason to travel.
    • Upload documentary evidence of the compassionate reasons such as medical reports into your ImmiAccount , and attach these documents to the Australian Immigration  Enquiry Form