Leslie Massey
If you're looking to find out the date you arrived in Australia, there are several ways to do so. The National Archives of Australia holds all immigration and naturalisation records after 1924, as well as some records dating back to 1848. The date of your arrival in Australia is important if you're a permanent resident or if you want to apply for citizenship. You can use your electronic visa, travel documents, or passport stamps to determine your arrival date. Alternatively, you can submit a request for your international movement records or search for your name in the passenger arrivals index if you arrived before 1973.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of arrival in Australia before 1973 | Search for your name and details in the passenger arrivals index |
| Date of arrival in Australia after 1989 | Fill in a form on the Department of Home Affairs website |
| Date of arrival in Australia between 1973 and 1989 | The National Archives may have your record in their collection |
| Proof of arrival for permanent residents | Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO), electronic visa, travel documents with visa, passport stamps, permanent residency visa |
| Proof of arrival for citizenship applicants | Passport or document used to first enter Australia, passenger arrival card, death certificates, naturalisation records, Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) |
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What You'll Learn
Check your passport for stamps or labels
One way to find the date of your arrival in Australia is to check your passport for stamps or labels. However, it is important to note that Australia stopped stamping passports upon arrival or departure in 2012 and stopped attaching visa labels to passports in 2015. As such, this method will only work if you entered Australia before 2012.
If you entered Australia before 2012, you may be able to find a stamp or label in your passport that indicates the date of your arrival. Be sure to check all pages of your passport, including the pages with your picture, name, and date of birth. If you can find a stamp or label indicating your arrival in Australia, this can serve as evidence of your first arrival.
It is also worth noting that, in addition to your passport, you may have received a passenger arrival card upon entering Australia. This card may have an arrival date stamp for Australia, which can also serve as evidence of your first arrival.
If you are unable to find any stamps or labels in your passport or on a passenger arrival card, there are other ways to find your date of arrival in Australia. For example, if you have an electronic visa or travel documents with your visa, this may include a "first entry arrive by" date. Alternatively, you can try searching for your name and details in the passenger arrivals index, especially if you arrived before 1 January 1973.
In any case, it is important to keep in mind that the procedures for showing evidence of first arrival in Australia may depend on the year you immigrated. As such, it may be helpful to consult official government sources or seek assistance from the relevant authorities if you are unable to find the information you need.
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Use the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system
The Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system is a tool provided by the Australian government to verify visa entitlements and conditions. It is important to note that VEVO is only for visa holders and organisations that need to verify visa conditions and does not apply to Australian citizens. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use the VEVO system to find your date of arrival in Australia:
- Visit the VEVO Portal: Go to the Australian Government's Home Affairs website and navigate to "Visas" > "When you have a visa" > "Check visa details and conditions."
- Select Document Type: Choose the type of document you are using from the dropdown menu. This could be a passport, ImmiCard (issued to non-citizens without valid travel documents), Convention Travel Document, Document for Travel to Australia (DFTTA), or PLO56 Evidence Card.
- Choose Reference Type: Provide one of the following reference numbers: Visa Evidence Number, Visa Grant Number, or Transaction Reference Number (TRN).
- Enter Date of Birth and Document Number: Input your date of birth according to your chosen travel document and enter the document number.
- Submit: Click "Submit" to view your visa application status and details, including your date of arrival in Australia.
It is important to ensure that your reference numbers and personal information, such as your name and date of birth, are correct to avoid errors when checking your visa status through VEVO. Additionally, keep in mind that VEVO only stores your current visa information and will not show any past visas. If you are unable to find your date of arrival through VEVO, you may need to request a copy of your travel records from the Department of Home Affairs.
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Find your name in the passenger arrivals index
If you're looking to find a record of your name in the passenger arrivals index for Australia, there are a few ways to go about it. The National Archives of Australia (NAA) holds records relating to Australian migration, and their website has detailed information on how to search for passenger arrivals records. The NAA's catalogue, called Record Search, is a good place to start. Use the 'Name search' and 'Passenger arrivals' tabs to look for migration records. If you're unable to find a person's arrival this way, you could try a broad search using the 'Basic Search' tab. For example, search using a surname or ship name.
It's worth noting that not all shipping lists have been digitised and indexed, and not all records have survived. If you're looking for records before 1901, when colonies (or states) were responsible for their own immigration processes, you'll need to search the relevant state archives. For example, the Public Record Office of Victoria (PROV) collection has records of passengers arriving in Victoria up until 1923.
If you're looking for your own record of arrival in Australia before 1 January 1973, you might be able to find it yourself in the passenger arrivals index. If you're looking for more recent records, you will need to get your details from the Department of Home Affairs.
Other ways to find evidence of your first arrival in Australia include:
- Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service, which will show your current visa(s)
- Travel documents with your visa, or stamps on your passport showing the entry date into Australia
- Your permanent residency visa, which will have a date of arrival
- Your passenger arrival card with your name and arrival date stamp for Australia
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Access immigration records at the National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia (NLA) holds shipping and passenger records, which can be used to find key details about a family member's arrival in the country. Before 1924, the administration and recording of shipping and passenger arrivals were the responsibility of each Australian colony or state. The surviving original records are now held in each respective state archive or public records office. The NLA either holds copies of these records or provides access to them.
The National Archives of Australia (NAA) holds all immigration and naturalisation records after 1924. Names can appear on passenger lists in varying forms. Some lists provide the full names of each passenger, while other lists may simply state a surname, with or without an initial, or with a title such as Mr or Mrs only. The names of children may be listed in full or merely as a number of persons accompanying their parents. Steerage passengers may not be named, with only the total number of persons provided.
The NLA's Ancestry (Library Edition) and Findmypast (World Edition) subscriptions can be accessed by visiting the library in person. The Library's subscription to Ancestry provides QLD immigration and travel-related resources. Findmypast has QLD and NT travel and migration records available. Microfilm for NT-related travel and migration records can be accessed for free in the Library's Newspapers and Family History Reading Room. CD-ROMs can also be accessed at the Library by requesting them through the catalogue.
The NLA also has a guide to researching convicts, which can be accessed by contacting the Ask Us staff. They can help locate primary records and family history documents across a range of archives and genealogical institutions. The state libraries and NLA provide expert research help and access to family history resources.
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Provide proof of permanent residency
As a permanent resident of Australia, you may remain in the country indefinitely, but you do not have an automatic right of re-entry if you leave. Your permanent residency visa typically allows for a five-year travel facility that starts on your "must not arrive after date", which is not the same as the "first entry arrive by" date. After five years as a permanent resident, you will need to apply for a Resident Return Visa or Australian citizenship if you wish to leave and re-enter the country.
The date you arrive in Australia is important for both permanent residents and those wishing to apply for citizenship. Visa conditions do not allow entry after a certain date, which is specified on the permanent residency visa. This date may be given after the visa has been granted and is a requirement for the visa to take effect. If you arrive after the specified date, your visa may be cancelled at the discretion of the Department of Home Affairs.
The procedure for showing proof of first arrival depends on the year you immigrated. Since 2012, the Australian government has not stamped passports upon arrival or departure, and since 2015, they have not attached visa labels to passports. Instead, all visas are recorded electronically on the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) database. When you check in for your flight, your airline will normally confirm your visa status on VEVO. You can check your "must not arrive after date" on VEVO under your visa conditions list. You can also use VEVO to easily prove your permanent residency status when dealing with Australian government agencies. Using VEVO, you can print or email your status or provide your information for the relevant agency to check.
If you arrived in Australia before 1990 and have not left the country since, you are unlikely to have an electronic visa record. In this case, you will need to request a copy of your travel records in and out of Australia from the Department of Home Affairs using form 1359. You will also need to provide supporting paperwork, including your current passport and the passport or passenger arrival card you used to enter Australia for the first time. You will also need to provide at least three documents proving you have been living continuously in Australia since your arrival, such as utility records, tax bills, or employment contracts.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are a permanent resident, your countdown to citizenship starts on the date you arrived in Australia. You can find your date of arrival through the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system, your electronic visa, travel documents with your visa, or stamps on your passport.
If you are a citizen, you can find your date of arrival by requesting your international movement records from the Department of Home Affairs. You will need to fill out a form on their website.
You can find your ancestor's date of arrival in Australia by searching through shipping and passenger lists, immigration records, and naturalisation records. These records are held at the National Library of Australia and the National Archives of Australia.
