Country Entry, SOFA Visas & Travel Documents
Legal Office
The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (PACAF/JA OL-E) is located in the US Embassy Canberra and can be contacted at PACAF.JAOL-E.CANBERRA@US.AF.MIL. For our main legal support services page, please visit us here.
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) & Visa Registration
U.S. military members, DoW civilian employees, and their command-sponsored dependents may enter and live in Australia pursuant to the Status of United States Forces in Australia Agreement (SOFA) Article 2. Advance visa registration is not required for country entry/exit for TDY personnel but is mandated under the Foreign Clearance Guide (FCG) for PCS personnel. By operation of Australian law, Australian authorities will authorize country entry/exit to the following SOFA personnel on official travel orders by presentation of the following documents:
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Traveler Category
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Required Country Entry/Exit Documents
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U.S. Forces (Military)
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1. Current Common Access Card
2. Movement Orders (PCS, TDY, or TAD) with a destination including Australia and tour dates.
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DoW Civilian Employees
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1. Official Passport
2. Movement Orders (PCS, TDY, or TAD) with a destination including Australia and tour dates.
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Command-Sponsored Dependents
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1. Official or No-Fee Regular (blue) Passport or foreign visitor passport (non-U.S. citizens only)
2. Sponsor’s Movement Orders (PCS, TDY, or TAD) certifying the traveler is an Eligible Family Member with a destination including Australia and tour dates.
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Special Purpose Travel Authority (SPTA) Registration for PCS Personnel
To facilitate smooth travel and streamline Australian entity support (i.e. banking, education, employment, licensing, utilities, etc.) upon arrival in Australia, permanently assigned personnel must have their visas registered into Australia’s SPTA database by the legal office in advance of travel. SPTA registration is key for PCS personnel because it assigns them visa grant numbers (VGNs) so their visas (Special Purpose Visa (Subclass 945)) can be seen and verified by Australian entities in Australian systems. Without SPTA registration, there is no record of their visa status in Australian systems.
In accordance with the Foreign Clearance Guide, submit the following documents to PACAF.JAOL-E.CANBERRA@US.AF.MIL no later than 30 days prior to travel:
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Traveler Category
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Required Documents for SPTA Submission
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Military Members
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Copy of official orders with dependents listed; Legible, color copy of Common Access Card (CAC) front and back, Date of Birth, Country of Birth
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DoW Civilian Employees
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Copy of official orders; Legible, color copy of the biographic and endorsement pages of official passports
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Eligible Family Members
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Legible, color copy of the biographic and endorsement pages of Official or no-fee Regular passport or foreign visitor passport (non-U.S. citizens only)
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Note: For personnel who will be TDY to Australia for longer than 6 months, we will consider whether SPTA registration is recommended on a case-by-case basis.
Special Purpose Visa (Subclass 945) Entitlements
- Unlimited Country Entry/Exit while on official assignment or temporary duty to Australia
- Dependents can work on the local economy but must seek approval through the legal office and the Chief of Mission (if under Chief of Mission authority) prior to accepting employment.
- Dependent Primary, Secondary, and Post-Secondary School Enrollment for eligible dependents
- Access to local services, including banking, driving licensing, utilities, etc.
Travel Tips and Guidance:
- The same authorized travel documents listed above should be used to exit Australia on leave travel or enter Australia from leave travel. These should be distinguished from travel documents presented for purposes of entering third countries.
- SOFA personnel on official travel are not authorized ETAs. If airlines pressure you to obtain an ETA before boarding, refer them to contact Base Operations Centre available 24/7:
Border Operations Centre
Telephone: +61 1300 368 126
Sitatex: CBRIXCR
Email: boc@abf.gov.au
Documents for PCS and TDY: