AustraliaAntarctica

What authorisation is required for Australia passport holders visiting Antarctica?

Special travel authorization

Antarctica does not operate a conventional immigration visa system.

Your expedition operator and the relevant national authority determine any notification, permit, or other authorization needed for the planned activity. Do not rely on a passport alone.

Source: Antarctic Treaty Secretariat: national competent authorities.

RequirementSpecial travel authorization

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-21

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands. It has a land area of 7,688,287 km2 (2,968,464 sq mi), making it the sixth-largest country in the world, and is the world's flattest and driest inhabited continent. It is a megadiverse country, and its size gives it a wide variety of landscapes and climates, including large deserts centrally and tropical rainforests along the coast.

CapitalCanberra

RegionAustralia and New Zealand

Population27.6M

Area7,692,024 km²

CurrencyAustralian dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.43 AUD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+61

Drives on theleft

TimezoneSydney (UTC+11)

Nearest airportCanberra Airport (CBR), 7 km

Emergency number000

UNESCO sites21

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$65,130 (2025)

Tourist arrivals1.8M (2020)

Climate in Canberra

Warmest January, coolest August, driest May, sunniest January. Best time to visit: January.

Monthly climate normals for Canberra, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	30.6°C	15.4°C	35mm	385h
February	25.6°C	14.8°C	111mm	314h
March	22°C	11°C	70mm	307h
April	17.8°C	8.3°C	75mm	244h
May	13.4°C	3.8°C	25mm	273h
June	11.8°C	2.2°C	53mm	243h
July	11.4°C	2.1°C	62mm	244h
August	11.3°C	1.9°C	131mm	254h
September	15.8°C	5.3°C	62mm	287h
October	18.8°C	8.6°C	141mm	280h
November	24.3°C	10.9°C	58mm	359h
December	23.7°C	11.7°C	70mm	373h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

There is nowhere else quite like Australia, nicknamed the Land Down Under, the only country that has a whole continent to itself. With Indigenous cultures that go back over 65,000 years and truly global immigration in modern times, the country is famous for its natural wonders, wide open spaces, beaches, deserts, "the bush", and "the Outback". However, it is also highly urbanised, with an array of cosmopolitan cities – the largest and most famous being Sydney, situated on one of the most famous harbours in the world.

Upcoming public holidays

November 3, 2026Melbourne Cup

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

December 28, 2026Boxing Day

Full source list on About.