Visa requirements for passengers transiting through Perth
From 24 March 2018, Qantas international flights will operate from the Terminal 3 and 4(T3/T4) precinct at Perth Airport, moving away from Perth Terminal 1 (T1) where all other international airlines operate.
The integrated Perth T3/T4 hub will include all of Qantas' international and domestic flights and is physically separated from T1 by a 15-minute drive, and no airside transfer facility is available.
This means that international transiting passengers connecting between Qantas operated and other airlines' international flights, will need to obtain a visa or electronic travel authority (ETA) prior to arriving in Australia, to move between terminals.
For example, international passengers travelling on a non-Qantas flight from Auckland-Perth and connecting onto Qantas' Perth-London service will require an Australian visa, due to the distance between T1 and T3/T4. After arriving on another international airline at T1, connecting passengers will need to go through Immigration to collect their bags and proceed through Customs and Biosecurity before exiting the terminal. The passenger will then take a Perth Airport shuttle bus from T1 to T3/T4 for their Qantas International flight, and vice versa.
If international customers request to book connecting flights via Perth which include one international flight operated by Qantas and one international flight on another airline, please advise them that they must obtain a visa or ETA prior to travel, in order to transit through Perth. This type of international booking is uncommon.
Previously, certain nationalities have been eligible to transit through Australia without a visa if their international connecting flight is in less than eight hours. Due to the location of international terminals in Perth, these customers will now be required to 'enter' Australia and will require a visa.
Please note this will not impact domestic passengers or international passengers who would typically obtain a transit visa to transit through Australia. The holding of a transit visa will allow these passengers to 'enter' Australia at T1 and proceed to T3/T4 for their connection without any additional requirements.
Qantas' new integrated domestic and international passenger hub in the Perth T3/T4 precinct will feature a streamlined immigration and customs area allowing for a faster transfer experience for customers on Qantas flights, opening in time for the launch of the inaugural non-stop services between Perth and London.