Chris Bowen, the Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, has announced that Australian immigration authorities will provide emergency visa assistance, if required, to Japanese nationals living in Australia who have been affected by the destruction of the earthquake and tsunami Japan experienced last week.

Minister Bowen said that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) would take into account the devastating circumstances in Japan when assessing requests for visa extensions from Japanese nationals in Australia.

Mr Bowen said that the Australian Department of Immigration & Citizenship will “…consider, on a case by case basis, the options for Japanese in Australia whose visas to remain here are about to run out.’’

The devastation in Japan is likely to have affected many Australian citizens and temporary Australian visa holders. Data indicates that over 28,000 Australian citizens were born in Japan, and that approximately 11,000 Japanese tourists and over 6,000 Japanese students are currently residing in Australia on temporary visas.

The Minister also encouraged any Australian citizens currently living in Japan who wish to travel back to Australia and bring with them partners and/or children who are not Australian citizens, should contact the Australian Department of Immigration & Citizenship as soon as possible.

“Australian citizen parents located in Japan who have children born overseas who have not applied for, or been approved for, Australian citizenship by descent should contact DIAC to discuss the most appropriate way for their children to travel to Australia.”

Bowen explained that Australian embassy staff in Tokyo were working hard to address urgent migration issues at their end. He stated that the Department of Immigration & Citizenship was prepared to extend the validity of time-limited visa application requirements, if application assessments were delayed due to the disaster in Japan.