Reminder for Brits not to overstay Oz visas

Gap year travellers enjoying a break down under have been warned by the Australian government not to forget that they have to return to Britain.

The reminder follows news that UK travellers – particularly men under the age of 25 – now account for the country's largest proportion of illegal 'over-stayers'.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans told the Australian parliament that the problem appears to be getting out of hand and punishments must be enforced.

"Visa over-stayers are people who come on a valid visa who then become unlawful over-stayers," he explained. "They're often young Englishmen who have gone to a party and are a few days late because they're having such a good time in Sydney."

Standard tourist visas to Australia allow residence in the country for up to three months, and anyone who stays beyond that period risks being banned from returning.

People who over-stay their visa by more than 28 days are automatically subject to an exclusion period that bars them from visiting Australia for three years. Even after this period, they must also repay any debt that the Commonwealth incurred by deporting them.

"We take the integrity of our visa and migration programme seriously," a spokesperson for the Australian department of Immigration told The Daily Mail.

"Visitors to Australia are expected to abide by their visa conditions. This includes knowing when the visa expires and departing the country before this happens."

Despite its reputation for having one of world's toughest immigration policies, Australia is looking at tightening its regime after an influx of 650,000 temporary residents in 2008-09. The country also took in some 170,000 permanent migrants during the same period.

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