Will My Credit Card or Personal Loan Affect My Australian Visa?
At Visa Empire, one of the most common questions we get from our clients is:
“I have a credit card loan, a personal loan, or even a car loan — will this affect my Australian visa application?” or Does bad credit history or debt affect Australian visa?
If you’ve been wondering the same, here’s the short answer:
No — private debts like credit cards, car loans, or personal loans do not affect your visa application.
But there’s more to it, especially if you owe money to the Australian Government. Let’s break it down.
✅ What Won’t Affect Your Visa
Private debts do not impact your visa outcome. This includes:
• Credit card debt (ANZ, NAB, CommBank, etc.)
• Personal loans from banks or lenders
• Car finance or home loans
• Buy-now-pay-later services (e.g. Afterpay, Zip)
These are considered private debts and are not assessed during most visa processing stages.
⚠️ What Can Affect Your Visa: Commonwealth Debt
The Department of Home Affairs is only concerned with what’s called Commonwealth debt — money owed to the Australian Government or its agencies.
Examples of Commonwealth debt include:
• ❌ Outstanding ATO (Australian Taxation Office) debt
• ❌ Unpaid traffic fines or court-imposed penalties
• ❌ Centrelink overpayments
• ❌ Unpaid student loans (like HELP or HECS)
• ❌ Medicare-related debts (for non-residents)
If you have any of the above and haven’t dealt with it, your visa may be delayed or even refused.
📩 What Happens if You Have Commonwealth Debt?
If the Department identifies a Commonwealth debt during your visa assessment, they may send you a Section 57 Natural Justice Notice. This is a formal letter asking you to respond before a visa decision is made.
You will be required to:
• Clear the debt completely
OR
• Enter into an official payment plan with the agency you owe
Until then, your visa may be placed on hold and remain undecided.
🛠️ How We Can Help
At Visa Empire, we help our clients:
• Check if they have any outstanding Commonwealth debts
• Respond to Section 57 Notices professionally and on time
• Communicate with the ATO, Centrelink or relevant agencies
• Submit proper documentation to avoid delays or refusals
💡 Final Tip
If you’re unsure about your debt status or have received a Section 57 Notice, don’t delay.
Private loans won’t stop your visa — but government debts might.
📞 Need Help?
Contact Visa Empire today.
We’ll guide you through every step to ensure your visa isn’t held back by debt you didn’t even know you had.
✅ No Commonwealth Debt = No Delays
🚀 Let’s get your visa sorted — the right way.
Source: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/
