US hip-hop star Snoop Dogg was finally given visa to visit Australia for a tour with fellow rapper Ice Cube in October after immigration officials said Friday that they would overlook his criminal record.

Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus, applied for a visa in July. The 36-year-old singer has twice been convicted of weapons and drugs offences and has been refused entry to Britain.

"We took into account all relevant factors and, on balance, the department decided to grant the visa," an immigration spokesman said.

Surprisingly, the department said it had taken into consideration a character reference for Snoop Dogg from fellow felon Russell Crowe.

Hollywood actor Crowe, a Sydney resident, last year was charged with assault and criminal possession of a weapon after ripping a telephone from a wall and lobbing it at a New York hotel employee.