What Is an Australian ETA (Subclass 601)?
An Australian ETA is an Electronic Travel Authority, officially known as the subclass 601 visa. It is a digital visa rather than a visa exemption: once granted, it is electronically linked to the passport used in the application.
An ETA can be used for holidays, cruises, visiting family or friends, and certain business visitor activities. It may also allow study or training for up to three months in total. It does not allow paid work for, or the provision of services to, an Australian business or organisation.
Who Is Eligible for an Australian ETA?
Eligibility for an Australia ETA depends mainly on the valid passport used for travel, not on where you live. You must apply from outside Australia and be outside Australia when the ETA is granted. You must also meet the applicable visa requirements, including health and character requirements.
Australian citizens cannot apply for an ETA. If you hold more than one passport, you must declare your other passports in the application. A criminal conviction can affect whether an ETA is appropriate; in that situation, a different visa application may be required.
Australian ETA Eligible Countries and Passports
You must hold a valid passport issued by one of the eligible countries or jurisdictions below. An ETA cannot be requested using a non-citizen passport, certificate of identity or another travel document such as a Titre de Voyage.
ETA-eligible passports in North America and Asia
- Brunei
- Canada
- Hong Kong SAR of China
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Taiwan, excluding official and diplomatic passports
- United States of America
ETA eligibility for UK and European passport holders
Eligible UK and European passport holders may also qualify for an Australian ETA, depending on their passport type and circumstances. This includes British Citizen and British National (Overseas) passport holders, as well as nationals of several European countries.
Many European travellers can alternatively apply for an eVisitor visa (subclass 651), which is free through the official Australian government application process. Check both options before applying for an ETA.
If you are unsure whether an ETA is the right visa for your trip, check our guide to Australia entry requirements before applying.
How to Apply for an Australian ETA
The official ETA application process is completed through the Australian ETA app. It is not a standard browser-based ETA form. You need the passport you will use to travel, a mobile device that can complete the app’s required passport and identity checks, an email address and a valid payment method.
- Download the official Australian ETA app. Start the application in the government app.
- Use an eligible, valid passport. Apply with the same passport you intend to present when travelling to Australia.
- Scan the passport. The app reads the passport data page to pre-fill key personal and passport details.
- Complete the identity check. Follow the app’s instructions to provide a live facial photograph and any other required verification.
- Answer the application questions. This includes personal details, contact information and questions about matters such as other passports, former names and relevant history.
- Review every detail carefully. Your name, date of birth and passport number must match the passport exactly.
- Pay the app service fee. Payment is made when submitting the application.
- Wait for the decision. Do not treat submission or a receipt as proof that an ETA has been granted.
A friend or family member may help you use the app, but you must be physically present for the application. An authorised travel industry representative may also assist, but you must still be present for the live photo and passport scan. Each traveller has a separate application, including children listed on a parent’s passport.
An ETA is linked to the passport used in the application. Check every passport detail before submission and travel with that same passport.
Australia ETA Cost: How Much Is the Application?
There is no Visa Application Charge for an ETA. However, the official Australian ETA app charges a service fee of AUD 20 for each application. This is the government app service fee, not an additional visa application charge.
Optional private assistance services may have separate charges. Those services are separate from the government’s ETA process and do not guarantee that an ETA will be granted. Check any payment and refund terms offered by the service you choose before proceeding.
Australia ETA Processing Time
Many Australian ETA applications receive a decision quickly, sometimes immediately after submission. However, processing times vary, and some applications require additional checks or supporting information. Travellers should apply well before departure and wait for confirmation that their ETA has been granted.
There is no guaranteed approval time and no official paid fast-track ETA decision. Apply well before travel and avoid making non-refundable arrangements on the assumption that an ETA will be granted. A submitted application remains different from a granted ETA.
Australia ETA Validity and Length of Stay
An ETA is generally valid for travel to Australia for 12 months from the date it is granted, or until the passport expires if that happens sooner. It normally allows multiple entries during its validity period.
You can usually stay for up to three months on each entry. ETA validity and permitted stay are different rules: an ETA valid for 12 months does not allow a continuous 12-month stay in Australia.
Multiple entry does not guarantee admission on every arrival. You must remain a genuine visitor and comply with all visa conditions. An ETA cannot be extended for a longer stay; if your plans change, you may need a different visa.
How to Check Your Australian ETA Status
Check the decision notification first and make sure it shows that the ETA has been granted. You can also use the Visa check function in the Australian ETA app to view the status of an application.
Once you hold an in-effect visa, you can use VEVO, the official Visa Entitlement Verification Online service, to check visa details and conditions. Review the visa type, passport details, expiry date, period of stay and any conditions attached to the ETA.
A pending application is not the same as a visa grant. If the app requests further action or information, follow the instructions shown there rather than submitting duplicate applications.
Australian ETA for Children and Families
Every traveller needs their own ETA when travelling on this visa category, including babies and children. A parent’s ETA does not cover a child, and family members cannot be added to one ETA application.
Each child needs a separate ETA application and a valid travel document that meets the applicable requirements. Parents or guardians can assist with the application process, but each traveller must be assessed individually. Check the official instructions for applying on behalf of a minor before submitting the application.
Australian ETA Application Problems and Refusals
Common issues include using a passport that is not ETA-eligible, entering details that do not match the passport, failing an app check, or receiving a request for further information. Review the message in the app carefully and follow the official instructions provided for your application.
If an ETA is not granted, do not assume that submitting repeated applications will resolve the issue. The appropriate next step depends on the reason given and your circumstances. Some travellers may need to consider another suitable visa pathway instead.
Australian ETA and Passport Renewal
Your ETA is electronically linked to the passport used when you applied. You must enter Australia using that same passport. If the passport expires or you receive a new passport, the ETA ceases and you must apply for a new ETA before travelling, if you remain eligible.
For this reason, renew your passport before applying if you already know it needs replacing. Before departure, compare the passport you will carry with the passport details on your ETA decision.
ETA vs eVisitor: Which One Is Better?
Some European passport holders can be eligible for either an ETA or an eVisitor visa (subclass 651). Both can allow multiple visits within a 12-month period and stays of up to three months per visit, subject to their conditions.
The ETA is requested through the Australian ETA app and carries an AUD 20 app service fee. The official eVisitor application has no application charge and uses a different process. Eligibility and practical suitability depend on the passport and travel plans, so travellers should select the visa category that fits their situation.
Before Travelling to Australia With an ETA
- Confirm that your ETA has been granted, not merely submitted.
- Travel with the same valid passport used for the ETA application.
- Check the ETA’s validity, stay period and visa conditions.
- Make sure your travel purpose fits tourism, family visits, study or training within the permitted limit, or allowed business visitor activities.
- Review the Australia entry and arrival requirements that may apply to your individual trip.