Ultimate Guide To Apply For Australian ETA, Eligibility Criteria, FAQs

The Australian ETA (also known as the Subclass 601 Visa) is an electronic visa that allows the holder to visit Australia for vacation, family visits, or business. You can apply for an ETA fully online from the comfort of your own home. It is considerably easier and faster to obtain than a visa because it is completely online, there are barely any document requirements, and you will have it within 24 hours. Your ETA application is maintained on an internet database and connected to your passport number, so you won’t have to go to the Australian Embassy to get a stamp.

Who Can Get an ETA for Australia?

You can only apply for an ETA to visit Australia if you are from one of the following countries:

• United States
• Canada
• Japan
• Brunei
• Hong Kong
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• South Korea

If you are from an EU country, then you can apply for the eVisitor Visa instead, which is similar to the Electronic Travel Authority. If you are from a third country, then you will have to get a regular Australian tourist visa.

What Documents Do I Need for the Australian Electronic Travel Authority?

To apply for an ETA, you will simply need a passport (which must be valid for at least another six months), an ID Card, and a credit/debit card to pay for the application fee.

If your application is sent for “further processing”, then you will have to submit additional documents.

How do I Apply for an Australia ETA?

You apply for an ETA visa through the official website of the Australian government. You will have to:

• Go to the ETA website.
• Select your current residence and reason for travelling (tourism or business).
• Enter your passport details and personal information.
• Enter the purpose of your trip.
• Pay the ETA application fee.
• Enter your email address, so they can contact you about the outcome of your application.\

If your application is successful, you will receive an email along with your visa grant number, the duration of your ETA, and the date from which it starts.

Note: You may also apply for an ETA through a travel agency or visa application agency in your country, if one is available. The agency will still use the official website to launch your application.

How Long Does It Take to Get an ETA?

The application process itself takes only a few minutes, and you will be notified through email if your application has been approved or denied the same day. Meanwhile, you may track the status of your ETA on the same page where you applied.

If there is an issue with your application, you may receive a response for one of the following reasons:

• Your application is sent for further assessment. You can use the Check ETA option to see whether a decision has been made yet.
• You have to go to the closest Australian visa office to make a new application in person.

What Can I Do With an ETA?

If you receive an ETA, you can travel to Australia multiple times and stay there a maximum of three months per trip. During this time, you can:

• Visit Australia as a tourist.
• Visit family and friends.
• Conduct business. This means you can attend business meetings, trainings, negotiations, seminars, sign or review a business contract, etc. You cannot work and be paid from an Australian or Australian-based employer or sell goods and products.
• Take up a short-term study course (no longer than three months).

How Much Does an ETA Cost?

When applying for the Australian ETA, you will pay only an AUD 20 service fee using your credit or debit card. The website accepts the following payment methods: MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Diners Club or JCB.

How Long Can I Stay in Australia with an ETA?

An Australian ETA is valid for 1 year, during which time you can enter Australia as many times as you want and stay for up to three months per trip.

Can I Extend the ETA?

If you want to prolong your stay in Australia without leaving, you must go to the local Australian Immigration Office and apply for an ETA (Visa 601). You must do so at least two weeks before the expiration of your existing ETA visa.

If you are currently outside of Australia and your ETA has expired or is soon to expire, you must apply for a new one.

Who Issues an ETA?

The authority in charge of assessing and making a decision on your ETA is the Australian Department of Home Affairs. Even if you apply through a visa agency or office, the application is still forwarded to the DHA who makes the final decision.

What If My ETA Australia Application Requires Further Processing?

Before issuing an ETA, the Department of Home Affairs may request more information and documents from you. You will be notified via email that your application has been forwarded for further processing, in which case you must complete the “Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Request for further processing form” (see here) and submit supporting documents.

The documents and information you may be required to submit are:

• A copy of your passport personal information page (the page with your name and picture).
• A copy of the front and back of your national identity card.
• Proof that you plan to visit Australia temporarily for tourism or business visitor activity purposes only.
• Information about why you plan to visit Australia
• Proof of your intended stay and your planned activities, such as accommodation reservations or a booked flight. You do not need to finalize the payments, a reservation is enough.
• A list of your immediate family members (spouse/partner, children, parents and siblings).
• A list of your travel companions, which includes their names, birth dates, and how you are related.
• A list of family or friends you have in Australia, which includes their names, birth dates, and residential status.
• Your bank statements from the past three months.
• Proof of employment or other commitments, which prove you intend to return home after your trip to Australia, such as a letter from your employer.

What If My ETA Application Is Rejected?

If your application for an Australian EAT is denied, you must contact the nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate to learn about your alternatives. In your rejection letter, the Department of Home Affairs should explain why you did not acquire a visa and how you might continue.

What If I Made a Mistake During My ETA Application?

If you make a mistake while completing your application, you can easily correct it. Always go through your answers before moving on to the next section. However, if you do not realize you have committed a mistake until after your application has been filed, you will have to start over. This means you may have to pay the AUD 20 processing fee a second time.

How Can I Show I Have an ETA?

The Australian border guards require your passport upon entry. Your passport number checks your ETA in an internet database. After receiving your ETA email confirmation, you must save a copy and bring it with you. You may only need an electronic copy, but printing helps.

Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) can verify your ETA circumstances and provide documents.

Can I Cancel an ETA and Get a Refund?

No, once you have submitted your application and paid the fee, you cannot cancel it and request a refund. The payment is non-refundable, regardless of whether you get an ETA or not.

Does the Australian ETA Go on My Passport?

You do not receive an ETA stamp in your passport. The ETA is electronically kept and linked to your passport number in an internet database. This is why it is critical to enter your passport information correctly; if you make an error, you may be denied entry to Australia.