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- Australian visa information
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Australian Visa and Entry Requirements FAQs
Learn about visa requirements for entry to Australia for tourism purposes with this list of frequently asked questions.
Please note this page is intended to provide general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Tourism Australia is not the Australian government visa granting authority. For information on visas to enter Australia, visitors should seek the most up-to-date information from Australian Government Department of Home Affairs .*
Ready to plan your trip? We're ready to welcome you! Here are some helpful tips for getting your visa sorted:
- Be sure to secure the appropriate visa before travelling to Australia. Use the Visa Finder to explore your options.
- Ensure all details are correct and provide all required documents when you apply. An incomplete or incorrect application can delay your visa.
- Submitting multiple applications at the same time can slow the process. For visitor visas, submit one application per person, including children.
- Questions? The Australian Government's Global Service Centre can help.
Australian Visa Information
Unless you are an Australian citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders, regardless of age, must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of Australian visa types, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, via the ETA app or on the Department of Home Affairs website.
There are different Australian visa types available for travellers to Australia. Knowing which Australian visa to apply for depends on the length of your stay, your passport and the purpose of your visit. You’ll also need to meet certain financial and medical requirements, be outside of Australia when applying and maintain health insurance for the duration of your stay.
Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) This visa allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want, for up to a year, and stay for three months each visit. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions, who live outside Australia. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is here .
All ETA-eligible passport holders must apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. Agents can assist you in the application process, but you must be physically present as a live facial image is required.
eVisitor (subclass 651) This is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of European countries and it cannot be extended.
Visitor visa (subclass 600) The Visitor visa allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business purposes. It is open to all nationalities. Generally, a period of stay of up to three months is granted, but up to 12 months may be granted in certain circumstances. Applicants will have to pay a fee to submit their application.
The application process may differ depending on which visa you need.
You can only apply for the Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) through the Australian ETA app. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is located here .
For other visas, you can apply online by creating an ImmiAccount and completing the application process. Be sure to submit your application well in advance of your travel date to allow enough time for processing. You may be asked to provide further supporting information. You will be notified in writing if your tourist visa is approved and it will be digitally linked to your passport. For more information on different visa types, and Australian visa requirements including how to apply for an Australian visa, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
If you are already in Australia and hold a valid Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) you can extend your stay by applying for another visa, such as a Visitor visa (subclass 600). An eVisitor (subclass 651) cannot be extended.
See the Department of Home Affairs website for details.
Working Holiday Visas
Australia's Working Holiday Maker program allows visitors aged under 30 (or 35 in certain cases) who hold a passport from a participating country to travel and work in Australia. Working holiday visas are valid for one year, or up to three years if you meet certain conditions.
Find out more about working holiday visas here .
*Australian visa regulations (including visa application charges) change from time to time. The information provided here is valid at the time of publication, but visitors should check this information is still current by visiting the Australian Department of Home Affairs .
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Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.
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*Product Disclaimer: Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as australia.com. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.
Visas and Migration
Latest news.
For the latest immigration and citizenship news, see News - Archive .
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
All ETA-eligible passport holders must apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app which you can download for free from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android) . For more information, see our Step by step guide . There is no Visa Application Charge (VAC) for an ETA, however there is an application service fee of AUD20 to use the Australian ETA app. European passport holders may be eligible for an eVisitor (subclass 651) . Don’t be Scammed We are aware of third-party websites purporting to be associated with the Department of Home Affairs (the Department), charging exorbitant fees to lodge ETAs on behalf of visa applicants. Be aware that you are being scammed if:
- you apply for your ETA via a website – ETAs can only be applied for using the ETA app
- you pay more than AUD20 to lodge the application
- you are told to pay extra fees for premium service or extra charges for ‘expedited’ visa processing
- the information you are relying on hasn’t come from an official website ending in .gov.au
Some of the known websites which are not official Department-approved platforms to make an ETA application are:
- https://www.jsdimmigrations.com
- https://www.jsdvisa.com
- https://australiaevisas.org
- https://australiavacationsonline.com
- https://www.ivisa.com/
If you choose to use one of these third-party websites, you risk:
- losing any upfront cash that you have paid to the agent
- having your ETA refused
- not being permitted on the flight to Australia
- being refused entry to Australia at the Australian border by the Australian Border Force
In order to protect yourself from visa scams, you should only deal with reputable travel agents, or official Australian Government channels via the Department of Home Affairs website .
If you are aware of, or suspect a scam in relation to ETAs, or other visas to Australia, please report it to Australia's Border Watch by visiting homeaffairs.gov.au/report .
Information on visas to Australia can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website .
Explore visa options on the department's website to help you find the visa most likely to meet your specific circumstances.
Visa applications, fees & processing times
Most visa applications can be lodged online by creating an ImmiAccount . This is our preferred method of visa lodgement to helps us process your application faster.
If you are lodging an application in the US, please refer to the following information before submitting your application:
- Processing times
- Visa requirements (health, character, biometrics)
- Translation of documents not in English
Please note, you should not book flights or make travel commitments until you have a valid visa to travel to Australia. The Department of Home Affairs will not be liable for any financial loss incurred by travellers whose visa application was finalised later than expected, or where an application is not successful.
Visa and citizenship applications are managed by the Department of Home Affairs. Embassy staff are unable to assist with general visa or citizenship enquiries.
The Department of Home Affairs website has the most up to date and comprehensive information on applying for visas and citizenship. The website also has useful definitions and tools to help you understand the department’s requirements. Visit the website at Immigration and citizenship .
If you are having trouble locating information on the department’s website, the Home Affairs Digital Assistant may be able to help. The Digital Assistant can help you find information on Australian visas, citizenship and border entry. Visit the Immigration and citizenship website and click the Ask a question Digital Assistant button to get started.
Global Service Centre
If you require additional information, you may telephone the Global Service Centre on +61 2 6196 0196, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm your local time.
International calls may be subject to charges imposed by your local carrier. You may wish to consider using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider to avoid potentially high charges.
Using an interpreter
When you call the GSC, select option 6 to engage a Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) interpreter in your language. Option 6 can be selected straight after dialling the GSC number.
Alternatively, a TIS interpreter can also be engaged directly via:
• TIS website: Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) or
• Home Affairs website See: Family and friends helping with your application .
Compliments, complaints and suggestions
Your feedback is valuable to the Department of Home Affairs. The department uses your feedback to improve services and investigate and respond to any issues of concern. You can find more information on the department’s website at Compliments, complaints and suggestions .
Allegations related to suspicious border activities
If it doesn’t feel right, flag it anonymously with Border Watch. Border Watch is the single collection point for the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force (ABF) for allegations related to suspicious border activities and is not limited to immigration and citizenship. One small observation could help stop a much larger border crime. You can report suspicious immigration, customs and border related activity via the Border Watch Online Report .
Beware of Visa Scams
To avoid being scammed, you can check the Register of Migration Agents on the OMARA website , to receive the protections of an OMARA registered Migration Agent.
There are Australian registered migration agents working all around the world. These agents are subject to the same Code of Conduct, professional development and regulations as registered migration agents based in Australia. More information about Australia's efforts to ensure the integrity of the migration advice profession is available at: www.mara.gov.au .
Further information on visa scams is available on the Department of Home Affairs website .
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