There are many things to know before you go to Australia. One of those is to check what visa requirements you might need before you make your travel plans. The type of passport you hold will determine what visa requirements you’ll need.
If you are a Canadian passport holder and want to travel to Australia (tourism/business purposes) for a short period of time, you will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA).
What is an Australian ETA?
Based on the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection website, “an ETA is an electronically stored authority equivalent to a visa.” It is valid for a year and allows an ETA holder to visit Australia as many times as he/she wants in a period of one year with a maximum stay of three months each visit.
Who can apply for an Australian ETA?
Passport holders of over 30 countries including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, and United States of America are eligible to apply. For a complete list of countries, click here.
When should you apply for an Australian ETA?
Australian Government advised to apply for an Australian ETA at least two weeks before your desire to travel to Australia. You should also be outside of Australia when submitting an application.
What can you do in Australia when you have an Australian ETA?
Tourist visitors can visit family and friends or engage in tourism activities. Business visitors may make general business or employment inquiries, investigate/negotiate/sign/review a business contract, participate in conferences, trade fairs, or seminars. In addition, Australian ETA holders may also study in Australia for up to three months.
How can you apply for an Australian ETA?
You may contact your travel agent to submit an application for you, visit an Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection office in your country to apply in person, or you may also apply online.
What do you need when submitting an application?
You will need an eligible passport (it should be the same passport you will be using to travel to Australia as your ETA will be linked to that passport), an e-mail address, and a valid credit card.
How much does it cost?
There is a service fee of Australian $20 for each application.
How long does it take to apply online?
It took me about 10-15 minutes to complete my application and the result of my ETA was available immediately after my credit card payment went through. However, some applications may need extra processing, according to the Australian Government website.
For more information, visit the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection website.
Now that my Australian ETA application has been taken care of, I can finally start planning my trip to Australia and researching the best beaches to check out but also look for a job to support my travels for when I decide to get a work-holiday visa (take note that ETA holders can’t work in Australia)! I will be visiting family and friends in Melbourne and Sydney! I heard Melbourne is a foodie city so I am super excited! I am looking for suggestions on things to do in Melbourne and Sydney and if you have any ideas for me, feel free to comment it below!
Love this article? Tip a dollar!
That’s quite cool. Unfortunately, India is not on the list 🙁 I wish more countries would become visa-friendly for Indian passports, it would reduce my traveling hassle to half!
Thanks Justine, this is really useful information, especially for first-time visitors like myself. Seems like a simple enough process, thanks for posting.
I always forget how hard it is to get a visa for my country, and how much other people want to come here! I guess to me, it’s just home, and I forget that it’s such a destination for working holidays and adventure travel.
Kate recently posted…5 misconceptions about travel in South America
I didn’t actually find it hard…it took me 10-15 mins to apply.
Seems like a really simple process for those after a visa for Australia. My visa to visit India took ages, and it wasn’t instantaneous like this! x
I would love to spend a year in Australia. Have you already spent a year or are you on your way?
Shaun recently posted…150 Very Canadian Ways to Celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday
I am going in August! But I’ll only be there for three weeks 🙂
really? What passport do you hold? (If I may ask?)
That looks like a great option but for Indians :P. It is always a pain to travel with the Indian passport.
Gokul Raj recently posted…How to deal with the ‘Traveler’s Tummy’ ?
I guess PH is not included in the list. I hope that Ph govenment should be strict in accepting guests too just like what other countries did. For fairness reason.
I am already living in Australia for the past 1 year and I love it. Australia is simply amazing!
Good to know that you guys only need an ETA for Australia.
I hold an Indian passport and I need to apply for a visa prior to my travel.
Yet to get to Australia. Hope to visit soon.
My Travelogue by Bhushavali recently posted…Leaning Tower of Pisa (Florence (Firenze) – Italy)
I was also doing a research on applying for ETA, but apparently, as a Ukrainian passport holder, I don’t qualify. I still need to send my documents to the embassy.
This is interesting information and you have explained everything that one needs to know to complete the process simply. So convenient for the travellers from the countries you have mentioned.
This is really a good post with answers to many ques on ETA. Unfortunately I couldn’t find India in this list. And will have to undergo the line of processes for filling visa and visiting Australia. Hope to visit Australia some day.
Oh Great! But unfortunately, my country isn’t on the list. This makes me work harder to get high IELTS bands. So I can apply for a student visa. I hope soon, this year, I can move to Perth. 🙁
you can do it! I believe in you!
Thanks for sharing the great insights on applying ETA for Australian visa! Glad to know that countries are becoming visa-friendly to promote tourism!
Thanks a ton for the heads up! I appreciate the insights!
Pingback: Backpacking Australia: The Definitive Guide | The Travelling Tom
Hi Justine, I will just add bit of information here. Anyone, can apply an ETA for Australia if you’re a citizen from these following countries : Brunei-Darussalam, Canada, Hong Kong (SAR PRC), Japan,
Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea,and the United States of America. Obviously anyone can apply directly on the government website https://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ETAS3/etas or you can opt to apply on third party sites like this one https://www.traveleta.com.au/ just like what I did because I want it fast because my schedule flight is this Saturday. I got my ETA approved just in time! Yahoo.
Hi Tim! I applied using the Australian government website and it took 10 minutes. Going to a third party site doesn’t mean it will be approved faster..
I wasn’t aware of something like ETA. This seems to be really helpful if I want to visit Australia often and even look for a job if needed. This is a very cool thing. Glad your application is done.
Shreya Saha recently posted…Kenya’s Desert, Wildlife, and Beaches in 15 Days – Itinerary and Expenses
That seems like an easy process. Now to save the money to go. I have friends that are French and they got their visa to the US the same way, all online. It was painless for them. I haven’t been to Australia, but I hope you enjoy your visit.
Thanks for this useful article, will come in handy if I ever go back to Australia. I love when countries let you apply for visas online, I visited Australia many years ago and I don’t remember it being this easy.
Patti recently posted…Most Beautiful Small Towns in Europe You Need to Visit
Pingback: Trip to Australia - Reflections Enroute
Pingback: Fun Things To Do On Your Next Trip To Perth, Australia
Pingback: 8 Destinations So Amazing You'll Never Want To Leave - Jusz Travel