Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)
Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)
Features
This visa lets you visit Australia:
- to visit or for business visitor purposes
- as many times as you want, for up to a year
- and stay up to three months for each visit.
You apply for an ETA through the AustralianETA app on a smartphone, using your passport and a live photo of your face. There is an AUD20 service charge and no visa application charge.
Requirements
You might be able to get an Electronic Travel Authority if you are:
- outside Australia
- a passport holder of a certain country.
Who could get this visa
You might be able to get this ETA if:
- you are travelling to Australia as a tourist or for business visitor purposes
- you hold an eligible passport.
Reason for stay
You can apply if you are travelling to Australia as a tourist or for business purposes.
Tourist activities include holidays, recreation or seeing family and friends.
Business visitor activities include:
- making general business or employment enquiries
- investigating, negotiating, signing or reviewing a business contract
- activities carried out as part of an official government-to-government visit
- participating in conferences, trade fairs or seminars, as long as you are not being paid by the organisers for your participation.
Business activities do not include short-term work. If you want to work in Australia, you can apply for a Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visa (Subclass 400).
Eligible passports
To apply, you must hold a passport issued by one of the countries or regions listed below. If you hold a non-citizen passport or other travel document, such as a Certificate of Identity, you are not eligible to apply for an ETA.
Eligible passports are issued by:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong (SAR of China)
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Monaco
- Norway
- Portugal
- Republic of San Marino
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan*
- The Netherlands
- United Kingdom—British Citizen
- United Kingdom—British National (Overseas)
- United States
- Vatican City.
*must not purport to be an official or diplomatic passport
The list of eligible passports can change, so check that your passport is eligible before you apply. Many European passport holders can choose between an ETA and the free eVisitor (subclass 651).
Health insurance
You are responsible for all your health costs while you are in Australia. You will not be covered by Australia’s national health scheme (Medicare) unless your country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.
It is recommended that you take out travel health insurance each time you travel to Australia.
Character requirements
If you have had any criminal convictions in any country, you should apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600), rather than an ETA. If you arrive on an ETA with criminal convictions, you could be refused entry to Australia.
Debts to the Australian Government
You must have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts to the Australian Government before this visa can be granted.
Including family in your application
Each family member travelling with you to Australia will need a separate ETA. This includes any children younger than 18 years of age who are included on your passport.
How to apply for an ETA
- Download the official AustralianETA app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Beware of unofficial websites that charge extra fees.
- Scan the chip in your passport with your phone and take a live photo of your face.
- Answer the health and character questions and pay the AUD20 service charge.
- Most ETAs are granted within a day, but some take longer, so apply before you book flights.
You can apply for another person, such as a family member, on the same device. You must be outside Australia when you apply.
ETA, eVisitor or Visitor visa: which one do I need?
| ETA (subclass 601) | eVisitor (subclass 651) | Visitor visa (subclass 600) | |
| Who can apply | Passport holders of eligible countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, the UK and many European countries | Passport holders of the EU and some other European countries, including the UK | Any nationality |
| How to apply | AustralianETA app | Online through ImmiAccount | Online through ImmiAccount (or on paper in some cases) |
| Cost (from 1 July 2026) | AUD20 service charge | Free | AUD250 outside Australia, AUD630 Tourist stream in Australia |
| Validity and stay | 12 months, up to 3 months each visit | 12 months, up to 3 months each visit | Up to 3, 6 or 12 months, or up to 10 years for some streams |
| Criminal convictions | Apply for a Visitor visa instead | Not eligible if total sentences are 12 months or more | Assessed against the character requirement |
If you need to stay longer than 3 months, visit family for an extended period, or have a criminal record or previous visa refusal, a Visitor visa (subclass 600) is usually the right choice.
How long your Electronic Travel Authority lasts
Your ETA is valid for 12 months. You can enter and stay in Australia for up to three months at a time. If you want to stay in Australia for longer periods, you can apply for another visa, such as a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
If your passport expires before your ETA, you will need to reapply.
What an Electronic Travel Authority lets you do
Your ETA lets you:
- enter Australia for up to three months at a time
- have a holiday or visit family and friends in Australia
- study in Australia for up to three months, in some circumstances
- work as a genuine unpaid volunteer, but only if an Australian resident would not otherwise be paid to do that type of work (you can be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses such as meals and accommodation).
- engage in business visitor activities while in Australia, provided you:
- do not work for or provide services to a business or organisation in Australia
- do not sell goods or services to the public.
Business visitor activities include:
- making general business or employment enquiries
- investigating, negotiating, signing or reviewing a business contract
- activities carried out as part of an official government-to-government visit
- participating in conferences, trade fairs or seminars, as long as you are not being paid by the organisers for your participation.
Your obligations
You must comply with all ETA conditions and Australian laws. You cannot stay in Australia for longer than three months on each visit.
You cannot study for more than three months.
You cannot work while you are in Australia, other than for:
- making general business or employment enquiries
- investigating, negotiating, signing or reviewing a business contract
- activities carried out as part of an official government-to-government visit
- participating in conferences, trade fairs or seminars, as long as you are not being paid by the organisers for your participation.
