From documents to vaccinations, here’s everything you’ll need to bring for an international arrival in Australia.
Each nation has its own unique entry and exit requirements, and Australia is no different. Bringing the right documentation not only protects you while traveling abroad, it also helps protect the people of the country you’re visiting.
Planning a trip to Australia? Use this guide as a handy checklist ahead of your visit to the Land Down Under.
- Australia Travel Requirements: Know Before You Go
- Australia Required Documents
- How Do I Obtain a Passport?
- How Do I Obtain an Australian Visa?
- How Do I Obtain an Incoming Passenger Card?
- Australia Health Requirements and Screenings
- Visa Health Requirement
- COVID-19
- Vaccinations
- Prescriptions
- Australian Government Customs and Border Patrol
- Travel Insurance
- Preparing for Your Australia Trip
Australia Travel Requirements: Know Before You Go
Australia Required Documents
Don’t try to deplane without the right paperwork. You’ll need the following documentation to enter Australia:
- A valid passport with at least one blank page
- A valid visa (except for Australian citizens and citizens of New Zealand)
- An Incoming Passenger card
Australia’s entry requirements may vary by country. Confirm if there’s anything else you need to enter Australia by contacting Entriva, or your country’s Australian embassy.
How Do I Obtain a Passport?
If you do not already have a passport, you can apply for one at your local passport office. The process typically takes four to six weeks, but due to current demand, it can take as long as 10 to 13 weeks, so make sure to apply well in advance of your trip. Entrivia can also assist with expedited passport processing, ensuring you receive your passport in roughly two weeks. If you already have a passport, make sure to check its expiration date and renew it if necessary.
To get a United States passport, an American citizen needs to follow these steps:
- Fill out form DS-11: The DS-11 form is available online or can be obtained at a passport acceptance facility.
- Gather required documents: You will need to provide proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate) and a government-issued ID (such as a driver’s license).
- Get a passport photo taken: Your photo must meet specific requirements, such as size, lighting, and positioning.
- Pay the application fee: The fee varies depending on the type of passport and processing time selected. The average processing time for a new passport is four to six weeks, but expedited services are available for an additional cost.
- Submit your application in person: You can submit your application at a passport acceptance facility, which can be found at many post offices, courthouses, and libraries.
- Track your application status: You can check the status of your passport application online or by phone.
How Do I Obtain an Australian Visa?
With the exception of New Zealand nationals and Australian citizens, all foreign visitors must have a valid visa in order to enter the country. Here are some of the most common visa types:
Business Visa: Australia offers many different kinds of work and business visas. The most common is the . This visa allows for general business trips for purposes like attending conferences, negotiating contracts, and making inquiries; you can’t do any work for pay under this visa. As a business traveler , you can visit Australia as many times in a year as you wish for up to three months (90 days) each visit.
Visitor Visa: permits travel to Australia for tourism purposes for up to 12 months. You can apply for this visa from outside the country or inside the country if you want to extend your stay.
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA): This electronic visa allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want within a 12-month period. For each visit, you can stay for up to 90 days.
You can obtain a visa by applying online through a visa service provider like Entriva, or through the Australian government’s official website. The application process can take anywhere from a few seconds to four weeks, depending on the type of visa you are applying for. Make sure to apply for your visa well in advance of your trip to allow for processing time.
How Do I Obtain an Incoming Passenger Card?
You’ll receive an IPC onboard your flight or ship ahead of its arrival in Australia, or get one from the Australian Border Force in the arrival terminal.
Australia Health Requirements and Screenings
Keep yourself healthy and safe while also protecting Australia’s fragile flora, fauna, and human residents by following Australia’s entry health requirements.
Please note that this information is subject to change. For the latest on Australia health requirements, always check government sites directly as noted below.
Visa Health Requirement
You may need to meet the Australian government’s health requirements to receive a visa. This means that some visitors may be required to undergo a health examination. Luckily, most temporary visitors don’t need to have a health examination to get a visa unless they’re coming from a country with public health threats, like measles outbreaks, tuberculosis, or ebola.
COVID-19
Travelers no longer need to get a negative pre-departure test—Australia has lifted its COVID-19 restrictions. Masks are not required on international flights into the country, there are no quarantine requirements, and visitors don’t need to provide proof of vaccination status upon entering Australian airports.
As the COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global health issue, restrictions are subject to change. Be sure to check for updates from the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care or visit the website of your nearest Australian embassy.
Vaccinations
For American travelers, Australia doesn’t have any vaccine requirements. However, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends being up-to-date on your normal immunizations, such as flu, polio, shingles, and COVID-19.
Other recommended immunizations include Hepatitis B, measles (for infants six to 11 months old), rabies (for people actively working with wildlife), and yellow fever. Due to the risk of hantavirus, dengue, and Ross River Virus Disease, you should also try to avoid bug bites, steer clear of wild animals, and avoid contaminated water.
Prescriptions
You can bring prescription medication with you into Australia as long as you declare it at the border. You should also bring a copy of the prescription letter (in English).
Australian Government Customs and Border Patrol
In order to protect its endemic wildlife and plant life, the Australian government has very strict rules about what you can and can’t bring into the country . Upon entering the country and going through immigration and customs with the Australian Border Force, declare any and all food, plant material, and animal products you may have brought with you, even if you’re just visiting the major cities.
Avoid an unpleasant run-in with border agents by researching restricted items in advance. Here is a complete list of banned items, as well as permitted items and those you need to declare to local authorities under Australian law.
Travel Insurance
While not required, getting comprehensive travel insurance for your trip to Australia is strongly recommended. Travel insurance can keep you covered in case of unexpected overseas medical costs, natural disasters, and more.
Preparing for Your Australia Trip
Obtaining a visa is an essential part of planning your trip. At Entriva, we can easily and efficiently help you with every aspect of getting an Australian visa. Start your visa application process.
For more information on other aspects of travel to Australia, such as travel restrictions and visiting without a visa, visit our Australia content hub.