A Guide to Australia Visa Applications & Requirements 

A tourist visa allows foreign passport holders to enter Australia for leisure purposes, to visit friends or family, or to go on a cruise. They are usually issued for stays of three months at a time, though some can be issued for  . With the exception of the Electronic Travel Authority or working-holiday visas, tourist visa holders cannot work while traveling in Australia.

Types of Tourist Visas:

• eVisitor Visa
• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visa

Tourist Visa Validity

• eVisitor Visa: Up to one year, can be multiple entry depending on visa conditions. Each stay can be up to three months in duration
• ETA: one year for US nationals and other countries; multiple-entry, up to three months each visit

Tourist Visa Required Documents

• Valid passport
• visitor documents that show you are only in Australia on a temporary visa and you intend to leave (proof you have sufficient funds for your trip, like bank statements, letter from employer, etc.)
• Health exam (if required)
• Police certificate (if required)
• Biometrics (if required)

Tourist Visa Government Fees

• eVisitor Visa: Free
• ETA: Free (AU$20 service charge)

Tourist Visa Average Processing Time

• eVisitor Visa: One to four days
• ETA: Instantly

Australia business visas are for those traveling for business-related purposes  and valid for up to 90 days (three months).

Types of business visas:

• Business eVisitor Visa
• ETA: Electronic Travel Authority

Business Visa Validity

• Business Visitor Stream: One year (three month visits), multiple entry
• ETA: One year (three-month visits) for US nationals and other countries; multiple entry

Business Visa Required Documents

• Valid passport
• Scanned copy of passport bio page, clearly showing personal details and photo
• Health exam (if required)
• Police certificate (if required)
• Biometrics (if required)

Business Visa Government Fees

• Business eVisitor Visa: Free
• ETA: Free

Business Visa Average Processing Time

• Business eVisitor Visa: One to four days
• ETA: Instantly

The fastest and easiest way to get a visitor visa to Australia is the Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) Visa, or ETA visa. Available for tourist and business travel , this electronic visa is applied for using a smartphone app or online application (ImmiAccount) before your trip.

Once the application is approved, travelers receive their confirmation electronically. It’s valid for 12 months, during which you can visit Australia as many times as you want. For each visit, you can stay up to three months.

This visa lets young people—typically 18 to 30 years old, or 35 years old in some cases—have an extended holiday in Australia and work while they’re there. Three working holidays are permitted per applicant.

Working Holiday Visa Validity

• 12 months (one year) for citizens of and passport holders from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK (including British National Overseas passport holders)
• Multiple entry: You can enter Australia as many times as you want during the 12-month span.

Working Holiday Visa  Required Documents

• Valid passport
• A copy of your birth certificate showing both your parents’ names
• Scanned copy of passport page showing your photo, personal details, and passport issue and expiration dates
• Proof you have enough money for your stay
• Character documents if requested

Working Holiday Visa Government Fees

AU$635.

Working Holiday Visa Average Processing Time

Half of all Working Holiday Visas are processed in less than one day, and the majority are processed within two weeks.

The fastest and easiest way to get a visitor visa to Australia is the Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) Visa, or ETA visa. Available for tourist and business travel , this electronic visa is applied for using a smartphone app or online application (ImmiAccount) before your trip.

Once the application is approved, travelers receive their confirmation electronically. It’s valid for 12 months, during which you can visit Australia as many times as you want. For each visit, you can stay up to three months.

Types of E-visas:

• Electronic Travel Authority (or ETA)

E-visa Validity

• 12 months (one year) for US nationals and all other countries
• Multiple entry: You can enter Australia as many times as you want during the 12-month span, staying for up to three months each visit.

E-visa Required Documents

• Valid passport
• One (1) passport-style photos
• Scanned copy of passport page

E-visa Government Fees

Free (with possible AU$20 service charge)

E-visa Average Processing Time

Most ETAs are approved instantly, with no waiting or processing time.

• You must have a valid visa before your trip: You cannot get a visa on arrival in Australia. You need to apply and be approved in advance. Only citizens of New Zealand can visit without an advance visa.
• You may need health exams: You may need to submit a health exam with your visa application. Learn more here.
• Health insurance is recommended: The Australian Government recommends that you get travel health insurance for your trip.
• Some vaccines are recommended: You are not required to get any vaccinations in order to enter Australia. However, some are recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Don’t overstay: Australia has very strict immigration policies. If you overstay your visa, you risk becoming “unlawful,” which can result in fines, deportation, or being banned. If your visa is expiring and you want to stay in Australia longer, you’ll need to apply for a new visa.
• There’s a 28-day grace period: If your current visa has expired, you’re given a 28-day grace period in which you can either leave the country or work with Australian authorities to get a new one. If you overstay the 28-day grace period, you can be deported and barred from reentry for up to three years.
• Watch out for visa scams: Be wary of visa scammers and only apply for visas through authorized channels, like Entriva or the Australian Government’s ImmiAccount portal.

When planning a trip, few things are more stressful than waiting for your visa to arrive without knowing if it will get there in time. At Entriva, we take the stress out of the equation by letting you monitor your application in real-time. Here’s how:

After registering and setting up your profile, you’ll get your own Personal Travel Dashboard, and once you have submitted your visa application to Entriva, you can track the progress of your application online. To track your application, log in to your Entriva account and click on the “My Applications” tab.

On the “My Applications” tab, you will see a list of all of your visa applications. You can click on the “View Details” link for an individual application to see the status of your application.

The status of your application will be updated as it progresses through the processing system. The possible statuses for your application are:

• Pending: Your application is currently being processed.
• Approved: Your application has been approved, and your visa will be sent to you.
• Denied: Your application has been denied. You will receive an email explaining why your application was denied.

In addition to checking your Personal Travel Dashboard for updates about processing, approval, and more, you can also use it for things like organizing to-dos before your trip and checking out our other Australia travel resources to answer all your questions.

If you have any questions about your visa application, please contact Entriva customer support .

Can I travel to Australia without a visa?

No. With the exception of New Zealand citizens, all foreign nationals traveling to Australia (for work, pleasure, or other reasons) must have a valid Australian visa.

By arriving in Australia without a visa, you risk being denied entry and deported .

How long can I stay in Australia with my visa?

Most Australian visitor visas are valid for up to three months (90 days). Some are valid for up to a year with multiple entries.

Can I extend or renew my Australia visa?

If you’re visiting Australia on the ETA, Visitor, or Business Visa, you cannot extend or renew it . You’ll need to apply for a new visa.

Can I travel to Australia with a different or separate passport than the one I used to get my visa?

You need to travel with the same valid passport as the one attached to your visa grant number.

Where can I find the Government of Australia’s official visa and e-sisa portal?

The Australian Government Department of Home Affairs’ official authorized visa website is ImmiAccount.

Where should I keep my Australian visa while traveling?

If you received a regular or paper visa, it’ll be put directly into your passport.

For e-visas, you will receive a digital copy by email. You should print out a copy of the e-visa to show immigration officers and to keep with you while traveling. International travel document holders are a tidy way to secure your essential travel documents.

Didn’t find the answer you needed? Reach out to us directly—we’re happy to help .