Australia has a complex visa policy, but thankfully visiting Australia as a tourist is quite easy. Australia does not offer visa exemption, so all visitors must obtain a tourist visa. All Australia visa applications are done entirely online.
Quick summary:
- There is no VISA-FREE access to Australia, everyone must hold either an ETA, eVisitor or Visitor visa
- ETA is available to 33 nationalities, costs 20 AUD, approved immediately
- eVisitor visa is available to 36 nationalities, free of cost and approved within a day
- Visitor visa is available to all nationalities, costs 190 AUD, processing takes 1-3 weeks
In this article, I will summarize visa requirements, eligibility, and procedure for the four main ways to visit Australia as a tourist: the ETA, eVisitor, tourist visa, and transit visa.
Table of Contents
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Australia Visa Requirements
Passport validity required
Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay to enter Australia as a tourist.
Entry requirements
All tourists coming to Australia must meet the following conditions:
- Must be free from any disease or condition that may be a burden to Australia’s healthcare system, such as tuberculosis.
- Must be a genuine visitor and obey the rules and conditions set by the visa.
- Must have a good character and not have a substantial criminal record.
- Must have enough money to finance your stay in Australia.
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Visa Policy and Visa Types
Australia does not offer VISA-FREE access to any nationality. You would either need an ETA or a visa. The main tourist visas are summarized in the following table:
| Visa Type | Eligibility | Cost | Validity | Entries Allowed | Permitted Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) | 33 countries and territories worldwide | 20 AUD | 1 year | Unlimited | 3 months at a time |
| eVisitor (Subclass 651) | 36 European countries | Free | 1 year | Unlimited | 3 months at a time |
| Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) | Everyone else | 190 AUD | 6 months, 1 or 3 years | Single or multiple | 3 months at a time |
| Transit Visa (Subclass 771) | Everyone | Free | 72 hours | One entry only | 72 hours |
According to the Trans-Tasman Travel Agreement, citizens of New Zealand receive a free Special Category Visa (subclass 444) on arrival at any Australian port of entry. This allows them to live and work in Australia indefinitely.
All Australian visas are electronic visas. Visa information is linked to the passport number and verifiable online.
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ETA (Electronic Travel Authority, Subclass 601)
Australia ETA is available to nationals of 33 countries and territories listed below. In most cases, the ETA is approved immediately. For that reason, ETA is often considered a visa exemption or visa waiver.
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Liechtenstein
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Vatican City
The ETA application is entirely online and can only be applied using the Australian ETA mobile phone app. The app is available as a free download.
There is no charge to apply for ETA, but using the app itself costs a service charge of 20 AUD.
For more information, read the complete guide to Australia Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for details on eligibility, required documents, the ETA app and the application process.
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eVisitor Visa (Subclass 651)
The eVisitor visa is available to nationals of 36 countries exclusively in Europe.
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City
The main difference between the eVisitor visa and the ETA is that the eVisitor requires more documents to be submitted, such as a bank statement as proof of sufficient funds.
Most eVisitor visa applications are processed within a day. There is no fee to apply for an eVisitor visa.
The success rate of the eVisitor visa is 98.5%, even higher than the ETA’s success rate of 97%. This means that if you’re eligible for both the ETA and the eVisitor, you can save 20 AUD by applying for the eVisitor as they are identical in all other aspects.
For more information, read the complete guide to Australia eVisitor Visa for details on eligibility, required documents, the application process and our personal experience.
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Visitor Visa (Tourist Stream, Subclass 600)
The subclass 600 is Australia’s main tourist visa. It has several streams depending on the purpose such as tourism or business and whether you are applying from outside or within Australia.
For this guide, we will focus on the visitor visa for tourism that can only be applied from outside Australia.
Eligibility, validity and duration of stay
Visitor visas for tourism are available to all nationalities.
Australia issues only eVisas. Therefore, the tourist visa is also an eVisa. The visa will be electronically linked to your passport. You can carry a print of the eVisa with you when you travel.
Visitors visas are either single or multiple-entry valid for up to 3 years. On each visit, you are allowed to stay up to 3 months.
Application process and documentation
Applications for tourist visas can be made online through the ImmiAccount portal.
The documents required for a tourist visa include any of the below. The actual documents required depends on a case-by-case basis.
- Proof of sufficient funds, such as bank statements, pay slips, tax returns, etc.
- Proof of reasons to return home, such as employment letter, property ownership, family dependency, etc.
- Proof of travel history such as previous visas and entry/exit stamps of the countries you have traveled to.
50% of applications get processed within a week and 90% of all applications get processed within 21 days.
The fee for the tourist visa is 190 AUD.
For more information, read the complete guide to Australia Visitor Visa for details on required documents, biometric appointment, application process and our personal experience.
Benefits of an Australian visa
Australian tourist visa not only grants you access to Australia but also to many other countries. As of 2024, you can travel to 16 countries with an Australian visa. Read this article on VISA-FREE countries for Australian visa to learn how to visit these 16 countries.
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Transit Visa (Subclass 771)
Eligible nationalities can transit without a visa (TWOV) through Australian airports. For TWOV, you must meet the following conditions:
- Stay airside and not clear immigration
- Have your onward flight within 8 hours of arriving in Australia
- Hold a passport from the following eligible countries
TWOV eligible countries
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Monaco
- Nauru
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Oman
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican
Transit visa requirements
If you already hold an ETA, eVistor or Visitor visa, then you do not need a transit visa. Rest must obtain a transit visa (subclass 771). The transit visa allows entry into Australia for short stays of up to 72 hours.
To apply for a transit visa, you must have a confirmed onward ticket to another country within 72 hours of arrival and the required visas for it. In addition to those, you may also require proof of adequate health insurance.
For more information, read the complete guide to Australia Transit Visa for details on the application process, required documents, fees and transit procedure at the airport.
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Visa Extension
Extensions are not allowed for any of the Australian tourist visas. You are allowed to apply for another visa while you are in Australia, such as the Visitor Visa (Onshore stream).
Certain conditions attached to your current visa may prevent you from applying for another visa while in Australia. The most notable one is Condition 8503: No further stay.
When applying for a new visa from within the country, a Bridging Visa is automatically applied for you. A Bridging Visa will keep your stay lawful while waiting for your new visa to be approved.
As a tourist, you will receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA) while you are waiting for your new visa. BVA expires if you leave Australia.
For more information, read the article on Australia Visa Extension for details on rules, conditions and procedures to extend your stay in Australia.
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Entry and Exit Procedures
Australia has one of the most streamlined entry procedures in the world. Passports are not stamped on entry or exit.
If eligible to use SmartGates, you can process your entry and exit without even speaking to a border official.
SmartGates eligibility
To use SmartGates at Australian airports, your passport must be an ePassport from one of the following countries.
- Argentina
- Austria
- Canada
- China
- Denmark
- France
- Finland
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Malaysia
- New Zealand
- Qatar
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
You must check your eligibility to use SmartGates at the kiosks just before the gates. If eligible, you will be given a ticket. Then you must proceed to the SmartGates and follow the procedure.
If not eligible, you will be directed to a border officer.
Other passports
All other passport holders must proceed to an immigration officer box. Answer any questions about your stay and intentions.
Your passport will not be stamped. But if you need evidence of entry, you can request a stamp.
Incoming Passenger Card (IPC)
All arriving passengers must complete and present a paper arrival card called Incoming Passenger Card (IPC). You will be given one on your flight to Australia.
Pay attention to the items you must declare. Australia has stringent biosecurity protocols and failure to declare even harmless items, may lead to fines and severe penalties.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I stay in Australia for 6 months as a tourist?
The eVisitor, ETA, and most Tourist Visas allow stays of up to 90 days at a time. You need to explicitly apply for a 6-month Tourist Visa to stay in Australia that long.
How many times can you enter Australia on a tourist visa?
The eVisitor and the ETA allow unlimited entries into Australia. Regular tourist visas can be either one or multiple entries.
How much bank balance is required for an Australia tourist visa?
Australian Immigration does not specify a minimum and it will depend on the length of your trip. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 4000 AUD per month of intended stay.
How long do you have to leave Australia for before returning?
There is no minimum time outside of Australia required. As long as you have a valid visa, you can go back whenever you want.
