Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)

AustraliaShort stays and visits

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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For the relevant traveller scope, is a visa, electronic authorisation, visa on arrival or no advance visa normally required?

This is the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601) — a temporary entry permission for holders of eligible passports, applied for from outside Australia through the Australian ETA App, allowing multiple entries over a 12-month period. It is not available to Australian citizens, who have an automatic right of entry and need no visa.

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Overview tab
Visit Australia as often as you wish in a 12-month period. Stay up to 3 months each time you enter Australia.
Overview tab — Important information about the ETA
Australian citizens are ineligible to apply for an ETA. For more information, see Entering Australia.
Overview tab — Check your eligibility
apply from outside Australia have an eligible passport use the Australian ETA app watch the ETA video guides.

What short-visit purposes does this route cover?

The permitted purpose is visiting family or friends, going on a cruise or holiday, and undertaking some business visitor activities. The holder must only intend a temporary stay and must obey any condition or stay period attached to the visa.

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Overview tab — With this visa you can
With this visa you can visit family or friends cruise or have a holiday undertake some business visitor activities
Eligibility tab — Be a genuine visitor
You must only intend to stay temporarily in Australia and obey any condition or stay period attached to your visa.

What maximum stay, rolling-period rule, validity and entry rules apply?

Each stay is up to 3 months at a time, and the ETA itself is valid for multiple entries within a 12-month period, so the holder can visit Australia as often as they wish during that period as long as each individual stay does not exceed 3 months.

See recorded sources

Overview tab
Visit Australia as often as you wish in a 12-month period. Stay up to 3 months each time you enter Australia.
Overview tab — Stay
Stay Up to 3 months at a time

What important funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance, onward-travel or passport evidence may be required?

The applicant must hold a valid passport from one of a defined list of eligible countries/jurisdictions (a non-citizen passport, certificate of identity or other travel document such as a Titre de Voyage does not qualify), must declare any additional passports held, and must meet health and character requirements — with applicants who previously failed the health requirement, who will enter health care or hospital environments, or who have a criminal conviction in any country instead directed to apply for the Visitor (subclass 600) visa.

See recorded sources

Eligibility tab — Have an eligible passport
You must hold a valid passport from one of these countries or jurisdictions to be eligible for an ETA. You cannot apply for an ETA with a non-citizen passport, certificate of identity or other travel document, such as a Titre de Voyage.
Eligibility tab — Have an eligible passport
If you hold more than one passport, you must declare this in your ETA application and provide details of your other passports.
Eligibility tab — Meet our health requirement
Where a visa applicant has previously failed to meet the health requirement, the most appropriate visa for these applicants is a Visitor (subclass 600) visa.
Eligibility tab — Meet our character requirement
If you have a criminal conviction in any country, you should apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) and provide evidence about your criminal convictions.

Where/how is permission obtained when required, and under what important circumstances can a stay be extended or changed?

Eligible applicants must apply from outside Australia using the Australian ETA App, paying a service charge of AUD20 with no other charge payable; in most cases the result is told to the applicant immediately. Applicants must also have no unpaid debt to the Australian Government (or an arrangement to repay it), and for applicants under 18 the visa might not be granted if that would not be in the child's best interests. The official source does not state when a stay can be extended or changed.

See recorded sources

Overview tab — Cost
There is a service charge of AUD20 to use the Australian ETA app. There is no other charge payable for an ETA.
Overview tab — Processing times
In most cases we will tell you of the result of your ETA application immediately. Your application may take longer if you do not complete the application process correctly or we require further information.
Eligibility tab — Have paid back debt to the Australian Government
If you or any family members (including those who don't apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or have arranged to pay it back.
Eligibility tab — Best interests of the child
We might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
Eligibility tab — Meet our character requirement
If you are granted an ETA, but we find that you provided incorrect information, your ETA may be cancelled.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)

For the relevant traveller scope, is a visa, electronic authorisation, visa on arrival or no advance visa normally required?

What short-visit purposes does this route cover?

What maximum stay, rolling-period rule, validity and entry rules apply?

What important funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance, onward-travel or passport evidence may be required?

Where/how is permission obtained when required, and under what important circumstances can a stay be extended or changed?

Your story.Your next step.

Your story.
Your next step.