Planning a trip to Australia means dealing with one thing before anything else: the visa. Almost every foreign national needs some form of travel authorisation before arriving — there’s no visa on arrival available for tourism purposes. The good news is that for the vast majority of travellers, getting the right authorisation is quick, straightforward, and can be done entirely online, often in minutes.
This guide explains exactly which visa you need based on your nationality, how to apply, what it costs, and what to watch out for — without the government-website jargon.
📋 TL;DR – Australia Visa Requirements for Tourists
- 📱 US, UK, Canadian passport holders: Get the ETA (AUD $20 via the Australian ETA app — takes minutes)
- 🆓 EU / EEA passport holders: Get the free eVisitor visa online (1–5 business days processing)
- 📋 Everyone else: Apply for the Visitor Visa subclass 600 (AUD $190) via the ImmiAccount portal
- ⏳ Processing time: ETA is often instant; eVisitor is 1–5 days; subclass 600 can take several weeks
- 📅 How long can you stay: 90 days per visit on ETA/eVisitor; up to 12 months on subclass 600
- 🧳 Working holiday: Separate visa (subclass 417 or 462) for travellers aged 18–30 who want to work while travelling
- ⚠️ No visa on arrival: Australia does not offer any visa-on-arrival arrangement for tourism
- ✅ Apply before you travel: Your authorisation must be in place before you board your flight
🛂 Do you need a visa to visit Australia?
Yes — with very few exceptions, every foreign national must have a valid visa or travel authorisation before arriving in Australia. New Zealand citizens have automatic residence rights, and flight crew have their own arrangements, but for everyone else: tourism entry requires advance authorisation.
This might sound more bureaucratic than it actually is. For most travellers from Western countries, getting authorised takes about 10 minutes on a phone app and costs about the same as a sandwich. The authorisation is linked electronically to your passport — there’s no stamp, no sticker, no physical document. When you check in for your flight, the airline verifies it automatically.
📱 The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) — subclass 601
The ETA is the simplest and quickest option for eligible passport holders. It costs AUD $20 (approximately USD $13 or EUR €12), and you apply for it through the official Australian ETA app on your phone.
Who can get it: Citizens of the USA, Canada, UK, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Brunei, and several others. Check the current full list on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website — eligibility occasionally changes.
What it allows: Multiple entries to Australia, with stays of up to 90 days per visit, within a 12-month period. So you could visit in March and again in August, as long as neither stay exceeds 90 days.
How to apply — step by step:
- Download the official Australian ETA app from the App Store or Google Play. Make sure it’s the official Australian Government app — there are copycat apps that charge extra fees for nothing.
- Open the app and start a new application. You’ll need your passport open to the photo page.
- Photograph your passport and take a selfie. The app uses face recognition to verify your identity.
- Pay the AUD $20 fee with a credit or debit card.
- Submit the application. In most cases, approval comes within minutes. Occasionally, it takes 24–72 hours if your application requires manual review.
- Receive an email confirmation. The authorisation is now linked to your passport in the Australian border system — no need to print anything, though keeping the email is sensible.
One important note: the ETA must be active before you board your flight to Australia. Airlines check visa conditions at check-in, and you’ll be denied boarding without a valid authorisation. Don’t leave this until the night before you fly.
🆓 The eVisitor visa — subclass 651
The eVisitor is functionally identical to the ETA — same stay length (90 days per visit), same multiple-entry flexibility, same 12-month validity — but it covers a different list of nationalities and is completely free.
Who can get it: Citizens of all EU and EEA member states, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and all other EU countries. Also available to citizens of Switzerland, Norway, and Iceland.
Cost: Free. Zero. Nothing. This is one of the most straightforward and generous tourism visa arrangements in the world, and it goes largely unnoticed.
How to apply — step by step:
- Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and create an ImmiAccount. Use the official Australian Government website — the URL should end in .gov.au.
- Log in and start a new visa application. Select subclass 651 (eVisitor).
- Complete the online form with your passport details, contact information, and travel plans. It takes about 15–20 minutes.
- Submit the application. There’s no fee payment step — it’s genuinely free.
- Wait for your grant email. This usually arrives within 1–5 business days, though it can occasionally take a couple of weeks during busy periods.
- Receive your grant notification. The visa is linked to your passport electronically — same as the ETA, no sticker, no physical document.
One thing to watch out for: there are websites that offer to process your eVisitor application for a “service fee” of anywhere from EUR €15 to €80. These are not official government sites. The eVisitor is free and can only be applied for directly through the Australian Government ImmiAccount portal. Don’t pay anyone to do this for you.
📋 The Visitor Visa — subclass 600
If your nationality isn’t covered by the ETA or eVisitor, you need the standard Visitor Visa. This is also the visa to use if you want to stay longer than 90 days per visit, or if you want to enter Australia for purposes beyond pure tourism (such as visiting family or short-term business activities).
Who needs it: Citizens of India, China, Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Mexico, the Philippines, and many other countries not covered by the ETA or eVisitor programs. Essentially: anyone whose passport isn’t on the other two eligibility lists.
Cost: AUD $190 (approximately USD $125, EUR €115) for the tourist stream.
What it allows: Stay periods of 3, 6, or 12 months depending on what you apply for. Single or multiple entry, also depending on your application. The specific conditions are set out in the visa grant letter.
What you’ll need to provide: Unlike the ETA and eVisitor, the subclass 600 requires supporting documentation. This typically includes:
- 📄 A complete copy of your passport (all pages, including blanks)
- 💰 Bank statements from the last 3–6 months showing sufficient funds to cover your stay
- 🏠 Evidence of ties to your home country — an employment letter, property ownership documents, or evidence of dependants who rely on your return
- ✈️ Evidence of your travel plans — a rough itinerary, flight bookings, or hotel confirmations
- 📸 A recent passport-sized photograph meeting Australian Government specifications
Processing times: Vary significantly by nationality and time of year — anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Some nationalities also require a biometric appointment at an Australian visa application centre in their home country, which adds time. Apply at least 6–8 weeks before your planned departure date.
Apply through the ImmiAccount portal at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, the same portal used for the eVisitor.
🏃 The working holiday visa — for travellers who want to stay longer
If you’re between 18 and 30 years old (or 35 for citizens of some countries) and you want to work while travelling in Australia, the Working Holiday Visa is one of the best available anywhere in the world. Over 200,000 are issued every year — it’s a genuinely popular and well-administered program.
Subclass 417 is available to citizens of the UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Japan, South Korea, and many other European and Asian countries. It allows a 12-month stay with the right to work for any employer for up to 6 months per employer.
Pair this with Australian Working Holiday Visa Guide to round out your trip.
Subclass 462 (the Work and Holiday Visa) covers citizens of countries not included in subclass 417, including the USA, Thailand, China, India (limited quota), and several others. Same basic structure with slightly different conditions.
Both cost AUD $510. After completing 3 months of specified regional work — fruit picking, farm work, certain tourism and hospitality roles in regional areas — you can apply for a second-year extension. A third year is possible after a further period of regional work. The Working Holiday Visa can only be applied for once per subtype, so plan accordingly.
❓ Common questions about Australian visas
How far in advance should I apply?
For the ETA: a few days before departure is fine, though sooner is always better. Approval is usually instant. For the eVisitor: apply at least a week or two before flying to give yourself buffer time. For the subclass 600: at least 6–8 weeks before your trip, and longer if biometrics are required in your country.
Can I extend my tourist visa while I’m in Australia?
Generally, no. The ETA and eVisitor cannot be extended from within Australia. If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you’d need to leave the country and re-enter (which resets the 90-day clock) or apply for a different visa type before your current one expires. Overstaying a visa in Australia results in a 3-year ban from re-entering — Australian Border Force takes overstays seriously.
What happens at Australian customs?
Declare everything in your bags, especially food, plant matter, soil, wood, and animal products. Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity rules in the world and the fines for non-declaration are substantial. All incoming passengers complete an incoming passenger card listing what they’re carrying. If in doubt, declare it — the biosecurity officers will simply dispose of anything that can’t enter the country, rather than fining you.
Do I need travel insurance?
It’s not a visa requirement, but it’s strongly recommended. Australia has excellent medical care, but costs are very high for visitors — a single night in a public hospital can easily cost thousands of dollars. Comprehensive travel insurance including emergency medical evacuation is particularly important if you’re planning to dive, snorkel, or do any adventure activities. 👉 Compare travel insurance plans for Australia →
Can I work on a tourist visa?
No. The ETA, eVisitor, and standard Visitor Visa do not permit any paid work in Australia. Working on a tourist visa is a serious breach of visa conditions and can result in deportation and a multi-year ban. If you want to work while travelling, apply for the appropriate Working Holiday Visa before you leave home.
My passport expires soon — is that a problem?
Australia only requires that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay — unlike some countries, there’s no requirement for 6 months of validity beyond your departure date. That said, always renew a passport that’s getting close to expiry before international travel. It removes risk and gives you flexibility.
Planning your trip to Australia, read our guides to luxury wellness retreats Australia, luxury treehouses Australia, luxury eco lodges Australia, luxury honeymoon destinations Australia, luxury helicopter tours Australia, best fine dining restaurants Australia, and luxury cruises Australia.
