Don't let a forgotten tourist visa ruin your Australian getaway 漏 xavierarnau/Getty Images
Planning a trip to Australia? Whether you鈥檙e heading Down Under for a short break or extended working holiday, you鈥檒l likely need a visa.
Here鈥檚 your complete guide to filling out your paperwork for a visit to Australia.
Do I need a visa for Australia?
Most visitors to Australia will need a visa, but the type of visa you apply for depends on your country of origin, how long you plan to stay in Australia and what you plan to do while you鈥檙e there.
Most tourists must apply for either an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or a visitor visa before traveling. The exception is New Zealand passport holders, who are issued a Special Category visa upon arrival.
Your passport must be valid for the duration of your intended stay. You鈥檒l also need to ensure you have sufficient funds to cover your stay. Depending on your visa category, you may be asked for proof of this upon arrival.
What type of visa do I need to travel to Australia?
can help you determine what visas you鈥檙e eligible for based on your citizenship, your travel purpose and your intended length of stay.
Here are the three main tourist visa categories:
For visitors from visa-exempt countries: ETA (subclass 601)
If you hold a passport from a visa-exempt country 鈥 including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada or Singapore 鈥 you鈥檙e eligible for an. With an ETA you can visit Australia as many times as you like for tourism purposes within a one-year window, staying for up to three months per visit.
Attached digitally to your passport number, an ETA allows for a simplified entry process into Australia. An application needs to be completed via before you arrive and usually is processed within a day. However, it鈥檚 recommended that you apply for it a few days in advance to ensure you have the ETA in time for your departure.
While ETAs are free, there is an application service charge of $20.
If you鈥檙e already in Australia and you want to extend your stay, you will need to apply for a Visitor visa.
For visitors from European countries: eVisitor visa (subclass 651)
The is free and available for passport holders from most European countries. It offers similar conditions to an ETA: Visitors can stay for up to three months for tourism purposes. It鈥檚 valid for 12 months, with multiple entries permitted.
You can apply for the eVisitor online. Processing time is usually within a day, but it鈥檚 recommended that you apply well in advance of your intended travel date in case of delays. This visa can鈥檛 be extended, so if you wish to stay longer, you鈥檒l need to apply for a Visitor visa.
If you hold a passport from a country that鈥檚 eligible for both an ETA and an eVisitor visa, you鈥檒l find the two options are nearly identical. The main difference is how you apply for them: ETAs must be applied for through an app with a fee of $20. There is no charge for eVisitor visas, but you鈥檒l need to register for an and apply online through a web browser.
For all other tourists: Visitor visa (subclass 600)
If you鈥檙e not eligible for an ETA or an eVisa and plan to visit Australia for tourism-related purposes, you鈥檒l need to apply for a This visa may be granted for up to 12 months and may be single or multiple entry. Conditions are determined on a case-by-case basis. A visitor visa starts at $190, but there may be other associated costs including health examinations, police clearances or biometrics, depending on your passport.
Although most visitor visas are processed within a few weeks, it can take longer in peak periods, so it must be applied for well in advance of your trip. Standard processing times change regularly and can be
Once you apply, you can track your application through your ImmiAccount. You may be required to submit additional information, so check your application regularly to provide any further details to keep the process moving.
How do I extend my visa to Australia?
Enjoying your stay in Australia and don't want to leave? We don鈥檛 blame you.
Depending on your visa, you may be able to apply for a new visa to stay in the country longer. Visitors who are already inside Australia and wish to stay longer as tourists may use the to extend their stay.
Make sure you apply for your new visa before your current visa expires. If you鈥檝e submitted your application before your current visa expires, you鈥檒l be granted a free until your new one is processed.
What if I want to work and travel around Australia?
Working holidays are a popular option for travelers who want to fund their adventures and immerse themselves in Australian life and culture.
础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 is available for visitors between the ages of 18 and 30 (and up to 35 in some cases) from 40 participating countries and jurisdictions around the world.
There are two classes of visas available under this program: t and . Which one you apply for depends on the passport you hold. Both are valid for 12 months and cost $635, and both enable you to legally work while in Australia.
Many working holiday visa makers find that one year isn鈥檛 enough. Fortunately, you may be able to extend your working holiday visa for a second or even a third year. In order to do so, you鈥檒l need to complete 鈥渟pecified work鈥 in a 鈥渞egional area鈥 for a period of three months (for a second year) or six months (for a third year) first.
This specified work is usually referred to as 鈥渇arm work鈥 in backpacker circles, but it鈥檚 a bit of a misnomer. It鈥檚 a common misconception that you need to head to the woop-woops (that Aussie for 鈥渕iddle of nowhere鈥) and pick fruit to complete your specified work. In fact, there are a, including tourism and hospitality, construction and bushfire recovery. Likewise, 鈥渞egional areas鈥 aren鈥檛 just found in remote rural areas; some major cities (including Darwin and Adelaide) are eligible post codes. So while you might find yourself harvesting bananas in a tiny town in tropical Queensland, you could just as easily find yourself serving tables at a luxury lodge in Darwin or working in a winery in the Barossa.
For more information on the working holiday visa program, you can also visit
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