Many nationalities can now travel to Australia without a regular visa or without a visa. To be able to travel to Australia without needing a visa or residence permit, you must be an Australian national or live in New Zealand. Otherwise and for many other countries, there are residence permits in the form of electronic visas that you can obtain online in a few hours and which replace the traditional visa with the eVisitor visa and the eTA visa. Here are the details of the countries eligible for these two devices.
eVisitor and eTA eligible countries for Australia
- The eTA and eVisitor systems allow you to travel to Australia without a visa.
- The countries eligible for this system are those that have signed an agreement with Australia.
- Nationals of these countries must obtain an eVisitor or eTA before travelling to Australia.
- It is not possible to travel to Australia without a visa to work or study.
Check your eligibility!
What is the eVisitor visa for Australia?
First of all, the first electronic visa we will talk about is the eVisitor visa. This is an electronic travel authorisation that is mandatory for travel to this country and, as we will see in more detail below, concerns most Western nationalities.
One of the main advantages of the eVisitor visa is that it can be obtained very quickly with a 100% online application that takes only a few minutes. Once obtained, this visa will be valid for one year and will therefore allow as many trips to Australia of less than 90 consecutive days during this period.
The eVisitor visa is available under certain conditions and you should therefore ensure that you meet all the criteria before applying online. In particular, you will need to have a valid passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the date of your arrival in the country. Of course, this passport is not an Australian passport but a passport issued by your country of residence.
Similarly, the application must be made outside Australia and not once you have arrived in the country. It is advisable to apply a few days to a week in advance to ensure you get it in time.
The purpose of your stay in Australia is also important and should only be for tourism or business. You will also need to pay an online fee for the service provided by the provider who provides you with the form, checks your application and forwards it to the Australian authorities.
Once obtained, the eVisitor visa will be valid for one year, i.e. 12 months after the date of issue. It is therefore possible, with a single visa of this type, to enter and leave Australia several times and therefore to make several visits to the country without having to systematically reapply.
Check your eligibility!
What is the list of countries whose nationality is eligible for eVisitor?
The countries eligible for the eVisitor system for visa-free travel to Australia are
- Germany
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Croatia
- Denmark
- Spain
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Norway
- The Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- The Czech Republic
- Romania
- The United Kingdom
- Saint-Martin
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Vatican
What is the eTA visa for Australia?
The eTA visa for Australia is another form of electronic travel authorisation for visa-free travel to Australia. It is also an electronic travel authorisation issued by the Australian Government to nationals of certain countries not listed above in the eVisitor.
This travel authorisation operates for the same reasons and conditions of stay as the eVisitor. It therefore allows for tourist or business stays in the country including conferences, negotiation meetings and business appointments. As it is not a work visa either, you will not be able to use it to work in the country or for an Australian company.
The processing time for the eTA for Australia is generally the same as for the eVisitor, i.e. the authorisation is issued within a few hours of the validation of the form. The validity of the eTA is also the same as for the eVisitor as you can use the eTA for a period of one year from the date of issue provided you comply with the reasons for stay outlined above and the maximum stay is 3 months.
It should also be remembered that the eTA eligibility requirements for visa-free travel to Australia include certain nationalities. If you are a British or European resident, it will not be possible to go through this procedure and you must apply for an eVisitor.
Check your eligibility!
List of countries where you can travel to Australia with an eTA
Currently, only eight nationalities are eligible for the eTA system to travel to Australia without a visa with :
- Brunei
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- The Republic of South Korea
- The United States
How do I apply for an eVisitor or eTA online to travel to Australia without a visa?
To apply for an eVisitor or eTA visa for Australia, the same procedure should be followed. Firstly, you need to access an online application form through a service provider such as the one we recommend on this website.
You will find an application form in English with all the explanations on how to answer the different questions and items. The only document you will need to apply is your biometric passport. It must be valid and its validity must cover at least 6 months after the date of your arrival. If you have lost your passport or its validity is about to expire, you will need to reissue your passport first before applying for an eTA or eVisitor. Similarly, if you are a dual national, you will need to use the same passport for your travel as you do for your application.
When you have finished filling in the online application form, all you have to do is complete it by paying the application fee. This payment is required for your application to be forwarded to the Australian authorities.
Once the payment has been made, you will only have to wait a maximum of 72 hours, and usually much less, for this application to be processed and your residence permit sent to your email address.
Check your eligibility!
What are the risks of trying to enter Australia without a visa?
Have you ever considered the consequences of trying to enter Australia without a visa? The legal repercussions are far from trivial.
Firstly, it is essential to understand that an individual who crosses the Australian border illegally is liable to immediate deportation. However, this is not the only penalty to fear. The Australian government takes breaches of its migration policy very seriously and imposes stringent penalties to deter those tempted to do so illegally.
- The crime of unauthorised trespass carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
- The fine can be as high as AUD 50,000.
- Anyone removed will not be able to apply for an Australian visa for a minimum of three years after deportation.
- Permanent exclusion from Australia may be ordered in extreme cases.
- The offender must reimburse the government for all costs incurred in their arrest, detention and removal.
It should also be pointed out that anyone who assists or incites another person to cross the Australian border illegally is themselves liable to rigorous criminal penalties.
Not to mention the fact that these violations can affect the ability to travel at a later date, not only to Australia but also to other international destinations.
Check your eligibility!
Adeline HARMANT
As a web writer and globetrotter with a passion for travel and tourism, I have acquired in-depth knowledge of the procedures that are essential for travellers. I help travellers to complete all the formalities required for a successful trip, particularly when it comes to obtaining a visa online. With several years' experience in this field, I'd like to offer you some valuable advice to help you discover the world with complete peace of mind.
