About Australia eVisa
Australia eVisa is an electronic travel permit implemented by the Australian Government in October 2008 to facilitate obtaining a tourist, business, or transit visa by foreign visitors.
The Australian eVisa is available online and may be issued to every eligible traveler who completes a few-step application process.
The electronic visa may be achieved into two types – an eVisitor visa and an ETA visa. The only difference between these two documents is the list of countries eligible to apply for a particular document.
Citizens of the European Union may apply for the eVisitor visa of subclass 651. Eight other countries are allowed to apply for Australian ETA (subclass 601). The cost is the same for both types and is 49 EUR.
The Australian visa online stays valid for 12 months and is electronically linked to the applicant’s passport.
Read on and learn more about the Australian visa application process and visa validity time.
Australia eVisa types
Foreign visitors have two visa types to choose between when traveling to Australia.
- Australian ETA (subclass 601), an Electronic Travel Authority, is valid for 12 months and allows multiple entries to Australia. The maximum stay of each stay is up to 90 days (3 months).
- eVisitor visa (subclass 651) – an Australian visa for which citizens of all European countries may apply. It is also a multiple entry travel permit and stays valid for 12 months (1 year). The maximum one stay duration is up to 3 months.
Both documents (ETA and eVisitor visa) may be used for tourism (holidays, visiting family, sightseeing, etc.) and business (training, business meetings, conferences) related purposes.
If the eVisa holder wants to return to Australia for the next 30-day stay, he must leave the county for at least 3 days and then return.
You should also remember that you also need an electronic visa to Australia for transit purposes. If you travel to another location and Australia is only a stop before the final destination, you will need a visa no matter how long your stay is.
How to apply for an electronic visa to Australia
To apply for an Australia tourist visa or business visa, you must complete the online application process successfully. You only need a valid passport to do so.
Prepare any electronic device with an internet connection and an active email address, and you may start the application procedure.
There are 3 steps to go through:
- Fill in a form with basic personal, travel, and contact information. You should also choose the purpose of travel. Ensure the provided data is correct as it helps avoid complications and delays in approval.
- Cover visa fees with the most convenient online payment method. The visa cost is 49 EUR for both ETA and eVisitor visas.
- Wait for the visa to be approved and delivered to your email address. Save the document.
The process of visa application takes up to 3 business days. (72 hours). The approval may come even in a few hours, but the final date of the issue always depends on the Australian Immigration Services.
Validity period
The Australia ETA and the eVisitor visa stay valid for one year (12 months) from the issue date. Both documents allow travelers to enter Australia multiple times within 1-year validity period and stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days (3 months) at a time.
Please remember that the visa is automatically linked to the passport, so every change in the status of the passport is immediately noted, and it may prevent further travel. If your passport is no longer valid, you must immediately leave Australia and apply for a new document.
Requirements for eVisa to Australia
Requirements for Australian eVisa are not many. First, you should ensure you are eligible to apply for an electronic visa to Australia. If so, you only need a valid passport and access to any electronic device (laptop, mobile phone, etc.) connected to the internet. If you complete the data correctly and provide an active email address with the application, you should receive the approval very soon.
Required documents
A passport is the only document needed to complete the application process successfully. Moreover, it cannot expire in less than 6 months from the planned arrival date. Make sure you meet this requirement as an eVisa is linked directly to the passport and loses its validity when it expires.
Requirements on arrival
When Australia eVisa is approved, it is sent to the applicant’s email address in a PDF file. There is no need to print the electronic travel permit. It is linked directly to the traveler’s passport, making border verification easier. It is why the only document that must be carried during travel to Australia is a valid passport. No other documents will be controlled after arrival.