Entry rules
Australiaentry requirements
U.S. citizens need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) before traveling to Australia. You apply in the official Australian ETA app, which charges AUD 20; it lasts 12 months, with stays of up to 3 months each time. British and EU citizens can use the free eVisitor instead.
Checked against official sources Oct 29, 2026 · Sources
Do you need a visa or travel authorization?
| Passport | What you need | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizens | Australia ETA required Official fee AUD 20. About Australia ETA | 3 months per visit |
| British citizens | Australia eVisitor required Official fee Free. About Australia eVisitor British citizens can choose the free eVisitor or the ETA (AUD 20 in the app). | 3 months per visit |
| Canadians | Australia ETA required Official fee AUD 20. About Australia ETA The ETA also covers business visitor activities (not work), according to Home Affairs. | 3 months per visit |
| Australians | Citizen | No limit |
| EU citizens | Australia eVisitor required Official fee Free. About Australia eVisitor All 27 EU countries can use the free eVisitor; citizens of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden can use the ETA app instead. | 3 months per visit |
Passport rules
Your passport must be valid for your whole stay, and you must travel on the passport you used to apply: the ETA or eVisitor ends if the passport expires or is replaced.
- British citizens: Your passport must be valid for your whole stay.
- Canadians: The Government of Canada says valid on the day of entry; GOV.UK’s “valid for your stay” is the safer reading.
Airlines check this at check-in. If your passport is close to the limit, renew it first: see the 6-month passport rule explained.
Changing planes in Australia
- U.S. citizens, British citizens, Canadians and EU citizens: Nothing extra if you stay airside. Up to 8 hours without a visa if you stay in the international transit lounge and fly on to a third country.
- Australians: Nothing extra if you stay airside.
More: Do I need a transit visa?
Arrival card
Fill in the Australia incoming passenger card (or the digital Australia Travel Declaration where offered), which is free, on the plane, or online up to 72 hours before travel where the digital declaration is offered. A digital Australia Travel Declaration is being rolled out on some routes and airports; the paper card remains an option.
Official links
- Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), Department of Home Affairs
- eVisitor (subclass 651), Department of Home Affairs
Watch for look-alike sites. Use only the official addresses above. Sites that “process” your application charge extra for the same official form. How to spot a fake visa site.
Where official sources differ
- The Government of Canada lists a business visa as required; Home Affairs says the ETA allows travel as a business visitor (not work). We follow Home Affairs.
Official sources
- Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) - eligible passports (list includes 'United States of America') ·
You must hold a valid passport from one of these countries or jurisdictions to be eligible for an ETA.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Australia travel advice: Entry requirements (GOV.UK) ·
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) through the iOS app or Android app – there is no visa application charge, but there may be a service fee
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for Australia (Government of Canada) ·
Canadians entering Australia without a visa need to get an electronic travel authority (ETA) to visit Australia. Ensure that you travel with the same passport used to apply for your ETA.
· checked 2026-10-29 - eVisitor (subclass 651) - eligible passports ·
You must be a citizen of and hold a valid passport from one of these countries to be eligible for the eVisitor:
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travellers eligible to transit without a visa (TWOV) (Department of Home Affairs) ·
have a confirmed ticket to leave Australia to travel to a third country, by aircraft within 8 hours of arriving
· checked 2026-10-29 - Transit visa (subclass 771) (Department of Home Affairs) ·
All non-citizens need a visa or permission to enter Australia. This includes those staying for a short time or just transiting and not leaving the airport.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Digital Australia Travel Declaration arrives at Western Sydney International Airport (Minister for Home Affairs, 22 October 2026) ·
Travellers, including families, can complete the web-form at a time of their convenience up to 72 hours before travel, and are issued a single QR code to enable a seamless exit from the airport.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Australia Travel Declaration to be rolled out nationwide (Australian Border Force) ·
The Australia Travel Declaration (ATD) will be introduced at all international airports and seaports before the end of 2027, with the Australian Border Force (ABF) embracing digital credentials and phasing out the paper-based incoming passenger card.
· checked 2026-10-29
If an official page says something different from this page, the official page is right. Tell us and we’ll fix it.
Get an email when these rules change
Only when an official entry rule we track changes: a new travel authorization, a fee, a start date or a passport rule. At most once a week, with the official source for every change.