Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
July 21, 2019 7 min read
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US citizens can travel to many countries visa-free, but Australia isn't one of them. If you're thinking about traveling to Australia, you'll need to plan ahead and obtain valid travel documentation. Here's what you need to know before traveling to Australia as a US citizen with a US passport.
The Australian government makes it easy to determine the visa you need with its Visa Finder website. This website asks three questions, the first of which is about the purpose of your trip (think: vacation, visiting relations, attending an event, doing business and seeking medical treatment, among others):
The next question asks the country of your passport:
And the final question asks how long you'd like to stay in Australia — either less than or more than three months.
Most travelers from the US will likely be eligible for an Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) — also called an ETA — as I was for my most recent month-long trip.
Visas I was eligible for on my recent trip to Australia.This is because an ETA is available to US citizens visiting Australia for three months for reasons that fit into the following categories:
Since most US citizens traveling to Australia will be traveling for one of these reasons (and, as a result, are eligible to apply for an ETA) I'll focus on ETAs available to US citizens with a US passport.
Daily Newsletter Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s expertsTo apply for an ETA, you must:
The ETA is free, but there is an online application service charge of 20 Australian dollars (about $14) per applicant. As US passport holders -- along with seven other nationalities -- must apply online, there's no escaping the online application service charge. The fees for my recent ETA applications coded as "Bills and Utilities" on my Chase Sapphire Reserve statement, so don't expect the fee to code as "Travel."
The Australian government says "processing time for this visa is not available" and that the visa may take longer to process if:
Most ETA applications are approved immediately, and those that need additional processing are usually handled within 24 hours. This being said, the Australian government recommends travelers get an approved ETA before booking any nonrefundable travel. Once an ETA is granted, it is valid for one year and allows multiple entries up to three months each.
The online ETA application takes about five minutes to complete. To start an application, click "Apply for an ETA."
Step 1: Select whether you need a Tourist ETA or a Business Visitor ETA, and certify that you are currently located outside Australia.
Step 2: Enter your personal details, whether you have an alias, answer a question about your criminal record and enter your passport information.
Step 3: Enter your address, phone number and email. Select whether you wish to receive communications by SMS and declare whether you hold any passports issued by other countries.
Step 4: Confirm your information.
Step 5: Pay the online service charge of 20 Australian dollars (about $14) using a credit card.
Once you have submitted an online ETA application, you'll receive a response. The response may:
My response came immediately in an email titled, "ETA Application for Australia [CLIENT-IN-CONFIDENCE] (PROD)" that confirmed my application had "been successful," my payment had been received, that I was now the proud holder of a "valid ETA for Australia" and that my ETA had been linked to my passport, so no additional documents would be required during the travel process.
Nothing. When your ETA is linked to your passport, it becomes available to both airline representatives as well as Australian immigration authorities. So, there's no need to print your confirmation once your ETA has been granted.
If you have other questions about ETAs, or other types of Australian visas, take a look at the Australian government's Visa Finder website. Questions such as how to combine multiple visa types if the purpose of your trip changes and what to do if you get a new passport are covered on the website.
Traveling to Australia soon? Here are some TPG articles that might be helpful:
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
