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Australian Visa (ETA) Information, Rules, & Frequently Asked Questions |
Why use EasyETA?
Save Money: By providing only the most popular type of Australian visas online, we operate more efficiently to save you 50% off ($9.95 vs $20+) Apply with EasyETA today! Online Application.
Excellent Service: We will have your visa e-mailed to you within 24 hours guaranteed. If you have questions or conerns about obtaining a visa or need help with your application, we are here 24/7.
Money-Back Guarantee: The Australian government charges AU$20.00 (operated by a 3rd party provider) without any approval guarantee. We charge AU$9.95 for successfully issued ETA visas only.
Security & Reliability: We have processed 500,000+ visas over the years, using the most up-to-date 256-bit encryption. We securely transmit your information directly to the immigration system, avoiding any 3rd-party organizations.
Direct, Secure, Efficient.
How is EasyETA lower cost than the government?
We cut overhead costs by specializing in the most popular visas only (subclass 601 tourist & business), which avoid all the costs associated with paperwork, interviews, and other less common visas. Plus, we do not carry some of the costs associated with a government department.
Who needs to obtain an Australian Visa (ETA)?
An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is required for people who are outside Australia and want to visit Australia for tourism or business purposes. It is required for many nationalities around the world.
Can I leave Australia, then return again?
An ETA allows multiple trips into Australia, so long as the maximum stay on any given visit is less than 3 months, or 90 days. If you leave for another country, then you may return to Australia as long as your ETA and passport are still valid. However, It is up to immigration officials to determine if you are trying to "cheat" the system, so we recommend contacting an embassy if you are concerned with returning too soon. A general guideline is you need to be out of the country for 3+ weeks before returning.
What if I have a criminal conviction?
You must not have any criminal convictions, for which the sentence or sentences (whether served or not) are for a total period of 12 months duration or more, at the time of travel to, and entry into, Australia.
Can I work in Australia?
No. You must visit an Australian consulate or embassy to see about obtaining a visa which allows employment in Australia.
What if I am planning on visiting Australia for more than 3 months?
You will need to apply for a visa which allows for a longer stay (6-12 months) from your nearest Australian migrant office.
A Tourist Visa (subclass 676) may be a good alternative if you plan on staying longer than 90 days in the country, but you will have to pay a much higher premium for those rights.
If you think it's unlikely that you will stay in the country longer than 3 months, then you can also start with an ETA, then apply for a Tourist Visa (subclass 676 extension) and extend your stay while in Australia. Just keep in mind that pricing and rules are always changing.
How does the airline know that I have a visa for Australia?
Airlines, travel agents, cruise companies, and immigration officials all have similar systems which allow them to run an inquiry on your visa status.
Once you are approved on our end, you will be entered in to the immigration system tied to the passport in which you applied with. The airline or cruise company will simply pull up your visa status while checking-in to see that you have are currently approved.
What is an electronic ETA visa?
An ETA is an electronically stored authority for travel to Australia. ETA information is accessible by airlines, travel agents and Australian border agencies. It's required that you obtain an ETA if you intend to travel to Australia.
The great news is you do not need to visit a departmental office to submit an application and you will not need a stamp or label in your passport. An ETA replaces the need for a traditional paper visa.
Note: An ETA is linked to the passport being used while applying, so you must travel to Australia with the same passport as the one you apply at EasyETA with on your application.
Should I buy an Australian visa in advance?
On occasion, some people are not approved to enter Australia and they must contact an Australian embassy. For those who wait to apply for a visa until the last minute or at the airport, those not approved could run in to trouble and be denied boarding by the airline.
To avoid the hassle of missing your flight, it's recommend you purchase your visa in advance through EasyETA, so that you can rest assured that your visa status will be approved. If by chance it is not, we will give you your money back and tell you your best course of action.
How long does it take to process?
We typically have visas processed and approved and confirmations sent out within a few hours. Depending on the time zone, time of day, and when the passport information was submitted, it can take up to, but no longer than, 24 hours.
Which visa do I need to visit Australia?
Deciding which visa you need to visit Australia depends on how long you will be visiting the country and whether or not you plan on working. If you plan on working in the country, then you will need to either contact an Australiain embassy or an agency that specifically handles work visas.
If you are visiting Australia for tourism, and your trip is 3 months or less, a tourist subclass 601 visa is your best option.
If you intend on visiting for basic non-working business needs then you are required to purchase a subclass 601 business visa.
What if my passport is about to expire?
If you passport is about to expire (within 6 months), you should check with an Australian embassy to see if you are still allowed to visit the country. Your best and only option may be to obtain a new passport.
An ETA is valid for 12 months from the date it is granted or the expiry date of your passport, whichever comes first.
NOTE: You will need to apply for a new Australian Visa if your passport expires and you are issued a new passport.
Do I need a plane ticket before purchasing an ETA?
No. You do not need to arrange your transportation into the country before applying for an ETA. Whether you are traveling by boat or plane, it's okay to apply for your ETA anytime before or after your confirmed ticket.
What do I need to have in order to apply?
1) Valid passport from an eligible country
2) A valid credit or debit card (all major brands accepted)
3) Have no major unlawful convictions where the jail time was > 12 months.
FAQ for Existing Customers |
Am I given a visa reference number?
No. The Australian immigration computer system does not assign transaction numbers or reference numbers to tourist visas.
The "reference" number most people refer to is the one issued by the DIAC which is used by people to check the status of their visa. We make it easier on you. We send you the confirmation as soon as it is issued, via e-mail, so you don't need to keep re-checking your ETA status.
Will you be shipping me a paper visa?
An ETA is 100% electronic, so once you are entered in to the Australian Immigration system and approved, you do not need to take any further action. If you lost your passport or obtain a new one, you will need to re-apply for a new ETA.
We will not be shipping you anything in the mail. The visa approval confirmation which was e-mailed to you is all you need going forward.
What if the airline cannot detect my visa?
In rare occasions, (less than 0.001%) a handful of people have needed to purchase a visa from the airline at the airport because the airline was unsuccessful at locating their visa.
We have over a 99.9% success rate with our visas, so if you have to purchase an ETA from the airline, then keep your receipt. We will ask you to send us a scanned copy of your passport. If the information matches what you submitted, we will refund you 100% of the money for our services.
What if I am visiting another country first?
An ETA is valid for 1 year from the date of issue, so you can visit Australia before or after any other countries on your trip. You will need to enter Australia before the validity of your visa expires.
Why does my visa approval says "Current Visa Status".
On occasion, it takes the Immigration computers extra time to process a visa. When this happens, we continuously inquire about your visa status over a 24 hour period until we receive your approval.
If the approval that we e-mail you says "Current Visa Status" versus "ETA Approval" it simply means that we had to re-check the status of your visa and that you were given the updated confirmaton of your visa status. All the other information should match the approval similar to the one in our customer section.
Should I print out the ETA approval e-mail?
It is not required to print out the confirmation that we e-mail you, but it can certainly help the airline find your visa in the immigration system faster upon check-in at the airport. Again, It is OPTIONAL to print it out, however, since your visa is electronically stored in the immigration and airline systems.
What if I want to stay longer than 90 days?
1) The first option is you can extend your visa with a tourist Sub-Class 676 Visa.
2) Your second option is you can re-enter the country at a later date, however it's up to immigration officials to determine if you are repeatedly re-entering the country simply to reset your 90 day allowance.
Contact an Australian embassy or do your own research to determine what is best for you.
What if I have not received a confirmation e-mail from you?
Please, please, please.. check your junk box folder. Or, if you have given us a corporate e-mail address as your contact information, then our message was likely filtered out by your e-mail server.
We send confirmation e-mails to everyone within 24 hours, so please double check that you did not already receive it at the e-mail address provided to us on your application. If need be, you may e-mail or chat with us and we will be happy to re-send the confirmation.
What if I have further questions?
More information about being a visa holder can be found in the pamphlet provided by the DIAC entitled Information for ETA Holders or on our EasyETA existing customer area. You may also contact us via e-mail anytime.
