canivisit.com
Beta — verify with official sources⌘K
Home/from/us/to/au
🇺🇸UNITED STATES
🇦🇺AUSTRALIAUS-AU

Do United States passport holders need a visa to visit Australia?

U.S. citizens need a Subclass 601 ETA. Apply via the Australian ETA app for AUD 20. U.S. ordinary passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601) before flying to Australia. The ETA must be applied for via the official Australian ETA mobile app (iOS / Android) — no third-party sites are authorized. There is no visa application charge, but a service fee of AUD 20 (~USD 13) applies. The ETA is valid for 12 months from issue, allows unlimited entries, and each visit can be up to 3 months. Tourism, business meetings, and short courses (up to 3 months) are covered. Paid work, longer study, or longer stays need a different visa (subclass 600 visitor, student visa, etc.).
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-27
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
United States (Green Card)Living in United States as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-27
Visa type
ETA Subclass 601 (electronic visa)
Maximum stay
Up to 3 months per visit
per entry
Entries
Multiple within 12-month validity
from issue date
Visa fee
AUD 20 service fee (no VAC)
consular fee only
Processing time
Minutes (some cases up to 24 hours)
standard track
Validity
12 months or passport expiry
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Check eligibility
U.S. ordinary passport holders are eligible for the ETA. Diplomatic/official passports use a different stream. You must be outside Australia when applying.
· ordinary passport
/02
Download the Australian ETA app
Get the official 'Australian ETA' app from the App Store or Google Play. Do not use third-party agents charging extra.
· official app only
/03
Complete the application
Scan your passport's chip, take a selfie, answer eligibility questions (health, character, travel intent), pay the AUD 20 service fee.
· selfie + ePassport scan
/04
Wait for the decision
Most ETAs are granted within minutes. Some need up to 24 hours or longer for additional checks. Apply at least 2-3 days before travel to be safe.
· minutes to 24h
/05
Travel and clear immigration
The ETA is linked digitally to your passport — no printout needed. SmartGate ePassport gates are open to ETA holders. Bring a return ticket and accommodation evidence.
· SmartGate ePassport
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

10 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 10 complete
U.S. ePassport
Biometric (chip) passport, valid for the entire stay
Australian ETA app
Apple App Store or Google Play
Approved ETA
Linked digitally to passport number
Return or onward ticket
Required at boarding and immigration
Accommodation evidence
Hotel booking, Airbnb, or host invitation
Funds evidence
Bank statements or cards if asked
Travel insurance
Recommended; healthcare for visitors is expensive
Health declaration
Submit if required by current rules
Incoming Passenger Card
Filled on the plane; declares biosecurity and customs items
Biosecurity declarations
Mandatory; food, plants, animal products
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
ETA Subclass 601 service feeAUD 20No visa application charge; service fee only
Visitor visa Subclass 600 (Tourist)AUD 200Alternative if ETA refused or longer stay needed
Visitor visa 600 (Family)AUD 200Single entry, longer than 3 months allowed
Priority Consideration (600)+AUD 1,000Faster processing
Overstay penaltiesDetention + banStrictly enforced under the Migration Act
Total estimateAUD 20 — AUD 1,200+incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

ETA decision
Minutes to 24 hours
Most are immediate. Apply 2-3 days early to allow for additional checks.
Visitor visa Subclass 600
About 11-29 days (Tourist stream)
Apply via ImmiAccount; longer for Family Sponsored stream.
Priority Consideration
Days
Optional +AUD 1,000; available for some visitor 600 streams.
ETA system delays
Hours+
If the app cannot read your ePassport chip, request manual review or apply via subclass 600.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Non-ePassport
ETA requires a chip-enabled ePassport. Older US passports without chips don't qualify — renew or apply for subclass 600.
Low
/02
Character declarations
Past convictions (especially involving violence, drugs, or terrorism) trigger refusal. The Migration Act has a strict character test.
Medium
/03
Health concerns
Significant medical conditions can lead to health-related refusal under the public-cost test.
Low
/04
Suspected paid work
ETA covers unpaid business meetings, training, and conferences — not paid employment. Saying you'll work for an Australian employer will get the ETA refused or your entry blocked.
Medium
/05
Prior overstays / visa breaches
Past Australian overstays or breaches trigger Section 48 bars and ETA refusals.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-27
United States to Australia route verified
Confirmed ETA Subclass 601 via the Australian ETA app, AUD 20 service fee, 3-month visits within 12-month validity.
2022-07-01 · major
ETA moved to app-only application
Australia closed the legacy ETA website and travel-agent channels; all ETA applications now must go through the official Australian ETA app.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do I need a visa for Australia?—
Yes — but the simplest one is the ETA (subclass 601), an electronic authorization for U.S. passport holders. It takes minutes via the Australian ETA app and costs AUD 20.
Can I apply on a website?+
What if I don't have an ePassport?+
Can I work or study on an ETA?+
How long can I stay per visit?+
What's the difference between ETA and eVisitor (651)?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the United States passport

🇺🇸⇄
Compare the United States passport
Stack it up against another passport→
🇺🇸◐
United States visa-free map
See where this passport goes visa-free→
🇺🇸▤
United States passport power
Global rank and destination breakdown→
See something wrong on this page?
Policies change. If something looks off, tell us — we review every report within 48 hours.