Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Australia Visa: Multiple Entries?

Hi All,

As part of my Tassie trip, I have to nip over to AKL for a night. I'll be arriving in MEL on the evening of 5/28 and departing MEL for AKL on the morning of 5/29. I'll be returning to MEL on the afternoon of 5/30.

Do I need two separate visas for this or does Australia issue multi-entry visas? If they do issue multi-entry visa, can they be done electronically through the airline, like the single-entry visas?

Thanks!

Hi All,

As part of my Tassie trip, I have to nip over to AKL for a night. I'll be arriving in MEL on the evening of 5/28 and departing MEL for AKL on the morning of 5/29. I'll be returning to MEL on the afternoon of 5/30.

Do I need two separate visas for this or does Australia issue multi-entry visas? If they do issue multi-entry visa, can they be done electronically through the airline, like the single-entry visas?

Thanks!

An ETA (basically electronic visas issued by the Australian government) given to an American for tourist purposes is good for multiple entries within one year of issue.

The ETA you get -- or have already gotten -- will cover you for multiple entries up to one year from issue. Enjoy your trips.

Hi All,

As part of my Tassie trip, I have to nip over to AKL for a night. I'll be arriving in MEL on the evening of 5/28 and departing MEL for AKL on the morning of 5/29. I'll be returning to MEL on the afternoon of 5/30.

Do I need two separate visas for this or does Australia issue multi-entry visas? If they do issue multi-entry visa, can they be done electronically through the airline, like the single-entry visas?

Thanks!

AFAIK, it's multi entry as I applied for my trip down under in Oct 05.

Here in the UK, we can get the high street travel agent to apply the visa for us and usually they charge a fee. You can save yourself some money and apply online at http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

AFAIK, it's multi entry as I applied for my trip down under in Oct 05.

Here int e UK, we can get the high street travel agent to apply the visa and usually thy charge a fee. You can save yourself some money and apply online at http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/

For US citizens traveling recreationally (i.e., for tourism), the ETA/visa is good for one year from date of issue for multiple entries.

There are 3 types of ETAs: Visitor/Tourist ETA "V", Long Validity Business ETA "BL", and Short Validity Business ETA "BS".

US airlines and travel agents, almost by default, put in for the Visitor/Tourist ETA "V", which for Americans will certainly cover the multiple entries as mentioned in the OP.

These are issued electronically at the request of the airline or can be done on a certain Australian government website. (I don't have the link with me right now.)

Wow, that was quick.

I didn't know you could apply directly for it. Much better than calling the airline and doing it.

Thanks guys!!

Wow, that was quick.

I didn't know you could apply directly for it. Much better than calling the airline and doing it.

Thanks guys!!

Some of the airlines will do it for free so you can save the AUD$20.

These are issued electronically at the request of the airline or can be done on a certain Australian government website. (I don't have the link with me right now.)

Listed in post #3 :p

...I didn't know you could apply directly for it. Much better than calling the airline and doing it....Not necessarily, it is AUD 20 fee from the government site; some airlines will issue it for free (depends on the type of air fare you are on). Others charge double the cost, so it varies considerably.

American no longer issues it for free and the main ticket is booked through them.

Anyone know about Emirates?

I am flying them (in paid F) from AKL to MEL.

If Emirates does it for free, does the airline applying for the visa have to be the one on which I will arrive in Oz first?

I guess not because I'm not flying AA into Oz (Qantas) and they'll be able to apply for the visa with no problem.

If Emirates does it for free, does the airline applying for the visa have to be the one on which I will arrive in Oz first?



Emirates charges $44 for the Oz visa.
better off doing it online.

Listed in post #3 :p

And post#4 in which I quoted your post#3. :D ^^

American no longer issues it for free and the main ticket is booked through them.

Anyone know about Emirates?

I am flying them (in paid F) from AKL to MEL.

If Emirates does it for free, does the airline applying for the visa have to be the one on which I will arrive in Oz first?

I guess not because I'm not flying AA into Oz (Qantas) and they'll be able to apply for the visa with no problem.

An ETA is good for travel regardless of which airline requested it (got it issued for you) and which airline you actually travel. Any airline you fly to Australia will be able to validate that you have an ETA and it does not matter who procured it for you. All that matters is that a valid ETA exists and that the airline which checks you in can find it -- which they can do by looking it up using the name on your passport, name you supply at the time of ETA application and/or passport number. (Some check it by default using name on passport, followed by passport number.)

United did it for free for me last time. And there's always the refundable ticket route for those airlines that do it for free. (Not that I would suggest doing that, but it's a possibility.)

United did it for free for me last time. And there's always the refundable ticket route for those airlines that do it for free. (Not that I would suggest doing that, but it's a possibility.)

Yeah, but for A$20, it's not really worth the hassle. I'll just apply directly.

Thanks!

Now why do US citizens need a visa (and pay $20+ ) while Oz citizens can
enter US without any such visa? (go easy on me)

Sounds like you have just over 24 hours in Auckland. A shame because (a) far too short to experience the city and (b) NZ$25 departure tax (payable at airport) is waived if visit is under 24 hours - I suppose you could turn up early to check in and try the line pass through immigration in under 24 hours.

Dont forget that while NZ has very generous duty free alcohol allowance, Australia's is much less generous.

Enjoy the EK suites.

Now why do US citizens need a visa (and pay $20+ ) while Oz citizens can
enter US without any such visa? (go easy on me)

The only ones exempt from needing visa for australia are australians and NZers.

Now why do US citizens need a visa (and pay $20+ ) while Oz citizens can
enter US without any such visa? (go easy on me)



Australian ETA visa is really supposed to be given free by travel agencies or carriers when you purchase tickets to Australia from them. It's truly a joke if carriers or travel agencies charge you extra even if you purchased a ticket to Australia from them. I can hardly believe that there are travel agencies charging fee for Australian ETA visa. They just need to enter few keystokes on CRS, and that's it. That cost them absolutely nothing.

Sounds like you have just over 24 hours in Auckland. A shame because (a) far too short to experience the city and (b) NZ$25 departure tax (payable at airport) is waived if visit is under 24 hours - I suppose you could turn up early to check in and try the line pass through immigration in under 24 hours.

Dont forget that while NZ has very generous duty free alcohol allowance, Australia's is much less generous.

Enjoy the EK suites.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to them.

I have been to Auckland before and very much enjoyed it. I was there in August 2003, just before the Americas Cup. I should have the evening of the 29th and the morning/early afternoon of the 30th to walk around a bit.

The whole point of this excursion to AKL is to keep my total mileage below 20,000 for purposes of a Oneworld Award. I have to take the first connection from MEL to AKL and, as that is a QF 744 with Skybeds, I make out okay.

Australian ETA visa is really supposed to be given free by travel agencies or carriers when you purchase tickets to Australia from them. It's truly a joke if carriers or travel agencies charge you extra even if you purchased a ticket to Australia from them. I can hardly believe that there are travel agencies charging fee for Australian ETA visa. They just need to enter few keystokes on CRS, and that's it. That cost them absolutely nothing.


But still, US does not ask for any such procedure for the
Visa Waiver countries. why should it require an advanced ETA for US
citizens?

its not a big deal, but I'm curious to know why it is that way.

But still, US does not ask for any such procedure for the
Visa Waiver countries. why should it require an advanced ETA for US
citizens?

its not a big deal, but I'm curious to know why it is that way.

The US requires APIS-type information, including information that now goes significantly beyond that required for an Australian ETA issued for tourism purposes. This also applies to visa waiver countries. At least with the Australian ETA process, the chances of Australian immigration creating a stink when an American arrives in Australia is far less than the chances of US immigration creating a stink when an Australian arrives in the US. With the US process .... well .... APIS is no saving grace. That said, APIS-related demands are not tied to immigration authorization in the same way that ETA-related demands are tied to immigration authorization.

I've gotten all my ETAs for free. I don't know if the airline had to pay for it or not, but I've gotten them without being asked to pay up for that.

The US requires APIS-type information, including information that now goes significantly beyond that required for an Australian ETA issued for tourism purposes. This also applies to visa waiver countries. At least with the Australian ETA process, the chances of Australian immigration creating a stink when an American arrives in Australia is far less than the chances of US immigration creating a stink when an Australian arrives in the US. With the US process .... well .... APIS is no saving grace. That said, APIS-related demands are not tied to immigration authorization in the same way that ETA-related demands are tied to immigration authorization.

I've gotten all my ETAs for free. I don't know if the airline had to pay for it or not, but I've gotten them without being asked to pay up for that.

I know, but APIS is something the Airline is responsible for,
not the passenger. But for the immigration, they are not required to
do anything prior to their departure for US, while in this case we do.

I've always gotten my ETA myself, and dont care much about $20.
But its one more thing do every year to be able to visit AU.

I suppose you've used UA for the free ETAs, does Qantas charge for
ETAs?

I know, but APIS is something the Airline is responsible for,
not the passenger. But for the immigration, they are not required to
do anything prior to their departure for US, while in this case we do.

I've always gotten my ETA myself, and dont care much about $20.
But its one more thing do every year to be able to visit AU.

I suppose you've used UA for the free ETAs, does Qantas charge for
ETAs?



Passenger is responsible for giving APIS information. As far as I'm concerned, Australian ETA is painless than US APIS. APIS is a part of immigration, and you're required to give your information to carrier. Carriers won't let you board flights to the U.S. unless your APIS is filed. The only significant difference that I can tell between ETA and APIS is APIS accepts all entries while ETA declies some entries.

I don't think Qantas charges a fee for ETA. Carriers are supposed to do this free when they transport passengers to Australia.

I don't think Qantas charges a fee for ETA. Carriers are supposed to do this free when they transport passengers to Australia.

But some airlines do charge. As mentioned above. AA and EK charge
the passengers for it.

I've taken QF a couple of time, but I already had my own ETA

But some airlines do charge. As mentioned above. AA and EK charge the passengers for it.



That sounds bad. I understand that AA can possibly charge for that for the reason that they don't fly to Australia, but how about EK?

That sounds bad. I understand that AA can possibly charge for that for the reason that they don't fly to Australia, but how about EK?

I was surprised myself, so i called EK today to verify....
they said its $44 across all fare class.

on the other hand, they would give me a free transit visa (if i need it)
hotel, shuttle and meal vouchers for a transit in Dubai.

I was surprised myself, so i called EK today to verify....
they said its $44 across all fare class.

on the other hand, they would give me a free transit visa (if i need it)
hotel, shuttle and meal vouchers for a transit in Dubai.



If you know a travel agent well, ask him/her to obtain it for you. They can do without any fee.

If you know a travel agent well, ask him/her to obtain it for you. They can do without any fee.


Thanks! i'm good till November 2006. I mean my ETA

That sounds bad. I understand that AA can possibly charge for that for the reason that they don't fly to Australia, but how about EK?

My AA-coded QF flights didn't incur an ETA charge, but the last time I was flying on an itinerary with an AA-coded flight to Australia was in Q4 2002 or Q2 2003.

But still, US does not ask for any such procedure for the Visa Waiver countries. why should it require an advanced ETA for US citizens?

its not a big deal, but I'm curious to know why it is that way.At the end of the day, every country has its own immigration procedures and there's no necessary reciprocity.

Remember, the US default position is that everyone needs a visa to enter the US, whichever country they're from (except, perhaps, Canada?). Only if you happen to come from a visa waiver country and you can satisfy all of the visa waiver conditions are you allowed to come without one.

So that is already different from, say, the UK's position which is that if you are coming as a visitor from a country like the US or Australia, you simply do not need a visa (save in exceptional cases, and then only as a matter of pragmatic sense rather than legal requirement).

Yet Australia still requires visas from all UK nationals.

Life's just like that.

I much prefer the Australian visa system myself. I get four-year paper visas because I go so often. I know that I can then just buy a ticket and turn up. I don't have to work out an itinerary or give my entire life story to the airline before I board the aircraft. I don't even have to tell anyone where I'm going to sleep the first night, let alone do it before I've even boarded the aircraft.