Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Australian Visa/ETA Question -- Need help

Applying online for our ETA (http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/). Mine was fine & went thru. Put in all the info for DH and got this error --
Passport Expiry Date outside allowable range for a passport of the given nationalityI'm confused :confused: His U.S. passport is valid for over SIX MONTHS after our departure date back to L.A. I can't find guidelines or restrictions about this on the site. To clarify, we travel in MARCH and his passport expires 9/30/09. All I found on their site is --
Your ETA is valid for travel to Australia for 12 months from the date it is granted or less if your passport is valid for less than 12 months.IF -- for some reason -- he can't do the ETA with his U.S. passport, he could consider traveling with his UK passport. IF he had to do that, then I have to research how/where he gets a visa :(

Thanks!

Having looked at their site, I'm as baffled as you are.

I was amazed to see that the UK was not included in the list of eligible countries. Confusingly, see this list of eligible countries on the Immi site - Immi eVisitor list (http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/evisitor/eligibility.htm) - which list doesn't include the U.S.! However, that's for an eVisitor visa, not an ETA, which apparently is different and is discussed here - Immi ETA (http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/eta.htm) The eligibility link on that page then produces this list - ETA Eligibilty (http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/976/eligibility.htm) - a much more complete list, including the US and the UK. However, that list distinguishes between countries available for an ETA (which can be applied for by the airline etc. on your behalf) and those that you can do online yourself. The UK appears to be one for which you cannot do it yourself online and have to do it through the airline etc. The airlines used to do it for free but I think they probably charge for it now.

As for the required validity of the passport, see this page - Fact Sheet (http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/55eta.htm). I suspect the issue may be that the ETA allows you to stay for 3 months (they don't know when you're planning to leave) and if you stay for 3 months, the passport will have less than 6 months left when you do leave. It's confusing and doesn't specifically mention passport validity requirements other than saying the ETA is valid for 12 months or the validity of the passport if it's less than 12 months - it sounds as if you have to have at least 9 months validity on the passport when you apply.

he could consider traveling with his UK passport. IF he had to do that, then I have to research how/where he gets a visa :(


Could the ETA be putting up odd error messages because he has entered Australia under the UK passport at some point? And are you entering dates in the international format rather than the US one? (I can't remember if the ETA site uses drop-down or type in boxes)


I was amazed to see that the UK was not included in the list of eligible countries.


UK and a bunch of european countries now use a separate website for applying for the Australia entry. More details here (http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/evisitor.htm). The only difference I can see is that it is free - compared with AU$20 for USA/bunch of other countries on the ETA site.

It's confusing and doesn't specifically mention passport validity requirements other than saying the ETA is valid for 12 months or the validity of the passport if it's less than 12 months - it sounds as if you have to have at least 9 months validity on the passport when you apply.That is why I'm frustrated -- we only need the ETA for the month of March -- definitely not 12 months. Could the ETA be putting up odd error messages because he has entered Australia under the UK passport at some point? And are you entering dates in the international format rather than the US one? (I can't remember if the ETA site uses drop-down or type in boxes).Have not used the UK passport at all; There are drop down menus, so the date format I entered is correct.

There is a HELP email address on the ETA site and I have sent an inquiry. Cross your fingers...

If your partner has a UK passport I say just use the eVisitor option and save the AUS$20.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/evisitor/

If your partner has a UK passport I say just use the eVisitor option and save the AUS$20.

http://www.immi.gov.au/visitors/tourist/evisitor/Thanks -- I wasn't aware of that option. Will wait for their reply email, but probably use the link you provided ^

OK, I know what the problem was. ME :eek: The passport date was Oct 1 to Sep 30 and I ACCIDENTALLY put Oct 1 to Oct :rolleyes:

Fortunately, a nice person emailed me back to clarify for me and now the application has gone thru ^