Sep 9, 2019, 10:35 pm
Last edit by: Mwenenzi
Australia
AU Govt-->COVID-19 and the border
Links below may not work, due to Covid-19 changes
Visa Australian Government web site
FT thread---> Free Australian ETA Visa application* Click to open the wiki
Processing Australian ETAs for free * to FT members (and up to 3 more friends & family) who have more than 80 posts, AND have at least been members for more than 12 months! Please read post 1. Thanks to Guy Betsy for his service to the FT community
Entry Australian government web site
FT thread --->Smartgate at Australia & NZ immigration Click to open the wiki
Australia
Departure Australian government web site
Departing from Australia
From Departing from Australia > Departures SmartGates
AU Govt-->COVID-19 and the border
Links below may not work, due to Covid-19 changes
Visa Australian Government web site
- Entering or leaving Australia
- Going through the border
- Visa types
- Visa listing
- Travellers eligible to transit without a visa (TWOV]
- Sub class 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) AUD$20. For passports holders including Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR of China), Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, Republic of San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (excluding official or diplomatic passports), The Netherlands, United Kingdom—British Citizen, United Kingdom—British National (Overseas), United States of America, Vatican City (the list is increasing). Check your eligibility & visa type needed.
- Subclass 651 eVisitor For many other passport holders. Check your eligibility & visa type needed.
FT thread---> Free Australian ETA Visa application* Click to open the wiki
Entry Australian government web site
FT thread --->Smartgate at Australia & NZ immigration Click to open the wiki
Australia
Departure Australian government web site
Departing from Australia
From Departing from Australia > Departures SmartGates
Australia immigration (incl ETA visa) & customs
Sep 21, 2016, 7:28 pm
#62
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: DSM
Programs: UA-1K >1MM ,QF Platinum,HH-Diamond,Marriott-Gold
Posts: 105
The problem wouldn't be entering Australia, but getting checked in in the first place, before you leave USA.
I've entered Australia as a citizen without passport (Immigration confiscated it but told me they could not deny me entry)
That is OK as long as you don't want to stay more than 90 days at any time. It's also possible that they can change the fee at any time - quite possible given the current volatile security environment.
I've entered Australia as a citizen without passport (Immigration confiscated it but told me they could not deny me entry)
That is OK as long as you don't want to stay more than 90 days at any time. It's also possible that they can change the fee at any time - quite possible given the current volatile security environment.
Sep 24, 2016, 12:48 am
#63
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
Save yourself endless grief and trouble, get these 4 Aussie passports ... worst case your ETA is cancelled and you are denied check-in for your flight, forfeit the fare and have to rebuy the airline ticket. Unlikely but possible (for example if you show up on the wrong list). Very worst case you are flagged for special inspection by US and get to spend 4 hours each time going through US immigration and customs. Not theoretical, it can and does happen. Having unusual documents is simply not worthwhile in today's world of big data and computers doing lots of correlations. Your choice, but make it an informed one.
Dec 28, 2016, 5:00 am
#64
Suspended
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 687
Australian ETA Visa Question
I went to Australia earlier this year and got an ETA visa online which was good for one year starting on my arrival on May 27th.
I recently found a great deal to fly to Australia next year. I would arrive on May 22nd and I would stay for 3 weeks.
I thought I could just apply for a new visa but apparently you have to wait for your previous visa to expire before you can apply for a new one.
Can I just arrive in Australia with my current visa? Will I have any problems since the dates overlap?
Hopefully this makes sense.
Thanks!
I recently found a great deal to fly to Australia next year. I would arrive on May 22nd and I would stay for 3 weeks.
I thought I could just apply for a new visa but apparently you have to wait for your previous visa to expire before you can apply for a new one.
Can I just arrive in Australia with my current visa? Will I have any problems since the dates overlap?
Hopefully this makes sense.
Thanks!
Dec 29, 2016, 10:11 am
#65
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
The ETA visa allows you to enter Australia, and after entering you have a maximum of three months in Australia regardless of the expiration date of the ETA visa.
So your current visa is fine for a 3 weeks trip arriving on May 22nd.
That said, I believe you can apply for a new ETA that will override the previous one. Were you unable to do this?
So your current visa is fine for a 3 weeks trip arriving on May 22nd.
That said, I believe you can apply for a new ETA that will override the previous one. Were you unable to do this?
Dec 29, 2016, 12:08 pm
#66
Suspended
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 687
The ETA visa allows you to enter Australia, and after entering you have a maximum of three months in Australia regardless of the expiration date of the ETA visa.
So your current visa is fine for a 3 weeks trip arriving on May 22nd.
That said, I believe you can apply for a new ETA that will override the previous one. Were you unable to do this?
So your current visa is fine for a 3 weeks trip arriving on May 22nd.
That said, I believe you can apply for a new ETA that will override the previous one. Were you unable to do this?
Jan 10, 2017, 12:46 am
#67
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 2
[Q] Australia Customs and Electronic devices
Hi everyone,
I will be flying to Sydney on a student visa on 7th of February. I have a couple of questions regarding the customs.
I was going through the Australian government's website with respect to what I can carry duty free, and it states that
Now the issue is, I recently just purchased a new phone for use in Australia which will hardly be used by me for less than a month in my own country. Also the value of the phone goes above A$900. So, will I be charged custom duties on it?
One more doubt I have is that I have a friend whom I will be meeting after 2 years and I wish to carry a small gift for him, say some A$40 headphones for example.
Will I be charged duties for carrying it in an unopened box?
Thank you.
I will be flying to Sydney on a student visa on 7th of February. I have a couple of questions regarding the customs.
I was going through the Australian government's website with respect to what I can carry duty free, and it states that
- Personal goods are free from duty and tax if they are owned and used by you overseas for 12 months or more.
- If you are aged 18 years or over, you can bring up to A$900 worth of general goods into Australia duty-free. General goods include gifts, souvenirs, cameras, electronic equipment, leather goods, perfume concentrates, jewellery, watches and sporting equipment.
Now the issue is, I recently just purchased a new phone for use in Australia which will hardly be used by me for less than a month in my own country. Also the value of the phone goes above A$900. So, will I be charged custom duties on it?
One more doubt I have is that I have a friend whom I will be meeting after 2 years and I wish to carry a small gift for him, say some A$40 headphones for example.
Will I be charged duties for carrying it in an unopened box?
Thank you.
Last edited by eltonx17; Jan 10, 2017 at 12:48 am Reason: Title changed from Sydney to Australia
Jan 18, 2017, 7:43 pm
#70
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 409
I have the same question above. Is there someone who's actually been in this situation before who has travelled respond with what they ended up doing?
My current visa expires January 31, I'm arriving in Australia on January 23 and leaving February 5. The language from the application (below) indicates that I should not apply for a new one, but anyone who has first-hand experience who can comment, please do!
You should only proceed if you intend to arrive in Australia after the current visa's Expiry Date or if you intend to apply for a different type of ETA.
If you choose to proceed, your credit card will be charged with AUD$20.00.
If you proceed, any ETA granted will come into effect once your current visa expires.
Click Next if you would like to replace your existing visa with the ETA you are applying for.
To me, this means if I apply for a new one, my current visa gets cancelled, but my new one would only be effective after January 31 which won't help me enter Australia on January 23.
I should add that I'm extra confused because I called the Australian High Commission, and the lady I spoke to said that I needed to have a valid ETA for the duration of my stay, but stopped short of telling me I should apply for a new one. She said "It's up to you, I cannot advise you what to do".
Help!
My current visa expires January 31, I'm arriving in Australia on January 23 and leaving February 5. The language from the application (below) indicates that I should not apply for a new one, but anyone who has first-hand experience who can comment, please do!
You should only proceed if you intend to arrive in Australia after the current visa's Expiry Date or if you intend to apply for a different type of ETA.
If you choose to proceed, your credit card will be charged with AUD$20.00.
If you proceed, any ETA granted will come into effect once your current visa expires.
Click Next if you would like to replace your existing visa with the ETA you are applying for.
To me, this means if I apply for a new one, my current visa gets cancelled, but my new one would only be effective after January 31 which won't help me enter Australia on January 23.
I should add that I'm extra confused because I called the Australian High Commission, and the lady I spoke to said that I needed to have a valid ETA for the duration of my stay, but stopped short of telling me I should apply for a new one. She said "It's up to you, I cannot advise you what to do".
Help!
Jan 19, 2017, 8:26 pm
#71
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 778
From the ETA website:
I would then assume that this would mean that you only need it for entry. Same thing applies for the USA I think.
An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) provides authorisation to travel to and enter Australia and is electronically linked to your passport.
Jan 21, 2017, 11:56 am
#72
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AA
Posts: 871
I just applied for an ETA for an upcoming trip and got a message stating it needed additional review and an email with the same message. I checked the site back a few hours later and it said I had a valid ETA with the various terms, but I never did get a confirmation email. Is this the norm?
Jan 22, 2017, 3:57 am
#73
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 778
I just applied for an ETA for an upcoming trip and got a message stating it needed additional review and an email with the same message. I checked the site back a few hours later and it said I had a valid ETA with the various terms, but I never did get a confirmation email. Is this the norm?
Jan 22, 2017, 4:31 am
#74
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The Indo Jungle
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,319
Here is the text of my ETA, bolding and underline mine.
Your ETA has been recorded on our database. It will be available for checking by your airline at check-in and for Australia immigration authorities on your arrival in Australia. You do not need a visa label in your passport.
XXXXX, XX Passport XXXX, ETA Ref XXXX
Your ETA has been recorded with the following data and conditions:
Reference Number: XXXXXXX
Expiry Date: 23 Dec 2017
Period of Stay: 3 Months
Number of Entries: Multiple
Visa Condition: NO WORK - BUSINESS VISITOR ACTIVITY ONLY
Passport Number: XXX
Family Name: XXXX
Given Names: XXXXX
Nationality of Passport Holder: X
The Expiry Date of the ETA is the latest date on which you may enter Australia with this ETA.
The Period of Stay is the longest time you may spend in Australia on any one visit.
The Number of Entries is the number of times you may enter Australia with this ETA.
XXXXX, XX Passport XXXX, ETA Ref XXXX
Your ETA has been recorded with the following data and conditions:
Reference Number: XXXXXXX
Expiry Date: 23 Dec 2017
Period of Stay: 3 Months
Number of Entries: Multiple
Visa Condition: NO WORK - BUSINESS VISITOR ACTIVITY ONLY
Passport Number: XXX
Family Name: XXXX
Given Names: XXXXX
Nationality of Passport Holder: X
The Expiry Date of the ETA is the latest date on which you may enter Australia with this ETA.
The Period of Stay is the longest time you may spend in Australia on any one visit.
The Number of Entries is the number of times you may enter Australia with this ETA.
Jan 23, 2017, 2:01 am
#75
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
I have personally stayed in Australia past my ETA expiry without issue, although it was just a few days. I have since returned on a PR visa and that experience definitely did not cause any red flags.
The ETA language is very clear. The expiry is only the ENTRY date. Every ETA entry has a fixed time you may spend in the country (three months).
This is typical of visas everywhere. The timeline for exit is a fixed duration of time inside the country, the expiration only matters on entry.
You will not have any problems entering Australia. The only potential issue is if a US airline agent doesn't understand the rules and won't let you board. If you want to rule that out, just buy a new ETA. Personally I wouldn't, as the rules are black and white.
The ETA language is very clear. The expiry is only the ENTRY date. Every ETA entry has a fixed time you may spend in the country (three months).
This is typical of visas everywhere. The timeline for exit is a fixed duration of time inside the country, the expiration only matters on entry.
You will not have any problems entering Australia. The only potential issue is if a US airline agent doesn't understand the rules and won't let you board. If you want to rule that out, just buy a new ETA. Personally I wouldn't, as the rules are black and white.