Babsk

We are US citizens with US passport. We are flying on a commercial flight from the US to Melbourne. I have filled out the APIS form on our air carrier, Qantas. I would like to know if we still need to get ESTAs. Thanks

Dave Noble

Yes , you need to apply for any visa or travel authority needed - putting passport details et al in the booking, just records information in the booking

If you do not have requireed documentation to enter Australia , you will be denied travel on the day

og

A visa is needed based on your posting. Here is the Oz Govt web page that explains what to do.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/
It's an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) - not the American "ESTA".
I hope the name on your air ticket matches the name in your passport!
Enjoy your visit and the favourable currency exchange rates.

Mwenenzi

As posts above, yes

• Airport info MELBOURNE (MEL) - amenities, transfers, transport Click to open the wiki
  
• Australia immigration (incl ETA visa) & customs Click to open the wiki
  
• Smartgate at Australia & NZ immigration Click to open the wiki
  
• Au Government web site link --> Australian Electronic Travel Authority AUD$20. For passports holders from Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Hong Kong (SAR PRC), Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and United States. Beware of non government 3rd party look-a-like web sites that charge more.

Serpent

Like others have said, yes, you need a ESTA. Be ready to pull it up on your phone at the counter too, i had to do that when I was catching my flight from IAD couple of days ago because they couldn't see my ESTA in the system.

AustralianPoochie

There is fee of Aud$20 per application.
Some travel agents/airlines will do it free.

Often1

This is 100% wrong.

OP states that he is a US national traveling on a US passport and traveling from the US. An ESTA is the electronic travel approval the US requires for non-US nationals traveling from visa waiver program countries to the US. Thus, on all three counts, he does not need an ESTA and one will not be issued if he wastes $14 applying. It also will not move him one inch closer to Australia.

As a US national he will require an Electronic Travel Authority from the Australian Home Office. This is an electronic link tied to the passenger's passport. All accomplished online.

On the broader topic, anyone traveling across a border would do well to review his specific document requirement situation on TIMATIC, the IATA database compiled for its member air carriers. There are a number of portals providing free access. One of them at the link below. What OP sees when he fills in his data is what the check-in agent will see at check-in.

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...aspx?i=TIMATIC

DownUnderFlyer

[mod hat] This thread is only borderline relevant for Qantas. I have left it here for the benefit of the OP but I think the question of the OP has been answered. And yes, sometimes people get ESTA and ETA mixed up but unless you have something substantially new to add we can leave this thread as is. [/mod hat]