Australian Visa Online Application (US Citizens)

US citizens planning to enter Australia for touristic or business purposes can apply for an ETA visa, allowing them to travel to Australia multiple times over a period of 12 months, staying in Australia for up to 90 days in each visit.

However, as ETA is app-based, in order to obtain an ETA visa you will need a mobile device with a camera and Near-Field Communication (NFC) features.

Alternatively, you can also apply online for a Visitor Visa (Long Stay Visa – Subclass 600), allowing you to stay in Australia for 3, 6 or 12 months.

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Auvisa.org helps you understand which travel visa you need for your trip to Australia and to obtain it quickly and easily.

For a small service fee, you’ll benefit from streamlined forms, manual review of your application, and 24-hour customer support:

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Applying for an Australian visa in 2024: all there is to know

Get your Australian visa online right here on auvisa.org: the application for your Australian e-visa will take a few easy steps, and you will get the answer within a day most of the time. When travelling from USA, the application is very easy to complete and should only take a few minutes.

Once you have submitted your application, the staff of Auvisa Visa Services will go through your online application and make sure everything is correct …and in case your native language is not English – feel free to use your own language while filling in the application. Our experts will translate the application for you.

Also, if you are struggling to understand the application, you are encouraged to reach out for assistance: we are here to help you with your visa.

If you would like some more information about how Australian travel visas for US citizens work just keep on reading to find out all you need to know about visitors’ visas:

• Australian Visa Policies for visitors from the USA
• Australian Visa Types for U.S. Citizens
• Australian Travel Visa Requirements for US Citizens
• How to Apply for an Australian Visa
• Cost of Different Visa Types
• Australian Visas’ Processing Time
• Australian Visa FAQs

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Australian Visa Policy for Visitors from the USA

As an American, in order to enter and temporarily stay in Australia you will need to obtain an Australian visa for U.S. citizens. In other words, even if you already have a valid passport you still need a Visa from the Australian travel service before you can travel to Australia and enter the country.

The Australian visa policy is clear, and the visa application process from USA is an easy one though, so no need to worry: in most cases, it will be enough to fill out the online application for the type of visa you need, and you will be well on your way to beginning the application process. This is why Australian visitor visas are often referred to as “e-visas”.

The first step when applying from USA is to complete and submit the right form. Once you have submitted your visa application and paid your application fee you will in most cases receive a result within 24 hours: as soon as you are approved for a visa to Australia, you will soon be contacted via email with the desired visa – which most of the times is an Electronic Travel Authorization visa (ETA).

As a matter of fact, the visa policy in Australia is not complicated, and nowadays it is highly automated and digitalized, also thanks to online visa services: after you receive your electronic travel authorization (ETA) you are free to enter Australia. When you have completed all the necessary steps and been approved for an ETA you are well on your way to experiencing Australia: your ETA is valid starting on the date you are approved for it. For American citizens, the application process is typically so fast that many people seeking a visa to visit Australia don’t apply for it until just a few weeks before they are departing – but this is something we do not recommend.

There are a few things in the Australian visa application policy to be careful about though: in order to obtain your ETA from USA, your passport must be valid. Also, most airlines travelling to Australia require your passport to be valid for a minimum of six months upon your arrival in Australia, so we recommend complying to this requirement to avoid any issue at the moment of departure.

Also, depending on individual circumstances you may need to submit the results of medical examinations before you can receive a visa to enter Australia, and you may be asked for additional visa information in order to complete your application. American travelers may also be required to prove their finances to government officials when they arrive in Australia – but this happens only in very specific cases, and America visitors are always pre-alerted about this. Keep reading to find out more about visa types and all possible exceptions in the application process, or check out more info on Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visa’s requirements and specifications.

• Apply for ETA

Australian Visas for U.S. Citizens: Visa Types for Australia

First of all: do all US citizens need a visa for Australia?

Yes: as a matter of fact, you cannot legally enter Australia from the US without the proper visa. As a US citizen entering Australia you need to ensure you do so with the right visa. There are several different kinds of visitor visa offered – the one you must obtain depends on your reason for traveling to the Australian continent.

Here is a list of the main types of visa available to US citizens planning to temporarily visit Australia:

• Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa
• Student Visa
• Work and Holiday Visa
• Second Work and Holiday Visa
• Long Stay Visa (Visitor Visa)
• Temporary Work Visa
• Maritime Crew Visa

Regardless of which type or category of visa you need, you can complete the application online here on auvisa.org: you can apply in virtually any language, as your application will be translated appropriately by our staff.

Electronic Travel Authorization Visa (ETA)

Your electronic travel authorization is the most common Australian visa types you can obtain, as it is used for both leisure and business-related travel: as a matter of fact, most tourist and business visas released by the Australian Government are in fact specific kinds of ETA visas. More info on Australian Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visa’s requirements and specifications.

• Apply for ETA

Tourist Visa

The tourist visa is the ideal visa category if you are visiting Australia from USA to spend time with a family member or a friend. Since this visa is in fact an ETA visa, it is also an ok choice if you will be in the country for some business or study-related activities.

When it comes to business, the only things you are not normally permitted to do as a US visitor on a tourist visa are working (paid work, anywhere in Australia) and studying for a period of longer than three months.

While your tourist visa is active you are permitted to come into the country several times. It is a multiple entry visa. More info on Australian Tourist Visa’s requirements and specifications.

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Business Visa

If you are visiting Australia for a short amount of time on business, a visa of this category is sufficient. However, in order to use it in the correct way, you as an American visitor must be attending conferences, entering into business negotiations, or be seeking employment in the country. In other words, while general business can be done with this visa, you cannot use it to sell any services or goods to Australian residents or to any business operating in it. More info on Australian Business Visa’s requirements and specifications.

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Australian Student Visa

American students of all ages need a proper visa to study in Australia. At any level of schooling, US residents must have their visa to enter Australia as students. This includes primary, junior, and secondary school students – and in the case the US citizen traveling to the country to study is a minor, then the parent or legal guardian can apply for the student guardian visa required by the Australian Immigration.

If an American student is visiting Australia as part of a study exchange program, he/she must also have an Australian visa for American students. This also applies to older students studying for associates, bachelors or graduate degrees, diplomas or certificates – and even US citizens performing postgraduate research.

To simplify, all US students travelling to Australia for studying need this visa.

For US travelers, the application process to obtain a visa which is specific for students is slightly more complicated than those of ETA, Business or Touristic visas:

Upon being accepted into an Australian university or school, you will be provided a COE (Confirmation of Enrollment). After you receive the COE, you are able to start the application process for your visa. In many cases, you will be asked for a scanned copy of passport ID page, COE and insurance certificate for the days that you are staying in Australia.

The length of the student visa depends on what is stated on the COE. Many students want to travel around in Australia after the study is finished, in other words, they have to prolong the student visa. Prolonging can be done while the student is already in Australia: students can make the application on Auvisa.org by using the long term visa application form. During the application process, a bridge visa will issued: it means students will be legally staying inside Australia even the student visa has expired, while waiting for their Long Term Visa (Visitor Visa).

More info on Australian Student Visa’s requirements and specifications.

• Student Visa

Work and Holiday Visa (also known as “Working Holiday” or “WHV”)

A Work and Holiday Visa (“WHV”) allows American citizens to visit Australia for a period not exceeding one calendar year: if you plan to spend your time in Australia studying, working and socializing with friends, you can do so under this visa. However, only US citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 qualify for this Australian visa category.

Also, in order to qualify for a work and holiday visa, your health at the time of visiting Australia needs to be good, and you must be able to take care of yourself financially for the duration of your stay in Australia.

While you are not limited in how much work you can complete on this visa, you cannot work for a specific employer for a period of time that exceeds six months, and if you are in the country to study, you are limited to four months under this visa – while if you are in the country on holiday you have the entire year to be on it. More info on Australian Work and Holiday Visa’s requirements and specifications.

• Apply for WHV

Second Work and Holiday Visa (also known as “Second Working Holiday Visa”)

Australian Work and Holiday visas also include a “Second Work and Holiday” version. It is used to extend the time a specific work and holiday visa is valid for. You may apply for this visa if you have a Work and Holiday visa that is reaching its expiration date.

Different from the First Work and Holiday visa which can be obtained only when outside of Australia, this visa type can be obtained while the applicant is either inside or outside of Australia.

You must have worked in Australia for at least 88 days to qualify for this visa, and there are only certain types of work you can do in the country that will qualify you for the Second Work and Holiday visa. Examples are construction, the cultivation of plants/animals, mining, fishing/pearling and tree farming.

• Apply for 2nd WHV

Long Stay Visa (Visitor Visa)

The Australian Long-Stay visa (formally a “Visitor Visa” is a kind of permit valid for visiting Australia for a period of three months, six months or one full year: when you apply for this visa, you choose the amount of time you need it for. This visa can for example be used if you are in the country to stay with family members. It can also be used for both business and tourism purposes. Long stay visa is also known as Subclass 600 visa.

Long Stay Australian Visas are also used as “Australian extended visas” or “Australian visa extensions”: when you are staying in Australia with a different type of visa (for example an ETA) and it is set to expire, the long-stay visa allows you to extend your ETA, hence the length of your residency in the country. More info on Australian Long Stay Visa’s requirements and specifications.

• Apply Long Stay Visa

Temporary Work Visa

Temporary work visas are for people who are going to do highly specialized work in Australia. It is also known as Subclass 400 visa.

As a matter of fact, in order to obtain a temporary work visa, the Australian business you will be working for must formally invite you to enter Australia as an American citizen only temporarily needed in Australia. This is why to qualify for this type of Australian visa you must have valid experience in the line of work you would be performing in the country.

In the absence of relevant work experience, you can however substitute skills with personal attributes. Differently from other kinds of Australian visas, the completion of an application for this particular Australian entry permit will include specified documents that you must provide in order to be approved.

After Auvisa.org receives your temporary work visa application, we will contact you to request eventually needed documents by email, such as: invitation letter from your Australian contact, employer statement in your home country, travel plan, insurance or personal bank statements.

• Temporary Work Visa

Australian Travel Visa Requirements for US Citizens (2024)

As far as US citizens are concerned, Australian Visa requirements include first of all the possession of an eligible passport: your Australia visa eligibility as an American is dependent mostly on this.

Health and character requirements must also be met by US residents in order to comply with Australian visa rules. These are fairly easy to pass though, so getting an Australian visa from the US is fairly easy: only if you are deemed a risk to the country’s residents you may be denied a visa.

Finally, in order to get an Australian temporary visitor visa from the US, you must be entering Australia with the intention of staying only temporarily, and strictly follow the visa conditions for Australia.

Australian Visa Photo Requirements for US travelers (2024)

As we said, for US citizens travelling to Australia and entering the country with a travel visa is fairly easy. Application is made online and photo is not required.

In some other, more specific visa types, you might be asked to provide a colored visa photo though. Some Americans encounter a few problems complying with the photo requirements for their visa. If you are ever required to submit a photo, please read the photo rules as below:

When applying some specific Australian visas from the US, in order to fulfill 2024’s Australian visa requirements you must submit one colored photos: the width of the photo must be between 35mm and 40mm. The length of the photo must be between 45mm and 50mm.

In the photo, your head must be centered. It cannot be slumped or tilted. Your eyes must be pointed directly at the camera and your facial expression must remain neutral. You are only permitted to wear glasses in your photo if you have a prescription for them.

When it comes to dressing, your outfit in the photo must be a business or casual outfit. You are only permitted to wear something on your head if it does not obstruct the view of your face and if you are wearing it for religious reasons.

Facial piercings are only permitted in the photo of US residents if the light will not reflect off of them and they will not block any part of the face.

IMPORTANT: the photos you submit must be six months old or less and they cannot be altered in any way, including the removal of blemishes, correcting red-eye or applying filters typical of mobile apps.

These are the visual requirements to be followed if you are a US citizen traveling to Australia.

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Getting A Visa for Australia: How to Apply

Getting a visa for Australia is a process that is completed online – which is why people often talk of “Australian e-visas”.

First of all, you should identify what kind of Australian visa you need, depending on what your reason to enter Australia is, your age, how long you will stay in Australia, etc.

Then, before you fill out the visa application page you should quickly read the visa rules and requirements for 2024 – you will find them in each visa application page.

Finally, in order to start the e-visa application process you are required to supply your email address and your personal details to start your online visa application process.

The basic visa information you must provide is typically your full legal name, as well as your gender. You will also have to disclose when and where you were born, what your relationship status is and if you have any legal dependents. Any Australia visa application from the USA requires you to submit the needed bank statements as well. The Australian visa application process for US citizens also includes disclosure of whether or not you have had a medical exam performed within the year leading up to your application.

Once you have entered all the required information all you have to do to get your Australian e-visa is submitting your application electronically. If you are not able to complete the entire application at once don’t worry: all your visa data will be saved, and you can later sign back in with your tracking code and email address – picking up the online visa application process where you left it.

After submitting their online visa application, all US residents can also use their tracking code and email address to check their visa application status.

• Apply now

Cost of Different Visa Types

The amount you will have to pay as an American citizen for each Australian visa application depends on which visa type it is.

For example, the cheapest Australian Tourist Visas and Business Visas both cost Americans $69.00 (note: if other US citizens are applying for a visa right along with you, they must also pay the fee).

Instead, an Australian Work and Holiday Visa’s price for Americans is $625.00.

The fee may also depend basing on when and where the Australian visa request is made: obtaining a long-term visa as a US resident before entering the country you will have to pay a visa fee of $595 – but if you apply for this visa while you are located in Australia, an additional $167.98 price is added to the cost.

The most expensive visa though is the student visa, which will cost US students a price $1,250.00 (on top of any university / school fee).

• Apply for ETA

Australian Online Visa Processing Time

While an Australian ETA entry permit takes 48 hours or less to process, Australian online visa processing time for other visa types are different.

Most Australian visa permits are processed in 48 hours or less, but some will take longer. As an example, if you will be travelling to Australia and entering the country for the purpose of going on a cruise, visa processing time for your application may take longer: anywhere from 18 to 24 days. See specific visa pages for more details on visa-specific processing times.

• Apply now

Australian Visa FAQs

If you are planning to travel to Australia, these Frequently Asked Questions and answers (including handy tips) will help guide you on your journey. Here you will learn about Australian travel visas, passport requirements, health regulations and any additional documentation you may need: go straight to the question of your choice or read through our entire Australian Visa FAQs to know all there is to know about travelling to Australia and entering the country with the most common types of Visa and e-Visa. Here are all the most frequently asked questions:

• What do I need to go to Australia?
• What do I need to fly to Australia?
• Do you need a visa to go to and visit Australia?
• Do I need a visa to travel to Australia for holiday?
• When do you need a visa for Australia?
• Why do I need a visa to travel to Australia?
• How long does it take to get a visa for Australia?
• How do you apply for an Australian Visa?
• How much is a visa for Australia?
• How do you pay for the Australian visa fee?
• How do I get a Visa to travel to Australia?
• Can I travel to Australia without a Visa?
• Do you need a passport to go to Australia?
• How should I scan the passport photo for my Australian visa?
• How many times can you visit Australia?
• How long does it take to process an Australian Visa?
• Why is my Australian visa taking so long?
• How long can I stay in Australia without a visa?
• How long is an Australian visa valid for?
• Do you need a health examination for an Australian visa?
• Do I need a visa for Australia and New Zealand?
• Do you need to print the visa for Australia?
• What visa do I need to visit Australia?
• How long are different types of Australian visas valid for?
• How long does it take to get an ETA visa for Australia?

What do I need to go to Australia?

If you are planning to go to Australia, the country requires a valid Australian visa and a valid U.S. passport. The type of visa you need for Australia depends on why you plan to travel to Australia and how long you plan to stay. For example, if you are planning to go to Australia for business, you can apply for a business visa.

What do I need to fly to Australia?

Whether you plan to fly to Australia for work or pleasure, you will need to present your passport when you arrive at an airport.

You should also have all your documentation ready to provide to your travel provider before you board your flight. You will need your boarding ticket, U.S. passport and the Australian travel visa most suitable for your stay in Australia. Once on-board, before landing you will also need to fill out a passenger identification card. It includes your name, date of birth, occupation, flight information, the address where you are staying in Australia, passport number and how long you plan on staying.

Notice that while Australian Immigration authorities have no strict requirements in terms of passport expiration dates several major airlines require that your US passport is still valid for at least 6 months from your departure date – so we recommend checking your passport satisfies also this requirement before confirming your trip to Australia.

Do you need a visa to go to and visit Australia?

Many Americans ask if they need a visa to visit Australia. The answer is yes. As an American citizen, you can apply for an Electronic Travel Authority visa if you plan to travel to Australia for less than 90 days.

Also known as an ETA, the Australian Electronic Travel Authority allows you to apply for an e-visa electronically to streamline the process: you can do it right here on Auvisa.

To apply as a US citizen, you will also need a valid U.S. passport – and you will need to pay a visa fee with your credit or debit card. Once you have completed the application and you are approved to enter Australia you will then receive a reference number.

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Do I need a visa to travel to Australia for holiday?

Yes, even if you plan to go to Australia for a vacation, you will need both a valid U.S. passport and a travel Visa – typically an Australian tourist visa. If you plan to travel to Australia for less than 90 days, you can apply for a visa through the Electronic Travel Authority. As a matter of fact, a valid ETA allows American citizens to stay in Australia for 90 days at a time for one year – you can then also request an extension if your stay exceeds 90 days.

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When do you need a visa for Australia?

Any time you plan to go to Australia, and you are not a citizen of the country or a citizen of New Zealand, you will need a visa. American citizens need a valid U.S. passport and a visa before they can travel to and enter Australia.

Why do I need a visa to travel to Australia?

“Why do I need a visa for Australia?” is a question many American ask themselves, considering the good political relations between the US and Australia. However, any foreign national who wants to travel to Australia MUST have a visitor visa. The visa policy of the country is strict about this, and requires non-citizens of Australia or New Zealand to have a visa before entry. Australia does not issue visas upon arrival, and you should have a valid visa before you make travel arrangements.

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How long does it take to get a visa for Australia?

When you use the Electronic Transfer Authority, most American citizen visa applications are processed within 24-48 hours. In many cases, you will receive a visa grant notification immediately. To avoid delays though, make sure you enter all the required information correctly.

In some specific cases, your visa application may take longer than expected. For example, if you have a criminal record you may need a clearance from your local police, which will delay the application process.

Also in case you want to go to Australia for more than 90 days – so you are applying for a visa different from the typical Australian ETA – the processing time can be longer, and it can take up to 20 days to receive a visa grant notification.

How do you apply for an Australian Visa?

If you plan on staying in Australia for 90 days or less, you can apply for a business or tourist visa to travel to Australia through the Electronic Travel Authority directly online. Even if you want to go to Australia for more than 90 days as a Student, a Temporary Worker or with a Work and Holiday Visa you can still apply directly online on our site. Finally, here you can also apply for a long-stay (up to 12 months) visa to Australia.

How much is a visa for Australia?

How much it costs to get an Australian visa depends on why you are visiting and how long you plan to stay. For example, our rate for an ETA travel visa to Australia – including all fees – is $69.00 for each traveler. Instead, getting a student visa will cost you $1,250.00, and a travel visa of the “Work and Holiday” type will cost you $625.00.

How do you pay for the Australian visa fee?

You can pay for your Australian visa directly online on our site using Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner’s Club, PayPal or any pre-paid credit card.

How do I get a Visa to travel to Australia?

In most cases getting a visa to go to Australia is not hard, as you can acquire an Australian visa directly online – as long as you have a valid U.S. passport. However, the type of visa you need to get in order to go to Australia depends on the purpose of your visit. Examples of Australian online visas are:

• Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa
• Student Visa
• Work and Holiday Visa
• Second Work and Holiday Visa
• Long Stay Visa
• Temporary Work Visa
• Maritime Crew Visa

Can I travel to Australia without a Visa?

Technically, no: you cannot travel to Australia and enter Australian without a valid visa. If you do not have a visa when you arrive in Australia and you are not an Australian citizen, you will need a special permission to enter, or you will be forced to leave the country. As a matter of fact, if you do not meet Australia’s immigration requirements, Australian immigration authorities may deny entry.

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Do you need a passport to go to Australia?

Yes, if you are planning to go to Australia from the U.S., you will need a valid passport. Additionally, all children must have their own passport to travel to Australia. A child is anyone under the age of 18 who has not been married, and you must apply for a separate passport for your children if they don’t already have one.

You must also apply for a separate visa for each of your children to enter Australia, regardless of their age. In order to obtain an ETA from the USA, your passport must be valid at the moment of application and still be valid when entering Australia. Also, most airlines flying to Australia require your passport to be valid for a minimum of six months upon arrival in Australia, so we strongly recommend complying to this requirement as well – in order to avoid any issue at the moment of departure.

How should I scan the passport photo for my Australian visa?

When you scan the passport photo for your Australian visa the photo must be in color and upright. Do not place the photo on colored piece of paper before you scan. Your photo should show you facing the camera against a neutral background. Additionally, it must be less than 6 months old. the width of the original photo must be 35 to 40mm, and the length must be between 45mm and 50mm. In the photo, your head must be centered, not slumped nor tilted – and your eyes must be open and pointed directly at the camera. Glasses are only permitted if you have a prescription for them.

How many times can you visit Australia?

For short term tourism and business, after you get the approved ETA, you can visit Australia as many times as you like within the validity of the visa, which is usually one year from the date of issue – as long as your U.S. passport is still valid.

How long you can stay each time depends on the purpose of your visit. For example, if you have an ETA tourist/business visa, you can stay for 90 days at a time for one year. If you want to stay for longer than 90 days though, you can still apply for another visa, like a long stay visa or a work and holiday visa.

For other visa types, for example, Temporary Work Visa, it is usually just a single entry. It means you can enter Australia only once.

• Apply for ETA

How long does it take to process an Australian Visa?

How long it takes for an Australian visa depends on the type of visa. If you apply for your visa online, your application is most times processed instantaneously: historical data shows 90 percent of online U.S. citizen applications for e-visas are processed immediately. In some cases, though, it could take between 24 to 48 hours depending on the accuracy of your application or whether you have a criminal record.

In general, most Australian visa permits are processed in 48 hours or less, but some will take longer. As an example, if you will be travelling to Australia and entering the country for the purpose of going on a cruise, visa processing time for your application may take longer: anywhere from 18 to 24 days. See specific visa pages for more details on visa-specific processing times.

Why is my Australian visa taking so long?

There are several reasons why your visa application may get delayed. The Australian government may request more information, or there were maybe errors on your application. In some cases, your circumstances might be deemed “unusual,” and your application will then need more time for review.

Also, for some visa types Immigration has to verify all the data entered on the application form is authentic. For example, on order to release the 2nd Work and Holiday Visa, Australian Immigration has to check if the 88 days of regional work have been really completed.

How long can I stay in Australia without a visa?

You need a visa to enter Australia. If it expires while you are in Australia, you are at risk of getting sent home. So, you cannot stay in Australia if you do not have a visa.

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How long is an Australian visa valid for?

If you are wondering how long lasts, here is the answer: an Australian visa lasts for three, six, nine or 12 months – depending on the purpose of your visit.

For example, a short-term visa through the ETA is good for a three months stay. However, it is good for one year from your application date, and you can still leave Australia and re-enter as many times as you wish.

If you want to travel to Australia for more than 90 days, you will most likely need to apply for a work and holiday visa or for a long-stay visitor visa, which is typically good for 6 to 12 months.

Do you need a health examination for an Australian visa?

You will need a health examination if you are applying for a provisional or permanent visa. A temporary visa normally does not not require an exam, but it may.

Whether you need one depends on the visa type, what you want to do in Australia or any special circumstances or medical conditions you may have. If you want to go to Australia for more than 6 months, you may be required to undergo a medical examination with chest x-rays. If needed, specific visa pages and request forms of our site will list any kind of health examination required.

In general, when you submit your application no medical examination certificate is needed. After the application has been processed, Immigration might ask for medical examination – which can only done by the panel doctors authorized by Australian Immigration.

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Do I need a visa for Australia and New Zealand?

Since Australia and New Zealand are separate countries, to enter both countries you will need two different travel visas. As a U.S. citizen, to travel to New Zealand you must have a valid passport that is good for three months past your departure date, and you must have a visitor visa from the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority.

• Apply for ETA

Do you need to print the visa for Australia?

Since visas are now recorded electronically, you do not need to print your Australian visa. Additionally, you do not need to print out any confirmation emails since all information is linked to your passport by the Australian government. However, you may want to print any confirmation numbers or other pertinent information for your own records.

What visa do I need to visit Australia?

The type of visa you need to visit Australia depends on why you are going and how long you plan to stay. Australia has a variety of visa types a US citizen can choose from, depending on the reason for your visit: visas from Australia’s Electronic Travel Authority include tourist visas, business visas, long-stay tourist visas and long-validity business visas; other visas include student visas, medical visas or work and holiday visas. Here is our “rule of thumb”:

• If you are getting a visa because you are planning to travel to Australia for a vacation or to visit friends or family, you should apply for a tourist e-visa (ETA)
• If you have a business meeting or conference you need to attend, getting a business visa ETA is the right thing to do.
• U.S. citizens between the ages of 18-30 who want to work or study while they are on an extended vacationing should instead apply for a work and holiday visa – also available online in the form of e-visa.
• Long-stay visas online applications are also available if you want to stay for more than 90 days, and they are good for up to 12 months.
• If you have been admitted to a school or university, you have the option to apply for a student visa.
• If none of the above fits your needs, Maritime Crew Visas, Temporary Work Visas and Second Work Visas are also available.

If you are unsure what visa you need to enter Australia, most of the times ETA is the best visa to apply for, or you can find more information about each kind of Australian visa on the dedicated page.

• Apply for ETA

How long are different types of Australian visas valid for?

If you are wondering how many days an Australia visa lasts, here is the answer: the most common visa for Americans is the tourist/business visa from Australia’s Electronic Travel Exchange (ETA), which lets you stay in Australia for three months at a time during a one-year period. If then you want to stay in Australia longer, you can also apply for an extension, in the form of a long-stay visa.

We could say that ETA e-visa is the de-facto “standard visa” for most Americans visiting Australia, but also long-stay visas are available, allowing you to stay in Australia for up to one year.

Work/Holiday visas are also valid for up to one year.

• Apply for ETA

How long does it take to get an ETA visa for Australia?

U.S. citizens who apply for a visa using the Australian ETA typically receive an instantaneous approval. However, there can be a delay of up to 24-48 hours if you fill out your application incorrectly or you have a criminal record.

Thanks to the help of Auvisa’s staff, in just a few easy steps you can apply for an Australian visa directly online. The application should only take a few minutes and you normally receive a response within 24 hours.

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