Australia entry requirements for U.S. citizens

What you need to enter Australia

For a short tourist trip, the rule for U.S. citizens is: Electronic travel authorization (ETA) required¹. You request it in the official Australian ETA app before you travel.

Rules change, and the Australian government decides who can enter. Check the official site before you travel.

How to request the ETA

The information about the ETA is on the Department of Home Affairs website, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au⁵. The request itself is made in the official Australian ETA app. Install the app from your phone's official app store, and type your passport details exactly as they appear in your passport.

How long you can stay

Each visit on an ETA can last up to 3 months³. Plan your return flight inside that limit.

Rules change, and the Australian government decides how long you can stay. Check the official site before you travel.

Passport rules

A valid U.S. passport is required; no minimum remaining validity is stated.⁶

Rules change and the destination government decides, so confirm this on the official site before you travel. Your passport must be valid, so if it will expire before you come home, renew it first. Renewing by mail takes 4–6 weeks⁷ plus mailing time: see Renew your passport by mail. Short on time? If you travel internationally soon, you can book an appointment at a passport agency or center once you are within 14 calendar days of your trip, or 28 days if you also need a foreign visa.⁸ Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.

Travel advisory

The U.S. Department of State's travel advisory for Australia is Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions⁴. The level can change at any time. Read the full advisory before you book and again before you go; the link is under "Sources and verification" at the end of this guide.

Other rules to know

• At the airport: Travelers aged 16 or older can use their passport at SmartGate automated border processing at participating airports, with no extra enrollment or fee.⁹
• Staying too long: Staying past the period allowed by an ETA or other visa, even briefly, can lead to exclusion, detention and removal by Australian authorities.¹⁰

Step by step

Checklist

Before you fly to Australia

Print checklist

• U.S. passport valid for the whole trip
• ETA granted in the official Australian ETA app
• Confirmation of the ETA saved
• Return or onward flight inside the time you are allowed to stay
• Latest U.S. travel advisory read
• Official site checked again in the week before you fly

Do and don't

Do

• Request the ETA only in the official Australian ETA app.
• Check that your name, passport number and dates are correct before you submit.
• Leave before the time allowed ends, even if your plans change.

Don't

• Don't board a flight to Australia before your ETA is granted.
• Don't assume the ETA covers work or study; check the official rules for that purpose.
• Don't pay a website that offers to request the ETA for you at a higher price.

Fees

This is a government charge. It is paid in the official Australian ETA app, not to Passmere.

There is no separate visa application charge. Charges can change; the app shows the current amount before you pay.

Frequently asked questions