AustralianETA

Department of Home Affairs

About this app

Apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to travel to Australia.

An Australian Government mobile app that you can use to lodge an Australian ETA application. The ETA allows eligible passport holders to travel to Australia for short-term stays for tourism or business visitor purposes.

It is recommended that you apply well ahead of when you want to travel. It is suggested that you do not make travel arrangements until your ETA has been granted. See the ETA website to find out more and check your eligibility to apply:

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601

Please note, Australian citizens are ineligible to apply for an ETA. For more information, see: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/entering-australia/crossing-the-border/travel-documents-for-australian-citizens-and-permanent-residents

Support videos to assist with using the Australian ETA App are available as follows:

Scanning your passport: https://bordertv.au.vbrickrev.com/embed?id=ba6716a7-6c16-42dc-bf75-53caa8c36a61

Reading the ePassport chip (front page): https://bordertv.au.vbrickrev.com/embed?id=20860fc6-30ea-43bd-802f-ca35ee17c873

Reading the ePassport chip (back page): https://bordertv.au.vbrickrev.com/embed?id=bfe3c5c3-b7bd-487b-a0f1-8be80ae704ea

Reading the ePassport chip (data page): https://bordertv.au.vbrickrev.com/embed?id=c36923d1-e910-4891-b33a-73382b4d70ba

Taking a live photo of yourself: https://bordertv.au.vbrickrev.com/embed?id=f3a9ec56-d973-4df6-82a5-3d63ed792239

Please note that use of the Australian ETA App incurs a non-refundable service fee of $AUD20.

Ratings and reviews

When it works it's great. I applied for visas for my family and all was fine except it couldn't read 1 passport. You just get a green box with "document processing" and no feedback about what is wrong. For an app that is providing such an important service but the technology is not 100%, there ought to be some kind of alternative given when it doesn't work.

The app is exceedingly finicky to use, but if you follow the instructions it seems that it will, indeed, work eventually. It took me a long while to successfully scan my passport page, but it turns out I simply wasn't in a place that was bright enough and hadn't successfully warded off the glare. The previous ETA process, where you simply filled out a form with your passport information online, was far more user friendly and I wish Australian immigration would return to that.

Needs FAQs about location. I struggled for hours today with a "Location Error." You not only have to allow the app to access your location, but you have to disable improved location (wifi, Bluetooth ...etc) and get off of my wifi network. Then I had to go for a walk outside to ensure the phone was getting location from only GPS/cellular. Then I worked like a charm. It would be really nice if they would put this in the guide and not just say "Try Again."

What’s new

This latest version contains a number of improvements and bug fixes.