Australia eTA validity and expiry period
Planning to travel to Australia with an eTA (Electronic Travel Authority)? It’s essential to know how long your visa is valid for, when it expires, and what happens if you overstay. In this guide, we explain the eTA validity period and expiry rules to help you travel safely.
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If you are about to travel to Australia for business or tourism, you will need an Australia eTA visa. This electronic travel authorisation, which you can apply for entirely online, is a multiple-entry visa. This means you can travel to Australia several times during the Australia ETA validity period. But how long is the Australian visa valid for? The eTA is currently valid for 12 months from the date of issue, and each stay in Australia must not exceed 3 months.
Australia ETA validity: Key points
- The Australia ETA visa is valid for 12 months from the date it is granted.
- Each visit to Australia under the ETA can last up to 3 months.
- The ETA expiry may occur earlier if your passport expires during the 12-month period.
- It is not possible to extend the Australia ETA validity once it expires.
The Australia eTA visa is valid for 12 months from the date it is approved. This means that once your eTA application is accepted, the visa remains valid for 1 year from the day you receive the confirmation email.
During the Australia ETA validity period, you are allowed to enter the country multiple times. However, each stay must not exceed 3 months (or 90 days) per visit.
When you apply online, the ETA for Australia is usually issued within a few days, often in less than 72 hours. The validity period starts on the day you receive the email confirming the approval of your visa.
It’s important to note that your ETA must be valid both when boarding your flight and upon arrival in Australia. If the eTA expires before your departure or entry, it will no longer be accepted.
Your visa will display an expiry date, which is exactly 12 months after the eTA was granted. You can enter Australia up until the last day of this validity period, provided all other conditions are still met.
Although the Australia ETA visa is valid for 12 months, it does not allow you to stay in the country for an entire year continuously.
The maximum duration of stay in Australia with an ETA is 3 months per visit. This means you can enter Australia multiple times during the 12-month validity period, but each stay must not exceed 90 days.
You do not need to complete the entire 3-month stay within the validity period. The only requirement is that your ETA must still be valid at the time you enter Australia. Even if your planned stay continues beyond the expiry date, entry is permitted as long as the ETA was valid on arrival.
The Australia ETA validity is directly linked to the passport used during the application. Although the ETA is valid for 12 months from the date of issue, it will automatically expire if your passport expires before that.
Even if your ETA has not yet reached its expiry date, you cannot use it with a new or different passport. You are only allowed to travel to Australia with the same passport number that was used to apply for the visa, as the ETA is digitally linked to it.
Your passport must also be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival in Australia. If your passport is set to expire within that time frame, you should renew it before applying for an ETA or travelling to Australia.
The Australia ETA visa is only valid if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria set by the Australian authorities. These conditions must be met not only when you apply online, but also when you enter the country and during your stay.
If your personal situation changes after your ETA is granted, the visa may become invalid before its official expiry date. In other words, the Australia ETA validity period can be shortened under certain circumstances.
Here are some common cases where your ETA for Australia may expire early:
If any of these situations apply, your ETA may no longer be valid, and you may be denied entry to Australia, even if the 12-month validity period has not yet ended.
If the date of your arrival in Australia falls outside the Australia ETA validity period, you will need to apply for a new ETA visa before your departure.
You can submit a new ETA application at any time, even if your current visa has not yet expired. Once approved, the new ETA will automatically replace the previous one, and you will benefit from a new 12-month validity period starting from the date of issue.
This is the safest option if your Australia ETA expiry date is close and you want to avoid any issues at check-in or upon arrival.
Staying in Australia after your ETA has expired can expose you to serious consequences. The Australian immigration authorities strictly enforce visa conditions and consider any overstay a breach of immigration law. If you remain in Australia with an expired ETA visa, you may face the following risks:
To avoid these risks, it's essential to leave Australia before your ETA expires. Since the ETA cannot be extended while you're in the country, the only option is to apply for a new ETA after leaving Australia.
In summary, staying in Australia with an expired ETA visa can lead to deportation, bans, fines, and employment issues. Always check your Australia ETA validity and plan your departure accordingly.
While the Australia ETA visa is valid for 12 months, some travellers benefit from different visa validity rules due to special bilateral agreements between Australia and certain countries.
One notable example is New Zealand. Under a long-standing Free Movement Agreement, New Zealand citizens are granted a Special Category Visa (SCV) upon arrival in Australia. This visa is valid indefinitely, as long as the person continues to meet the eligibility conditions. However, this indefinite validity does not confer permanent residency, and access to full citizenship rights requires a separate permanent visa application.
Other special visa arrangements include the Working Holiday Visa, available to young adults from countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada. This visa is valid for 12 months, and in some cases, it can be extended if specific activities are completed (such as seasonal or farm work).
These bilateral agreements offer alternative visa durations compared to the standard Australia ETA validity period, reflecting Australia's diplomatic ties and labour market needs. While most short-term visitors require an ETA with a 12-month validity, these exceptions highlight Australia’s flexible approach to international mobility.
Find out if your question has been answered in the list below
Yes, you can apply for an Australia ETA even if your travel dates are not confirmed. The important thing to remember is that the Australia ETA validity period begins on the day it is approved, not on your arrival date. This means that if you apply well in advance, part of the 12-month ETA validity may be used up before you travel. For instance, if you apply in January and travel in June, your ETA will only be valid until the following January. While this visa is perfect for flexible plans, it’s worth applying closer to your departure to make full use of the Australian visa validity. The ETA remains valid for multiple entries as long as it hasn’t expired and each stay does not exceed 90 days.
Your Australia ETA is electronically linked to your passport. If you change passports—whether due to renewal or loss—your existing ETA becomes invalid. Even if your Australia ETA hasn’t expired, it cannot be transferred to a new passport. You’ll need to apply for a new ETA using the new passport details. This means the original Australia ETA validity period no longer applies. A new ETA will restart the 12-month validity, but your previous visa becomes void. Always make sure your passport will remain valid for the duration of your travel, to avoid impacting the expiry and duration of your Australian visa. Travelling with mismatched documents may result in denied boarding or entry.
No, the ETA grants permission to travel to Australia, but entry is ultimately decided by border officials. Even if your Australia ETA is still valid, immigration officers may refuse entry if you no longer meet the required conditions. It is essential to comply with all terms of your ETA during the entire ETA validity period, including health and character requirements. If you’ve had any major changes since your application—such as legal issues or health problems—your visa may be cancelled on arrival. Although the Australia ETA expiry date is clearly stated, travellers must ensure that their eligibility remains valid throughout their stay. Having a valid ETA does not mean guaranteed entry at the border.