Canadian citizens hold one of the highest visa-free passports all around the globe. They can enter more than 164 countries even without applying for a travel document beforehand. Unfortunately, Australia is not on the list.
All Canadian passport holders are required to obtain an ETA before traveling to Australia. In this article, we have provided a complete guide on applying for an Australian ETA visa from Canada.
So, without further ado, let's get into it!
Australian ETA for Canadian Citizens
An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is an electronic visa issued by the Australian government to a total of 8 countries, including Canada. Before you apply for an ETA, there are some requirements that you must fulfill, such as travelers:
Must not have a criminal history
Should not use community services and health care at the expense of Australian nationals.
Should from of diseases that might because public health threat
Must have a valid Canadian passport with remaining validity of at least 3 months
If you fulfill all these requirements, you can apply for an ETA from the comfort of your home!
The Australian government offers an ETA for two purposes:
Tourist e-Visa ETA
If you want to enter Australia for tourism, you can apply for the tourist e-visa ETA. This travel document allows you to visit Australia for tourism, to visit friends & family, or for medical treatment. It is a short-term visa that allows a traveler to stay in the country for 90 days.
Business e-Visa ETA
In case you want to travel to Australia for commercial or professional purposes, you'll need to apply for a business e-visa ETA. You can use this document to:
Attend a business meeting
Enroll in a training program
Meet with business associates
How to Apply for an ETA from Canada?
Applying for an Australian ETA is quite a straightforward process. As it is an online application process, you don’t need to visit the Australian embassy or consulate. All you need to do is partner up with VisaHQ and follow 3 simple steps:
Fill Out the Application
First of all, you'll need to fill out the e-visa application form. You can find this form online, so you don't have to visit the consulate or embassy. To fill out the form, you'll need to provide personal, contact, and travel details, including:
Full name
Date of birth
Nationality
Phone number
Passport number
Passport issue and expiry date
Purpose of travel
Pay the Visa Processing Fee
Next, you'll need to pay the visa processing fee. This includes the Australian embassy fee as well as the service fee. The total visa fee depends upon your selected service provider. You can use a debit or credit card to pay the ETA visa fee.
Submit your Application
Lastly, submit your application online. Depending on your purpose of travel, you might need to submit some additional documents as well, including the business card, invitation letter, and much more. So, make sure to check the ETA requirements for your country before applying for your e-visa.
How Long Will It Take to Get an ETA?
The actual processing time for an ETA varies from applicant to applicant. On average, a Canadian citizen will get his/her ETA within 3-5 days. However, due to the secondary checks and high demand, you might have to wait a little longer.
Visa Requirements for Canadian Citizens
ETA is the perfect pick for Canadian citizens if they want to visit Australia for:
Short-term study
Volunteering
Business conferences
Tourism
Cruise
Holiday
To get an ETA, you'll need to follow the instructions provided by the Australia's Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Following are the thee of the basic things that you need are:
Original Passport - A valid passport is the most important thing for you if you want an ETA. You should make sure you have a valid Canadian passport with a remaining validity period of at least 6 months.
E-mail Address - You'll receive your ETA via email. Your email address will be electronically linked to your passport, so make sure to use your valid and active passport.
Form of Payment - To pay the Australian visa processing fee, you'll need a debit or credit card. During this step, make sure to use a secure online payment option!
Validity of An ETA for Canadians
An approved ETA is valid for multiple entries. It allows a holder to stay in Australia for up to 90 days within a 12-month period.
You cannot renew an ETA. So, once your document expires, you'll need to leave the country. Alternatively, you can also apply for a new Australia ETA using the same passport. To do so, you'll still need to leave Australia at least 2 weeks before the expiration date!