Australia is one of the most popular travel destinations all around the globe. The country is known for unmatchable hospitality, wildlife, and gorgeous landscapes. Therefore, thousands of visitors visit Singapore each year for fun and glamour.
Before you start your journey, you must ask some questions: Do Singaporeans need a visa to enter Australia? What are the visa requirements for Singapore nationals? And much more.
In this article, we have answered all of your questions related to Australian visas. So, without further ado, let's get into it!
Do Singapore Citizens Need an Australian Visa?
Let's start with the most basic question: do citizens of Singapore even need a visa to visit Australia?
Well, the short and simple answer is, YES! Except for New Zealand citizens, all foreigners are required to have a valid visa to enter Australia. The Australian government offers different types of travel documents for Singapore citizens for different purposes.
Although you can apply for a traditional visa, the better option for you is getting an ETA. An ETA is an electronic travel authority that can be used as a travel document to enter Australia.
Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) - An Overview
The US and Australia have the same system of travel authorization. While the US government offers an ESTA, Australia issued ETA to some European and Schengen countries, including Singapore.
You can consider an ETA as an electronic visa. It is issued for a short period of time for business and tourism purposes. An ETA is a multiple-entry travel document that stays valid for 1 year. It allows a holder to stay in Australia for 90 days.
Eligibility Criteria
Before you apply for an ETA, there are some character and health requirements you must fulfill, such as travelers must:
Not have a criminal history
Not be traveling to stalk, harass, or intimidate an Australian citizen
Have a good character proven through official documents
Not need community and health services at the cost of Australian residents
Not be suffering from a disease that can affect the general public
Have a passport with remaining validity of at least 3 months
How to Apply for an ETA from Singapore
If you are eligible for an ETA (eligibility criteria mentioned above), you can apply for it using the Australian ETA app. The application is designed for convenience and is available on both Android and iOS devices.
To apply for an ETA, all you need to do is:
Fill out the ETA application form
Pay the visa processing fee
Submit required documents
The entire process can be completed within 10 minutes. Unlike a traditional visa, you don’t have to visit the Australian embassy to get an ETA. The entire process is streamlined, allowing you to get your travel document from the comfort of your home.
Required Documents
To fill out the visa application form, you'll need to provide personal, contact, travel, and passport details, such as:
Name and surname
Date of birth
Phone number
Address
Travel date
Passport number
Passport issue and expiry dates
You'll need some additional documents depending upon your purpose of visit. For instance, if you are traveling for business purposes, you'll need to provide a business card and invitation letter.
Generally speaking, applicants only need 3 basic documents to apply for an ETA:
Passport - You must have your original passport with you. Moreover, make sure your passport has at least 3 months of validity remaining.
E-mail Address - An active email address is crucial. Your email will be electronically linked to your passport. On approval, you'll get your ETA via email as well!
Means of Payment - You'll need to pay the Australian visa application centre fee and service fee. As the entire process is online, you'll need to pay the fee online as well. To do so, you can use a debit or credit card.
Due to the COVID pandemic, it's recommended to have a health declaration form and COVID-19 vaccination certificate beforehand to avoid self-isolation.
Once you get your ETA, print out the document as you'll need to present it at the border crossing. Also, keep in mind that an ETA does not guarantee your entry to Australia; the immigration officials have the final say!
Processing Time
The processing time for an ETA is different for different applicants. On average, most Singapore citizens will get an ETA within 3-5 days unless there are discrepancies or mistakes in the application form.
If there are some issues with your application form, you might have to wait a little longer. Therefore, it's recommended to apply for an ETA at least 2 weeks prior to the actual departure date.
"An ETA cannot be renewed. If you want to stay in the country for longer period of time, you'll need to apply for a traditional Australian visa! Also, if your old passport expires, you'll need to apply for an ETA again using the new passport details"