Australia entry requirements for travellers from Canada
Do Canadian citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes, in the form of an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601). Canadian passport holders cannot enter Australia without one, and it cannot be arranged at the airport. Applications are made through the Australian ETA App, with a service charge of AUD20 and no other fee.
Canada is not on the eVisitor list, which covers European passports only, so the ETA is the standard route for tourism, visiting family and business meetings.
How long can you stay in Australia?
An ETA allows stays of up to three months on each entry and remains valid for twelve months, with as many entries as you like in that time.
Canadians often plan longer trips around the southern summer. If you want a single stay of six or twelve months, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead, which costs from AUD250.
Passport validity requirements
Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay. Australia does not require six months of validity beyond your departure, though airlines and transit countries may. The ETA is linked to your passport number, so renewing your passport means applying again.
Proof of funds
You must be able to support yourself and pay for your departure. There is no published minimum, and Canadian visitors are rarely questioned, but the requirement applies to every visitor.
Onward or return travel
A return ticket is not formally required. Airlines sometimes ask on one way bookings, and officers may ask about your plans if you arrive for an open ended stay.
Applying for your ETA
Download the Australian ETA App, scan the chip in your passport, take a photograph and answer the questions. Pay the AUD20 service charge in the app. Most applications are decided immediately, though some take longer.
If the app will not work, or you have a criminal conviction, or you have previously failed the health requirement, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) through ImmiAccount instead.
Health requirements
No vaccinations are required for entry from Canada. A yellow fever certificate is needed only if you have been in a yellow fever risk country in the six days before arriving.
Australia and Canada do not have a reciprocal health care agreement, so travel insurance covering medical treatment and repatriation matters.
Other entry requirements
Complete the Incoming Passenger Card on the flight. Australian biosecurity is stricter than the Canadian equivalent: maple products in wooden containers, nuts, dried meat, fresh fruit, seeds and camping equipment carrying soil all need to be declared. Undeclared items attract fines at the border.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the Canadian dollar equivalent, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an ETA at the airport?
No. It must be granted before you board, and airlines check at check in.
How long is the ETA valid?
Twelve months from grant or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, with stays of up to three months on each entry.
Can I work on an ETA?
No. Business visitor activities such as meetings and conferences are allowed. Paid work is not. Working holiday arrangements are a separate visa category.
Is there an alternative if I cannot use the app?
Yes. Apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) through ImmiAccount. It costs more and takes longer, so allow extra time.
Do children need their own ETA?
Yes, including infants.
Can I extend beyond three months once I am in Australia?
Not on the ETA itself. You would need to apply for a further visa from within Australia, and only if no condition prevents it.