Australia entry requirements for travellers from Germany
Do German citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes, though the process is quick and free. German passport holders qualify for the eVisitor (subclass 651), which is applied for online and costs nothing. You must hold it before you board, as there is no visa free entry to Australia and nothing can be arranged on arrival.
German citizens also appear on the Electronic Travel Authority list, which carries a service charge of AUD20 for the Australian ETA App. The two give the same entitlement, so there is no reason for a German citizen to pay for the ETA when the eVisitor is free.
How long can you stay in Australia?
The eVisitor allows stays of up to three months on each entry and is valid for twelve months with unlimited entries. Germany is one of Australia’s larger European markets and many German visitors make a long single trip, so it is worth being clear that three months is the maximum on any one entry.
For 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 date, but airlines and any transit country may. The eVisitor is linked to your passport, so apply again if you renew it before travelling.
Proof of funds
You must have enough money to support yourself during the visit and to leave at the end. There is no published minimum. German visitors are rarely asked at the border, but a three month stay with no visible means of support can prompt questions.
Onward or return travel
A return or onward ticket is not formally required, though airlines sometimes ask on one way bookings. Being able to show your plans helps if you are arriving for a long trip.
Applying for your eVisitor
Apply online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. There is no fee. You need your German passport, an email address and your travel plans. You must be a German citizen holding a German passport.
Many applications are decided quickly, but do not leave it to the airport. If you have a criminal conviction, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead of the eVisitor.
Health requirements
No vaccinations are required for entry from Germany. A yellow fever certificate is required only if you have been in a yellow fever risk country in the six days before arrival.
Australia and Germany do not have a reciprocal health care agreement, so travel insurance covering medical treatment and repatriation is important.
Other entry requirements
Complete the Incoming Passenger Card handed out on the flight. Australian biosecurity is far stricter than anything within the EU: sausage and other meat products, cheese, fresh fruit, seeds, nuts and wooden items all have to be declared, and undeclared goods attract on the spot fines.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the euro equivalent, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
eVisitor or ETA, which should I apply for?
The eVisitor. It is free, whereas the ETA carries an AUD20 app service charge for the same three months per entry over the same twelve months.
Can I stay six months on an eVisitor?
Not in one visit. Each entry is capped at three months. You can re-enter within the twelve month validity, but leaving briefly to reset the clock repeatedly will attract attention. For a genuine six month stay, apply for a Visitor visa.
Can I study on an eVisitor?
Short study or training of up to three months is allowed in some circumstances. Anything longer requires a student visa.
Can I work on an eVisitor?
No. Business visitor activities such as meetings and conferences are allowed, but paid work is not. Working holiday arrangements are a separate visa category.
Do children need their own eVisitor?
Yes. Every traveller needs their own, including infants.
What if my passport is renewed after I apply?
Apply again with the new passport, since the eVisitor is linked to the passport number.