Australia entry requirements for travellers from Malaysia
Do Malaysian citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes, and for most travellers it is an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601). Malaysian passport holders are on the ETA list, so the process is a short application through the Australian ETA App with a service charge of AUD20 and no separate visa fee.
Malaysia is also one of the countries covered by the frequent traveller stream of the Visitor visa, which can be granted for up to ten years. That is worth considering if you cross to Australia several times a year for work or family.
How long can you stay in Australia?
The ETA allows up to three months on each entry and is valid for twelve months with unlimited entries.
The frequent traveller stream also caps each stay at three months but can run for up to ten years. For a single longer visit, the Visitor visa tourist stream can be granted for three, six or twelve months.
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, though airlines and transit countries often do. The ETA is linked to your passport number, so renew the passport and you must apply again.
Proof of funds
You must be able to support yourself for the visit and pay for your departure. No minimum is published. Applicants for the Visitor visa should include bank statements covering several months rather than a single balance.
Onward or return travel
A return ticket is not a formal entry requirement, though airlines sometimes ask on a one way booking and officers may ask about your plans.
Applying for your ETA
Download the Australian ETA App, scan your passport chip, take a photograph and answer the questions. Pay the AUD20 service charge in the app. Most applications are decided immediately.
The frequent traveller stream is different: it is applied for through ImmiAccount, costs AUD1,845, and requires biometrics at an Australian Biometric Collection Centre.
If you have a criminal conviction, or you have previously failed the health requirement, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) rather than an ETA.
Health requirements
No vaccinations are required for entry from Malaysia. A yellow fever certificate is required only if you have been in a yellow fever risk country within six days before arrival.
Australia and Malaysia do not have a reciprocal health care agreement, so travel insurance is worth holding.
Other entry requirements
Complete the Incoming Passenger Card on the flight. Australian biosecurity is strict and the items most often seized from travellers arriving from Malaysia are fresh fruit such as durian and mangosteen, dried and salted seafood, meat products, seeds and herbal medicines. Declare anything of this kind.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the ringgit equivalent, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
Is the ETA the same as a visa?
It is granted as a visa, subclass 601, but works as a travel authority linked to your passport, with no interview and no paperwork.
What is the ten year Australian visa for Malaysians?
The frequent traveller stream of the Visitor visa (subclass 600). It costs AUD1,845, requires biometrics, and can be granted for up to ten years with three month stays.
Can I apply for the ETA on a website?
No. The Australian ETA App is the only channel for an ETA. If you cannot use it, apply for a Visitor visa through ImmiAccount.
Can I work on an ETA?
No. Tourism, family visits and business visitor activities such as meetings and conferences are allowed. Paid work is not.
Do children need their own ETA?
Yes, including infants.
How soon should I apply?
As soon as your trip is booked. Most ETAs are decided immediately, but a minority take longer and there is no way to speed one up at the airport.