Australia entry requirements for travellers from Poland
Do Polish citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes, but it is free. Polish passport holders qualify for the eVisitor (subclass 651), applied for online at no cost, and it must be granted before you board.
There is one point specific to Poland worth knowing. Poland is on the eVisitor list but not on the Electronic Travel Authority list, so the eVisitor is not merely the cheaper option, it is the only simple one. Polish citizens who cannot use the eVisitor must apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600), which costs from AUD250.
The same applies to several other EU member states, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
How long can you stay in Australia?
The eVisitor allows up to three months on each entry and is valid for twelve months with unlimited entries.
For a single stay of six or twelve months, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
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 may. The eVisitor is linked to your passport, so apply again if you renew it.
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.
Onward or return travel
A return ticket is not a formal requirement, though airlines sometimes ask on one way bookings.
Applying for your eVisitor
Apply online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. There is no fee. You must be a Polish citizen holding a Polish passport, and you will need an email address and your travel details.
Applications are often decided quickly, but apply once your trip is booked. If you have a criminal conviction, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead.
Health requirements
No vaccinations are required for entry from Poland. A yellow fever certificate is needed only if you have been in a declared yellow fever risk country in the six days before arrival.
Australia and Poland 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 on the flight. Australian biosecurity is far stricter than anything within the EU: sausage and other meat products, cheese, fresh fruit, mushrooms, seeds and wooden items all have to be declared, and undeclared goods attract fines on the spot.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the zloty equivalent, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
Can Polish citizens use the Australian ETA?
No. Poland is not on the ETA list. Polish citizens use the eVisitor, which is free, or a Visitor visa if the eVisitor does not suit.
Can I stay six months on an eVisitor?
Not in one visit. Each entry is capped at three months. For a longer continuous 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. Longer courses need a student visa.
Can I work on an eVisitor?
No. Business visitor activities such as meetings and conferences are allowed, paid work is not.
Do children need their own eVisitor?
Yes, including infants.
What if I hold a non citizen travel document?
The eVisitor requires Polish citizenship and a Polish passport. Non citizen documents and travel titles are excluded, and holders must apply for a Visitor visa.