Australia entry requirements for travellers from Switzerland
Do Swiss citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes, but it is free. Swiss passport holders qualify for the eVisitor (subclass 651), applied for online at no cost, and it must be granted before you board. Australia has no visa free entry and nothing can be arranged on arrival.
Switzerland also appears on the Electronic Travel Authority list, which carries a service charge of AUD20 through the Australian ETA App. Both give the same entitlement, so the free eVisitor is the sensible choice.
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), 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, though airlines and transit countries may. The eVisitor is linked to your passport, so apply again after a renewal.
Proof of funds
You must have enough money to support yourself during the visit and to leave at the end of it. No minimum is published and Swiss visitors are rarely asked at the border.
Onward or return travel
A return ticket is not formally required, though airlines occasionally ask on one way bookings.
Applying for your eVisitor
Apply online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. There is no fee. You must be a Swiss citizen holding a Swiss passport, and you will need an email address and your travel details.
Applications are often decided quickly, but apply when you book rather than at the airport. If you have a criminal conviction, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead.
Health requirements
No vaccinations are required for entry from Switzerland. 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 Switzerland 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 strict: cheese, cured meat, fresh fruit, nuts, seeds and wooden items must all be declared, and hiking boots or camping gear carrying soil are routinely inspected and cleaned. Undeclared items attract fines on the spot.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the Swiss franc equivalent, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
eVisitor or ETA?
The eVisitor, because it is free. The ETA gives the same three months per entry but charges AUD20 through the app.
Will my hiking boots be a problem?
Not if they are clean. Soil is a biosecurity risk, so clean footwear and camping equipment before you pack and declare them on the passenger card.
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 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 dual nationality?
Apply with the passport you will travel on. Australian citizens cannot hold an eVisitor and should travel on their Australian passport.