Australia entry requirements for travellers from the Netherlands
Do Dutch citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes, though it costs nothing. Dutch passport holders qualify for the eVisitor (subclass 651), applied for online and granted before you board. Australia has no visa free entry and nothing can be sorted out on arrival.
The Netherlands is also on the Electronic Travel Authority list, which carries an AUD20 service charge through the Australian ETA App. The two give the same entitlement, so the free eVisitor is the one to use.
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 apply a six month validity rule, unlike many destinations, though airlines and transit countries 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 for the visit and to leave at the end. No minimum is published and Dutch visitors are rarely asked, but the requirement applies to everyone.
Onward or return travel
A return ticket is not formally required, 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 Dutch citizen holding a Netherlands 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 the Netherlands. A yellow fever certificate is needed only if you have been in a yellow fever risk country in the six days before arrival.
Australia and the Netherlands have a reciprocal health care agreement covering medically necessary treatment in public hospitals. It does not extend to ambulance transport, repatriation or ongoing care, so travel insurance is still needed.
Other entry requirements
Complete the Incoming Passenger Card on the flight. Australian biosecurity is much stricter than anything within the EU: cheese, meat products, fresh fruit, seeds, bulbs and wooden items must all be declared. Bulbs and seeds in particular are a common problem for Dutch travellers, and undeclared items attract fines on the spot.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the euro equivalent, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
eVisitor or ETA, which is right?
The eVisitor. It is free, whereas the ETA carries an AUD20 app service charge for the same three months per entry.
Can I bring flower bulbs or seeds?
Assume not without checking. Plant material is tightly controlled and most bulbs and seeds carried by travellers are seized. Declare anything you bring and let the biosecurity officer decide.
Can I stay six months?
Not on one eVisitor entry, which 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.
Does the health care agreement replace insurance?
No. It covers medically necessary public hospital treatment only.