Entry requirements

Visas

You need a visa to travel to Australia. British citizens can get the following types of electronic visitor visa:

eVisitor visa direct from the Department of Immigration Border Protection. There is no visa application charge or service fee for this;

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via your travel agent or airline. There is no visa application charge, but a service fee of A$20 applies

In certain circumstances you may be asked to undergo a health examination before a visa can be granted, for example if you are aged 75 years or older. Factor in extra time for this when applying for a visa.

On arrival you may be asked to provide evidence of funds to support your stay and a return or onward ticket.

If you hold an ePassport you can use SmartGate to pass through passport control when arriving in Australia. See Department of Immigration Border Protection

Working holiday visas

Beware of scam adverts offering to help you extend a working holiday visa. Second year working holiday visas are available if you have worked in a rural area for 3 months during the first year of your working holiday. Some British nationals have falsely claimed to have worked on farms using information bought from scam advertisers. As a result, they have had their visas cancelled and been excluded from returning to Australia for 3 years.

The Fair Work Ombudsman can advise on pay and conditionsinvestigate workplace complaints (eg working conditions on farms in Australia), and make employers comply with the law.

The Fair Work Infoline is 13 13 94 (national number accessible within Australia - open 8am to 5.30pm local time, Monday to Friday).

Passport validity

For entry into Australia, your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required.

The Australian authorities have confirmed they will accept British passports extended by 12 months by British Embassies and Consulates under additional measures put in place in mid-2014.

If you are transiting another country on your way to or from Australia, make sure you check the entry requirements for that country. Many countries will only permit entry if you have at least 6 months validity remaining on your passport.

Yellow fever

Yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers aged one year or older who are arriving in Australia within six days of having stayed in or transited through, countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.

UK Emergency Travel Documents

UK Emergency Travel Documents are valid for entry into, transit through, and exit from Australia.