If you plan to visit Asia or Africa, it seems obvious that you’ll need a visa for many countries. But since Australia is another Western English-speaking nation, many travelers don’t even check. And trust me—you don’t want to get turned away at the border. It’s a long flight home.
Unless you’re from New Zealand, you’ll need to organize an Australian visa in advance.
Fortunately, they have a very straightforward electronic visa system, aka Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). The visa is electronically linked to your passport and must be applied for in advance of your arrival. It allows you to stay in Australia for up to three months, and it only costs AUD$20 if you’re American or Canadian, free if you’re an EU citizen.
Apply online at the Australian Immigration website and you should have approval in two to three working days.
One requirement of the ETA (and this is a big one) is to have a return or outbound flight. This is usually checked when you board your flight to Australia, but it’s definitely checked when you arrive. Even if you’re planning a longer trip and you intend to apply for a visa extension, it’s essential to have an outbound flight within three months of your arrival.