How to apply for an Australia Subclass 601 ETA with the app in 2026 (step by step)
To apply for an Australia Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) in 2026, you download the free Australian ETA app, scan your passport so your details pre-fill, take a live photo of yourself, answer the eligibility and character questions, pay the service fee and submit — all while you are outside Australia. The steps below follow the Australian Department of Home Affairs official "Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)" page, as of the official page in July 2026.
What is the Subclass 601 ETA, and what can you do on it?
The ETA is a short-stay travel authorisation for people travelling to Australia to visit family or friends, cruise or take a holiday, or undertake some business visitor activities. It allows stays of up to 3 months at a time.
Three conditions sit at the front of the process: you must apply from outside Australia, hold an eligible passport, and use the Australian ETA app. The Home Affairs page also points applicants to the ETA and AIA video guides before starting.
What does my phone need before I open the app?
The app route is entirely device-dependent, so check these before you start rather than mid-application:
| Requirement | What it is used for |
|---|---|
| A mobile device with a camera | To take your photo and an image of the passport data page |
| Near-field communication (NFC) enabled | For the passport scan that pre-fills your details |
| Location services enabled | Required by the app when lodging |
| A valid email address | To receive the written notification of your result |
| A valid payment method | To pay the service fee |
You also need a valid passport, and the app itself is a free download from the Apple Store for Apple devices or the Google Play store for Android devices.
Can I include my family in one application?
No. You cannot include family members in your application, and each family member — including those listed on your passport — must submit a separate application. The practical concession is that if everyone applies using the same mobile device, you can submit and pay for the applications at the same time.
Can someone else apply on my behalf?
Yes, with conditions. A friend or family member can help you apply through the app, but you must be physically with them when you apply. Authorised travel agents and industry representatives can also make an ETA application on your behalf, and if they do, you must still be physically present, take your photo, and have your passport available to scan.
The live facial image is not optional. Industry representatives must take a live facial image of you when they lodge the application, and the Department states it will not grant the visa if you do not take a live image.
What happens inside the app, in order?
Once you have downloaded and opened the app on your mobile device, the sequence is:
- Scan your passport to pre-fill your name, date of birth, passport number and other details.
- Take a photo of yourself.
- Answer the questions, including whether you have any criminal convictions, any prior names, and contact details in Australia.
- Pay the service fee.
- Submit the application.
If you get stuck on a specific screen, the app itself carries a Frequently Asked Questions section, and the Department's video guides cover the same flow visually.
What should I check before I tap submit?
Check that every detail is correct, including your name and date of birth, and check that you have answered all questions in the app correctly. This matters more than it looks: ETA details must exactly match your passport details, and the Department warns that a mismatch can cause delays when boarding your aircraft or refusal of entry in Australia. Details also cannot be changed once the ETA has been issued.
For the same reason, the official guidance is not to make travel arrangements until the ETA is granted. Assume a hypothetical applicant who books flights the same day they submit: if the outcome is delayed or refused, that booking is at risk, which is exactly what the "do not arrange travel until notified in writing" instruction is designed to prevent.
What do I have to declare?
You must truthfully answer all questions, including declaring if you hold any other passports, if you have been known by any other name, and any criminal conviction or domestic violence history. Providing inaccurate information can lead to the ETA being cancelled.
If you have a criminal conviction in any country, the Department will need more information from you, and you should instead apply for a Visitor (subclass 600) visa and provide evidence about your criminal convictions.
How quickly will I get the result?
In most cases you will be told the result of the ETA application immediately. Sometimes there is a delay before the notification arrives, so check your emails, including your junk mail folder, for written notification from the Department.
Processing may take longer if the form is not filled in correctly, if more information is needed from you, or if your information is hard to verify.
What does the outcome actually tell me?
The decision comes in writing. If the visa is granted, you are told your visa grant number, the date your visa starts, and your visa conditions — and you should keep a copy of that decision with you while in Australia.
If the visa is refused, you are also told in writing why it was refused and whether you have a right to a review of the decision.
What if the Department asks for more information?
You will receive a letter explaining how to provide it. You must use the link in that letter to submit an online form directly in ImmiAccount, answer all questions in the form and attach the required supporting documentation, and complete and attach Form 1554: ETA Request for further processing to the online form.
One instruction is worth underlining: do not submit further ETA applications through the Australian ETA app, because you will receive the same results. If the ETA route cannot be completed, you can consider another visa suited to your travel needs instead.
What if the app route is not available to me?
If you are ineligible or unable to apply using the Australian ETA app, you can apply online for another visa through ImmiAccount. European passport holders may be eligible for the eVisitor (subclass 651) visa, and there is no charge to make an eVisitor visa application. Other passport holders may be eligible for a Visitor (subclass 600) visa.
This article is general information about the published ETA process, not personalised advice about your circumstances or your eligibility, and it does not replace checking the official page or getting professional advice before you lodge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need NFC on my phone to apply for an ETA?
Yes. The Department lists near-field communication (NFC) enabled on your mobile device as a requirement for using the Australian ETA app, along with a camera, location services, a valid email address and a payment method. Without NFC, the in-app passport scan step cannot be completed as designed.
Can I apply for the Subclass 601 ETA while I am already in Australia?
No. The process listed on the official page requires you to apply from outside Australia, using the Australian ETA app, with an eligible passport. If you are already in Australia and need a different outcome, the page directs applicants to ImmiAccount to explore other visa options.
How long can I stay on a Subclass 601 ETA?
The ETA allows stays of up to 3 months at a time. It is for visiting family or friends, cruising or having a holiday, and some business visitor activities — not for longer-term stays or work outside those activities.
What is the fee for an ETA application through the app?
The Department describes a service fee payable in the app and requires a valid payment method to be ready, but the amount is not stated on this page, so treat the fee shown inside the app at the time of payment as the operative figure. By contrast, the page states there is no charge to make an eVisitor (subclass 651) visa application.
What happens if my name on the ETA does not match my passport?
You might experience delays when boarding your aircraft or be refused entry in Australia. The Department cannot change the details on an ETA once it has been issued, which is why you must check your name, date of birth and all answers before submitting.
Can a travel agent apply for me without me being there?
No. Authorised travel agents and industry representatives can lodge an ETA application on your behalf using the app, but you must be physically present when they make the application, you will need to take your photo, and your passport must be available to scan. The representative must also take a live facial image of you.
What should I do if my ETA application is delayed?
Check your emails, including your junk mail folder, for written notification from the Department, since most applications are decided immediately but some are delayed. If you receive a letter requesting more information, respond through the ImmiAccount online form linked in that letter and attach Form 1554, rather than lodging another ETA application in the app.