Can mainland China passport holders apply for Australia's 601 ETA in 2026?

Plain-language guide · general information, not immigration advice

No. A passport issued by mainland China is not an eligible passport for the Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601), so holders of that passport cannot use the ETA channel for a holiday, a family visit or a short business trip to Australia. The eligible passport list published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs on its Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) page — as of the July 2026 official page — does not include mainland China among the countries and jurisdictions that qualify.

That list does include Hong Kong (SAR of China) and Taiwan (excluding official or diplomatic passports), which is where much of the confusion around "China" and the ETA comes from. Eligibility attaches to the specific passport you travel on, not to your nationality in the abstract, and it attaches to a narrow set of documents: the page states you cannot apply for an ETA with a non-citizen passport, a certificate of identity, or another travel document such as a Titre de Voyage.

Why isn't a mainland China passport eligible?

Because the ETA is built around a fixed passport list rather than a case-by-case assessment. You must hold a valid passport from one of the listed countries or jurisdictions, and no amount of travel history, ties to home or invitation letters changes that first gate. Once the passport is not on the list, the remaining ETA criteria — being a genuine visitor, meeting the health requirement, meeting the character requirement, having repaid any debt to the Australian Government, and the best interests of the child — never come into play.

For a mainland China passport holder, then, the practical question is not how to strengthen an ETA application but which other visa matches the trip.

Which visa should a mainland China passport holder look at instead?

The Department of Home Affairs points applicants who are ineligible for or unable to use the Australian ETA app toward an online application through ImmiAccount for another visa that suits their needs. On that page, European passport holders are directed to the eVisitor (subclass 651) visa, which carries no charge to make an application; other passport holders are directed to the Visitor (subclass 600) visa. A mainland China passport falls into that second group, so the Visitor (subclass 600) visa is the route the official page points to.

The ETA page does not set out subclass 600 streams, charges, documents or decision times, so those should be read on the Visitor (subclass 600) page itself, which is where the Department publishes the current requirements for that visa. Visa settings are revised from time to time, and the published page is the version that applies to your application.

Does holding a second passport change the answer?

It can. If you also hold a passport from a listed country or jurisdiction — Hong Kong (SAR of China), Japan, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom (British Citizen), and so on — your eligibility follows that passport, and you travel to Australia on the passport you applied with. You must declare any other passports you hold in the application and provide their details, and failing to do so can lead to the ETA being cancelled if incorrect information is later found.

There is one exception worth knowing: if you hold an ETA-eligible passport but are also an Australian citizen, you cannot apply for an ETA. Australian citizens have an automatic right of entry and do not need a visa to enter Australia.

When does subclass 600 become the right route even for an eligible passport?

Several situations on the official ETA page are flagged as reasons to apply for a Visitor (subclass 600) visa instead of an ETA, even where the passport itself qualifies:

You have a criminal conviction in any country — apply for the subclass 600 and provide evidence about the conviction.
You will enter health care or hospital environments during your stay.
You intend to train at a childcare centre, or study to be a doctor, dentist, nurse or paraminec — the page lists these as requiring the subclass 600 and the relevant health checks.
You have previously failed to meet the health requirement; the page names subclass 600 as the more appropriate visa in that case.

Study is another dividing line. You can study or train for up to 3 months in total on an ETA, but if study is your main reason for travelling, the Department directs you to a student visa rather than a visitor visa.

What does an ETA allow, if you later qualify through another passport?

Worth understanding before you plan around it, because the ETA is narrower than many travellers assume.

Feature	What the official ETA page states
Purpose	Tourism (including cruising), visiting family or friends, or business visitor activities such as enquiries, contract negotiation and conferences
Validity	12 months, or the period your passport is valid, whichever is shorter
Stay per entry	3 months after each entry, with multiple entry
Study or training	Up to 3 months in total
Cost	No Visa Application Charge; an application service fee of AUD20 to use the Australian ETA app
Where to apply	You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted
Family	Family members cannot be included; each person, including those listed on your passport, needs a separate application
Work	The ETA is not a work visa; paid work for an Australian employer can lead to cancellation

An ETA is also linked digitally to the passport it was issued against. If that passport expires or you get a new one, the ETA ceases and you must apply again. Staying in Australia on a ceased ETA without another visa makes you an unlawful non-citizen, and you may be removed.

Rules like these turn on individual facts and are updated periodically, so this article is general information rather than personalised advice about your own circumstances — rely on the current official pages, or on a professional who can look at your specific situation, before you make travel or application decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is mainland China on the ETA eligible passport list in 2026?

No. The eligible passport list on the Department of Home Affairs Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) page, as of the July 2026 official page, does not include mainland China. ETA eligibility depends entirely on holding a passport from one of the countries or jurisdictions named on that list.

Can I apply with a Hong Kong SAR or Taiwan passport instead?

Hong Kong (SAR of China) is on the eligible list, and Taiwan is listed with the caveat that official or diplomatic passports are excluded. If you hold one of those passports, you travel on it and apply with it; you also have to declare any other passports you hold.

What should a mainland China passport holder apply for instead?

The Department of Home Affairs directs other passport holders to the Visitor (subclass 600) visa, applied for online through ImmiAccount. The eVisitor (subclass 651) route mentioned on the same page is for European passport holders, and there is no charge to make that application.

Can I use a certificate of identity or a Titre de Voyage?

No. The ETA page states you cannot apply with a non-citizen passport, a certificate of identity, or another travel document such as a Titre de Voyage. Only a valid passport from a listed country or jurisdiction qualifies.

Do I have to mention my second passport?

Yes. If you hold more than one passport you must declare this in the ETA application and provide details of the other passports. Providing incorrect information can result in the ETA being cancelled, and ETA details that do not exactly match your passport can cause boarding delays or refusal of entry.

Can my spouse or children be included in my application?

No. Family members cannot be included in an ETA application, and each family member — including those listed on your passport — must submit a separate application. If everyone uses the same mobile device, the applications can be submitted and paid for at the same time.

Does the ETA cost anything?

There is no Visa Application Charge for the ETA, but there is an application service fee of AUD20 to use the Australian ETA app. The Department advises against making travel arrangements until the ETA has been granted.