How long can you stay in Australia on a Subclass 601 ETA in 2026?
On a Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), you can remain in Australia for up to 3 months after each entry, and the visa itself permits travel to Australia for 12 months — or for the period your passport is valid, whichever is shorter — with multiple entry. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) page (current as of July 2026), the 12-month visa period starts on the date it is granted unless you hold another substantive visa that is already in effect. The explanation below is general reference only and not personalised professional advice, so confirm your own plans against the latest official information or a qualified professional before relying on it.
How many months can you stay each time you enter Australia?
Each entry allows a stay of up to 3 months. The ETA is granted with multiple entry, so you can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want while the visa is valid, but the permitted stay is counted as 3 months after each entry rather than as one continuous 12-month block.
One exception is a round-trip cruise that starts from Australia: the time you spend on the cruise is counted as time spent in Australia, so the cruise does not reset your stay period on the visa. Assume an applicant joins a round-trip cruise from an Australian port after entering on an ETA — the days at sea are treated as days in Australia and do not restart the 3-month clock.
How long is the Subclass 601 ETA valid for travel?
The ETA is a temporary visa that is valid for travel to Australia for either 12 months or the period your passport is valid, whichever is shorter. The 12-month visa period starts on the date it is granted unless you hold another substantive visa that is already in effect. Assume an applicant is granted an ETA and enters Australia several weeks later: the 12-month travel window runs from the grant date, not the arrival date, while the 3-month stay period runs from the entry date.
Your ETA is digitally linked to the passport you used to apply. If that passport expires or you get a new passport, the ETA ceases and you must apply for a new ETA.
Does holding another Australian visa change your stay period?
If you hold a Maritime Crew visa or a Special Purpose visa and are granted an ETA, you hold both visas concurrently and enter Australia on both. You can stay for the longer of the two visa periods; if that longer period exceeds 3 months, the ETA ceases but you can remain for the duration of the other visa's stay period.
If you hold any other substantive visa and an ETA, you enter Australia on the other substantive visa, not the ETA, and your ETA comes into effect only when the other visa ceases. However, the 3-month ETA stay period still begins when you enter Australia, so check that your other substantive visa is valid for more than 3 months if you want to stay longer than the ETA's 3-month limit.
What happens if you stay longer than allowed or visit too often?
You cannot stay longer by extending an ETA. To remain beyond the allowed period you must apply for a different visa that suits your circumstances; if you remain in Australia after the ETA ceases and do not hold another visa, you become an unlawful non-citizen and may be removed.
Long or frequent stays can also affect future entries. If you stay in Australia for long periods or make frequent visits, the Department of Home Affairs may ask about your travel purpose next time you enter, and if you are found not to be a genuine visitor your ETA may be cancelled.
What activities could put your stay at risk?
The ETA is not a work visa. You cannot undertake paid work for an Australian employer, and working or intending to work on an ETA may lead to cancellation, removal, or refusal of entry.
You may study or train for up to 3 months in total on this visa; if your main reason for travelling is to study, you should apply for a student visa. Breaching visa conditions can result in cancellation of the ETA.
How can you check your own stay deadline?
Use VEVO to check the details and status of your ETA, including your visa conditions and the date by which you must leave. You can also use the “Visa check” function in the Australian ETA app to check your application status.
Because the visa is electronically linked to your passport, you must enter Australia using the same passport you applied with; if that passport expires or you get a new one, the ETA ceases and a new application is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 12-month ETA validity counted from the date I enter Australia?
No. The 12-month visa period starts on the date the ETA is granted unless you hold another substantive visa that is already in effect. The visa allows travel for 12 months or the period your passport is valid, whichever is shorter, and the 3-month stay limit is applied separately after each entry.
Can I reset the 3-month limit by leaving and coming back?
The ETA grants multiple entry, so you can leave and re-enter as many times as you want while it is valid, but each entry permits a stay of up to 3 months. A round-trip cruise starting from Australia does not reset the stay period, because time spent on the cruise counts as time in Australia.
What if my passport expires during the 12-month ETA period?
The ETA is electronically linked to the passport used in the application. If that passport expires or you obtain a new passport, the ETA ceases and you must apply for a new ETA.
Can I extend my ETA to stay longer than 3 months?
No, you cannot stay longer by extending the ETA. You must apply for a different visa that suits your circumstances, and remaining in Australia after the ETA ceases without another visa can make you an unlawful non-citizen who may be removed.
Will frequent visits to Australia affect my ETA?
Yes. If you stay for long periods or make frequent visits, the Department of Home Affairs may question your travel purpose at your next entry. If you are found not to be a genuine visitor, the ETA may be cancelled.
Is there a government fee for the ETA, and does it change the stay length?
There is no Visa Application Charge, but there is an AUD20 application service fee to use the Australian ETA app. The fee does not change the rules: the visa still allows multiple entry, travel for 12 months or the passport validity period (whichever is shorter), and a stay of up to 3 months after each entry.