Yes: US and UK citizens need a visa to enter Australia, even for a short holiday. The usual route is electronic: US citizens use the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601) through the official Australian ETA app, while UK citizens can use either the free eVisitor (subclass 651) or the ETA. Both allow tourism or business visits of up to 3 months per entry, and neither allows paid work.
This guide rewrites the Australia visa rules for US and UK citizens from official sources: the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated August 13, 2026), the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 19 March 2026) and the Australian Department of Home Affairs (ETA FAQ page, read 12 November 2026). Home Affairs’ visa pages for the ETA and eVisitor returned an access error when I tried to read them, so check eligibility and fees on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you apply.
Australia visa: the essentials
- US citizens: valid US passport and a visa or approved ETA; the State Department says you can enter with an ETA for tourism or business of less than 90 days.
- UK citizens: a visa is required; GOV.UK says British citizens can usually get an eVisitor (no application charge or service fee) or an ETA through the iOS or Android app (no visa application charge, but there may be a service fee).
- ETA (601): Home Affairs says a holder can visit as often as they wish within 12 months and stay up to 3 months each time; its FAQ lists a service fee of AUD 20 (non-refundable).
- Each application is for one person: children need their own.
- Only official channels: the Australian ETA app, and immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (ImmiAccount) for other visas.
- Passport (UK): valid for the length of your planned stay (GOV.UK).
- On arrival: Incoming Passenger Card and strict quarantine rules.
Do US and UK citizens need a visa for Australia?
US citizens
The U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated August 13, 2026) says you must have a valid US passport and a visa or an approved ETA. For tourism or business of less than 90 days you can enter with an ETA, an electronic, label-free visa that you can obtain with the Australian ETA app for a small fee; airlines and many travel agents can also apply for you. If you overstay any visa, even briefly, you may face exclusion, detention and removal. Most US passports issued since 2021 have a chip and, if you are 16 or older, can be used at SmartGate, Australia’s automated border system, at participating airports, with no extra enrolment or fee.
UK citizens
The UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 19 March 2026) says you must have a visa to visit Australia. British citizens can usually get an electronic visitor visa: the eVisitor, with no visa application charge or service fee, or the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) through the iOS or Android app, with no visa application charge but possibly a service fee. Your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay. British-Australian dual nationals must enter and leave Australia on their Australian passport.
eVisitor or ETA: which tourist visa?
| eVisitor (subclass 651) | ETA (subclass 601) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who (per official sources read) | UK citizens (GOV.UK); US passports are not mentioned for this visa | US citizens (State Department) and UK citizens (GOV.UK) |
| Purpose | Tourism or business visits, no paid work | Tourism or business visits, no paid work |
| Stay | Check the Home Affairs page | Up to 3 months per entry, visit as often as you wish in 12 months (Home Affairs) |
| Cost | No application charge or service fee (GOV.UK) | No visa application charge; service fee of AUD 20 per the Home Affairs FAQ |
| How to apply | Online with Home Affairs (check the official page) | Australian ETA app |
For a trip of a few weeks, such as an itinerary linking Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef and the Red Centre, either visa fits if you are eligible. US citizens apply with the ETA, as the State Department says. Do not book flights until you have your approval.
How to apply, step by step
- Check that your passport is valid for the whole stay: it is the one you will present on arrival.
- Download the official Australian ETA app (US citizens; UK citizens may use it too), or, for the eVisitor, apply on the Home Affairs website, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
- Enter your personal details and passport information, and answer the questions asked.
- Pay the service fee if there is one (ETA) and keep your application number.
- Wait for the written approval, and check that your name and passport number are correct on it.
- On arrival, fill in the Incoming Passenger Card (GOV.UK) and present it with your passport.
Apply only through the official channels: the Australian ETA app and the Home Affairs website. The State Department says airlines and many travel agents can apply for an ETA on your behalf; GOV.UK points to the Department of Home Affairs for all other visa types.
Staying more than 3 months, working or studying
- A stay beyond the limits of the ETA or eVisitor needs a different visa: GOV.UK refers you to the Department of Home Affairs, which has information on all other types of visa.
- Paid work is not covered by a tourist visa: Home Affairs describes the ETA as covering tourism or business visitor activities, and business visitor activities do not include work.
- Study, sponsored employment and settling in Australia require specific visas: check the Home Affairs website.
Customs and biosecurity: what to declare
GOV.UK says there are strict rules on goods you can take into Australia, and that you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. Australia also has strict quarantine rules: you must fill in an Incoming Passenger Card and either declare goods considered a risk, such as food, animal products and plant material (including wooden articles), or dispose of them in the bins at the airport or seaport. You must also declare if you have been in contact with farms, farm animals, wilderness areas or freshwater streams or lakes in the past 30 days. Luggage is X-rayed, items of concern can be treated, confiscated and destroyed, and breaking quarantine can mean a heavy fine. The Department of Agriculture has more information.
Planning the rest of your trip
Once your visa is sorted, choose your season: our guide to when to go to Australia compares the tropical north and the temperate south month by month, and the time difference with Australia page explains the country’s time zones. Travel insurance covering medical costs is strongly advisable. If you are combining the trip with New Zealand, check its own entry requirements. GOV.UK also asks you to check the entry rules of any country you transit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Australian visa free for US and UK citizens?
The eVisitor, which UK citizens can usually use, has no application charge or service fee (GOV.UK). The ETA has no visa application charge; the Home Affairs FAQ lists a service fee of AUD 20 through the official app. Other visas are paid.
How long can I stay in Australia with an ETA?
Up to 3 months each time you enter, with as many entries as you like during 12 months, according to Home Affairs. For longer tourist stays you need a different visa.
How long does it take to get an ETA?
The sources I could read do not give a processing time: apply well before you book, and wait for the written approval before buying flights.
Does a child need their own visa?
Yes: each ETA application is for one individual applicant, so each traveller, including children, needs their own.
Can I work in Australia on a tourist visa?
No. Home Affairs says the ETA covers tourism or business visitor activities, and these do not include work.
Where do I apply for an Australian visa?
Only through official channels: the Australian ETA app and the Department of Home Affairs website (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au).
Our sources
- U.S. Department of State, Australia country information (travel.state.gov, last updated August 13, 2026).
- UK FCDO, Australia: entry requirements (GOV.UK, updated 19 March 2026), read 12 November 2026.
- Australian Department of Home Affairs, Electronic Travel Authority FAQ (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au), read 12 November 2026.
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.