Subclass 601 — Electronic Travel Authority — Australia — immi.wiki

The Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is an electronically-issued visa for short-term visits to Australia for tourism or business visitor activities. It is available to passport holders from a defined set of eligible countries — primarily in Asia and North America — who do not otherwise require a visitor visa and are not covered by the eVisitor (Subclass 651) scheme, which serves European passport holders.

The ETA is obtained digitally via the Australian ETA app on a mobile device, or through registered travel agents and airlines. It is linked electronically to the holder's passport and does not appear as a physical sticker or stamp. Travellers present their ETA-enabled passport at check-in and at the Australian border — the ETA is verified electronically against the passport number.

The Subclass 601 covers short-term tourism (holidays, visiting family and friends) and business visitor activities (attending meetings, conferences, business negotiations, contractual discussions). It does not authorise work in Australia.

Who can apply for the Subclass 601:

• Holders of a valid passport from a country eligible for the ETA — the list of eligible countries is published by the Department of Home Affairs and includes countries such as Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States, among others. European Union passport holders are not in the ETA scheme — they use the eVisitor (Subclass 651) instead
• The applicant must hold a valid ordinary (non-diplomatic, non-official) passport from an eligible country

Health and character requirements:

• Must be free from tuberculosis
• Must not have a criminal record with a total combined sentence of 12 months or more (whether or not the sentence was served in full)
• Standard health requirements apply — the automated system flags higher-risk profiles for additional review

The Subclass 601 cannot be granted to a person who holds a valid ETA or eVisitor for Australia that has not yet expired, unless the existing visa is cancelled first.

The Subclass 601 ETA is applied for using the Australian ETA app, which is available on iOS and Android. The applicant provides their passport details and answers eligibility questions. Most ETAs are granted within seconds of the application being submitted. A service fee is payable at the time of application — for current fees, refer to the DHA Subclass 601 page.

ETAs can also be applied for through registered travel agents and airline booking systems, where the ETA is automatically linked to the booking. Some airlines include ETA processing as part of the check-in and ticketing process.

Where an ETA application is not immediately approved (for example, where additional character or health assessment is needed), the applicant receives a notification that further processing is required, and the application proceeds through the ETA Request for Further Processing form on the DHA website.

Key conditions applying to the Subclass 601 ETA:

• Duration of stay: The holder may stay in Australia for up to 3 months on each entry. Multiple entries are permitted within the 12-month validity period of the ETA
• Validity: The ETA is valid for 12 months from the date of grant, or until the passport it is linked to expires — whichever comes first. A new ETA is required when the linked passport expires
• No work rights: The Subclass 601 does not authorise any form of work in Australia (Condition 8101). Working on an ETA is an offence under the Migration Act 1958
• Study: Study is permitted for up to 3 months only. Courses longer than 3 months require a Student visa (Subclass 500)
• Business visitor activities only: Permitted activities include attending conferences, making business inquiries, negotiations, and similar activities. Carrying out skilled or productive work for an Australian business is not permitted on the Subclass 601

Comparison with Subclass 651 (eVisitor): The Subclass 651 eVisitor applies the same conditions (3 months per visit, 12-month multiple entry, no work, no charge) but covers European passport holders. The Subclass 601 covers other eligible passport holders including many Asian and North American nationalities. Both are electronically issued and require no fee in the case of the 651; the 601 requires a service fee.