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Australia Eta Visa For Us Citizens – From incredible metropolitan cities like Sydney, Melbourne or Auckland to indigenous cultures and cuisines of Aboriginal Australians or Maorians, popular beaches, breathtaking natural landscapes and native wildlife including cuddly koalas, iconic kangaroos and unique kiwi birds, most Malaysians have a tough time to choose between a holiday to the Land Down Under or hopping over to New Zealand.
The first hurdle you have to cross is visa applications. Fortunately, you don’t have to rack your brain to figure out the different types of Australia and New Zealand visas for Malaysian tourists, how to apply for the Australia ETA or New Zealand ETA, and essential travel documents and requirements. All you need to do is check out our guide below for a smooth visa application process!
Australia Eta Visa For Us Citizens
Traditional visas are stamped or glued into your passport and contain your name, passport number, place of birth, reason for travel and expiry date. | Credit: Agus Dietrich via Unsplash
I Am Cpmoon ♥: Applying Australian Electronic Travel Authority For Tourism Activities
Malaysian tourists can apply for various types of documentation for travel to Australia. The most common types of travel documents are:
An electronically stored authority that allows you to enter and stay in Australia for up to 90 days for tourism (including cruises) or limited activities for business visitors (eg. An ETA is available to eligible Malaysian passport holders. You can apply online via the ETA app or through a travel management company.
A Visitor Visa is a visa that allows you to enter and stay in Australia for up to 12 months for tourism or to visit family or friends. Eligible Malaysian passport holders aged 18 and over must have sufficient funds to stay in Australia and cannot work during the period of their stay in Australia. Malaysia can apply for this visa online by creating an ImmiAccount. This type of visa requires additional documentation beyond an ETA.
This visa allows you to enter and stay in Australia for tourism for up to 12 months. It also allows you to work with an employer for up to six months to finance your trip. You are eligible for a second work and holiday visa if you work for 3 months in the specified subclass 462 work categories (eg critical COVID-19 work in the health and medical sectors anywhere in Australia). This visa is available to eligible Malaysian passport holders aged 18 to 30 without accompanying dependent children. Similar to the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600), the visa application must be made online through an ImmiAccount.
U.s. Citizens Need Advance Visas To Visit These Countries
In simple words, an Australian ETA is applicable to visa-exempt countries, such as Malaysia. It is not a full visa but only an electronic form of authorization linked to your passport number that informs the Australian government that a Malaysian tourist intends to visit their country. An ETA is valid for up to 12 months (or until your passport expires, whichever is earlier) and allows you to stay or enter Australia multiple times for up to 3 months per visit. An Australia ETA is the most suitable option for short term travel.
On the other hand, an Australian visa document allows entry into Australia for a specific purpose and specific time. Some visas can be applied for online, while others require paper applications and supporting documents. Each visa has its own eligibility criteria, application process and conditions.
An Australian ETA is easily obtained online through the ETA app without the hassle of traveling for hours and standing at the Australian Embassy in Malaysia. Malaysians can apply for an ETA from the comfort of their homes or offices without taking time off work or spending money on travel.
You only need to pay a processing fee of AUD20 for the Australia ETA. Meanwhile, the New Zealand ETA requested via the mobile app costs NZD17, and the website form costs NZD23. This makes Australia and New Zealand ETAs more affordable options for Malaysian tourists as it is cheaper than an Australian visa application fee for a traditional visa.
Australia International Arrivals Experience (2022)
The Australian ETA is usually processed immediately or within 12 hours of application submission. This means Malaysian tourists can quickly receive their ETA and make travel arrangements without undue delay. However, the processing time may take longer if your details are inaccurate or if the Australian Government needs additional information or more time to verify your details. As for the New Zealand ETA, the processing time is within three business days.
With multiple entries allowed in Australia for up to three months per visit, Malaysian tourists have the freedom to make travel plans to visit all six states and two territories in Australia multiple times or stay with family and friends for a longer period. On the other hand, the New Zealand ETA allows Malaysians to holiday in New Zealand for up to 90 days at any time within two years.
The Australian ETA and New Zealand ETA are available to Malaysian tourists who meet the eligibility criteria, including a valid passport and no criminal convictions. This means that many Malaysian tourists can take advantage of the ETA and enjoy the benefits of visiting Australia or New Zealand without going through a complicated and time-consuming application process.
Before applying for the Australia ETA via the Australia ETA app, you must ensure that you meet the following travel requirements for Australia:
Ways To Get An Australian Visa
1. A valid Malaysian passport. It is recommended to ensure that your passport is valid for 6 months or one year before your visit to Australia. You can now renew your Malaysian passport online without much hassle.
2. The purpose of entry into Australia must be for tourism or business purposes only. According to the official website of the Australian High Commission in Malaysia, activities for business visitors include:
Generally, activities for business visitors do not include undertaking paid work in Australia, such as fruit picking. There have been reported cases of Malaysian tourists working illegally in violation of a tourist visa, such as fruit picking. Any traveler found in violation of their visa conditions may be detained and deported in addition to a 3-year re-entry ban.
4. No criminal record or convictions that resulted in a sentence of 12 months or more. Among crimes or criminal convictions that are viewed seriously by the Australian government include sexual offenses involving minors, drug trafficking, human trafficking, domestic violence and immigration offences, to name a few.
Electronic Travel Authority Additional Information Form December 16
In case of doubt, refer to the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) to determine your eligibility for an Australia ETA and visa conditions.
Despite the fast processing time, Malaysian applicants are advised to obtain the Australia ETA at least one month before booking flight tickets and making travel arrangements. The essential documents you need to prepare prior to the application are:
Australia began rolling out the ETA electronic visa in the run-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics to facilitate hassle-free entry for foreign athletes. | Credit: The RESEARCH Files via Youtube
All applications for the Australian ETA can only be made through the Australian ETA mobile app. You can download the app in the App Store or Google Play Store. Make sure your mobile device is NFC-enabled. Most current iPhones since iPhone 6 are NFC-enabled. Android phone users can check NFC settings by searching in the Settings app > Connections > tap NFC and contactless payments. Your mobile device must have a functional camera and enable the location services feature.
Australian Evisitor Visa, Visitor Visa & Eta
If you are traveling with family, each family member must make a separate ETA application. However, you can still use the same mobile device to submit each ETA application and pay in one go.
You can enable a travel agent to make the ETA through the mobile app. However, you must be physically present when the application is made to scan your passport and take your photo.
2. Read the Terms and Conditions and Tap ‘Agree’. 3. Secure your profile with a Face ID or Passcode. 4. Tap on ‘New ETA’ to start an application.
Next, you must read and agree to the consent agreement. You will be directed to an instruction page. Read through the instructions and tap ‘Start’.
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The entire personal data page must be clearly visible. | Credit: bordertv.au via Australian Government, Department of Home Affairs
Open the personal data page in your passport for scanning. The personal details page contains your personal details, such as your full name, date of birth and passport number. Remove your phone cover before scanning, and point your mobile device at the passport.
The red outline will turn green if the passport is correctly aligned. A successful scan displays the entire personal data page, including the two lines of letters and numbers at the bottom. Avoid blocking the camera with your fingers. Shadows or glare can also result in a failed scanning process.
The next step is to scan your passport chip. Remove all covers from your passport before scanning, and activate the NFC function on your mobile device. Place your mobile device directly on top of the front of the passport for the built-in reader to detect and scan your passport chip. Make sure your phone touches the passport until the app recognizes the chip and a read message is displayed
