Australia visa for Canada citizens
Canadian passport holders travelling to Australia for tourism lodge either the ETA (subclass 601) for short trips through the Australian ETA app published by the Department of Home Affairs, or the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream for longer stays through ImmiAccount on a browser. The eVisitor (subclass 651) stream is reserved for EU passport holders and is not open to Canadians. The fee shown of 200 AUD applies to the Visitor 600 lodgement; the ETA carries a separate, lower charge inside the app. Decisions usually arrive in the 1-to-5-day band, with a subset referred for further checks that can extend the timeline. The visa is entirely electronic, with no stamp or sticker, so the grant email becomes the travel document at the boarding gate alongside the Canadian passport.
| Visa required | No (source) |
|---|---|
| e-Visa available | No (source) |
| Maximum stay | 90 days (source) |
| Processing time | Varies — verify on the official source |
| Visa fee | 20 AUD (source) |
Official resources
Requirements
ETA / Visitor 600 eligibility
- Hold a chip-equipped, machine-readable Canadian passport — ETAs only attach to electronic passports.
- For the ETA stream, install the Australian ETA app published by the Department of Home Affairs and scan the passport's chip through the app.
- For the Visitor 600 stream, open ImmiAccount on a desktop browser and start a Tourist-stream application.
- Pay the lodgement fee inside the app or ImmiAccount — 200 AUD for the Visitor 600 Tourist stream, with a separate, lower charge for the ETA.
- Provide a working email address for the grant notification.
- Answer the character-declaration questions truthfully, including disclosure of prior visa refusals or criminal record.
- Provide travel itinerary, accommodation bookings, and evidence of sufficient funds for the trip.
- Carry travel insurance covering medical incidents during the stay.
- Plan within the visitor scope — tourism and business meetings, but not paid work for an Australian employer. Canadians aged 18-35 can apply through the Working Holiday (subclass 417) for short-term paid work.
Documents checklist
- Canadian passport with sufficient remaining validity for the planned trip — chip-equipped and machine-readable for the ETA stream.
- Australian ETA app installed on a smartphone, with the passport's chip read inside the app for the 601 stream.
- Working international payment card to pay the lodgement fee inside the app or ImmiAccount.
- Email address that can receive the grant notification — the visa is entirely electronic with no stamp.
- Travel itinerary covering flights, accommodation, and the planned stay length.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for the trip — bank statements or recent payslips.
- Travel insurance covering medical incidents during the stay, particularly for travellers from Canadian provinces with limited overseas-incident cover.
- Disclosure of any prior visa refusals or criminal record — the application asks specific questions.
- For Visitor 600 stream lodgements, employment evidence, study evidence, or evidence of ties to Canada supporting intent to return.
- Invitation letter from an Australian host with their address and contact details, for stays with friends or family.
- A printed copy of the e-visa grant email — airline staff occasionally check at the boarding gate.
Application steps
- Decide which subclass matches the trip — the ETA (subclass 601) for short trips up to three months per visit, or the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream for longer stays. The eVisitor (subclass 651) is closed to Canadian passports.
- For the ETA, download the Australian ETA app published by the Department of Home Affairs and scan the Canadian passport's chip through the app. Browser lodgement of the 601 is no longer available.
- Complete the application form with travel, contact, and prior-travel details, and answer the character-declaration questions truthfully.
- Pay the lodgement fee inside the app, or inside ImmiAccount for the Visitor 600 stream. The 200 AUD figure shown corresponds to the Visitor 600 lodgement.
- Wait for the decision. Most cases approve in the 1-to-5-day band, with a subset referred for further checks.
- Save the grant email — the Australian visa is entirely electronic, with no stamp or sticker, so the email becomes the travel document at the gate.
- On arrival in Australia, present the passport at SmartGate or the immigration counter; the visa is read electronically against the passport number.
- If the Canadian passport is renewed before travel, lodge a fresh ETA on the new passport — Australian visas attach to a single passport number and the old grant cannot be transferred.
Processing time
Varies — verify on the official source
Visa cost
Fee (from our data): 20 AUD (source) . Fees are subject to change; check the official source before applying.
The 200 AUD figure shown matches the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream lodgement fee. Canadians applying for the shorter ETA (subclass 601) pay a separate, lower charge on the Australian ETA app published by Home Affairs. Choose the subclass that matches the trip — tickets paid for under the wrong stream cannot be refunded.
Australia does not collect biometrics for Canadian ETA or short-stay Visitor 600 applications, so there is no service-centre fee on top of the consular charge. ImmiAccount accepts document uploads directly, removing the courier and counter fees common in other destinations.
Card payments are processed inside ImmiAccount or the ETA app at the rate the system displays for the subclass and the applicant. Australian visa fees are reviewed twice a year, so verify the live amount on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before paying.
Common mistakes to avoid
Canadian travellers planning a holiday in Australia most often pick the wrong subclass or rely on assumptions that hold for the U.S. but not for Australian immigration. The mistakes below appear repeatedly in Canadian casework.
- Assuming the U.S. ESTA experience transfers. Australia does not have a Visa Waiver Programme — every traveller, including short-stay tourists, needs either an ETA (subclass 601), an eVisitor (651, EU passports only), or a Visitor (600) before boarding.
- Filing for the eVisitor with a Canadian passport. The 651 stream is reserved for EU passport holders. Canadian travellers belong on the ETA (601) or Visitor 600 path.
- Booking flights before the decision arrives. While most ETAs decide in a small window, a subset are referred for further checks. Lodge early and book once the grant email is in hand.
- Using third-party 'eta-online' websites. The official lodgement is on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au or in the Australian ETA app published by Home Affairs. Look-alike sites add a service fee on top of the consular charge.
- Forgetting the passport-link rule. Australian visas attach to a single passport number; a renewal in Canada after grant requires lodging a fresh ETA. Apply with the passport you will actually carry.
- Mixing up tourist and work entitlements. The 600 and 601 streams do not permit paid work for an Australian employer. Canadians aged 18 to 35 can use the Working Holiday (subclass 417) stream for short-term paid work — a separate application.
- Skipping the character declaration. Australia asks targeted questions about prior criminal history and visa refusals on the application. Honest answers, with documentary evidence where requested, prevent later cancellations on the basis of misrepresentation.
Country context & recent trends
Recent rule changes
Australian ETA (subclass 601) applications from Canadian passport holders now run through the Australian ETA app published by Home Affairs, with browser lodgement no longer available for that stream. Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist applications continue on ImmiAccount in a browser. The eVisitor (subclass 651) remains closed to Canadian passports — that stream is reserved for EU passports.
Peak-season patterns
Canadian demand for Australian tourist visas peaks in the Northern Hemisphere winter — January through March, when many travellers head south to escape the cold. A second peak builds in June and July around summer break. ETA decisions usually arrive online in a small window, but a referral for manual review extends the timeline. Lodge ahead of any committed flight purchase.
How it compares to nearby destinations
Canadian travellers planning a South Pacific itinerary often combine Australia with New Zealand and Fiji. The summary below puts the entry rules for the three side by side.
| Destination | Visa required | Typical processing | Indicative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ETA / Visitor 600) | Yes (electronic) | 1–5 days | ~ 20 AUD / 200 AUD |
| New Zealand (NZeTA) | Yes (electronic authorisation) | Hours to days | ~ 23 NZD + 35 NZD IVL |
| Fiji (visa-free for tourism) | No | On arrival | Free for stays up to 4 months |
Canadian travellers stopping in Australia en route to New Zealand still need the Australian ETA — transit and tourism share the same authorisation. Fiji's visa-free entry only covers tourism, with separate streams for paid work or longer stays.
Frequently asked questions
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Do Canadian passport holders need a visa for Australia?
Yes. Australia does not run a Visa Waiver Programme, so Canadian travellers lodge either an ETA (subclass 601) for short tourism or business trips, or a Visitor (subclass 600) for longer stays.
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Why is the eVisitor (subclass 651) not an option?
The eVisitor stream is reserved for EU passport holders, with no Canadian eligibility. The route for Canadians is the ETA (601) on the Australian ETA app, or the Visitor 600 on ImmiAccount.
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How long does the decision take?
Most ETAs decide in a small window, with a subset referred for further checks that can extend the timeline. The 1-to-5-day band reflects that range — lodge ahead of any non-refundable flight purchase.
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Is biometrics enrolment needed?
No biometrics are collected for Canadian ETA or short-stay Visitor 600 applications. The lodgement is entirely electronic, with no in-person counter step.
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Can the visa be used for short-term paid work?
The 601 and 600 streams cover tourism and business meetings, not paid productive work for an Australian employer. Canadians aged 18 to 35 can use the Working Holiday (subclass 417) — a separate application with its own fee.
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What happens if the Canadian passport is renewed?
Australian visas attach to a single passport number, so a renewed Canadian passport voids the existing grant. Lodge a fresh ETA on the new passport before travelling.
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Can the ETA be extended onshore?
The ETA is granted with a fixed validity period and a maximum stay per visit, neither of which can be extended onshore. Travellers planning longer stays apply for the Visitor 600 from the start, or leave Australia and re-lodge.