All visitors to Australia, except New Zealanders, require a visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enter the country; if you're heading overland, you'll obviously need to check visa requirements for countries en route. You can get visa application forms from the Australian High Commissions, embassies or consulates listed here. Citizens of the US can get visa application forms from the Washington, Los Angeles and Ottawa offices and from the embassy internet sites.
Nationals of the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and several European and Scandinavian countries who intend to stay for less than three months , can apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority), valid for multiple entry over one year. This replaces a visa - all the information is stored on computer - and saves you the hassle of having to queue or send off your passport. ETAs are available from travel agents and airlines and can be applied for at the same time as you book your flight. A fee may be levied for this service - in the UK around ￡16.
Citizens of other countries or visitors who intend to stay for longer than three months should apply for a visitor visa , valid for three to six months . You'll need to complete an application form and lodge it either in person or by post to the embassy or consulate. It costs ￡25 in the UK, US$36 in the US, CDN$55 in Canada, and takes around three weeks to process. If you think you might stay more than three months, it's best to get the longer visa before departure, because once you get to Australia extensions cost A$145. Once issued, a visa usually allows multiple entries, so long as your passport is valid.
An important condition for all holiday visa applications is that you have adequate funds both to support yourself during your stay - at least A$1000 a month - and eventually to get yourself home again. If you're visiting immediate family who live in Australia - parent, spouse, child, brother or sister - you can apply for a Close Family Visa , which has fewer restrictions.
Note that having a visa is not an absolute guarantee that you'll be allowed into Australia - immigration officials may well check again that you have enough money to cover you during your stay, and that you have a return or onward ticket. In extreme cases they may refuse entry, or more likely restrict your visit to a shorter period.
Australia has strict quarantine laws that apply to fruit, vegetables, fresh and packaged food, seed and some animal products, among other things; there are also strict laws prohibiting drugs, steroids, firearms, protected wildlife and associated products. Those over 18 can take advantage of a duty-free allowance on entry of 1 litre of alcohol and 250 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco.
