Country	Passport Required?	Visa Required?	Return Ticket Required?
British Australian Canadian USA OtherEU Japanese	Yes	Yes	No
	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Yes	Yes	No
	Yes	Yes	No
	Yes	Yes	No
	Yes	Yes	No

Australian visa regulations (including visa application charges) change from time to time. The information provided below is valid at the time of publication, but visitors should check that this information is still current by visiting the Department of Immigration online (website: www.immi.gov.au) or by calling the Australian Immigration and Citizenship 24-hour Information Service (tel: (09065) 508 900; calls cost £1 per minute).

Valid passport required by all.

Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of New Zealand;
(b) nationals of the following countries do not need to obtain a transit visa before travel if they are continuing their journey to a third country (and they hold confirmation of booking and documentation to enter country) within eight hours of arriving in Australia: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Hong Kong (SAR or BNO passport holders), Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Korea (Rep), Lativia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Samoa (Western), San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (if issued by the authorities in Taiwan), Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK (and its colonies), USA, Vanuatu, Vatican City and Zimbabwe.
All other nationals must obtain a transit visa before travel if intending to remain in Australia no longer than 72 hours and a 'stopover' is intended. Transit visas are free of charge.
Note: Not all airports remain open all night; travellers should check with the airline.

The ETA is an electronically stored authority for travel to Australia that allows people from certain countries (see below) to visit Australia for up to three months for tourism, short-term business or elective study purposes. An ETA is invisible and therefore will not show up in your passport.
ETAs (Visitor and Business – Short Validity ETAs only) may, for some nationals, be obtained online from the main Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA; website: www.eta.immi.gov.au) or from over 10,000 travel agents and airline offices throughout the UK.
Please note, the Australian High Commission in London does not offer an automatic ETA service.
Only nationals of the following countries are eligible for an ETA: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, British Overseas Territories, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (China), UK, USA and Vatican City.

Tourist Visit/Business Visit (short-term): Free of charge.
Note: A service fee of A$20 is charged when applying for an ETA online through the DIMIA ETA website. Some travel agents and airlines issuing ETAs also charge a processing fee.

Tourist Visit ETAs are valid for 12 months from date of issue (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first) and permit multiple entries into Australia for a stay of up to three months on each visit. Short-term Business Visit ETAs are valid for 12 months from date of issue (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first) for a single entry of up to three months. Long-term Business Visit ETAs are valid for 10 years (or the life of the passport) and permit multiple entries for a stay of up to three months for each visit.

Visitors not eligible for an ETA, or seeking a longer stay than an ETA offers, may apply for Tourist Visit (Non ETA) and Temporary Business Short-stay and Temporary Business Long-stay (Non ETA) visas. Tourist Visit and Business Short-stay visas cost £35; Business Long-stay visas cost £70. There are also student visas available, plus sponsored family visitor visas; please enquire at the Australian High Commission. Visa fees are generally adjusted on 1 January and 1 July each year.

For non-ETA visas, the validity varies according to the type of visa, the purpose of the trip and the validity of the passport. The validity will be stated on the visa label in your passport.

ETA: Authorised travel agents or airlines, by telephone or, in some cases, online through Australian Visas Ltd (see above). Non-ETA: Australian Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates; see Passport/Visa Information. There is a Tourist Short-Stay visa available online for passport holders of Bahrain, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Oman, Poland, Qatar, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates.

ETA: (a) Valid passport. (b) Fee (if applicable). (c) Completed application form giving details of passport number and expiry date, airline, names of travellers etc (if applying by post). Tourist Visitor (Non ETA): (a) Completed application form. Application forms for tourist and business visitor visas can be downloaded from the Department of Immigration (website: www.immi.gov.au). (b) An A4 stamped, self-addressed, registered envelope for return of passport. (c) Valid passport with two unused visa pages. (d) Fee (payable by credit or debit card, American Express and Diners Card are not accepted). (e) One or more recent passport photos as required. (f) Evidence of sufficent funds.(g) Tourists over the age of 70 require a medical certificate. Business Visitor (Non ETA): (a)-(f) and, (g) Applicant must provide proof of sponsorship and business interest. Business visa forms are also available from Australian Outlook, 3 Buckhurst Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex TN40 1QF, UK. Transit: (a) Photo (signed on back), itinerary, onward booking, correct documentation to onward country and completed incoming passenger card.
Note: (a) Prior to lodging an application, visitors should confirm the current visa fees at www.immi.gov.au. (b) All travellers to Australia, except Australian citizens and permanent residents, must satisfy health and character requirements. (c) All travellers, including minors travelling on a parent’s passport, require their own visa or ETA. (d) Students must, before commencing study, pass a chest X-ray examination, carried out by a qualified radiologist.

ETA: When issued through DIMIA’s ETA website (website: www.eta.immi.gov.au), or through travel agents or airline offices, ETAs are usually processed and valid immediately or within three working days. Non-ETA: 10-15 working days.

Applicants for temporary residence, working holidays and long-stay business visits to Australia should contact DIMIA online (website: www.immi.gov.au) or the High Commission online (website: www.australia.org.uk).

Australian High Commission in the UK
Australia House, The Strand, London WC2B 4LA, UK
Tel: (020) 7379 4334 or (09065) 508 900 (24-hour immigration and citizenship enquiries; calls cost £1 per minute).
Website: www.australia.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (general); 0900-1100 (visa and immigration); 0930-1530 (passport and consular).

Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia in the USA
1601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 797 3000 or (888) 990 8888 (visa information line; toll-free in the USA).
Website: www.austemb.org
All visa enquiries should be directed to the Embassy in Washington, DC or Consulate General in Los Angeles.

Department of Immigration
Website: www.immi.gov.au

Indian/Pacific Oceans.

Australia spans three time zones:
1. GMT + 10 (GMT + 11 October to March, except Queensland).
2. GMT + 9.5 (GMT + 10.5 October to March, except Northern Territory).
3. GMT + 8.
Some States operate daylight saving time during the Australian summer. Clocks in these States are put forward by one hour in October and put back again in March.

Addresses of Tourist Representatives for individual States can be found at the head of each State entry.

Australia House, The Strand, London WC2B 4LA, UK
Tel: (020) 7379 4334 or (09065) 508 900 (24-hour immigration and citizenship enquiries; calls cost £1 per minute).
Website: www.australia.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 (general); 0900-1100 (visa and immigration); 0930-1530 (passport and consular).

Australia Centre, Australia House, 6th Floor, Melbourne Place, The Strand, London WC2B 4LG, UK
Tel: (020) 7438 4601 (trade enquiries only).
Website: www.australia.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730.

1601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 797 3000 or (888) 990 8888 (visa information line; toll-free in the USA).
Website: www.austemb.org
All visa enquiries should be directed to the Embassy in Washington, DC or Consulate General in Los Angeles.

6100 Center Drive, Suite 1150, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA
Tel: (310) 695 3200.
Website: www.australia.com

Health Precaution	Special Precaution	Certificate
Yellow Fever Cholera Typhoid and Polio Malaria	No	1
	No	No
	No	N/A
	No	N/A

A yellow fever certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving within six days of leaving or transiting countries with infected areas.

Standards of hygiene in food preparation are very high. Milk is pasteurised and meat and vegetables are considered safe to eat. Care should be taken, however, when sampling ’bush tucker’ in outback areas as some insects and fauna are highly poisonous unless properly cooked.

Occasional outbreaks of dengue fever and Ross River fever have occurred in rural areas in northern Australia in recent years. There have been reports of Murray Valley encephalitis in the Northern Territory. Inland, there are suggestions that this risk extends from Western Australia to Queensland. Corals, jellyfish and fresh water crocodiles may prove a hazard to the bather, and heat is a hazard in the northern and central parts of Australia. Insectivorous and fruit-eating bats have been found to harbour a virus related to the rabies virus and should be avoided. Venomous snakes and spiders exist throughout Australia and can be extremely dangerous. Medical assistance should be sought immediately if bitten.

There are strict customs and health controls on entering and leaving the country, and Australian law can inflict severe penalties on health infringements. Australia reserves the right to isolate any person who arrives without the required certificates. Carriers are responsible for expenses of isolation of all travellers arriving by air who are not in possession of the required vaccination certificates. All arriving aircraft are sprayed before disembarkation to prevent the spread of disease-carrying insects.

Doctors and dentists are highly trained and hospitals are well equipped. There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, in emergencies only, which allows residents from the UK free hospital treatment. Passport or proof of UK residence, such as an NHS medical card or a UK driving licence, must be shown. Prescribed medicines, ambulances and treatment at some doctors’ surgeries must be paid for. Personal insurance for illness and accidents is highly recommended for all visitors. Those wishing to benefit from the agreement should enrol at a Medicare office; this can be done after treatment.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2006-June 2007 period.

Jan 1 2006 New Year’s Day. Jan 26 Australia Day. Apr 14-17 Easter. Apr 25 ANZAC Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas.
Jan 1 2007 New Year’s Day. Jan 26 Australia Day. Apr 6-9 Easter. Apr 25 ANZAC Day.

Nationwide holidays only. If these dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday, a day may be given in lieu. There are numerous individual State holidays – see individual state sections for details.