Australia 601 ETA 2026 lodgement steps and what the app requires from applicants

The Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) is lodged through the Australian ETA app, and the app itself sets the requirements: a device with a camera, near-field communication (NFC) switched on, location services enabled, a valid email address, and a payment method for the service fee. You scan the passport, take a photo of yourself, answer the questions, pay, and submit — then check every field before it goes in. This account follows the Australian Department of Home Affairs official page for the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), as at the July 2026 official page. It is general information about published process, not personalised advice for your circumstances; where your own situation is complicated, the official wording and a registered professional's assessment should govern what you do.

What does the app require before you even start?

The official page lists five requirements for applying through the app: a mobile device with a camera that can take your photo and an image of the passport data page, NFC enabled on the device, location services enabled, a valid email address, and a valid payment method ready to pay the service fee.

A mobile device with a camera that can take your photo and an image of the passport data page
NFC enabled on the device
Location services enabled
A valid email address
A valid payment method, ready to pay the service fee

The app is downloaded free from the Apple Store (Apple) or the Google Play store (Android). The official page also points applicants to the ETA and AIA video guides before lodging, and it lists a valid passport as the first pre-condition. Eligibility on the same page is summarised as: apply from outside Australia, hold an eligible passport, and use the Australian ETA app.

What is the visa actually for, and how long is each stay?

The official page frames the purpose as visiting family or friends, cruising or having a holiday, or undertaking some business visitor activities. Stay is expressed as up to 3 months at a time. Anything outside that framing is a different visa conversation, not an ETA lodgement question.

Who can lodge for you, and when must you be there?

You can get help from a friend or family member through the app, but you must be physically with them when the application is made. Authorised travel agents and industry representatives can also apply on your behalf using the app; the official page states they must take a live facial image of you when they lodge, and that a visa will not be granted if a live image is not taken.

If an agent applies for you, you still must be physically present at the time, you will need to take your photo, and your passport must be available to scan. The travel agent relationship does not remove your own obligation to answer truthfully — that stays with the applicant.

What happens at each step inside the app?

After downloading and opening the app, the sequence is fixed:

Scan your passport, which pre-fills your name, date of birth, passport number and other details
Take a photo of yourself
Answer questions, including whether you have any criminal convictions, any prior names, and contact details in Australia
Pay the service fee
Submit the application

The pre-fill is the useful part and the risky part at the same time: an NFC scan removes typing errors, but it does not check that the scanned data is the data you intend to rely on. Treat it as a draft, not as verified truth.

What must you check before you press submit?

The official page puts this as a direct obligation: you must check that all details of your application, including name and date of birth, are correct before submitting, and you must also check that you have answered all questions in the app correctly.

Two consequences follow from getting it wrong. If your ETA details do not exactly match your passport details, you might experience delays when boarding your aircraft or be refused entry in Australia. And once an ETA has been issued, the details cannot be changed; the official page does not set out any process for correcting them afterwards.

Accuracy is not limited to typos. You must truthfully answer all questions, including declaring if you hold any other passports, if you have been known by any other name, and any criminal conviction or domestic violence history. Failure to provide accurate information is linked on the official page to cancellation of the ETA. The department also suggests not making travel arrangements until the ETA is granted.

Can your family travel on one application?

No. You cannot include family members in your application. Each family member, including those listed on your passport, must submit a separate application. The one concession is mechanical: if all family members apply using the same mobile device, you can submit and pay for the applications at the same time. That means one device, one NFC reader, one camera — but a separate photo, scan and answer set for each person.

What if you cannot use the app?

If you are ineligible for or unable to use the ETA app, the official page directs you to apply online for another visa through ImmiAccount.

Route	Who it is for, per the official page	Charge
ETA (subclass 601) via the app	Eligible passport holders applying from outside Australia	Service fee payable in the app
eVisitor (subclass 651)	European passport holders who may be eligible	No charge to make an application
Visitor (subclass 600)	Other passport holders who may be eligible; also the route suggested when you have a criminal conviction	Not stated on the 601 page

Assume an applicant holds a passport that the app will not accept, or has a criminal conviction in any country. The official guidance for the conviction case is not "try the app again": you should apply for a Visitor (subclass 600) visa and provide evidence about your criminal convictions.

What happens after you submit?

In most cases the department tells you the result immediately. Sometimes there is a delay before the notification arrives, and you should check your emails — including the junk mail folder — for the written notification.

The official page names three reasons an application takes longer: it was not filled in correctly, more information is needed, or the information is hard to verify. All three trace back to the lodgement step, which is why the pre-submit check matters more than speed.

Do not arrange travel to Australia until the department lets you know, in writing, that the visa has been granted.

What does a favourable outcome tell you?

A written decision will state your visa grant number, the date your visa starts, and your visa conditions. Keep a copy of the decision with you while in Australia. If the application is refused, the department tells you in writing, explains why, and states whether you have a right to a review of the decision.

What if the department asks for more information?

You receive a letter explaining how to provide it. The required steps are: use the link in the letter to submit an online form directly in ImmiAccount, answer all questions in the form and attach the required supporting documentation, and complete and attach Form 1554: ETA Request for further processing to the online form.

One instruction is emphatic on the official page: do not submit further ETA applications through the Australian ETA app, because you will receive the same results. A repeat lodgement is not an appeal. If the ETA cannot be processed without more information, you can consider another visa that suits your travel needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need NFC and location services switched on to apply?

Yes. The official page lists NFC enabled and location services enabled on the mobile device as requirements for applying through the Australian ETA app, alongside a camera, a valid email address, and a valid payment method.

Can someone else apply for me using the app?

Yes, a friend, family member, authorised travel agent or industry representative can help or apply on your behalf, but you must be physically present when the application is made. If an agent lodges it, they must take a live facial image of you, and no visa is granted without one.

Can I add my spouse or children to my ETA application?

No. Each family member must submit a separate application, including those listed on your passport. If everyone applies on the same mobile device, you can submit and pay for the applications at the same time.

What if I make a mistake in my name or date of birth?

You must check all details, including name and date of birth, before submitting, because the ETA cannot be changed once issued. If the ETA details do not exactly match your passport, you might face delays boarding your aircraft or be refused entry in Australia.

How long does a decision take?

In most cases the department tells you the result immediately, though some notifications are delayed, so check your email including the junk folder. Applications take longer when they are not filled in correctly, when more information is needed, or when information is hard to verify.

Is there a fee for the ETA application?

The official page refers to a service fee payable in the app and states the app itself is free to download from the Apple Store or Google Play; it does not list a fee amount on this page. European passport holders may instead be eligible for an eVisitor (subclass 651) visa, for which there is no charge to make an application.