What passport evidence do you need for an Australia Subclass 601 ETA in 2026?

According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) official page, as of July 2026, the passport evidence you need is a single valid passport from one of the ETA-eligible countries or jurisdictions, scanned in the Australian ETA app to pre-fill your name, date of birth and passport number. You cannot rely on a non-citizen passport, a certificate of identity or another travel document such as a Titre de Voyage, and if you hold more than one passport you must declare this in the application and provide details of your other passports. This article is general information only and is not personalised migration or legal advice; for your own circumstances, rely on the latest official information or seek a qualified professional’s opinion.

What counts as an eligible passport for a Subclass 601 ETA?

The core evidence is a valid passport issued by one of the countries or jurisdictions listed on the official page. The list covers:

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Canada
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong (SAR of China)
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Monaco
• Norway
• Portugal
• Republic of San Marino
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan (excluding official or diplomatic passports)
• The Netherlands
• United Kingdom—British Citizen
• United Kingdom—British National (Overseas)
• United States of America
• Vatican City

Two entries need care when read as evidence rules: Taiwan is eligible only for ordinary passports, because official or diplomatic passports are excluded, and the United Kingdom appears as two separate eligible categories — British Citizen and British National (Overseas). The passport must be valid, and the Australian ETA app uses near-field communication (NFC) to read the passport data page rather than asking you to upload a separate image file.

Clause 601.211 of the Migration Regulations 1994 requires the applicant to hold an ETA-eligible passport, which matches the official page’s first criterion. The PAM3 guidance ties the definition of an ETA-eligible passport to regulation 1.11B(1), but the practical test published on the official page is the list above.

Which travel documents cannot be used as passport evidence?

The official page is explicit: you cannot apply for an ETA with a non-citizen passport, a certificate of identity, or other travel documents, such as a Titre de Voyage. If a travel document is not a valid passport from a listed country or jurisdiction, it does not satisfy the Subclass 601 evidence requirement, and the correct pathway is another visa rather than the ETA app.

There is also a status-based exclusion. If you hold an ETA-eligible passport but are also an Australian citizen, you cannot apply for an ETA, because Australian citizens have an automatic right of entry and do not need a visa to enter Australia. Holding the right passport is therefore necessary but not always sufficient.

What if I hold more than one passport?

You must declare this in your ETA application and provide details of your other passports. This sits inside the broader duty to provide accurate information: you must also declare if you have been known by any other name and any criminal conviction or domestic violence history. If you do not provide accurate information, the Department may cancel your ETA.

The consequence is practical as well as procedural. 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. Because the Department cannot change the details on an ETA once it has been issued, check the pre-filled data from your scanned passport before you submit the application.

How does the Australian ETA app capture your passport evidence?

To apply, you need a mobile device with a camera that can photograph the passport data page and enable NFC, plus location services, a valid email address and a valid payment method for the service fee. In the app you scan your passport to pre-fill your details, take a live facial image, answer questions, pay the service fee and submit.

A live facial image is mandatory: the official page states that a visa will not be granted if you do not take a live image. You cannot include family members in your application; each person, including those listed on your passport, must submit a separate application, although you can submit and pay for several applications from the same device. If a travel agent or industry representative applies on your behalf, you must still be physically present, take your photo and have your passport available to scan.

Is the passport the only document you need to evidence for an ETA?

For the Subclass 601 application itself, the eligible passport is the central document. The app scans the passport, and no separate sponsorship, financial or routine health documents are required through the ETA process. The Migration Regulations 1994 and PAM3 guidance for Subclass 601 do not set a documentary checklist beyond the ETA-eligible passport and payment, and there is no sponsorship requirement.

You must still meet the health and character requirements by answering the app’s questions truthfully. Where the official page expects supporting evidence — for example, if you have a criminal conviction in any country, or if you will be entering health care or hospital environments — it directs you to apply for a Visitor (subclass 600) visa and provide that evidence instead, rather than through the ETA.

How long does the passport need to remain valid?

The Migration Regulations 1994 and PAM3 guidance provide that an ETA is generally valid for up to 12 months or the passport’s validity, whichever is shorter, with each stay limited to 3 months. Because these limits come from the Regulations and PAM3 guidance rather than the main eligibility page, confirm the current position against the official latest publication.

In practice, a passport that expires brings the ETA tied to it to an end, and you must apply again with the new passport. The official page also advises not to arrange travel until the Department lets you know in writing that the ETA has been granted, since details cannot be corrected afterwards.

What if your passport is not eligible, or you cannot use the app?

If you are ineligible or unable to apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app, you can apply online through ImmiAccount for another visa that suits your needs. European passport holders may be eligible for an eVisitor (subclass 651) visa, and there is no charge to make an eVisitor visa application. Other passport holders may be eligible for a Visitor (subclass 600) visa.

If the system cannot process your ETA without further information, you will receive a letter explaining how to submit an online form directly in ImmiAccount, answer all questions, attach the required supporting documentation, and complete and attach Form 1554: ETA Request for further processing. The official page warns that you should not submit further ETA applications through the app, because you will receive the same result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to post my physical passport to the Department of Home Affairs?

No. The ETA process is electronic: you scan the passport data page using the NFC feature of the Australian ETA app and take a live facial image, and you keep the physical passport to travel. The app only reads the passport’s details to pre-fill your application.

Can I use a certificate of identity or a Titre de Voyage as my ETA evidence?

No. The official page states that you cannot apply for an ETA with a non-citizen passport, certificate of identity or other travel document such as a Titre de Voyage. Only a valid passport from a listed eligible country or jurisdiction qualifies as the required evidence.

I hold two passports from eligible countries — must I declare the second one?

Yes. If you hold more than one passport, you must declare this in the ETA application and provide details of your other passports. Failing to declare accurate information may result in the cancellation of your ETA, because the Department treats a correct passport declaration as part of providing accurate information.

Are there any exceptions for Taiwan or British National (Overseas) passports?

The eligible list includes Taiwan, but excludes official or diplomatic passports, so only an ordinary Taiwan passport is acceptable evidence. United Kingdom—British National (Overseas) passports are listed as a separate eligible category alongside United Kingdom—British Citizen passports.

What should I do if my passport is not on the ETA-eligible list?

If you are ineligible to use the app, you can apply online through ImmiAccount for another visa. European passport holders may be eligible for the eVisitor (subclass 651) visa, and there is no charge to make that application, while other passport holders may be eligible for a Visitor (subclass 600) visa.

Can the Department fix a mistake in my name after the ETA is granted?

No. The official page states that the details on an ETA cannot be changed once it has been issued, and if the ETA details do not exactly match your passport you might be delayed when boarding or refused entry. You must check all pre-filled details before submitting the application.

References

Australian Department of Home Affairs — Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)

Australian Government Federal Register of Legislation — Migration Regulations 1994 (Subclass 601)