Planning to see the Sydney Opera House, grab a coffee in Melbourne or kick back on the Gold Coast? Before you lock in your flights, don’t forget to sort out your Australian visa.
If you hold an eligible ordinary Taiwan passport, you can apply for an Australian ETA (Electronic Travel Authority, Subclass 601) for a short holiday. In 2026, you apply through the Australian Government’s official AustralianETA app – no agent needed, and no need to post your passport anywhere. The parts that most often trip people up are actually scanning the passport chip with your phone, the selfie check and email verification.
This guide takes you straight from “which app do I download?” to “what if the scan fails?”, then rounds up the fees, validity, common mistakes and getting connected once you land in Australia – so first-timers can simply follow along.
The 30-second version: The AustralianETA app charges a service fee of AUD 20. Once granted, an ETA generally lets you enter Australia multiple times within 12 months, staying up to 3 months each visit. An ETA isn’t guaranteed to be granted, and it isn’t the same as permission to enter; make sure you’ve received the official grant notice before you fly. You must be outside Australia when you apply.
Fact-checked: 13 October 2026. If the rules change, the Department of Home Affairs’ official ETA page takes precedence.
What is the Australian ETA, and do Taiwan passport holders need one?
The ETA is an electronic travel authority that Australia offers to holders of certain passports, covering eligible short-term tourism, family visits and specific business visitor activities. Australia’s official rules on ETA-eligible passports include ordinary passports issued by Taiwan; other types such as official and diplomatic passports aren’t covered by the same rules, so check the right visa for your own passport and purpose of travel.
Once granted, the ETA is linked electronically to the passport you applied with, so there’s usually no visa label stuck in your passport. Airlines and immigration officers can check the electronic record, but it’s still a good idea to save your grant letter as a PDF so you can find it even when your phone is offline.
| Question | Australian ETA in 2026 (Subclass 601) |
|---|---|
| Can ordinary Taiwan passport holders apply? | Yes, if eligible; each application is still assessed on individual circumstances |
| Where do I apply? | The official AustralianETA mobile app |
| How much does it cost? | AUD 20 app service fee; there’s no separate visa application charge for the ETA itself |
| How long is it valid? | Generally 12 months from the grant date, or it ends earlier in cases such as your passport expiring |
| How long can I stay each time? | Up to 3 months, subject to the conditions listed in your grant letter |
| How many times can I enter? | Multiple entries while it’s valid |
| Can I work in Australia? | No regular employment; only permitted business visitor activities |
| Do I need a printed copy? | The ETA is electronically linked to your passport; saving a copy of the grant letter for reference is recommended |
Valid for 12 months doesn’t mean you can stay for 12 months straight
This is one of the most common misunderstandings. “Valid for 12 months” refers to the period in which you can use the ETA, while “up to 3 months per visit” is the maximum a regular traveller can stay on each entry. For example, once you have an ETA, you could spend 10 days in Sydney this year and then, still within the validity period, 7 days in Melbourne next year – generally without reapplying for each trip. That said, if you come and go frequently or it looks like you’re effectively living there, you may still be asked whether you’re genuinely visiting short-term.
Heads-up: if you get a new passport, your existing ETA is no longer valid and you’ll need to apply again with the new passport. Don’t assume you can keep using the old ETA just by updating your passport number.
How much does an Australian ETA cost, and what is the AUD 20 for?
Under Australia’s official rules for 2026, there’s no separate Visa Application Charge (VAC) for the ETA itself, but you pay a AUD 20 service fee when you submit your application through the AustralianETA app. The official store listing also notes that this service fee is non-refundable.
If you come across sites charging “several thousand dollars for an agent” or promising “apply today, guaranteed approval”, check who you’re actually dealing with first. You can apply yourself through the official app; if you use a third party, that’s an extra agency service – the Australian Government doesn’t require you to pay that agent fee. A successful payment doesn’t mean your visa has been granted.
How far in advance should I apply for an Australian ETA?
The Australian Government says most applications get a result quickly, but it can take longer if details need re-checking, answers are incomplete or your personal circumstances need assessing. There’s no official guarantee that everyone will be approved within minutes.
In practice, it’s best to check your eligibility and apply as soon as you decide on an Australia trip, leaving at least a few weeks’ buffer in case you’re suddenly asked for more information. This is travel risk-management advice, not a fixed processing time promised by the Australian Government. The safest approach is to hold off on non-refundable travel spending until you’ve received written notice of your grant.
Get these 6 things ready before you apply, so you don’t get stuck halfway
- A valid, eligible passport: Use the exact passport you’ll be taking to Australia, and check the data page, passport number and expiry date.
- A phone with a camera and NFC: iPhone or Android both work; check the official app store listing for supported models.
- A stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection: The application uploads data, so you don’t want to drop out halfway through a scan.
- The app’s required permissions switched on: Including camera, NFC (if your device needs it turned on manually) and location services.
- An email address that can receive verification codes: Ideally a personal inbox you’ll still be able to log in to while travelling.
- A credit card or another valid payment method shown in the app: If the payment fails, check with your card issuer first rather than retrying blindly and risking duplicate charges.
If you’re travelling as a couple, with friends or with the kids, every traveller needs their own ETA application – children included. You can handle several applications on the same phone, but each applicant has to be there in person to have their photo taken and scan their own passport.
How to apply with the AustralianETA app in 2026: just follow these steps
Step 1: Download the Australian Government’s AustralianETA app
Download it straight from the official app store – don’t enter your passport, credit card or other personal details on an ad page first:
Look for the developer name Department of Home Affairs. The app is free to download; the AUD 20 is the service fee you pay later when you submit. On-screen wording may change with app updates, so go by the steps you actually see at the time.
Step 2: Accept the terms, set up security and turn on permissions
The first time you open the app, read through the terms of use, set up an app passcode or biometric login, and allow the required permissions such as camera and location. If your Android phone has an NFC toggle, make sure it’s switched on too. The app’s job is to verify your passport and your identity as the applicant – it has nothing directly to do with buying an eSIM.
Step 3: Scan your passport’s data page (this isn’t the NFC step)
Open your passport to the data page with your photo, English name and passport number, lay it flat and line your phone camera up with the frame on screen. Along the bottom of the page is the machine-readable zone (MRZ) – two lines made up of letters, numbers and “<” symbols – and the whole zone needs to be in the shot.
If the image keeps failing to read, check for glare, poor lighting, a finger over the lens, or a page that isn’t lying completely flat. Once it reads successfully, check your English name, date of birth and passport number field by field – don’t just hit Next because everything filled in automatically.
Step 4: Read your passport’s NFC chip
This is usually where most people get stuck. The app asks you to use your phone to read the chip inside your passport, not to photograph the passport again.
The most practical approach: take off your phone case and passport cover, lay the passport flat on a table, and hold the back of your phone against the front cover, back cover or data page, moving it slowly to find the sweet spot. Once the app says it has found the chip and the progress bar starts moving, stop moving your phone and wait for the read to finish.
Which page the chip sits in can vary with passport design, so don’t fixate on the front cover alone. The Department of Home Affairs has official demos of reading the chip from the front cover, back cover and data page – you can watch them here:
Australian Government: video guides to passport scanning and NFC chip reading
Step 5: Take a live photo of yourself
This isn’t about uploading a flattering, filtered selfie – it lets the system confirm that the applicant matches the passport holder. Stand somewhere with even lighting, in front of a light-coloured background, and look straight at the camera, avoiding shadows on your face, filters and other people in the frame. If glasses or accessories cause recognition problems, take them off and try again.
Step 6: Fill in your personal details and travel questions
The app will ask you to confirm your passport details and answer questions about other passports, previous names, criminal history and contact details for your visit to Australia. Answer truthfully – don’t hide anything in the hope of a faster approval. If you have a criminal record or another complicated immigration history, check the official guidance and, if necessary, consider a different visa type that suits you better.
Step 7: Get your email verification code
Once you enter your usual email address, the system sends you a verification code. The Australian Government’s existing user guides say the code must be entered within the time shown on screen. If it doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder first, then tap resend in the app, and if needed switch to an email address that receives mail reliably. Avoid restricted, company-managed inboxes you might not be able to log in to once you’re in Australia.
Step 8: Double-check everything, pay AUD 20 and submit
Before paying, do a final check of the romanised spelling of your name, your passport number, date of birth, nationality, email address and all your answers. Officials say the details of an ETA can’t be changed directly once it’s been granted; if something is wrong, follow the official instructions – don’t set off thinking you’ll “just explain it at the airport”.
After paying the service fee and submitting, keep an eye on the app and your inbox. What really matters is the granted status and the official grant notice, not a screen saying your card payment went through.
Passport chip scan failing for your Australian ETA? First work out where you’re stuck
A failed data-page scan and a failed NFC read are different problems, with different fixes.
| Where you’re stuck | Try this first | Still not working? |
|---|---|---|
| The passport data page won’t scan no matter what | Add more light, avoid glare and get the whole data page and MRZ in the shot | Clean the lens, lay the passport flat and refocus |
| The app keeps saying it can’t find the chip | Check your phone supports NFC and remove the phone case and passport cover | Try the front cover, back cover and data page one at a time, moving the phone slowly |
| The read cuts out halfway | Once reading has started, keep the phone still | Restart the app and try again somewhere stable |
| The selfie isn’t accepted | Use even lighting and a plain background, and remove accessories that might cover your face | Check the camera permission and use another compatible phone to help |
| The email verification code hasn’t arrived | Check your spam folder and the spelling of your email address | Resend it from the app, and switch to another email address if needed |
| Payment failed | Check the card is valid and enabled for international online transactions | Use a different payment method or contact your card issuer, checking first whether you’ve been charged |
iPhone won’t pick up NFC – where do I turn it on?
On iPhones that support NFC, the app usually triggers the reader itself, so there isn’t necessarily an “NFC switch” you can flip manually. First make sure your device meets AustralianETA’s current compatibility requirements and that camera and system permissions are working. The trick that really matters is trying different chip contact points and holding the phone still, not swiping quickly back and forth.
Android keeps saying it can’t read the chip?
Check that NFC is turned on in your phone settings, and that you’re not pressing a phone case with metal, magnetic accessories or too much bulk against the passport. If the phone detects the chip but the read keeps dropping out, hold it still once it’s close to the passport – that usually works better than moving it around.
Can I apply using someone else’s phone?
You can get help from family or friends, but the applicant must be there in person to physically scan their own passport and take their own live photo. You can’t just send a photo of your passport to someone far away and have them do the live selfie for you.
If none of the above solves it, start with the official ETA video guides. If your device genuinely can’t run the official ETA app, the Department of Home Affairs suggests considering applying for another visa you’re eligible for through ImmiAccount – it doesn’t mean you can switch to a regular website and get the same ETA there.
How do I check my Australian ETA after applying? What if I’m asked for more information or refused?
After submitting, check the email address you applied with first, including your spam folder. When your ETA is granted, the Australian Government sends written notice that includes your visa grant number, start date and conditions. You can also check your visa status with Visa check in the AustralianETA app, or through the official VEVO visa check service.
If you receive a formal letter asking for more information, respond using the method, forms and deadline specified in the letter. Australian officials specifically warn that if your ETA has been referred for further assessment, repeatedly reapplying through the app usually won’t change the outcome. If you get a refusal notice, read the reasons in the government’s letter and check whether you have review rights before weighing up other visa options – and don’t mistake “payment successful” for a grant.
If you’re issued a new passport, your old ETA doesn’t transfer across and you’ll need to apply again. Before you fly, check that the name on your ticket, the passport you’re entering with and the passport used for your ETA all match.
What else do you need to enter Australia? Don’t miss these, even once your visa is sorted
Having an ETA doesn’t guarantee you’ll clear immigration. Before you go, save the following on your phone and keep an offline backup:
- Your valid passport, plus the official ETA grant notice.
- Your return or onward travel, accommodation address and travel plans, so you can explain them if asked.
- Your travel insurance details and emergency contacts.
- The Incoming Passenger Card (arrival card) you’re required to fill in when you arrive in Australia – don’t assume having an ETA means you can skip it.
- Details of any food, plant and animal products or other restricted items you need to declare – Australian biosecurity takes honest declarations very seriously.
Some eligible travellers can use SmartGate automated border processing at the airport, but it isn’t guaranteed for everyone – follow the directions on the day.
How to get an eSIM for Australia: sort the ETA first, connectivity can come later
You don’t need an eSIM to apply for an ETA, but having data on the road is a real help
Let’s get the basics straight: an ETA is an electronic visa linked to your passport; an eSIM is a mobile data plan for your phone. They’re two different things and don’t need to be applied for together. Your home Wi-Fi is fine for the ETA application – there’s no need to buy an eSIM first just for the visa.
That said, once you’re in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth, having data on your phone is incredibly handy: messaging your driver after booking a ride, checking how to get from the airport into the city, using Google Maps, looking up restaurant opening hours, or even dealing with a last-minute change of accommodation – all far easier than hunting for free Wi-Fi after you land.
eSIM checks to do before you fly
If your phone supports eSIM and isn’t carrier-locked, you can install your travel eSIM following the plan’s instructions while you’re on Wi-Fi in Taiwan, then decide when to switch it on based on the plan’s actual activation rules. Note that with some plans the validity period starts counting once you install or connect, so you can’t assume that “installing early never starts the clock”.
Once you land in Australia, set up your data line and data roaming according to the plan you bought; with roaming-type eSIMs, you may need to turn on data roaming for that eSIM. Whether to keep your Taiwan number active and receive bank OTP text messages also depends on your own carrier’s roaming charges, so set things up accordingly to avoid extra fees.
To pick an Australia plan, head to the JEKO Australia eSIM plans page to compare daily, total-data and unlimited plans. For short independent trips, daily data plans are usually a good place to start; if you tend to use lots of navigation, video calls or hotspot sharing, compare the fair-use and speed-throttling rules on the total-data and unlimited plans. Actual network speeds, 5G availability and signal coverage depend on local carriers, your device and your location; 5G isn’t guaranteed in every city or remote attraction.
Our recommended order: confirm your passport and ETA grant → book flights, accommodation and insurance → check your eSIM’s installation/activation conditions before departure → use navigation and messaging apps straight away once you land in Australia.
Australian ETA FAQ
Do Taiwanese travellers need an ETA to visit Australia in 2026?
If you hold an ordinary Taiwan passport that’s eligible for the ETA, you can usually choose to apply for a Subclass 601 ETA for short-term tourism. You still need to check against your own purpose of travel, passport type and eligibility – not every type of Taiwan passport qualifies.
Is the Australian ETA free?
There’s no separate visa application charge for the ETA, but the official AustralianETA app charges a service fee of AUD 20, which is non-refundable.
Is the Australian ETA valid for 3 months or 1 year?
It’s generally valid for 12 months, during which you can visit Australia multiple times, but each stay is limited to 3 months. If your passport expires or you replace it, the ETA may end early.
Can I apply for the Australian ETA on a website from my computer?
For eligible applicants applying for the Subclass 601 ETA, the official channel is the AustralianETA mobile app. If you can’t use it, you can consider other suitable Australian visas – that doesn’t mean you can apply for the same ETA directly on a third-party website.
What if my passport’s NFC chip just won’t read?
First check your phone has NFC and take off the case, then try the front cover, back cover and data page in turn. Move the phone slowly until it picks up the signal, then keep it still once reading starts. See the official video link above for details.
How long does an Australian ETA take? Can I apply on the day?
Officials say most applications get a result quickly, but processing can take longer if there are questions about your details or more information is needed. Don’t assume applying on the day will get you onto your flight in time; make sure you’ve received an official grant first.
Do children need their own Australian ETA?
Yes. Every traveller must have their own application – even when travelling with their parents, they can’t share one ETA.
Can I still use my Australian ETA after getting a new passport?
Not as it stands. The Department of Home Affairs explains that the original ETA is tied to your old passport, so you need to apply again once you’re issued a new one.
If I’m refused or asked for more information, can I just keep resubmitting?
It’s not recommended. If the Australian Government requires further assessment, submit your information as instructed in the official notice, using the specified forms. Resubmitting again and again in the app won’t necessarily change the outcome; if you’re refused, check the reasons for refusal and which visa options are open to you.
If I don’t have data when I land in Australia, will I be refused entry?
Not buying an eSIM won’t make your ETA any less valid. The ETA is an electronic record linked to your passport, but travellers still need to hold a valid visa and meet the entry requirements. Save your grant letter, accommodation address and contact details offline, and have a working way to get online so getting around after you land is easy.
Final thoughts: sort your ETA first and that’s one less thing to worry about before you go
When it comes to applying for an Australian ETA, speed isn’t what matters most – what matters is using the right official app, reading the correct passport details, answering every question truthfully and making sure you’ve received your grant notice. If your passport chip just won’t scan, don’t rush to pay an agent; work patiently through the scanning steps in this guide – most basic operating issues have a clear way to troubleshoot.
Once your ETA is granted and your itinerary is set, get your airport transport, offline info and Australia eSIM ready together, and once you arrive you can spend your time on the places you actually came to see.
