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VISITORS to Australia can easily obtain a short-stay visa over the internet, without producing their passport. This is called an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). However, a person applying for a long validity business entrant ETA cannot obtain it over the internet.
There are three subclasses of Electronic Travel Authority.
These are:-
* Subclass 916 (Visitor) provides for multiple travel with a three-month stay on. each visit and a validity for travel of up to 12 months (depending on passport validity).
* Subclass 956 (Business Entrant - Long Validity) provides for multiple travel with a three-month stay on each visit and a validity for travel for the life of the passport.
* Subclass 977 (Business Entrant - Short Validity) provides for a three-month stay on each entry, with validity for travel being within 12 months from date of grant, or within the life of the holder's passport, whichever is shorter.
* Subclass 976 visas are subject to mandatory 'no work' condition (8101) and are clearly appropriate for people seeking to travel to Australia for tourist purposes.
However, applicants seeking to engage in business activities should obtain Subclass 956 or Subclass 977 visas. Instead of containing a mandatory no work condition these visas have Condition 8112 which say: 'The holder must not engage in work that might otherwise be carried out by an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident.'
It is clear that the holders of visas containing Condition 8112 are entitled to carry out limited activities in Australia which are forbidden to people holding visas containing Condition 8101. ETA's can only be applied for while the applicant is outside Australia (or in immigration clearance in limited circumstances). It has been common practice in the past for visitors to fly to New. Zealand and apply for a second ETA in order to extend their stay in Australia.
It should be noted that New Zealand immigration officers have recently been reluctant to admit a person to New Zealand without a New Zealand visa where they can only show a return ticket to Australia (rather than their country of origin) but right of re-entry to Australia. This has occurred regardless of whether the person in question would be likely to granted another ETA.
It is possible to obtain Subclass 976 and Subclass 977 visa over the Internet but Subclass 956 visas cannot be applied for over the internet and applicants for such visas should approach travel agents or airlines to obtain such a visa.
* The link for internet ETA applications is httP://www.eta.immi.gov.au