australia tourism board india

• Destinations
• Hotels & Homestays
• Food & Drink
• People & Culture
• Mindful Travel
• Readers' Travel Awards
• Escape to Rajasthan
• READERS TRAVEL AWARDS
• #LOVEGREATBRITAIN
• TAJ SAFARIS
• BOUTIQUE HOTELS
• CNT TOP RESTAURANT AWARDS
• DESTINATION WEDDING GUIDE
• DON’T TRAVEL WITHOUT IT
• #UNDISCOVERAUSTRALIA
• ESSENTIALLY RAJASTHAN

Australia travel requirements: rules for entry for Indians

By Condé Nast Traveller

Australia opened borders to fully vaccinated tourists on 21 February, along with a flurry of changes to ease travel to the continent. Recent significant changes include mandatory online lodgement for visa applications, a visa application fee waiver for travellers with visas that expired during the pandemic, and no requirement for quarantine on arrival. Among the big-ticket events coming up is the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup from 22 October to 13 November 2022. Here is all you need to know to plan that Australia holiday this year.

Rules for entry to Australia

All travellers above 18 need to be fully vaccinated to enter Australia. Here is the full list of all that is required to be eligible for entry into the country.

• All fully vaccinated visa holders can travel to Australia without a travel exemption. They will need to carry their COVID-19 vaccination certificate. To request an exemption, you will need to show proof of medical contraindication to the COVID-19 vaccine.
• Passengers arriving by air into Australia should complete the Digital Passenger Declaration . You can complete the form seven days before your flight to Australia, but you can only submit it 72 hours prior to departure, as the declaration requires your health information 72 hours before the flight. \
• A negative RT-PCR test or other nucleic acid amplification test result taken within three days of the flight's scheduled departure for Australia, or a medical certificate as evidence of a negative Rapid Antigen Test taken under medical supervision within 24 hours before scheduled flight departure,. for all adults conducted within 72 hours of the travel date. You must complete this before you check into the flight. Parents or guardians should complete a declaration for any child under 16 years of age. \
• Children below the age of 12 can access the same travel arrangements as fully vaccinated people for international travel purposes. Temporary visa holders under the age of 18 at the time of departure for Australia do not require an approved travel exemption when travelling with at least one fully vaccinated adult. \
• All travellers need to undertake a self-monitored, Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), within 24 hours of arrival into Australia. Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) results need to be reported to the respective state authority only if you test positive. Tourists travelling to South Australia will have to undertake a PCR test within 24 hours of arrival and those travelling to Western Australia will have to undergo a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within 12 hours of arrival.  \
• Check for updates on the requirements of the state or territory of your arrival, and any others you plan to travel to, especially for vaccination, quarantine and post-arrival testing requirements, as restrictions may change on short notice.

Travel from India to Australia

Qantas introduced a nonstop direct flight from Delhi to Sydney, and a flight from Darwin to Sydney and onwards to Delhi, starting 6 December 2021. Currently, Air India operates nonstop flights from Delhi to Sydney or Melbourne. Connecting flights via other airlines to Australia are available from most major cities in India.

Visas to Australia  

Indian travellers to Australia can apply for an e-visa online here . Processing time is estimated at a week given the submission of all requested information. If a traveller held a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) to Australia that has either expired or will expire between 20 March 2020 and 30 June 2022, they can indicate eligibility for the Visa Application Charge waiver while applying for a new visa. You need to lodge your application by 31 December 2022 to receive the VAC waiver.

• Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment

The Hon Dan Tehan MP

• Media Releases
• Transcripts

This content has been archived.

Strengthening economic and tourism ties with india.

• Media release

Australia will strengthen its tourism links with India to further increase visitor numbers and support local jobs and business by growing one of its largest and most valuable tourist markets.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan and India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal renewed the Australia-India Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tourism Cooperation in New Delhi today.

The MoU will help encourage more Indian visitors to Australia and enhance the capabilities of Australian tourism businesses. Both governments will also work with airlines and airports to boost aviation capacity between Australia and India.

Mr Tehan said the Indian visitor market had huge potential for Australia.

“India was Australia’s fastest growing source of international visitors in 2019, with Australia welcoming almost 400,000 visitors from India,” Mr Tehan said.

“In 2019, India was our sixth most valuable market for spend, contributing $1.8 billion to our economy.

“Our countries also share important people-to-people links, with around 750,000 people of Indian origin calling Australia home.

“Hosting the T20 cricket World Cup this year will be a fantastic opportunity to encourage more Indian tourists and business travellers to visit Australia.

“Australia is working with India to strengthen our ties in many areas, and it’s timely to include tourism as Australia reopens its international borders to the world.”

Mr Tehan is in India to progress negotiations towards an India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).

Media enquiries

• International
• Appointments
• Domestic Hotels
• International Hotels
• Attractions
• Ministry of Tourism
• Associations
• Guest Column
• Refund Policy

• India Calling

India strengthens tourism ties with Australia

Australia will strengthen its tourism links with India to further increase visitor numbers and support local jobs and business by growing one of its largest and most valuable tourist markets.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan and India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, renewed the Australia-India Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tourism Cooperation in New Delhi today.

The MoU will help encourage more Indian visitors to Australia and the capabilities of Australian tourism businesses. Both governments will also work with airlines and airports to boost aviation capacity between Australia and India.

Tehan said the Indian visitor market had huge potential for Australia.

“India was Australia’s fastest growing source of international visitors, with Australia welcoming almost 400,000 visitors from India in 2019,” Tehan said.

“In 2019, India was our sixth most valuable market for spend, contributing $1.8 billion to our economy.

“Our countries also share important people-to-people links, with around 750,000 people of Indian origin calling Australia home.

“Hosting the T20 cricket World Cup this year will be a fantastic opportunity to encourage more Indian tourists and business travellers to visit Australia.

“Australia is working with India to strengthen our ties in many areas, and it’s timely to include tourism as Australia reopens its international borders to the world.”

Tehan is in India to progress negotiations towards an India-Australia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

Passport DC returns this May, to celebrate Washington, DC’s diverse culture

The Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in India organises event in Delhi to showcase the island nation’s tourism potential

Sabah taking significant strides to attract Indian visitors

Recent Posts

The Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in India organises event...

Reschedule non-essential travel to or via Dubai: Indian Embassy in UAE

IndiGo to start direct flights from Chennai to Durgapur and Bangkok

Latest Posts

• Tata Steel share price
• 162.10 1.31%
• Tata Motors share price
• 963.20 -0.84%
• NTPC share price
• 350.90 -0.14%
• ITC share price
• 424.80 1.40%
• Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
• 281.70 0.54%

India, Australia ink pact to promote tourism between two countries

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment, Dan Tehan sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today.

India and Australia have signed an agreement to promote tourism --- that has been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic --- between two countries.

The latest MoU will translate into more Australians travelling to India, said Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan

Indian and Australian negotiators are close to clinching a limited trade pact or so-called "early harvest agreement", Piyush Goyal said after talks with his Australian counterpart.

The negotiations should be complete within 30 days, Goyal told a joint news briefing with Australian minister Dan Tehan.

Goyal said the deal would cover a wide range of sectors and open opportunities for manufacturing, education and jobs in both countries.

Trade negotiations received a push after the United States, Australia, Japan and India pledged to set up a so-called Quad group in response to China's economic and military expansion.

On Friday, foreign ministers of the four countries pledged to deepen cooperation, particularly on Covid-19, cyber threats and counter-terrorism, at a meeting in the Australian city of Melbourne.

"Quad has added to the strength of the relationship" of India and Australia, Tehan said, noting that Canberra had already signed trade pacts with the United States and Japan.

Australia and India launched negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement back in 2011, and in 2020 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart decided to speed up the negotiations for a trade deal while agreeing to resolve some bilateral issues.

Regarding fears among domestic industry and farmers about a bilateral trade pact with Australia, Goyal said both sides have been fair and understood the "sensitivities of each other," and the deal would be a "win-win".

Australia wants a phased reduction in tariffs for its wines, while India is seeking greater market access for its textiles, footwear, leather, and pharmaceuticals and easier entry for its professionals, industry officials said.

"We understand India's sensitivity towards dairy" and some other sectors, Tehan said.

Two-way trade in goods and services has grown in value from $13.6 billion in 2007 to $24.3 billion in 2020, according to government estimates.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world 🌏 Click here to know more.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Wait for it…

Log in to our website to save your bookmarks. It'll just take a moment.

You are just one step away from creating your watchlist!

Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.

Your session has expired, please login again.

Congratulations!

You are now subscribed to our newsletters. In case you can’t find any email from our side, please check the spam folder.

Subscribe to continue

This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp

• Government of india
• Skip to main content

Mr. Sushil Kumar Singh

Indiatourism Beijing Unit 709, 7th Floor, East Tower, Twin Towers, B-12, Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing Tel: 0086-10-6568-6294, Fax: 0086-10-6586-8594 Jurisdiction: Mainland China, Hong Kong,Macau and Mongolia.

indiatourism.beijing[at]yahoo[dot]com

Mr. O.P. Meena

Indiatourism Frankfurt, 60311 Friedenstrasse 2 , Frankfurt/Main, Germany, Tel: 49-69-24294927,24294928,24294915,24294916,24294912, Fax: 49-69-24294977 Jurisdiction: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Israel. Scandinavian & Nordic countries:- Denmark, Finland, Iceland,Norway and Sweden.

accts[at]india-tourism[dot]com

Ms. Padmini Brahma

Indiatourism Tokyo Ginza KM Building 8floor, 8-14-5, Ginza, Chuo-ku Tokyo-104-0061 , Tokyo Tel: +81-3-3544-5061/3544-5063, Fax: +81-3-6264-3388 Jurisdiction: Japan, North & South Korea and Taiwan.

padmini.brahma[at]nic[dot]in 

indtourt[at]smile[dot]ocn[dot]ne[dot]jp

Mr. G.D. Bairwa

Indiatourism United House 20 Kramat Lane, #01-01 United House 228773,  Singapore Tel: 65-6235-3800, Fax: 65-6235-8677 Jurisdiction: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia,  Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Pacific islands.

indiatourism[dot]sg[at]gov[dot]in

gd[dot]bairwa[at]nic[dot]in

Ms. Renu Bamrara

Indiatourism London

High Commission of India, India House, Aldwych London WC2B4NA,

United Kingdom, London

Tel: 44 20 7437 3677,

Fax: 44 20 88341112

Jurisdiction: Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands and UK.

renu[dot]bamrara[at]indiatourismlondon[dot]org

Mr. Senthur Kumaran

Indiatourism New York

1270 Avenue of the Americas,Suite 303,New York

10020, USA., New York

Tel: 212-586-4901, 212-586-4902, 212-586-4903,

Fax: 1 212-582-3274

Jurisdiction: USA, Canada, Greenland, Central &

South America and Caribbean Islands.

ny[at]itonyc[dot]com

Mr. A. Seetharaman

Indiatourism Dubai

• Address : Post Box 12856,NASA Building,Al-Maktoum Road, Deira, Dubai, UAE., Dubai
• Tel : 971-4-2274848, 2274199,
• Fax : 971-4-2274013
• Jurisdiction : Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, UAE, Yemen and Africa.
• indiatourism[dot]dubai[at]gov[dot]in

• Firstpost Defence Summit
• Entertainment
• Web Stories
• Health Supplement
• First Sports
• Fast and Factual
• Between The Lines
• Firstpost America

India becomes 5th biggest tourist source for Australia with 845 arrivals a day

The primary cause of this increase in foot traffic is Tourism Australia’s collaborative efforts with its airlines, important distribution partners, and more than 5,000 Aussie Specialist Agents in India to encourage contemplation and conversions

Around 26,200 Indian tourists visited Australia in January of this year, representing an increase of more than 6% year over year, according to a Tuesday report from Tourism Australia.

Additionally, India’s standing has increased dramatically from seventh in 2019 to fifth in 2024 as the largest incoming market for Tourism Australia.

“In January we did extremely well with 26,200 Indians travelling to Australia, compared to 24,700 during the same month in 2019, a growth of 6.07 per cent.

“If we calculate from February 2023 till January 2024, the total number of Indians visiting Australia has crossed the 4,00,000 arrivals milestone to reach 4,02,200,” Tourism Australia Country Manager - India and Gulf - Nishant Kashikar told PTI.

According to him, the primary cause of this increase in foot traffic is Tourism Australia’s collaborative efforts with its airlines, important distribution partners, and more than 5,000 Aussie Specialist Agents in India to encourage contemplation and conversions.

“The number of airlines connecting New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai has gone up to 28 flights per week from 8 flights in 2019,” stated Kashikar.

According to him, the ease and convenience of the electronic visa application procedure has contributed to an increase in the number of Indian visitors to Australia.

Furthermore, since the Covid-19 pandemic, Indians’ travel habits have drastically changed due to a generational shift in which the average age of travelers is decreasing, a more indulgent mindset, and a desire to see festivals, athletic events, concerts, and other events around the world, according to Kashikar.

“This resurgence of Indian tourists to Australia is a testament to the resilience and rebound of international travel, particularly from one of our most valued markets.

“This is a clear indicator of the strong desire for travel and exploration among the Indian travellers, who are drawn to Australia’s unique landscapes, wildlife, and the multicultural vibrancy of our cities. Going forward in 2024, we expect the same momentum to continue from India,” he added.

(With agency inputs)

Find us on YouTube

Related Stories

PM Modi calls Sandeshkhali victim, BJP's Basirhat pick Rekha Patra: Know what they discussed

Is China dumping cheap aluminium foil in India? There's 'prima facie evidence'

India supports Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty: Jaishankar on South China Sea dispute

Mumbai makes maiden entry into Asia's billionaire club, ranks number 3 globally on Hurun list

• Introduction

Recommendations

• Executive Summary & Overview
• Opportunities
• Download Report
• Sector Snapshots

Tourism Sector

Chapter six tourism sector.

• By 2035, the number of Indian tourists to Australia is expected to grow four-fold, from 300,000 in 2017 to nearly 1.2 million. This puts India on track to go from being Australia's eighth largest tourism market today to our fourth.
• An estimated 70 million Indians will travel overseas annually by 2035 meaning Indian tourism could be worth over $9 billion each year to the Australian economy.
• Attracting a greater share of travellers and more high-value travellers from India will be important for sustaining the profile and scale of Australia's tourism sector.
• Australia should continue to grow the number of Indian tourists visiting friends and relatives in the diaspora and student bodies in Australia and we should continue to target luxury holiday-makers and business travel niches as new growth markets.
• Australia can do this by stimulating Indian demand and improving the supply offering through tailored development and marketing, an 'India ready' tourism workforce, visa settings and greater connectivity. While the sector is private-led in both countries, government can play an important enabling role.
• We should use tourism to enhance perceptions of Australia in India as a welcoming, diverse and advanced economy.
• Favourable tourism outcomes can also build bridges in the broader bilateral economic relationship, by improving cultural literacy and facilitating face to face relationships.
• More direct flights between Australia and India are essential to building the tourism and broader economic relationship.

1.0 The macro story

Key judgement.

Rising household incomes and more accessible connectivity will continue to open up international travel to a larger proportion of India's population. Out to 2035, an estimated 70 million Indians will travel overseas. India's sizable worldwide diaspora and international student base will continue to provide a pull factor for visiting friends and relatives. Alongside this, affluent Indian travellers will seek premium and personalised experiences that exude cachet. Business travel will expand in line with commercial interests with the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) travel segment the most prospective. The next generation of Indian travellers will be younger, more gender-balanced and be less likely to travel in multi-generational family groups. Capturing a greater share of India's outbound travel market will help shore up the long term prospects of our tourism sector. By 2035, there is potential for expenditure from Indian travellers to Australia to increase from $1.5 billion to $6.1 billion in a moderate case, or up to $9.1 billion in an aspirational case. More direct air services are crucial to the development of this market.

1.1 Scale and key structural drivers of the sector

Indian demand.

India is one of the world's fastest growing outbound travel markets

• in 2017, 23 million 50 Indians travelled overseas, with this figure expected to approach 70 million by 2035.

Growth in India's outbound tourism market is driven by

• rising personal income levels and changing lifestyles for the burgeoning consumer classes
• affordable airfares and diverse travel packages
• India's 30 million 51 strong diaspora and international student base which serves as a pull factor for those visiting friends and relatives (VFR).

There are two distinct types of Indian holiday-makers:

• the number of high net worth individuals (HNWI) in India is expected to triple, from 400,000 in 2016 to over 1.2 million by 2030 96
• The Cost-Sensitive Traveller: with past international travel experience typically limited to Asia-Pacific destinations, more likely to be VFR than a pure leisure traveller, expects Indian food options, longer but budgeted trips, with a dispersal radius of two to three metropolitan cities.

On the business side, India's outbound MICE travel segment is projected to grow at an average of 22 per cent annually, generating around 30 million outbound travellers by 2030. 52 There is an increasing propensity for Indian MICE travellers to be accompanied by spouses and children and combined with short leisure trips.

In India, travel is increasingly perceived as a demonstration of success. The status offered by travel varies by destination. Travel within Asia is the first threshold, out-of-region travel exudes greater clout including to countries in North America, Europe and, to a slightly lesser extent, Australia.

Supply drivers (making it easier to travel)

Technology-led travel research and booking platforms are increasingly accessible to the average Indian consumer

• depending on familiarity with international travel or the destination, travel agents are engaged at a later stage of the decision cycle (if at all).

Greater aviation connectivity out of India is making travel more convenient

• international airfares represent around 25–30 per cent of tourism budgets; savings can be used to upgrade experiences on the ground
• the entry of low cost carriers for short haul destinations has opened up international travel to new demographics and income groups in India
• the Government of India is seeking to remove limits on air services capacity – as announced in 2016 through India's National Civil Aviation Policy which proposed reciprocal open skies air services agreements with countries beyond 5,000 km from New Delhi.

The ability to use the Aadhaar card (a national biometric identity card) or voter card as proof of identity in India is improving ease of obtaining and renewing passports

• only 5.5 per cent of India's population held a passport in 2017 54
• for example, if voluntary access to individual biodata on the Aadhaar card were negotiated it could improve confidence in Indian documentation and facilitate faster visa processing.

Australia's competitive advantage

Australia is one of the world's leading tourism destinations, ranked seventh on the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index Ranking 2017. In 2017, 8.8 million people visited Australia, and this figure could reach 20 million by 2035. 55 The sector thrives due to comparative strengths:

• world-class natural beauty and wildlife are consistently reported as the most important factors for Indian holidaymakers 56
• safety and value are the next most important factors for Indian holidaymakers
• provision of alternative tourism options like cruise shipping, adventure sports
• culinary experiences from different cultures
• mix of sophisticated urban centres and wide-open spaces.

Australia has a substantial and growing Indian diaspora and student cohort to draw VFR travellers

• Australia's Indian diaspora has trebled over the decade to 2017
• in 2017, there were more repeat visitors to Australia from India than first time visitors. 55

Visitation from India to Australia has grown strongly over the past decade (to 2017) at an average rate of 12.7 per cent per annum, with spending growing by 15.1 per cent per annum

• in passing the 300,000 visitors milestone in the year ending 2017, the Indian tourism market has already surpassed the 2020 targets set under the Tourism Australia India Strategic Tourism Plan
• this would make India our second fastest growing inbound tourism market (behind China), and fourth largest market in aggregate 57
• by 2035, expenditure by Indian visitors to Australia is expected to reach $6.1 billion in a moderate case and up to $9.1 billion in an aspirational case.

1.2 How the sector will likely evolve out to 2035

Global trends in the tourism sector will affect indian and australian markets.

The growing global middle class will fuel international travel and tourism

• with good English language skills, Indian middle class travellers can gain independence from guided tour groups, leading to an increase in free and independent travelling 58
• as the global population becomes more urbanised, natural attractions will become increasingly important for those seeking a unique holiday destination
• visitors will demand more authentic experiences reflecting local culture rather than curated experiences manufactured by tour operators (these preferences are already exhibited by India's small but growing young and independent travel market).

Technology will keep empowering consumers

• tourism will continue to be a buyer's sector with the onus on providers to meet heightened consumer expectations and deliver tailored offerings (for example, communicating in Indian languages).

The shared economy will threaten traditional modes of hospitality

• hotels are not expected to regain market share lost to Airbnb and are being driven to offer services on new and dynamic platforms.

As a labour intensive sector, automation will transform how tourism services are delivered. Automation will disrupt the pre-booking stage and will also be increasingly visible at destination

• for Indian tourists who are accustomed to overservicing in their domestic lives, loyalty could be enhanced for tourism operators able to retain a human touch
• engaging with the community is a quintessential part of the tourist experience and will see enduring value placed on human touch in service delivery (for those prepared to pay).

Big data will enable in-depth analysis of visitor preferences and behavioural patterns, enabling customisation at lower cost.

More hotels will evolve into multi-activity complexes, where accommodation sits alongside a range of leisure, sport, casino, convention, retail, dining and entertainment facilities

• for example, Barangaroo in Sydney, Aquis Resort in Gold Coast, and Queen's Wharf in Brisbane are following leaders in Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong in hotel diversification.

The rise of virtual reality tours and 3D simulations could become an affordable alternative for those unable to afford to travel physically

• this technology could also be used for marketing destinations and enhancing on-the-ground experiences.

Changes in workplace communications and digital connectivity are changing the need to travel internationally for business, particularly at lower and mid-management levels

• growth is expected from MICE events rather than from individual business travellers over the long term.

CASE STUDY: Tourism Australia: Bollywood star tours Australia

Bollywood star Parineeti Chopra is young, enthusiastic and a popular household name across India. Tourism Australia has tapped into her networks to connect with the rapidly increasing number of Indians looking to travel overseas.

In-bound tourism from India is a high-growth market for Australia, with this strategy projecting the market to be worth over 9 billion by 2035.

As a signed-up 'Friend of Australia', Parineeti visited Central Australia and the Gold Coast in September 2017, posting photographs and positive descriptions of her experiences.

Parineeti's 13.1 million followers on Instagram watched her helicopter flight over Uluru and her gleeful response to seeing dolphins and whales on the Gold Coast.

Tourism Australia has found a trusted local voice and a celebrity who creates headlines. A 10 day visit to Australia by Ms Chopra generated media coverage reaching an audience of more than half a billion, the equivalent of spending more than $4 million in advertising.

Tourism Australia built on this success, when Parineeti returned in April 2018, visiting Sydney, Melbourne and the Whitsundays in Queensland, popular destinations for Indian tourists.

For a relatively modest investment, Tourism Australia has significantly increased awareness of Australia in India, and maintained a healthy growth in visitor numbers from this market.

India's domestic tourism ambitions

Tourism forms part of the Indian Government's mainstream agenda – in recognition of its importance for employment (particularly for young adults and women), promoting social cohesion domestically and projecting images of India's modernisation to the world

• annual inbound tourists to India are forecast to increase from 10.2 million in 2017 to 15.3 million by 2025–26 (excluding returning diaspora). 50

To spur visitation and attract private sector investment, the Indian Government has launched schemes such as Swadesh Darshan 59 , National Mission for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation, expanded e-tourist visa facilities and relaxed coastal land and air regulation.

Indian Government policies persuading the country's cash-based economy to embrace digital payments will have a positive long term effect on tourism, lifting confidence to move across tourism supply chains, and book and pre-pay holidays online and on mobile platforms.

Changes in Australia's tourism sector

Australia will need to make supply-side investments to support the expected increase in global visitors, including in:

• the tourism workforce, which is expected to become more stretched as Australia's population ages and pay and conditions in the tourism sector fail to attract sufficient local employees 60
• high-end experiences, retail, gambling and entertainment offerings
• regional transport infrastructure upgrades and expansions.

Australia will keep transitioning to the new market of travellers from Asia over historically important sources in the United Kingdom, United States and Europe. 61 This will drive:

• culturally appropriate training for tourism workforce, noting tastes and language differ across Asia
• the expansion of more popular Asian retail and food chains into Australia.

There will be heightened attention on preservation. Climate change, extreme weather events and pressures of increased tourist traffic could limit access to Australia's iconic natural attractions.

There is a perception Australian tourist visas are difficult to secure. Looking ahead, Australia's visa system will be transformed to make it more responsive to our economic, social and security interests and to enhance the client experience. This includes:

• investing in innovative visa processing and facial recognition technologies
• improved service delivery, including a shift towards a digital visa processing platform
• simplification of existing, highly complex visa arrangements.

2.0 Opportunities for partnership

The Indian diaspora and student cohort will support the dominance of VFR travellers, repeat trips, and Australia literacy. Growth potential exists in luxury travel niches. In a status-driven market, effective brand ambassador choices can bring immediate uplifts. As a relatively high-cost destination, Australia must compete on a value basis. In the medium to longer term, opportunities will emerge in business and MICE travel and in two-way investment in tourism infrastructure.

2.1 Export opportunities

Attracting holiday visitors.

The range of measures to attract holiday visitors include:

• continuing to use our shared passion for cricket to promote the broader tourism relationship, particularly in the short to medium term
• increasing the number of Indian honeymooners, capitalising on the alignment between Indian wedding season and peak travel period for Australia 62
• destination weddings are rising in popularity within the high net worth individual market
• Indian weddings typically involve multiple events over a number of days and large wedding parties
• the proportion of visitors from Asia travelling as backpackers has increased from 1 per cent to 6 per cent in the past decade 12
• however, there are constraints to growing this market – Indian youth are not currently eligible for working holiday maker visas and it can be more challenging for single young people to get a visa.

Attracting business visitors

As India's commercial presence in Australia grows there will be opportunities to broaden business travel and events, including through coordination with convention bureaus

• MICE travel opportunities could take a sectoral approach, particularly those with a large sales focus (IT, pharmaceuticals, financial services and insurance). 63

Australian convention bureaus have the potential to set up a presence in India, similar to bases in China, Hong Kong, Japan, United States and United Kingdom. This could then connect with Australian retail outlets already present in India that focus on servicing corporate clients.

2.2 Collaboration

Australian airports, with State Governments, could consider:

• partnering with airlines of regional hub countries to target Indian travellers
• international competitors in Europe already offer temporary waivers or discounts on hangers, landing fees and check-in leasing arrangements to entice pilot routes.

Incentivising Bollywood film production in Australia could help promote Australia to both the mass market and HNWI

• Spain, Israel, Czech Republic and Singapore have successfully offered filming package incentives to lure Bollywood production
• at least 10 Bollywood films have been totally or partially shot in Australia since Salaam Namaste in 2005, and a number of Indian soaps have featured Australian themes and episodes.

Vocational Education and Training

Training can provide a pathway for Indian hospitality workers to crossover from the informal to formal economy domestically. There is an opportunity for Australian VET providers to develop and deliver industry-led curriculum in India

• this could focus training on the mid-tier segment in which Australia has significant experience [ see Chapter 3: Education Sector ].

Other collaborations

Other collaborations could include further leveraging existing points of market recognition, including:

• this can play a powerful role in marketing the quality of Australian produce and wines to India; with scope to pair with food destinations.
• there is an opportunity to add female cricketers to Tourism Australia's 'Friends of Australia' ambassador program, or leverage the presence of Australian cricketers across Indian cities during the Indian Premier League in April-May each year and Indian cricketer presence in Australia during Big Bash League in December-February to promote Australian tourism.

2.3 Investment

Investment in australia.

There is an opportunity for Indian international food chains to expand their presence into Australia

• Indian food chain outlets are already appearing in Western destinations.

There is an opportunity for upmarket Indian international hotel chains to follow outbound visitors to Australia, as has been the case for the Taj Group and Oberoi Group with Indian visitors in Southeast Asia 12

• the demand for upmarket hotels is expected to increase
• while the value proposition model employed by upmarket Indian hotel chains is labour intensive and difficult to sustain in Australia's relatively high labour cost environment, automation of customer care, reception and concierge services at hotels could see this model shift in the medium to long term
• franchise agreements, to lease affiliation with an Indian brand and fitted to an existing hotel can reduce the risks of greenfield investment.

Investment in India

India is seeking investment in its tourism sector and has lifted the FDI cap to 100 per cent. Notwithstanding the constraints and challenges, opportunities include:

• investment is also being sought for theme parks, convention centres and the cruise market 12
• the success of REITs in India has driven property sales by hotel chains, whereby the hotel building is sold and leased back under management contracts, with investors immune from short term fluctuations in occupancy rates and profits.

CASE STUDY: Accor Hotels: Making Indian tourists feel welcome

As India grows wealthier, international travel is growing too. Passenger arrivals in Australia have been increasing rapidly, with over 300,000 Indian arrivals in 2017. Spending was also up by 15 per cent to $1.5 billion.

Australia's biggest hotel operator AccorHotels is positioning itself to meet this increasing demand, and has created a market leading Optimum Service Standards program for Indian visitation. These standards are to make Indian tourists to Australia feel welcome and comfortable.

The Optimum Service Standards program has been designed to better address the specific lifestyle and cultural needs of Indian travellers, to ensure premium comfort when holidaying in Australia.

Accredited AccorHotels' have adopted services to meet the needs of the Indian travel market which includes the translation of hotel welcome kits, menus and business cards in Indian languages, Indian meals in the restaurant, Indian adaptor plugs, TV channels and newspapers to make guests feel at home.

AccorHotels is seeing an increase in the Indian inbound market from both the leisure travel and conferencing and incentives markets. Their areas to focus on over the coming years will be Indian travel dispersal to other regions in Australia.

Since launching these standards in 2016, the number of Indian guests staying at AccorHotels has grown. This includes guests travelling for leisure, conferences and as part of customer incentive programs.

AccorHotels partnered with the Australia India Travel and Tourism Council to endorse the standards, which it now plans to extend to more hotels in regional Australia.

3.0 Constraints and challenges

Australia is seen as a difficult long haul destination given limited direct flights and perceptions of lengthy and variable visa processing. The challenge will be developing an India literate workforce and viably delivering on expectations of over-servicing from Indian tourists.

3.1 Ease of connectivity

Air India is the only direct flight provider, with eight flights (three Melbourne and five Sydney) to New Delhi per week. Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jet Airways serve the Indian market through code-sharing arrangements via a hub outside India

• Sydney Airport identifies India as its most under-served market, with five of its 16 under-served cities worldwide located in India (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad)
• air service agreements (ASAs) are not a short term deterrent to growth for direct flight routes (only 45 per cent of the 6,500 seats per week are being utilised)
• business travel is low on both sides, with business class typically providing a large portion of airline profits
• there is insufficient critical mass of leisure and VFR travellers from Australia to India outside of seasonal surge periods (December–February and May)
• to absorb demand fully, an increase in both direct and indirect flights is needed – through hubs like Bangkok and Colombo (Singapore and Malaysia have reached capacity under current ASAs for New Delhi and Mumbai)
• one enabler for more direct flights is if operators can more easily offer flights through Australia to other destinations, including New Zealand.

Visa arrangements and processing times inhibit spontaneous leisure and business travel where shorter lead times apply (for example, less than three months)

• since 2012, processing times for Indian tourist visa applicants have increased, in part due to higher lodgement rates
• the introduction in 2016 of online visa processing and faster fee-for-service options for Indian nationals is already helping
• reduced documentation, faster processing and multiple entry for low-risk cohorts are earmarked, but will take time to take effect in a market as large and diverse as India
• Australia should ensure India is a priority country when streamlined processes are phased in and that processing timelines are reduced.

3.2 Skills, infrastructure and other constraints

Low expenditure by those visiting friends and relatives

• VFR represented 41 per cent of arrivals to Australia from India in 2016–17, yet contributed only 14.8 per cent of total trip expenditure. Indian VFR travellers stay 50 per cent longer than the average non-Indian VFR to Australia, but spend almost 70 per cent less during their stay. Indian VFR have low rates of dispersal (one to two cities per trip), and around 95 per cent stay in private accommodation.
• no major international film production has occurred in Australia since 2010 without top-up grants.

Skills shortages in the Australian tourism sector could affect the visitor experience. An estimated 123,000 Australian tourism jobs are projected to be unfilled by 2020 and will challenge the ability of Australia's tourism sector to give visitors a world-class experience. Within the workforce, literacy of Indian culture, preferences and tastes is limited 63

• country-specific training in larger tourism operators has generally concentrated on China and Japan.

Australia lags key international competitors in the heavily contested leisure segment

• for Indian holiday-makers, Australia resonates with affluent and experienced out-of-region travellers but is perceived to be less prestigious than the United States, France, Italy, Switzerland and the United Kingdom 62
• Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and United Arab Emirates are the top destinations for Indian MICE travellers, supported by direct flight routes, geographic proximity and facilities to cater for 1,000+ size delegations.

Business travel to Australia is nascent (at only 13 per cent of total visitation) and not yet supported by strong and broad Indian commercial presence. Marketing to this group has been reactive, rather than through a deliberate strategy.

Australian infrastructure needs investment

• for example, cruise ship terminals at Sydney and Brisbane are approaching capacity, while facilities at Cairns, Augusta, Hobart, Broome, and Port Hedland are in need of upgrades or expansions to the wharf to sustain visitor economy. 61

The online presence and digital capabilities of the Australian tourism sector (particularly SMEs) is improving but remains low. This affects the capacity for businesses to link into centralised booking sites and engage with the tech-savvy younger Indian audience through mobile platforms.

Australian investors have shown limited interest in investing in India

• the business environment, difficulty navigating state and federal approvals processes, and land acquisition regulations remain a concern
• while other Asian markets, such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia are seen as more lucrative for comparable return, at lower risk.

4.0 Where to focus

Engagement with the Central Government is important for any issues pertaining to aviation access, visa policies and biometric data. To bring travellers from India to Australia it makes sense to target cities with high numbers of outbound travellers and good connectivity. Tier one cities offer established markets, tier two cities offer growth potential.

Tourism strategies for India typically focus on cities because Indian international travellers tend to be from urban centres, with a tertiary qualification and a relatively good command of English.

Around 85 per cent of all visitors to Australia in 2017 originated from India's 10 wealthiest states: Maharashtra, New Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, Gujarat, Telangana and West Bengal, with visitation patterns correlated strongly to tier one cities with gateway airports

• the typical Indian traveller to Australia is an affluent member of a tier one city, all with major international airports: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata
• but tier two cities like Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Cochin and Amritsar are emerging as important source markets for outbound travel from India and should be targeted in the medium to long term.

Australia should seek to stimulate demand in the Indian market while also seeking to improve the supply offering to the Indian market. Recommendations on visas appear in Chapter 16: Trade Policy Settings .

Though ASAs are not inhibiting aviation capacity in the short term, no Australian carrier currently flies directly to India.

The Australian Government should encourage Australian and Indian carriers to increase direct air services between the two countries.

Australian airports should explore options to increase incentives for Indian airlines to use Australian airports, or for third country airlines if they are connecting directly from India.

The Australian Government should consider increasing aviation access to additional regional Indian tier two cities under air service negotiations, with a mind to opportunities evolving out to 2035.

India's economic outlook, the maturity of its out-of-region travellers, and ensuing opportunities for Australia, have changed since the development of Tourism Australia's India Strategic Tourism Plan in 2012. Within government and across industry, there are gaps in the understanding of trends unique to India. In Australia, tourists from India are perceived as a low-spending and a demanding market for which to cater. Better understanding of the different preferences of HNWI and VFR holiday-makers and the influence of the diaspora could support more effective targeting of segments.

• this would complement the Tourism 2020 review currently underway and the Beyond 2020 Strategy under development.
• on regional dispersal initiatives for Indian travellers to Australia
• on leveraging off the international student cohort
• on the contribution of the Indian VFR segment, capturing spending of hosts and cumulative spending of returning VFRs over time
• on why conversion between aspirational demand to actual visits for MICE travel is not higher (for example, impact of visa processing, direct flight availability versus facility and venue constraints).
• with a focus on pairing analysis between combinations of Indian and Australian capital cities, and onward connection to third market destinations (such as New Zealand and the United Kingdom).
• either increase allocation of funding to Tourism Australia for additional marketing activity in India, potentially through the establishment of a country-specific India Tourism Fund
• or consider options for a review of Tourism Australia's existing budget to increase Australia's marketing impact in India
• continuing to harness the influence of celebrity endorsements on this market by recruiting high profile Australia brand ambassadors
• supporting further partnership arrangements with Tourism Australia between two or more Australian states to promote tailored tourism packages for the luxury leisure segment.
• continue to seek to coordinate marketing between Tourism Australia and State Governments with the marketing budgets of Australian airports.
• 39.3 Ensure new scalable marketing ploys (for example, virtual reality tours and 3D simulations) are provided in the appropriate Indian languages.

Repeated Bollywood and Indian vernacular film production in Australia has the benefits of generating short term uplifts in tourism; setting up early association of romanticism and adventure with Australia for India's next generation of travellers; and stimulating collaborations with our domestic film industries. Australia's natural landscapes and urban centres have appealed to Indian production houses, but the lack of incentives in a relatively high production cost market is a deterrent. There are several avenues the Australian Government can explore to address this.

• the location offset (a 16.5 per cent tax refund)
• the production, digital and visual effects (PDV) offset (a 30 per cent tax refund)
• the Producer Offset (a 40 per cent tax refund for feature films)
• concluding the bilateral AVCA means India would qualify for the Producer Offset for official joint productions
• alternatively, to increase either the location or PDV offsets for India current Australian budget rules require budgetary offsets to be identified.
• for example, 'one-off' benefits and top-ups that have been offered to foreign film productions in the past and should be considered where there is strong alignment between proposed film and niche leisure markets (destination wedding, honeymoon, cruise, sports and adventure).
• 40.3 Austrade should support film and production house familiarisation exchanges, as well as tours of prospective shooting sites and facilities.

There are currently no Australian tourism training programs tailored for the inbound Indian market, but there are precedents for such programs for other markets. For example, in 2017 Austrade provided support to the Australian Tourism Export Council and TAFE NSW to deliver training to Chinese-speaking tour guides, within the confines of the Approved Destination Status scheme.

• this could be undertaken through a tender process allowing for a consortium of commercial stakeholders (VET providers and Indian partners) to put forward innovative proposals
• the Australia India Tourism & Travel Council has industry-wide links and should act as an advisory body.
• establish an online request-for-proposal portal through Business Events Australia for Indian business event planners to submit their requirements
• including a database of event planners, unique experiences and event cities for planners and links for spin-off leisure activities for delegates.

A constant flow of people is required for a stable and enduring economic partnership, including through people to people links, cultural exchange and knowledge transfers. We therefore have an interest in encouraging more Australians to visit India for leisure and business purposes. India is keen to learn from Australia's experience to develop its domestic inbound tourism market. We should use this opportunity to counter perceptions Australia is commoditising Indian tourists without due reciprocity.

• seek to broaden industry representation at the Joint Working Group, beyond aviation, to reflect wide touch points of the tourism sector (for example education and training; sports and agriculture).
• continuing to share experience from Tourism 2020 design, implementation, tracking and industry engagement to support India's development of its own tourism strategy
• engagement between Australian tourism researchers and Indian Government agencies, researchers and policy groups to share research and data, highlighting the contribution of tourism, trade, investment and international education to their respective economies
• share experiences on regulatory mechanisms that provide access to, yet conserve, world heritage assets – this should involve collaboration with states
• engaging with India on the parameters for accessing Aadhaar biometrics to support more efficient visa processing.
• 42.3 Prioritise tourism in future Australia Business Week in India (ABWI) delegations and better align ABWI with Tourism Australia's annual India Travel Mission.

CHAPTER five Agribusiness Sector

Chapter seven energy sector.

Our Organisation

Our Careers

Tourism Statistics

Industry Resources

Media Resources

Travel Trade Hub

News Stories

Newsletters

Industry Events

Business Events

Working at Tourism Australia

• Share Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Copy Link

Find out the benefits of working at Tourism Australia, and why we are so passionate about Australia and promoting its many unique attributes to the world.

About Tourism Australia

Tourism Australia is the Australian Government agency responsible for attracting international visitors to Australia, both for leisure and business events. We are acknowledged as one of the most innovative and successful tourism marketing organisations in the world.

Our workforce comprises around 220 people approximately half of whom are based in our head office in Sydney, Australia and half across  11 regional offices  in Auckland, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.

Tourism Australia has won two awards in the annual Human Resources Director – Australia,  Employer of Choice Awards . Our company was rated as a top performer in the categories of ‘Work – Life Balance’ and ‘Recruitment and Onboarding’. 

Why work with us?

The benefits of working with Tourism Australia are numerous:

• Gain experience and insight into the marketing and research of the tourism industry
• Work with passionate, dedicated, fun teams
• Parental leave
• Career break leave
• Competitive superannuation
• Flexible working arrangements
• Learning and development opportunities

Frequently asked questions

Our workforce comprises around 220 people approximately half of whom are based in our head office in Sydney, Australia and half across  11 regional offices  in Auckland, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo.

Find out more about  Tourism Australia  and the Australian tourism industry structure.

Have a look at our  YouTube page  for featured Tourism Australia campaigns.

We are looking for individuals who can embody our behaviours of:

• United – we are one team:  This means we need to value relationships, communicate openly, respect others' opinions, and be inclusive and fair
• Positive – we are optimistic:   This means we need to believe in ourselves and each other, nurture talent, look for opportunities to develop, and be welcoming
• Genuine – we are authentic:  This means we believe in what we do, act with integrity at all times, accept responsibility, and offer constructive solutions
• Commercial – we deliver results:  This means we need to ensure we add value, engage with risk and have confidence in our judgement, commit to excellence, think strategically at all levels

• Experience and insight into the marketing and research of the tourism industry
• Competitive superannuation:  15.4 per cent which is above the legislated minimum. Employees are able to elect to reduce this to the statutory minimum, with any difference treated as taxable earnings*

* Varies by country

Tourism Australia's worldwide vacancies are advertised on our job opportunities page. Positions are also advertised in Australia on our  LinkedIn careers page  and  Seek .

Discover more

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience. Find out more .

By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

*Disclaimer:  The information on this website is presented in good faith and on the basis that Tourism Australia, nor their agents or employees, are liable (whether by reason of error, omission, negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any statement, information or advice given in this website. Tourism Australia wishes to advise people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent that this website may contain images of persons now deceased.

Australia Recommends 2024

Come and Say G'day

G'day, the short film

Discover your Australia

Travel videos

Deals and offers

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

South Australia

Western Australia

External Territories

The Whitsundays

Mornington Peninsula

Port Douglas

Ningaloo Reef

Airlie Beach

Kangaroo Island

Rottnest Island

Hamilton Island

Lord Howe Island

Tiwi Islands

Phillip Island

Bruny Island

Margaret River

Barossa Valley

The Grampians

Hunter Valley

Yarra Valley

McLaren Vale

Glass House Mountains

Alice Springs

Uluru and Kata Tjuta

The Kimberley

Flinders Ranges

Kakadu National Park

Eyre Peninsula

Karijini National Park

Great Barrier Reef

Blue Mountains

Daintree Rainforest

Great Ocean Road

Purnululu National Park

Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park

Litchfield National Park

Aboriginal experiences

Arts and culture

Festivals and events

Food and drink

Adventure and sports

Walks and hikes

Road trips and drives

Beaches and islands

Nature and national parks

Eco-friendly travel

Health and wellness

Family travel

Family destinations

Family road trips

Backpacking

Work and holiday

Beginner's guide

Accessible travel

Planning tips

Trip planner

Australian budget guide

Itinerary planner

Find a travel agent

Find accommodation

Find transport

Visitor information centres

Deals and travel packages

Visa and entry requirements FAQ

Customs and biosecurity

Working Holiday Maker visas

Facts about Australia

Experiences that will make you feel like an Aussie

People and culture

Health and safety FAQ

Cities, states & territories

Iconic places and attractions

When is the best time to visit Australia?

Seasonal travel

Events and festivals

School holidays

Public holidays

How to get to Australia's most iconic cities

How long do I need for my trip to Australia?

How to travel around Australia

Guide to driving in Australia

How to hire a car or campervan

How to plan a family road trip

How to plan an outback road trip

• Australian visa information
• Working holiday visas

Sydney Airport, New South Wales © Sydney Airport

Australian Visa and Entry Requirements FAQs

Learn about visa requirements for entry to Australia for tourism purposes with this list of frequently asked questions. 

Please note this page is intended to provide general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Tourism Australia is not the Australian government visa granting authority. For information on visas to enter Australia, visitors should seek the most up-to-date information from Australian Government Department of Home Affairs .*

Ready to plan your trip? We're ready to welcome you! Here are some helpful tips for getting your visa sorted: 

• Be sure to secure the appropriate visa before travelling to Australia. Use the Visa Finder to explore your options.
• Ensure all details are correct and provide all required documents when you apply. An incomplete or incorrect application can delay your visa.
• Submitting multiple applications at the same time can slow the process. For visitor visas, submit one application per person, including children. 
• Questions? The Australian Government's Global Service Centre can help.

Australian Visa Information

Unless you are an Australian citizen, you will need a valid Australian visa to enter the country. New Zealand passport holders can apply for a visa upon arrival in the country. All other passport holders, regardless of age, must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of Australian visa types, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, via the ETA app or on the  Department of Home Affairs website.

There are different Australian visa types available for travellers to Australia. Knowing which Australian visa to apply for depends on the length of your stay, your passport and the purpose of your visit. You’ll also need to meet certain financial and medical requirements, be outside of Australia when applying and maintain health insurance for the duration of your stay. 

Electronic Travel Authority visa  (subclass 601) This visa allows you to visit Australia as many times as you want, for up to a year, and stay for three months each visit. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions, who live outside Australia. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is  here .

All ETA-eligible passport holders must apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. Agents can assist you in the application process, but you must be physically present as a live facial image is required.

eVisitor  (subclass 651) This is a free visa for multiple visits to Australia for tourism or business purposes for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of European countries and it cannot be extended.

Visitor visa  (subclass 600) The Visitor visa allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business purposes. It is open to all nationalities. Generally, a period of stay of up to three months is granted, but up to 12 months may be granted in certain circumstances. Applicants will have to pay a fee to submit their application.

The application process may differ depending on which visa you need.

You can only apply for the  Electronic Travel Authority visa  (subclass 601) through the Australian ETA app. A step-by-step guide on how to apply is located  here .

For other visas, you can apply online by creating an ImmiAccount and completing the application process. Be sure to submit your application well in advance of your travel date to allow enough time for processing. You may be asked to provide further supporting information. You will be notified in writing if your tourist visa is approved and it will be digitally linked to your passport. For more information on different visa types, and Australian visa requirements including how to apply for an Australian visa, visit the  Department of Home Affairs  website.

If you are already in Australia and hold a valid Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) you can extend your stay by applying for another visa, such as a Visitor visa (subclass 600). An eVisitor (subclass 651) cannot be extended.

See the Department of Home Affairs website for details.

Working Holiday Visas

Australia's Working Holiday Maker program allows visitors aged under 30 (or 35 in certain cases) who hold a passport from a participating country to travel and work in Australia. Working holiday visas are valid for one year, or up to three years if you meet certain conditions.

Find out more about working holiday visas here .

*Australian visa regulations (including visa application charges) change from time to time. The information provided here is valid at the time of publication, but visitors should check this information is still current by visiting the Australian Department of Home Affairs .

More articles like this

We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.  Find out more . By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners of the land, sea and waters of the Australian continent, and recognise their custodianship of culture and Country for over 60,000 years.

• International (English)
• New Zealand (English)
• Canada (English)
• United Kingdom (English)
• India (English)
• Malaysia (English)
• Singapore (English)
• Indonesia (Bahasa Indonesia)
• Deutschland (Deutsch)
• France (Français)
• Italia (Italiano)
• 中国大陆 (简体中文)

*Product Disclaimer:  Tourism Australia is not the owner, operator, advertiser or promoter of the listed products and services. Information on listed products and services, including Covid-safe accreditations, are provided by the third-party operator on their website or as published on Australian Tourism Data Warehouse where applicable. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator’s website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD). Tourism Australia makes no representations whatsoever about any other websites which you may access through its websites such as australia.com. Some websites which are linked to the Tourism Australia website are independent from Tourism Australia and are not under the control of Tourism Australia. Tourism Australia does not endorse or accept any responsibility for the use of websites which are owned or operated by third parties and makes no representation or warranty in relation to the standard, class or fitness for purpose of any services, nor does it endorse or in any respect warrant any products or services by virtue of any information, material or content linked from or to this site.