Requirements To Obtain A VISA To Enter Australia

Passport Information


  • Passport must be valid 6 months beyond intended stay.

  • Passport must have at least two blank visa pages for processing.


  • Other Nationalities have to follow the requirements below.

  • Non U.S. Citizens must provide a notarized copy, front and back of a U.S. Green card or I-94; in order to have a visa processed, additionally, the visa for a non U.S. Citizen may take up to 4-5 weeks for processing time.

Tourist Visa (Other Nationalities)

  • 1 Application Form 1419 - Link, fully completed and signed.

  • 1 Completed Form 1190 - Link (Additional Character Declaration).

  • 1 Passport type photograph.

  • Copy of itinerary also required.

  • Proof of financial support while in Australia.
  • A copy of the applicants Green Card or U.S. Visa.

  • Letter from employer confirming leave of absence and vacation dates.

  • Letter from applicant explaining plans for the stay in Australia.

  • The Visa Request Form -Link, is required for the completion of the visa.

 

ETA Visas - The following countries are eligible for ETA - (Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK-British Citizen or UK-British National (Overseas) USA, Vatican City.

  • U.S. Citizens and most Europeans countries will only need to fax us or email us the information page of their passport to obtain a tourist or business visa plus our visa request form. (European passport holder may be required to provide additional information).

Business Visa (Other Nationalities)

  • 1 Application Form 1415 - Link, fully completed and signed.

  • 1 Completed Form 1190 - Link (Additional Character Declaration).

  • 2 Passport type photographs.

  • A business Letter of Guarantee- Link is required, to be typewritten on the company letterhead, and addressed to: "Embassy of Australia, Visa Section, Washington D.C." The letter must explain the purpose of travel and duties to be performed in Australia, and guarantee financial support for the applicant while in Australia. If attending a conference in Australia, a copy of the invitation may suffice in lieu of this letter.
  • A copy of the applicants Green Card or U.S. Visa.

  • The Visa Request Form - Link, is required for the completion of the visa.

Other Information

  • U.S. Passport Valid 3 Months Beyond Intended Stay.

  • Tickets and Documents for Return or Onward Travel.

  • Visa or Electronic Travel Authority is required.

  • Australia joined the U.S. Visa Waiver Pilot Program in July 1996. An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), valid for entry for 1 year and a stay up to 3 months, is required. There is no charge for a tourist ETA. The ETA can be issued by most travel agents or by telephone with the airline carrier.

  • Note: The ETA may not be available for passengers entering Australia by EVERY airline; or by every cruise vessel or sea or private aircraft. CHECK WITH THE AIRLINE WHEN YOU BOOK. If the ETA is not available you will require a visa issued prior to travel.

  • Vaccinations - International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever required if arriving from, or transiting through, an infected country within 5 days.

Processing Instructions

Send the passport and all completed requirements as detailed above to:

Sam’s Passport And Visa Services Telephone 713-784-5501
1811 Bering Drive Suite #100 Fax Number 713-784-5588
Houston TX, 77057 Toll Free 1-877-784-5501

Applications will be hand carried to the Embassy and are usually processed in 4-5 business days.

Return Postage (Fed-Ex/UPS/Air Borne)


  • Priority Delivery = $30.00
  • First Overnight = $75.00
  • Saturday Delivery = $45.00

Frequently Asked Questions & Other Topics

Q. What is a visa? And why do I need one.
A. A visa is a stamp that is affixed to a blank visa page in your passport that is required by foreign countries before you are able to enter their territory.

Q. Do I need to send you my passport in order to receive a visa?
A. Yes, your passport must be submitted with the required paperwork and photos in order to obtain a visa for traveling outside the USA. For visa service in Houston, you can drop off your passport at our agency.

All U.S. Citizens who are traveling by air will now be required to carry a U.S. Passport.

Adults over 19 years of age will require a passport if traveling outside the U.S. by car, including Canada and Mexico.

U.S. Citizens 19 and under do not require a U.S. Passport if they are traveling outside the U.S. by land or sea.

Closed Loop Cruises: U.S. Citizens who board a cruise ship at a port within the United States, travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship may present government-issued photo identification, along with proof of citizenship (an original birth certificate or a Consular report of Birth Abroad, or a Certificate of Naturalization).

Note - You may still be required to present a passport card or passport book to enter the foreign country to which you are traveling.  Please contact your cruise line to verify which documents are required for your trip.


Processing time for Brazil Visas will now take a minimum of 7-10 working days.

Each applicant must submit a fully completed Passport/Visa Request Form for all services. This form is necessary in order to begin and complete all transactions.

Partial list of consulate closings and holiday schedules - Link

Sam's Passport and Visa Services meets all BBBOnLine Reliability participation and Better Business Bureau membership standards. and is authorized to display the BBBOnLine Reliability seal.