Arriving passengers pass three checks, not one. They are run by different agencies and they care about different things. Answering the wrong one's question with the wrong answer is what slows people down.
1. Immigration — are you a genuine visitor
- How long you are staying and where
- Whether you have an onward or return ticket
- How you are funding the trip
- Whether you intend to work — you may not, on this visa
2. Customs — do you owe duty
You must declare goods above the duty free concession, and currency at or above the reporting threshold. The concession is A$900 of general goods if you are 18 or over (A$450 if you are younger).
3. Biosecurity — what is in your bag
This is the check that catches unprepared travellers. Australia asks about food, plant and animal material, and anything that has been in contact with soil or fresh water. Declaring costs you nothing; not declaring can cost you the visa.
The Incoming Passenger Card
Your customs and biosecurity answers are given on the Incoming Passenger Card, which you complete before you land. Take it seriously: the card is a legal declaration, and an officer finding an undeclared item in your bag treats the card as evidence that you said you had nothing.
Source: Australian Border Force / Home Affairs — Duty free concessions
If you are unsure whether something needs declaring, tick yes and let the officer decide. There is no penalty for declaring an item that turns out to be allowed.
More on the eVisitor
What is the eVisitor
The eVisitor is a full visitor visa granted electronically to holders of eligible European passports. What it covers and how it differs from the ETA.
How to apply
Applications are made free of charge through ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website. The order of the steps and the mistakes that cause delays.
Cost
The Australian government charges AUD $0 for the eVisitor: no visa application charge and no service fee. The ETA for other passports costs AUD $20.
What you need
A valid European passport, an email address and about fifteen minutes. No photo, no payment, no documents to upload for most applicants.
Processing time
Most eVisitor applications are decided automatically within a day. What causes an application to take weeks instead.
Validity
An eVisitor lasts 12 months from the date of grant, or until your passport expires, and allows as many entries as you like within that period.