How Long Does the Australian ETA Take for Canadians? When to Apply
For most Canadians the ETA result comes back almost at once. Home Affairs says that in most cases it tells you the result "immediately", and its processing-times tool shows both 50% and 90% of ETA applications decided in less than 1 day. Some take longer, so apply before you book flights, not the night before you leave.
Independent guide — not a government service. Australian Visa Online is an independent information resource. We are not affiliated with the Australian Government or the Department of Home Affairs, and we do not lodge applications on your behalf.
This page is about timing only. For what the ETA is, what it costs and how the app works on a Canadian passport, see our ETA guide for Canadian citizens.
What Home Affairs actually says about ETA timing
There is no official "up to 24 hours" or "up to 72 hours" figure for the ETA, and no official "apply X weeks before travel" rule. Anyone quoting one is not quoting Home Affairs. Here is what the official pages do say:
- The normal case: "In most cases we will tell you of the result of your ETA application immediately."
- The exception: "Your application may take longer if you do not complete the application process correctly or we require further information."
- The booking advice: "We suggest you do not make travel arrangements until we grant your ETA."
- The email warning: "Sometimes there will be a delay before you receive your notification. Check your emails, including your junk mail folder."
The published processing times
| Measure | ETA (subclass 601) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 50% of applications processed | Less than 1 day | Home Affairs processing-times tool |
| 90% of applications processed | Less than 1 day | Home Affairs processing-times tool |
| Typical result | "Immediately" in most cases | ETA visa page |
| For comparison: Visitor visa 600, Tourist stream | 50% in 18 days, 90% in 38 days | Home Affairs processing-times tool |
The tool (page updated 4 September 2026) adds its own caveat: the figures are "based on how long it has taken to process recently decided applications" and do "not guarantee that applications will be decided within the timeframe." Under the ETA entry it also says: "if further information is required during the application process, the final decision may take longer."
The subclass 600 row is there for a reason. Some Canadians end up on the 600 instead of the ETA (see below), and that visa runs on a timescale of weeks.
Why some Canadian applications take longer
Home Affairs lists three reasons an ETA might take longer: "you don't answer the questions in the ETA app correctly", "we need more information from you", and "your information is hard to verify". For a Canadian passport, these are the usual triggers.
A "yes" to the criminal conviction question. The app asks whether you have any criminal convictions. Home Affairs says that if you have a criminal conviction in any country, "we will need more information from you" and you "should apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) and provide evidence about your criminal convictions." In Canada, that includes an impaired-driving conviction. If this is you, the ETA isn't the recommended route; read our guide to visiting Australia from Canada with a DUI or criminal record before you apply for anything.
A second citizenship. If you hold another passport as well as your Canadian one, you must declare it and give its details in the ETA application. Home Affairs warns: "If you do not provide accurate information, we may cancel your ETA." If one of your citizenships is Australian, you can't get an ETA at all.
Details that don't match. The ETA must match your passport exactly, and Home Affairs "cannot change the details on an ETA once it has been issued." A mismatch can mean boarding delays or refused entry, so check every field the app pre-fills.
Other names. The app asks whether you have been known by any other name. A maiden name or a legal name change counts, so declare it.
Chip and photo problems. These don't slow a submitted application, but they stop you submitting. Remove cases from the passport and phone, turn on NFC, and take the photo alone without glasses where possible. Our fix-it pages cover a passport chip scan that won't work and a rejected selfie.
When to apply: working with the 12-month window
Speed isn't the only timing question. The ETA is valid for 12 months from the date it's granted, or until your passport expires if that's sooner. It also ceases if you replace your passport. So the best time to apply is a balance:
- Early enough that a slow result doesn't threaten your trip, and before you pay for anything non-refundable, as Home Affairs advises.
- Late enough that the 12 months still cover your travel dates, and after any passport renewal.
Say you're flying from Vancouver to Sydney in late March, and your passport is valid for years. Applying as soon as your dates are settled, before you book, is sensible: most results are immediate, and the ETA will still be valid for any repeat visit within the next year. Now say your passport expires in June. The ETA would end in June too, so renew the passport first and apply on the new one.
If you visit Australia often, remember the ETA allows multiple entries with up to 3 months per entry while it's valid. One ETA can cover several trips in a year, but it can't be extended, and frequent or long visits may lead to questions about your purpose when you arrive.
Applying for a family or group
Timing gets harder with more people. Each family member, including children listed on your passport, must submit a separate ETA application. Home Affairs adds: "If all family members apply using the same mobile device, you can submit and pay for the applications at the same time." That's AU$20 per person.
Anyone applying for someone else must be physically with them, and the app takes a live photo of each applicant. Plan a sitting where the whole family is present. If one person's application is delayed, the others may already be granted; don't book until everyone has theirs. If a family member holds a passport that isn't on the ETA or eVisitor lists, their visa will be the slow one. Our guide for Canadian families on mixed passports shows how to order the applications.
How to check your ETA status
- Email: Home Affairs notifies you in writing. Check your junk mail folder too.
- The app: use the "Visa check" function in the Australian ETA app.
- VEVO: once granted, you can check the ETA online in VEVO. Our VEVO explainer shows how.
There is no visa label. Your ETA is linked digitally to your passport, so there's nothing to print.
If your ETA is taking longer than expected
- Don't apply again in the app. Home Affairs is blunt: "Do not submit further ETA applications through the Australian ETA app. You will receive the same results."
- Watch for a letter. If more information is needed, you'll get a letter explaining how to provide it. You use the link in the letter to submit an online form in ImmiAccount, answer every question, attach supporting documents, and attach Form 1554 (ETA Request for further processing).
- Think about another visa if time is short. Home Affairs says that if it can't process your application without more information, "you can consider applying for another visa that is suitable for your travel needs."
Our page on an ETA stuck in processing covers what to do when your flight is close.
Applying while already in Australia
You can't. You must be outside Australia when you apply for the ETA and when it's granted. A Canadian already in Australia who wants to stay longer needs a different visa, because the ETA can't be extended.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Australian ETA take for Canadian citizens?
In most cases Home Affairs gives the result immediately. Its processing-times tool shows 50% and 90% of ETA applications processed in less than 1 day. Some applications take longer if the questions weren't answered correctly, more information is needed, or details are hard to verify.
Is there an official 24-hour or 72-hour ETA processing time?
No. Home Affairs publishes no hour limit for the ETA. The official wording is that most results come "immediately" and some "may take longer". Figures like 24 or 72 hours come from other sources, not the official ETA page or processing-times tool.
How far in advance should a Canadian apply for the ETA?
Home Affairs publishes no minimum lead time; it advises against making travel arrangements until the ETA is granted. Apply once your dates are settled and before paying for non-refundable travel. Don't apply so early that the 12-month validity runs out, and renew an expiring passport first.
How do I check if my ETA has been granted?
Check your email, including the junk folder, for a written notification from Home Affairs. You can also use the "Visa check" function in the Australian ETA app, or look up the ETA in VEVO once it's granted.
My ETA is still processing. Should I apply again?
No. Home Affairs says further ETA applications through the app will give the same result. Wait for a letter asking for more information, then respond through ImmiAccount with Form 1554. If you can't wait, consider applying for another visa that suits your trip.
Does a DUI slow down a Canadian's ETA?
In Canada, impaired driving is an offence under the Criminal Code, and the app asks whether you have any criminal convictions. Home Affairs says anyone with a criminal conviction in any country should apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) with evidence about the conviction, rather than rely on the ETA. That visa takes weeks: 50% in 18 days and 90% in 38 days for the Tourist stream.
