Australia e-Visa For Swiss Citizens - Requirements & Fees

Switzerland currently is not on the list of exempt countries for Australia visa-free. Thus, a visa is required for citizens of Switzerland to enter the country. Visitors from Switzerland and European countries are eligible for either eVisitor visas or eVisa for Australia. 

In general, Swiss citizens can apply for an e-visa in 02 ways:

• At the Australian Embassy: Swiss citizens can apply for a paper visa at the Australian embassy. However, keep in mind that this traditional method can be complex and very time-consuming if you do not have sufficient documents. 
• Electronic visa application (e-Visa): Swiss citizens now can easily get a visa online with electronic visa (e-Visa) program. We highly recommend this method for all applicants. 

Swiss citizens who wish to travel to Australia for tourism, leisure, and vacations, we strongly advise you to select the e-visa program. The process is straightforward and fast. Swiss nationals can get an Australia visa online from anywhere conveniently. For tourism, apply for an e-visa to Australia here. 

Take into consideration that the Australia e-visa generally do not allow its holders to engage any form of employment in the country beside tourism. However, visitors may still attend for a business trip, business conferences. For work permit, Swiss citizens must seek advise from the Australian embassy or consulate. If you have any concerns about tourist e-visa, find more details at the Australia Immigraiton Services website.

The Australian eVisa (ETA) and eVisitor are travel authorizations that allow multiple entries to Australia during a 12-month period, with each trip restricted to a 3-month (90 days) stay. Nevertheless, there is a significant difference between the two types. 

• eVisitor visa: The eVisitor visa is a type of travel authorization that allows citizens of eligible countries, including Switzerland, to visit Australia for short-term purposes, such as tourism, business activities, or visiting family and friends. It is an electronically stored visa linked to the passport, eliminating the need for a physical visa label or stamp. The eVisitor visa is generally free of charge, making it an attractive option for short-term travelers.
• e-Visa (ETA): An e-Visa is a term commonly used to describe electronic visas issued by some countries, which can be applied for and obtained entirely online. The e-visa is a temporary visa. It is valid for travel to Australia for either 12 months, or for the period your passport is valid, whichever is shorter. The visa is granted with multiple entries. You can leave and re-enter Australia as often as you want while it is valid. You can remain in Australia for 3 months after each entry. The e-visa is only for tourism, and short-term business trips in Australia.

If you want to stay longer than 3 months at a time, you need to apply for a different visa that suits your circumstances. The visa starts on the date it is granted unless you hold another substantive visa that is in effect.

Swiss passport holders can travel to Australia for tourism or short-term business purposes for up to 90 days on each trip with an e-visa. Our experts highly advise applicants to go through and prepare the required documents carefully before applying for a visa to minimize the issue with processing. 

Swiss citizens can apply for an Australia e-Visa. The following conditions must be fulfilled for the e-Visa:

• A valid passport: You must have a valid passport for Swiss citizens. The passport should be valid for at least six months starting from your intended arrival date in Australia.
• A photo of the applicant must be clear and preferably a passport-sized photo.
• e-Visa Application: You must complete an online application form for the eVisa. 
• Travel insurance: While not mandatory, it is advised to have travel insurance during your stay in Australia. 
• Travel plan: Swiss visitors may need to provide details of their intended arrival & departure dates.
• Supporting Documents: Applicants may need to provide supporting documents.
• A credit/ debit card: Ensure that you have the means to pay the Australia e-visa fees. 

Remember that the requirements for an Australia eVisa may differ depending on the purposes of your trip. You may apply for an Australia tourist visa here.

It is essential for Swiss nationals applying for an Australia e-Visa online to understand the procedure intervals and costs involved. Visitors must pay two costs when getting an Australian visa online: the Service fee and the Government fee.

The Service price includes the cost of processing and assisting with your visa application, including the processing time (Rush Visa) service, whereas the Government fee is the official visa fee imposed by the Australian government. The sum of these two payments will be the total cost of your eVisa application.

In regards to process timelines, three choices are available:

• Standard Processing: The standard processing time generally takes around 3 business days. This means that you can expect to receive a decision on your visa application within this timeframe. 
• Urgent Processing: If you require a quicker turnaround time, you can opt for the urgent processing service. With this option, your visa application will be processed within 24 working hours. 
• Super-Urgent Processing: For those with extremely tight timelines, there is the super-urgent processing service. With this service, your visa application will be processed within 5 working hours. 

When deciding on a processing time, pay attention to your travel schedule and necessities. Remember that these are estimations and may change based on the number of applications submitted by the Australian immigration authorities.

This section will demonstrate the steps to obtaining a travel visa to Australia quickly. 

• Step 1: Access the Australia Immigration Services portal, create your account, and then select “Apply Visa” to begin. 
• Step 2: Provide basic information. Ensure the validity of the information. 
• Step 3: To complete, proceed to the payment, and select your preferred method of payment. 

Once the payment has been made, allow up to 03 business days for your e-visa application to be processed. Applicants should generally receive their visa results within 03 business days. We advise you to apply for a visa at least 07 days in advance. 

In certain circumstances where you need your visa urgently, applicants may consider using the Rush Visa service, which can accelerate the processing of your application. 

The e-Visa system is generally used for short-term stays such as tourism or business visits. For longer-term work opportunities in Australia, Swiss nationals should contact the official Australia embassy for the appropriate work visa.

For work permits, Swiss nationals have several visa options available, depending on the nature of their employment and the duration of their intended stay. We include basic information for work visa below:

1. Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (subclass 482): This visa allows skilled workers to work in Australia for an approved employer in an occupation listed on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) or the Regional Occupation List (ROL). The duration of the visa varies depending on the occupation and employer's sponsorship.
2. Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417): This visa is available to Swiss citizens aged 18 to 30 (inclusive) and allows them to work in Australia for up to 12 months while engaging in short-term employment. However, the work should be incidental to the main purpose of holidaying in Australia.
3. Work and Holiday Visa (subclass 462): This visa is available to Swiss citizens aged 18 to 30 (inclusive) who wish to have an extended holiday in Australia and work to fund their stay. The Work and Holiday visa allows holders to work for up to 12 months, but there might be restrictions on working for the same employer for more than six months.
4. Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) or Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190): These visas are for skilled workers who have qualifications and experience in occupations listed on the relevant Skilled Occupation List (SOL). Subclass 189 is for independent applicants, while subclass 190 requires nomination by an Australian state or territory government.