Have you applied for an eVisitor or eTA visa for Australia online and just received an email saying that your application has been rejected? In most cases, you will not be able to find out the details of the reason for the refusal, nor will the email tell you what you can do to maintain your travel plans to Australia. We suggest you find out here what to do if you are refused an eVisitor or eTA for Australia, the possible reasons for this refusal and the possible remedies.
eTA or eVisitor visa refusal in Australia: Key points
- The eTA or eVisitor visa may be rejected if the traveller does not meet the eligibility requirements.
- If the eTA or eVisitor visa is rejected due to an error, it is possible to re-apply.
- It is possible to apply for a regular visa if the eTA or eVisitor has been rejected because of the purpose of the trip or the nationality of the applicant
- Using a private service provider can help you avoid errors leading to eTA or eVisitor visas being rejected.
Why is an eVisitor visa or eTA rejected?
When you apply for an eVisitor or eTA electronic visa online, your application is transferred to the Australian authorities, who review it in detail and decide whether or not to grant it. There are many reasons for refusal of this application, including
- An intended stay of more than 90 consecutive days. The eVisitor or eTA procedure only applies to stays of less than 3 months on Australian soil. If you wish to stay longer in this country, there are more appropriate classic visas.
- An incompatible health condition. The Australian government does not allow certain travellers with certain diseases, such as tuberculosis, to enter the country.
- A previous criminal conviction. If you have a criminal conviction with a period of incarceration of more than 12 months, whether or not you have served it, you cannot get an eVisitor either.
- Consider working in Australia. Finally, if you wish to work in Australia and for an Australian employer during your stay, you will not be able to take advantage of this system either.
What can I do if my eVisitor or eTA is rejected?
If the reason for refusal of your Australian eTA or eVisitor visa is one of the reasons listed above, you will not be able to reapply for eVisitor.
In some situations, however, you may be able to go through a specific visa application procedure and still travel to Australia. This mainly concerns refusals for work in the country or for stays of more than 3 months. The visa application is made at the Australian embassy or consulate in your country of residence. You will have to fill in a file and attach certain supporting documents depending on the type of visa requested.
Finally, it may also happen that your eVisitor or eTA visa is refused simply because you made a mistake when filling in the online form. In this case, you will unfortunately not be able to change it, but you will be able to reapply within 10 days of being notified of the refusal.
Reapplying for an Australian eVisitor or eTA visa after a refusal:
If you made a mistake when you applied for your eVisitor or eTA visa online, you can reapply after a minimum of 10 days from your rejection email. But be careful! This new application can only be approved if you really made a mistake when filling in the form.
If the refusal was based on a real fact and you are planning to cheat by filling in the form again with the wrong information, it is unlikely to work and you may even be barred from travelling to Australia for longer by simply making you ineligible for the eVisitor and eTA and the visa. The information you provide on this form must be truthful and remember that all records are routinely checked by specialist immigration officers who are used to spotting fraud.
But if the refusal is the result of a genuine mistake, for example if you have inadvertently ticked the wrong box on the form, you can reapply by following the standard procedure from the beginning. This time, remember to read over all your answers before submitting the form and paying the application fee.
Apply for your Australia e-visa!
What are the alternative residence permits in case of refusal of the eVisitor or eTA?
Of course, just because you have received a negative response to your eVisitor or eTA application does not mean that you cannot travel to Australia. Indeed, if the reason for the refusal is in fact an ineligibility criterion for this scheme, there are other types of alternative residence permits that will be available to you.
This will be the case, for example, if your application has been refused because of an incompatibility with the scheme and its eligibility criteria. This concerns for example :
- Too long a stay
- A reason for travel such as work or study
- A passport of a non-eligible nationality
If your refusal is due to one of these three causes, you will have every chance of obtaining a regular visa if you apply for one.
But if the refusal is due to some other cause, such as being charged with a crime, having a viral disease or having travelled to a high-risk country, it is unlikely that you will be able to use a visa to travel to that country.
As mentioned above, the reason for the refusal of your eVisitor or eTA visa will not be communicated to you in the notification email and, before taking any further action, it is best to consider the real reason for the refusal.
Apply for your Australia e-visa!
Adeline HARMANT
As a web writer and globetrotter with a passion for travel and tourism, I have acquired in-depth knowledge of the procedures that are essential for travellers. I help travellers to complete all the formalities required for a successful trip, particularly when it comes to obtaining a visa online. With several years' experience in this field, I'd like to offer you some valuable advice to help you discover the world with complete peace of mind.
