All visitors to Australia, except New Zealanders, require a visa or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enter the country; if you're heading overland, you'll obviously need to check visa requirements for countries en route. You can get visa application forms from the Australian High Commissions, embassies or consulates listed here. Citizens of the US can get visa application forms from the Washington, Los Angeles and Ottawa offices and from the embassy internet sites.

 

Nationals of the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and several European and Scandinavian countries who intend to stay for less than three months , can apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority), valid for multiple entry over one year. This replaces a visa - all the information is stored on computer - and saves you the hassle of having to queue or send off your passport. ETAs are available from travel agents and airlines and can be applied for at the same time as you book your flight. A fee may be levied for this service - in the UK around £16.

Citizens of other countries or visitors who intend to stay for longer than three months should apply for a visitor visa , valid for three to six months . You'll need to complete an application form and lodge it either in person or by post to the embassy or consulate. It costs £25 in the UK, US$36 in the US, CDN$55 in Canada, and takes around three weeks to process. If you think you might stay more than three months, it's best to get the longer visa before departure, because once you get to Australia extensions cost A$145. Once issued, a visa usually allows multiple entries, so long as your passport is valid.

An important condition for all holiday visa applications is that you have adequate funds both to support yourself during your stay - at least A$1000 a month - and eventually to get yourself home again. If you're visiting immediate family who live in Australia - parent, spouse, child, brother or sister - you can apply for a Close Family Visa , which has fewer restrictions.

Twelve-month working holiday visas are easily available to British, Irish, Canadian, Dutch, German, Japanese and Korean single people aged 18-30, though exceptions are made for young married couples without children. It is not normally a chance to further your career, since the stress is on casual employment: you are meant to work for no more than three months at any one job. You must arrange the visa before you arrive in Australia, and several months in advance. Working visas cost £65 in the UK and CDN$140 in Canada; some travel agents such as Trailfinders in the UK can arrange them for you.

Young American citizens wishing to work in Australia might consider the Special Youth Program , designed to allow young people (aged 18-30) to holiday while working in short-term employment over a four-month period. Membership of the scheme costs US$365, which includes two nights' accommodation in Sydney and work support once you arrive; flights out to Australia are specially arranged by the programme and leave Los Angeles twice a month. Applications can be made through BUNAC (tel 1-800/GO-BUNAC or 203/264-0901, www.bunac.com ), Work Experience Down Under (tel 1-800/999-2267, www.campcounselors.com ) or Council/CIEE (tel 1-888/COUNCIL, www.ciee.org ).

Note that having a visa is not an absolute guarantee that you'll be allowed into Australia - immigration officials may well check again that you have enough money to cover you during your stay, and that you have a return or onward ticket. In extreme cases they may refuse entry, or more likely restrict your visit to a shorter period.

Australia has strict quarantine laws that apply to fruit, vegetables, fresh and packaged food, seed and some animal products, among other things; there are also strict laws prohibiting drugs, steroids, firearms, protected wildlife and associated products. Those over 18 can take advantage of a duty-free allowance on entry of 1 litre of alcohol and 250 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco.