fran

I am planning a cruise to Australia and NZ Have you all gotten visas? I was there 3 years ago and just needed a passport.

Patti

Hi fran<BR><BR>We went to Australia this year and yes, we did need visas. They can be done electronically by your travel agent or I believe you can do it yourself on e-mail. You could do a search on google.com or check with the Australian embassy. We did not need a visa for NZ.<BR><BR>Enjoy your cruise - we'll all be envious.

Kathy

Fran....IF you ask your travel agent to engineer this for you, be sure they use the right form. Mine DIDN'T and enroute when ready to board British Air for Australia, the lousy piece of paper that my so-called travel agent filled out for me was declared NO GOOD. I had to buy the correct visa from British Air's service desk.

Martha

Fran -<BR><BR>I booked my airline ticket through Qantas to Australia last year and they take the information and electronically issue the visa along with your airline ticket. No problem at all.<BR><BR>Martha<BR>

Sam

Are you sure that Americans need to apply for Australian visas before they travel? I think we will be issue the visa upon arrival into Australia and thus no need for pre approved visas.

Leslie

Sam - <BR><BR>Yes, a VISA is necessary before arriving in Aus/NZ. I have been going back & forth between the US & Aus for over 5 years now (am an American Citizen) and have always had my visa checked. My parents are arriving next week for a visit & were told by their travel agent that one was necessary as well.

Sam

Hi Leslie,<BR><BR>I agree that a visa is needed to enter Australia. My last visit was in 98 and all I had to do was to arrive with a valid passport and the visa was issue to me at the airport(Sydney). I guess they've change the law?

bill simpson

I just returned recently from visiting New Zealand & Australia. Americans do not need a visa into New Zealand, however a visa is required to visit Australia. If you are booking through a travel agent they should be able to do it electronically at no charge. I booked with Qantas & they did it over the telephone - no problem & no charge for the service. Make sure you provide your name as it is reflected on your passport.

JP

If your travel agent or airline isn't able to get it for you, you can get a visa ("Electronic Travel Authority") directly from the Australian government at http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ (they charge AUS$20 by credit card).

Pablo Durissimo

I got my visa through AAA. (It is the ONLY visa they will issue). It was free. Just stop by their office with your passport and they will get the visa for you in a few minutes.<BR><BR>Pablo

visa worried

Hi guys, I've done some MAJOR worrying and research about this very thing, I second JP's comment about the Electronic Travel Authority. Again, their website is : http://www.eta.immi.gov.au/index.html<BR><BR>this is an electronic visa through the Australian Government so when you're at the airport, they have your info electronically stored and your visa is then complete. You do pay 10 US dollars (approx) per visa (20 AUD). It's all online and you just need your SS#, Passport # etc....<BR><BR>To make sure that the visa went through and was valid, I called Air Canada (my airline for the trip) and they confirmed that they showed a valid visa for myself and my husband. DON'T rely on or assume that your airline or TA will do this automatically for you.... <BR><BR>I've had two friends who thought they were all set to go (visa wise)a dn when they got to the airport, they didn't. missed their flight because of it blah blah it was a HUGE mess...

mercy

Australian Visas are issued at no charge. Any travel agency can issue one and you can carry the copy with you. No worries. Well, I suppose some agencuies charge, but not mine.

sonia

You absolutely need a visa BEFORE you get here. My UK family all came out and didnt even think to enquire about htis and all got stung because of it..luckily they had stopovers on the way and got them i Hong Kong...

Steve Steffek

What a mixed bag of replies. To add to the confusion we just got back last week, we had a visa from our travel company and when we went to present it they said they didn't need to see it. Perhaps the info. was already in their computer. It's probably better to be safe and get one.

Melodie

There seems to be a bit of confusion regarding these Visas, and Steve posted that he was back a few weeks ago "and they didn't want to see his visa"....<BR><BR>Yes, you absolutely DO need a visa to visit Australia. Your travel agent can issue this for you. This is not a big deal -- it takes about a minute to input the information from your passport. Some agencies may charge you for this; I don't, and suspect that the majority of agencies don't either. It's part of our service. Back in the 'old days" you actually got a little strip of paper to put in your passport; these days everything is electronic, so Steve, if they didn't ask to see it, that's because they just waved your passport and saw that it was in fact, issued. That said, I always print it out for clients "just in case".<BR><BR>No visa requirements for New Zealand.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Melodie<BR>Certifi ed Aussie and Kiwi Specialist

Sandy

O.K. all, here's the latest. You DEFINITELY need EITHER a regular visa or what is now called an ETA. You get the ETA online and it costs $20Australian. ( I don't know how much that is in American money. I'll have to wait to get my credit card bill. Hmmm. Anyone know what $20 Australian = in American money? ) My travel agent called Quantas...as did I...and we both got the same reply, "Apply for an ETA online." I did it last night and it takes just a minute. You need your passport and a credit card.

john

A$20 = US$11

mercy

Sorry to tell you but there is no charge for a visa. Some one made a fast 20.00 bucks.

Mina

When I went last November, I needed a VISA coming from the U.S. It was done electronically by the reservationist at United. I never "saw" anything...it was just taken care of for me. And yes, it was free.

Sandy

Hi Minna and Mercy,<BR> Things have changed. You must now get that ETA or visa and they DO charge. The ETA is cheaper at $20 Aus. Call your airline and you'll see.