It is possible to apply for an Australian visa online. Passport holders from certain countries may be able to apply for a visa electronically without visiting a visa office and getting their passports stamped.
Apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) if you are visiting as a tourist or for business for less than three months. Start by checking if you are eligible for an ETA. Eligible countries are listed on the ETA website (see Resources below). If you are eligible you can apply for an ETA online by paying AUS$20. Make sure you have your passport on you when you apply. The ETA is approved within a minute and you can go directly to the airport. Your information will be electronically transmitted to the airline, and you will be allowed to board the plane.
Determine if you are eligible for an electronic visa or eVisa, if you are not eligible for an ETA. Follow the eVisa link in the resources below and check if your passport is from an eligible country. If it is, follow the instructions online and apply. The application fee is AUS$100. Once approved, you can go directly to the airport. You do not need an actual visa stamp.
Apply for a visa stamp if you are in the United States and you do not qualify for either an ETA or an eVisa. You can start the process online but you will need to print out your application. Start by visiting the website of the Australian consulate in Washington, DC. The website has application forms you fill in directly and then print out to apply for a visa. You can either mail them or walk them in. Allow up to a month for processing and mailing back and forth if you are not walking into the visa office to apply.
Start with the visa wizard on the Australian Immigration website if you are not in the U.S. The questionnaire collects information such as where you currently reside, the country from which your passport originates, the purpose of your visit and how long you intend to stay. The system will recommend steps you need to take to obtain your visa. If you are traveling to Australia for reasons other than tourism or business and for longer than three months, the visa wizard is the way to go. You will be able to get links to the needed forms and the address of the nearest visa office to which you can send your application. Most of the forms are directly fillable online. You can then print them out and mail them.
