The Department of Home Affairs has released version 1.19.1 of its Australian ETA mobile application, dated 27 October 2025, bringing faster passport-chip reading, improved selfie-liveness detection and a redesigned fee-payment screen. The ETA app is the cornerstone of Australia’s digital visitor-visa ecosystem, enabling citizens of 38 countries—including the United States, Japan and much of Europe—to obtain Electronic Travel Authorities entirely on a smartphone.
According to the release notes, the update reduces application time by up to 30 per cent, fixes a bug that blocked some Samsung devices, and adds French and Korean language support. Home Affairs says more than 2.4 million ETAs have been issued via the app since its 2021 launch—40 per cent of all short-stay visitor visas.
Travel-industry groups have welcomed the improvements, noting that Australian airports are bracing for the busiest summer since pre-pandemic 2019. Airlines can now integrate an API that checks real-time ETA approval status, potentially cutting check-in delays. Corporate-travel managers say the streamlined process will help last-minute business travellers who often apply for an ETA within 48 hours of departure.
Cyber-security experts, however, caution users to download only from official app stores after a recent surge in fake ETA apps targeting would-be visitors. The department confirmed it is working with Apple and Google to remove fraudulent listings and will soon roll out two-factor authentication for fee payments.
According to the release notes, the update reduces application time by up to 30 per cent, fixes a bug that blocked some Samsung devices, and adds French and Korean language support. Home Affairs says more than 2.4 million ETAs have been issued via the app since its 2021 launch—40 per cent of all short-stay visitor visas.
Travel-industry groups have welcomed the improvements, noting that Australian airports are bracing for the busiest summer since pre-pandemic 2019. Airlines can now integrate an API that checks real-time ETA approval status, potentially cutting check-in delays. Corporate-travel managers say the streamlined process will help last-minute business travellers who often apply for an ETA within 48 hours of departure.
Cyber-security experts, however, caution users to download only from official app stores after a recent surge in fake ETA apps targeting would-be visitors. The department confirmed it is working with Apple and Google to remove fraudulent listings and will soon roll out two-factor authentication for fee payments.
