Plain-English guide
Visa terminology explained
Similar-sounding terms can describe different legal routes. These definitions explain how ETAApply uses them and point to official examples.
- Travel authorisation
- Pre-travel permission used by some governments for eligible visa-exempt travellers. It is normally not a visa and does not guarantee entry.
- Visa waiver
- A framework allowing specified travellers to seek entry without first obtaining a traditional visa, subject to programme and personal conditions.
- Electronic visa
- A visa granted or recorded electronically. Australia’s eVisitor subclass 651 is an electronic visa, while its ETA subclass 601 is a different route.
- Transit
- Passing through a country en route elsewhere. Whether authorisation is required can depend on passport, airport, itinerary and whether border control is crossed.
- Validity
- The period during which an authorisation may be used. It is different from the maximum stay permitted on each visit.
- Official review required
- ETAApply’s deterministic rules are not sufficient for a safe answer. The traveller should use the linked government checker or guidance.
Independent information
Official sources, clearly identified
ETAApply is an independent travel-information website and is not affiliated with any government.