If you don't want to stay permanently in Australia, or if you can't meet the criteria for permanent entry, then apply for a temporary visa.

Short-stay visas
If you come here to visit, as a tourist, for short-term study or for pre-arranged medical consultation or treatment then you can apply for a short-stay temporary visa in your overseas country. Temporary short-stay visas are free.

Electronic Travel Application E.T.A - this is a way of applying for a temporary visa electronically.

There are three types of ETA visa,

• Holiday and visiting (976). This visa allows you to stay 3 months on each arrival, and it is vaid for multiple entries over a 12 month period. If you apply through an Australian Embassy, the visa is free. You can also apply through travel agents and air lines, but they may make a consultancy charge.
• Short Validity Business ETA (977). For business people to make one visit of up to three months in a 12 month period. From an Australian Government source this visa is free. Commercial travel agents and airlines may charge.
• Long Validity Business ETA (956) for business people to stay for up to three months on each visit. AUD $60 for this visa, payment by credit card only.

These are the countries where you can apply for an ETA visa:

Temporary resident's visa
If you want to stay in Australia for an extended period, usually more than three months, but you do not intend to migrate permanently (or you cannot meet the permanent migrant's criteria) then apply for a temporary resident's visa in your overseas country.

If you wish to extend your short-stay visa, you may be able to do it under one of the following classes. For most of these classes you can extend a short-stay visa while you are living in Australia.

Australian Visas lists 19 temporary resident's visas:

Emergency
Sport
Visiting Academics - research or professional
Entertainment - cultural (not paid) or professional
Skilled Exchange - (for student exchange, see Students)
Foreign Government Agency
Special Program
Religious Worker
Domestic Workers
Family Relationship
Family Member
Expatriates
Diplomats
Film, Media, Actors and Support Staff, Photographers and Journalists
Lecturers and Experts on Public Topics
Retirement visas
Working holidays
Business
Students
Medical

Temporary Visas
For a temporary visa, apply to your nearest Australian Embassy or Consulate overseas for your forms, or to DIMA if you are in Australia.

If you are thinking of applying for permanent migration, look at our sections on permanent visas. If you are planning a short stay, less than 6 months, then you only need a visitor's visa.

Working: with a visitor's visa you are not allowed to work. A permanent visa gives you full rights to live and earn a living here (in fact you will be assisted to find work in the same way an Australian would be). A temporary visa will allow you to work for a certain period, or a certain number of hours per week, for example as a student. The allowances and arrangements are different for each visa.