Features
This visa lets you visit Australia:
- to visit or for business visitor purposes
- for up to three months at a time within a 12-month period.
This is a free visa.
Requirements
You might be able to get an eVisitor if you are:
- outside Australia
- a passport holder of a certain country.
There is no charge for an eVisitor application.
Who could get this visa
You may be eligible for an eVisitor if you:
- intend to visit Australia only temporarily and for tourism or business visitor purposes
- are outside Australia
- hold an eVisitor-eligible passport
- are free of tuberculosis when you enter Australia
- have not been convicted of an offence or offences for which the total sentence is more than 12 months (whether or not the sentence has been served).
eVisitor-eligible passports
eVisitor-eligible passports are citizen passports issued by the following countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Republic of San Marino
- Slovak Republic
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom: British Citizen
- Vatican City.
You are not eligible to apply for the eVisitor if your only passport is a British National Overseas, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person or British Subject passport.
Criminal convictions
If you have had one or more criminal convictions (in any country) for which the sentence or sentences (whether served or not) total 12 months or more you will not be permitted entry to Australia whilst holding an eVisitor. If you have had any criminal conviction in any country, a more appropriate visa for you to apply for may be a Visitor visa (subclass 600), rather than an eVisitor.
Health requirements
You must meet certain health requirements. You might not be able to enter Australia if you have active tuberculosis.
Health insurance
You are responsible for all your health costs while you are in Australia. You will not be covered by Australia’s national health scheme (Medicare) unless your country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia.
What the eVisitor lets you do
- visit Australia for a holiday or to see family and friends;
- carry out business visitor activities, such as attending a conference, negotiating a contract or making general business enquiries;
- study or train for up to 3 months in total;
- travel to and from Australia as many times as you want for 12 months, staying up to 3 months on each visit.
You must not work in Australia, and you cannot stay for more than 3 months on any one visit. If you want to stay longer, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
How to apply
You apply online through ImmiAccount while you are outside Australia. There is no application charge. Most eVisitors are granted within a few days, but some applications take longer, so apply before you book your travel. Each person, including children, needs their own eVisitor.
ETA, eVisitor or Visitor visa: which one do I need?
| ETA (subclass 601) | eVisitor (subclass 651) | Visitor visa (subclass 600) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Passport holders of eligible countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, the UK and many European countries | Passport holders of the EU and some other European countries, including the UK | Any nationality |
| How to apply | AustralianETA app | Online through ImmiAccount | Online through ImmiAccount (or on paper in some cases) |
| Cost (from 1 July 2026) | AUD20 service charge | Free | AUD250 outside Australia, AUD630 Tourist stream in Australia |
| Validity and stay | 12 months, up to 3 months each visit | 12 months, up to 3 months each visit | Up to 3, 6 or 12 months, or up to 10 years for some streams |
| Criminal convictions | Apply for a Visitor visa instead | Not eligible if total sentences are 12 months or more | Assessed against the character requirement |
If you need to stay longer than 3 months, visit family for an extended period, or have a criminal record or previous visa refusal, a Visitor visa (subclass 600) is usually the right choice.
How to Apply for an eVisitor: Step by Step
- Check your passport. It must be a citizen passport from an eVisitor eligible country, and it should be the passport you will travel on. If it expires soon, renew it first.
- Create an ImmiAccount. This is the Department of Home Affairs online account used to lodge the application. One account can be used to apply for several family members.
- Complete the online form. Enter your passport and personal details, the purpose of your trip and your answers to the health and character questions.
- Attach documents if asked. Most applications only need passport details, but you can be asked for more information (see below).
- Submit and wait for the outcome. There is no application charge. The decision is sent by email and also appears in your ImmiAccount.
- Check your grant letter. Make sure your name, date of birth and passport number are correct, and note the date by which you must enter Australia.
The eVisitor is free: watch out for unofficial websites
There is no government charge for an eVisitor. Some websites offer to “process” your eVisitor and charge a fee for doing so, which is not necessary. Apply yourself through ImmiAccount, or use a registered migration agent if you need advice about your situation.
Documents You May Be Asked For
Most eVisitors are granted on the information in the application. If Home Affairs needs more information, it may ask for documents such as:
- a copy of your passport identity page and a national identity card
- evidence of your travel plans, such as flight or accommodation bookings
- evidence that you will return home, such as a letter from your employer or place of study
- evidence that you can support yourself during your stay, such as recent bank statements
- for business visitors, an invitation or letter explaining the meetings or event you will attend
Provide any requested documents quickly. If the information is not provided, the application may be decided on what Home Affairs already has, and it may be refused. Our guide to documents for an Australian tourist visa has more detail.
Applying for Your Family
Every person travelling needs their own eVisitor, including babies and children, even if the child is listed in a parent’s passport. You can lodge applications for all family members from one ImmiAccount, but each person has a separate application and receives a separate grant.
If family members hold passports from different countries, check each person’s eligibility separately. A family member whose passport is not eVisitor eligible may be able to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) or will need a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
Your Passport and Your eVisitor
Your eVisitor is linked electronically to your passport, so there is no visa label and nothing to print. Airlines check your visa electronically when you check in.
- New passport: the eVisitor stays with the passport you applied with. If you get a new passport, apply for a new eVisitor on it before you travel.
- Dual citizens: apply on the passport you will travel on. An eVisitor granted on one passport cannot be used with another.
- Mistakes in your details: if your grant letter shows an incorrect passport number or date of birth, fix it before you travel, as an error can stop you boarding.
Staying Longer Than 3 Months
The eVisitor cannot be extended, and each visit is limited to 3 months from the date you arrive. If you want to stay longer, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) while you are still in Australia and before your 3 months end. From 1 July 2026, a Tourist stream Visitor visa applied for in Australia costs AUD 630, and further charges can apply in some cases.
If you lodge your new application in time, you will usually get a bridging visa that keeps you lawful while it is processed. If you stay past your 3 months without applying, you become unlawful, which can lead to a ban on future visas.
You can leave Australia and return during the 12 months, and each entry allows a new stay of up to 3 months. However, the eVisitor is for genuine visits. If your trips suggest you are living in Australia rather than visiting, you may be questioned at the border.
Working Holidays, Study and Work
The eVisitor does not allow you to work. Many young travellers from eVisitor eligible countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy, can apply for a Working Holiday visa instead if they want to work while travelling. Age limits and other requirements apply, and they differ between countries.
Study or training is limited to 3 months in total. If you plan to study for longer, you will usually need a student visa. See our study visa guides.
If you are coming to do short term specialist work for an Australian business, even for a few days, an eVisitor is not enough. You may need a subclass 400 visa. Our guide to permissible activities on visitor visas explains where business visitor activities end and work begins.
If Your eVisitor Is Refused
Refusals are not common, but they do happen, usually because of character or health concerns, previous visa problems, or doubts about whether the applicant is a genuine visitor. There is generally no tribunal review of an eVisitor refusal. Instead, you can apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) and provide evidence that deals with the reasons for the refusal.
If you have ever been refused a visa for Australia or another country, or had a visa cancelled, declare it truthfully. Giving false or misleading information can lead to refusal and can affect future applications for years.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Paying a third party website for an eVisitor that is free through ImmiAccount.
- Applying with a British passport that is not a British Citizen passport, such as a British National (Overseas) passport.
- Travelling on a new passport without applying for a new eVisitor.
- Booking non refundable travel before the eVisitor is granted.
- Not declaring a criminal conviction, or applying for an eVisitor when a conviction means a Visitor visa (subclass 600) is the right option.
- Working, including unpaid work that would normally be paid, while on an eVisitor.
- Staying beyond 3 months in one visit without applying for another visa.
eVisitor (subclass 651): Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an eVisitor take?
Most eVisitors are granted within a few days, and many much faster. Some applications take longer if more checks or documents are needed, so apply well before you travel.
Can I apply for an eVisitor while I am in Australia?
No. You must be outside Australia when you apply. If you are already in Australia and want to stay longer, apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
I am a UK citizen. Is the eVisitor or the ETA better?
British citizens can usually choose either. The eVisitor is free and is lodged through ImmiAccount, while the ETA costs AUD 20 and is lodged through the AustralianETA app. Both allow stays of up to 3 months at a time over 12 months, so most British citizens choose the eVisitor.
Can I go on a cruise that stops in Australia on an eVisitor?
Yes. If you are eligible, an eVisitor can be used for cruises that visit Australian ports. Make sure the eVisitor is granted on the passport you will use for the cruise, and that its 12 month validity covers your cruise dates.
Can I volunteer while on an eVisitor?
Limited volunteering may be possible where tourism is the main purpose of your trip, the work is genuinely voluntary and would not normally be paid, and you receive no more than meals, accommodation or out of pocket expenses. See our guide to permissible activities on visitor visas.
Do I need travel insurance?
It is not a visa requirement, but it is strongly recommended. Visitors usually pay their own medical costs in Australia, and hospital and ambulance costs can be high. Some countries have reciprocal health care agreements with Australia, but these only cover limited treatment.
