ETA or eVisitor — The Complete Eligibility List
The single most important step is confirming which visa class your passport qualifies for. Applying for the wrong one wastes money (if you pay for an ETA when the eVisitor is free) or causes delays (if you apply via the wrong portal). The following table covers the most common nationalities.
| Country / Region | ETA (A$20) | eVisitor (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| USA, Canada | ETA ✓ | — |
| Japan, South Korea | ETA ✓ | — |
| Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei | ETA ✓ | — |
| Hong Kong SAR | ETA ✓ | — |
| UK (British citizen) | — | eVisitor ✓ |
| Germany, France, Italy, Spain | — | eVisitor ✓ |
| Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark | — | eVisitor ✓ |
| Norway, Iceland, Switzerland | — | eVisitor ✓ |
| Ireland | — | eVisitor ✓ |
| India, China (PRC) | — | — |
| Brazil, Argentina, Mexico | — | — |
| South Africa, Nigeria | — | — |
Nationalities not covered by either system — including India, China, Brazil, and most of Africa and the Middle East — must apply for a standard Visitor Visa (subclass 600) through the IMMI portal or an authorised Australian visa application centre. That process is more involved and takes 20–40 business days; it is not covered in this guide.
ETA vs. eVisitor: Full Side-by-Side Comparison
Both visas share the same core conditions — multiple entry, up to 3 months per stay, 12-month validity — but differ in fee, application channel, and which nationalities are eligible. Here is the full comparison:
| Feature | ETA (Subclass 601) | eVisitor (Subclass 651) |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | A$20 (non-refundable) | Free |
| Max stay per visit | 3 months (90 days) | 3 months (90 days) |
| Visa validity | 12 months from grant | 12 months from grant |
| Entry type | Multiple entry | Multiple entry |
| Apply via | AustraliaETA app or immi.homeaffairs.gov.au | immi.homeaffairs.gov.au only |
| Typical processing | Instant (app) / minutes–hours (web) | Minutes–24 hours |
| Work permitted | No | No |
| Study permitted | Up to 3 months only | Up to 3 months only |
| Visa sticker in passport | No — electronic only | No — electronic only |
How to Apply for the ETA (Subclass 601)
The ETA is available through two official channels: the AustraliaETA smartphone app (recommended — fastest and most straightforward) and the IMMI web portal. Both are operated by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Method A — AustraliaETA App (Recommended)
The AustraliaETA app is the fastest way to get an ETA. It is available on iOS and Android and uses your phone's camera to scan your passport — eliminating most manual data entry and reducing processing to seconds in most cases.
Download the AustraliaETA app
Search "AustraliaETA" in the App Store or Google Play. The official app is published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs — verify the publisher before downloading. The app is free.
Scan your passport bio-data page
Hold the passport open to the photo page and let the app scan the machine-readable zone. The app auto-fills your name, passport number, nationality, and expiry date. Check the details are correct before proceeding.
Answer the eligibility and health questions
The app asks a series of standard character and health questions. Answer honestly — providing false information is a serious immigration offence in Australia and can result in visa cancellation and a future ban.
Pay the A$20 fee
The app accepts major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express). Payment is processed through the Australian government's secure payment gateway. Keep your receipt — it contains your transaction reference number.
Receive your ETA grant confirmation
Most approvals arrive within seconds to a few minutes. You will receive an email confirmation. The ETA is linked electronically to your passport number — there is no physical visa label or stamp. Airlines verify it automatically when you check in.
Method B — IMMI Web Portal
If you prefer a desktop browser or do not use a smartphone, apply at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. The process is identical in terms of questions and fee, but involves manual data entry rather than passport scanning. Processing through the web portal typically takes a few minutes to a few hours, compared to seconds via the app.
How to Apply for the eVisitor (Subclass 651)
The eVisitor is only available through the IMMI web portal — there is no dedicated app. Apply at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and select the eVisitor (subclass 651) option. There is no application fee.
Create an ImmiAccount (one-time)
You will need a free ImmiAccount to apply for the eVisitor online. Registration takes 2–3 minutes and requires an email address. If you have applied for any Australian visa before, you may already have an account.
Start a new eVisitor (651) application
Log into ImmiAccount, click "New Application", and select Tourist > eVisitor (651). Confirm your nationality — the system will verify you are applying for the correct visa class for your passport.
Enter passport details and travel information
Fill in your full name, passport number, date of birth, and intended travel dates. For travel dates, use your approximate plans — you are not locked in to specific dates. Upload a scan of your passport bio-data page (JPEG or PDF, under 1MB).
Complete the health and character declarations
Answer all declaration questions truthfully. The questions cover criminal history, previous visa refusals, and health conditions. Failing to disclose relevant information can result in visa cancellation upon discovery, even years later.
Submit — no payment required
The eVisitor has no application fee. Review all details and submit. Most grants arrive by email within minutes to a few hours. You will receive a visa grant notification letter — save this PDF. Like the ETA, the eVisitor is electronic and does not appear as a stamp in your passport.
What Both Visas Allow — and Don't Allow
ETA and eVisitor holders have identical visa conditions once in Australia. The following summarises what is and is not permitted.
Processing Times & Delays
Processing times differ between the ETA and eVisitor, and between the AustraliaETA app and the web portal. The following figures reflect traveller reports collected between January and May 2026:
| Visa & Channel | Typical Processing | Peak / Delay Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| ETA via AustraliaETA app | Seconds to 2 minutes | Up to 24 hours if further review triggered |
| ETA via IMMI web portal | Minutes to a few hours | Up to 48 hours; check spam folder |
| eVisitor (651) via IMMI | Minutes to 24 hours | Up to 5 business days if health assessment required |
| Either visa, previous refusal flagged | 2–10 business days | May require additional documentation or interview |
If your application has not been decided within 5 business days, you can check the status in your ImmiAccount (eVisitor) or via the IMMI tracking service. If travelling imminently, contact the Department of Home Affairs via the IMMI enquiry form with your Transaction Reference Number (TRN).
At the Australian Border
Both the ETA and eVisitor are linked electronically to your passport. There are no physical labels, no stamps, and no documents to present at Australian immigration beyond your passport itself. Australian Border Force officers scan your passport and the visa appears on their system automatically.
SmartGate — Faster Clearance at Major Airports
Australia operates automated SmartGate kiosks at all major international airports (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Cairns, Gold Coast). These allow eligible passport holders to clear immigration in under 2 minutes without speaking to an officer. SmartGate is available to:
- Australian and New Zealand citizens
- Holders of e-passports from ETA and eVisitor eligible countries — which covers most travellers reading this guide
- Passengers aged 16 and over
At the SmartGate kiosk, scan your passport, complete the Incoming Passenger Card questions on the touch screen, and proceed through the gate. If the gate does not open (facial recognition failure or flagged for secondary), proceed to the staffed immigration counter.
Staying Longer Than 3 Months
Neither the ETA nor the eVisitor can be extended. If you wish to remain in Australia beyond 3 months from your most recent entry, you must either depart and re-enter (using the multiple-entry provision within the 12-month validity window) or apply for a different visa before your current permitted stay expires.
Re-Entry Within the 12-Month Window
Since both visas are multiple-entry, you can depart Australia — to New Zealand, Bali, or another destination — and return within the 12-month validity period for a further 3-month stay. There is no formal minimum time outside Australia between entries, but Border Force officers can and do question travellers who appear to be using this approach as a de facto long-stay strategy. A genuine trip of a few weeks outside Australia is viewed differently from a 2-day hop to Bali and back.
Bridging Visa Options
If you are already in Australia and wish to apply for another visa type (such as a Temporary Skill Shortage visa if you have been offered work, or a partner visa), you must lodge the new application before your current visa expires. Lodging an application automatically grants a Bridging Visa A, which allows you to remain lawfully in Australia while the new application is processed.
Practical Tips Before You Travel
- Apply for the ETA or eVisitor well before booking flights — although approvals are usually instant, a small percentage trigger manual review. Securing your visa before committing to non-refundable airfare eliminates risk.
- Check your passport expiry carefully — Australia does not have a formal 6-month validity rule, but airlines enforcing their own policies may require it. Renew if your passport expires within 6 months of your return date.
- Save your visa grant notification offline — while the visa is electronic and airlines verify it automatically, having the grant notification PDF accessible offline is useful if check-in staff have system issues or question your status.
- Apply for a new visa if your passport is renewed — your ETA or eVisitor is linked to your passport number. If you renew your passport after receiving the visa, you must apply for a new ETA or eVisitor linked to the new passport number before travel. Old visas do not transfer.
- Declare everything at biosecurity — Australia's fines for undeclared biosecurity items are among the highest in the world and are routinely enforced. Snacks, fruit, honey, seeds, and wooden items are the most common violations. The amnesty bins before the scanner are a genuine option — use them.
- Have travel insurance — Australia's healthcare system does not cover foreign tourists. A single hospital visit or medical evacuation can run A$50,000 or more. Comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended and required by some airlines' conditions of carriage.
Research Sources & Methodology
Data Sources: Information compiled from the Australian Department of Home Affairs official IMMI portal (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au), the AustraliaETA app documentation, the Australian Border Force entry requirements pages, and 280+ verified traveller accounts from Reddit (r/australia, r/solotravel, r/expats), TripAdvisor travel forums, and the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Australia board — collected between January–May 2026.
Selection Criteria: Processing time figures reflect the median from accounts with verifiable submission dates in 2025–2026. Conditions and eligibility data were cross-checked against the IMMI visa schedule as of May 2026. Nationality eligibility was verified against the official ETA and eVisitor country lists published by the Department of Home Affairs.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this article are partner affiliate links. This does not affect our recommendations or rankings, and costs you nothing extra. Full disclosure →
Last verified: 2026-05-27. Visa fees, eligibility lists, and processing requirements are set by the Australian Government and can change without notice — always confirm current requirements at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before applying.