Visiting Australia: which visitor visa do you need?
On this page
What's the difference?
| eVisitor (651) | ETA (601) | Visitor (600) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who | 36 listed European passports | 34 listed passports, e.g. US, Canada, Japan, Singapore | Passports not on the 601 or 651 lists, e.g. India, Philippines, China |
| Stay | Up to 3 months per entry, multiple entry | Up to 3 months per entry, multiple entry | 3, 6 or 12 months |
| Fee | No charge | A$20 app service charge | From A$250 (Tourist stream, offshore) |
| How to apply | ImmiAccount, from outside Australia | Australian ETA app, from outside Australia | Online, onshore or offshore |
| Work | None for an Australian employer; business visitor activities allowed | Same | Same |
Tourism Australia notes that applying for a 601 requires the ETA app and a live facial photo, and that eVisitor stays cannot be extended.
Details: Visitor visa 600 and ETA 601.
How long does it take?
Home Affairs' August 2026 median for Visitor visas (600, 601 and 651 combined) was less than one day, but the 600 can vary significantly. See processing times.
FAQ
Can I work on a visitor visa?
Not for an Australian employer. Business visitor activities are allowed.
Which visa should I choose if my passport is on both the 601 and 651 lists?
The 651 is usually the better choice because it has no lodgement fee and a fixed 12-month validity.
Can I extend my stay?
Tourism Australia says ETA holders already in Australia can apply for a Visitor visa (600) to extend their stay and eVisitor stays cannot be extended.
Do children need their own application?
Tourism Australia says each person needs their own visitor visa application, including children.
In this section
- Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601)Electronic Travel Authority (ETA 601): eligible passports, A$20 app charge, 3 months, 12 months validity, how to apply and what you can do.
- Business visitor activitiesWhat business visitors can and cannot do on Australian visitor visas: meetings, contracts, conferences and what counts as work.
- Can visitors work in Australia?Visitors cannot work for an Australian employer, but business visitor activities are allowed. What this means for 600, 601 and 651.
- Extend a visitor visaWhether you can extend a visitor stay in Australia: ETA holders can apply for a Visitor visa (600), eVisitor stays cannot be extended.
- Transit visa (subclass 771)Transit visa 771: free visa for up to 72 hours, who needs it, when you do not, and how to apply from outside Australia.
- Visitor visa (subclass 600)Visitor visa 600: streams, costs from A$250, how long you can stay, study and work rules, and who needs it instead of an ETA or eVisitor.
- Visitor visa checklistVisitor visa checklist for Australia: pick the right visa, apply early, one application per person and avoid work.
- eVisitor (subclass 651)eVisitor visa 651: free visa for passports from eligible European countries, 3 months, 12 months validity, who can apply and what you can do.