Visitor Visa 600 vs ETA 601 vs eVisitor 651: Which Tourist Visa Do You Need?

Visitor Visa 600 vs ETA 601 vs eVisitor 651: Which Tourist Visa Do You Need?

Australia doesn't have a single tourist visa. It has three — and the one you're eligible for depends almost entirely on the passport you hold. If you're a French citizen, you'll apply for one visa. If you're American, it's a different one. And if you're from India or China, it's a third option altogether.

The three tourist-category visas are the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600), the Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601), and the eVisitor (Subclass 651). They all let you visit Australia for tourism or business visitor activities, and they all cap individual stays at three months. But they differ sharply in cost, processing time, and who can actually apply.

Here's how they stack up.

Quick Comparison Table

The eVisitor (Subclass 651): Free and Instant

If you hold a passport from one of 36 European countries, the eVisitor is your visa — and it won't cost you a cent.

Who's Eligible?

Passport holders from EU member states and a handful of other European nations, including:

• All 27 EU member states (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, etc.)
• United Kingdom
• Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein
• Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City

That's a total of 36 eligible passport countries. If you've got a European passport, this is the visa you'll be applying for.

What You Get

The eVisitor grants multiple entries over a 12-month period. Each visit can last up to three months. There are no work rights attached — you can't take a job in Australia on an eVisitor. You can, however, attend business meetings, conferences, and negotiate contracts. Short-term study of up to three months is also permitted.

Processing

Most eVisitor applications are processed within minutes. The system is largely automated. You'll apply online, and in many cases you'll have your visa granted before you've finished your coffee. There's no need to visit an embassy or provide biometrics.

For travellers from Europe planning a trip Down Under, the eVisitor is about as painless as visa applications get. It links electronically to your passport — no visa label, no stamp. Airlines check your status digitally at check-in.

If you're considering combining your visit with future migration plans, our eVisitor Subclass 651 guide breaks down the full details.

The Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601): Almost Free, Almost Instant

The ETA sits between the eVisitor and the full Visitor Visa. It costs AUD $20, and it's available to passport holders from eight countries.

Eligible Countries

• United States
• Canada
• Japan
• South Korea
• Hong Kong SAR
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Brunei

That's a deliberately short list. These are countries with strong bilateral relationships with Australia and historically low visa overstay rates.

How It Works

You apply through the AustralianETA mobile app. The process takes minutes, and most applications are approved on the spot. Like the eVisitor, the ETA is an electronic visa — no physical label in your passport.

The ETA grants 12 months of validity with multiple entries. Each stay can be up to three months. No work rights. Business visitor activities and short study (up to three months) are permitted.

The AUD $20 fee is technically a "service charge" rather than a visa application charge, which is why it's so low compared to the Visitor 600. Think of it as a processing fee for the electronic system.

Want the full breakdown? Check our ETA Subclass 601 guide for application steps and tips.

ETA vs eVisitor: What's Actually Different?

Not much, functionally. Both are electronic, both grant three months per visit over 12 months, and neither allows work. The differences are:

1. Cost: eVisitor is free. ETA costs AUD $20.
2. Eligible countries: Completely different lists with no overlap.
3. Application method: ETA requires the AustralianETA app. eVisitor is applied for online via a web form.

You don't get to choose between them. Your passport determines which one you apply for. A British citizen can't apply for an ETA, and an American can't apply for an eVisitor. It's that straightforward.

The Visitor Visa (Subclass 600): The Full Application

If your passport doesn't qualify for an ETA or eVisitor, the Visitor Visa Subclass 600 is your path to visiting Australia. This is the visa for citizens of China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the majority of the world's countries.

Cost

AUD $200 per application. That's ten times the ETA and infinitely more than the free eVisitor. The higher fee reflects the more detailed processing involved.

Application Process

The Visitor 600 requires a genuine application. You'll need to provide:

• A completed application form
• Proof of financial capacity (bank statements, pay slips)
• Evidence of ties to your home country (employment, property, family)
• Travel itinerary or planned activities
• Health insurance evidence (strongly recommended)
• Character documents if requested

This isn't a tick-and-submit form. Immigration officers actually review Visitor 600 applications, assess your circumstances, and make a decision based on whether they believe you're a genuine visitor who'll leave when your visa expires.

Processing Times

Processing varies enormously. Straightforward applications from low-risk applicants might take a few days. Applications requiring additional assessment, health checks, or character clearances can take weeks. During peak periods, the Department of Home Affairs processing times have stretched beyond a month.

This is a significant difference from the ETA and eVisitor, where you'll typically know within minutes.

What Makes the 600 More Flexible

Despite the higher cost and longer processing, the Visitor 600 does offer some advantages:

• Longer stays: While the standard tourist stream grants up to 3 months, you can apply for stays of 6 or even 12 months.
• Sponsored family stream: If you have family in Australia, they can sponsor your application for stays of up to 12 months.
• Business visitor stream: For complex business purposes that go beyond what ETA/eVisitor covers.
• Frequent traveller stream: For approved business visitors, granting stays of up to 3 months over a 3-year period.

Our Visitor Visa Subclass 600 guide walks through the full application process and documentation requirements.

Which Visa Is "Best"?

This isn't really a question you get to answer. Your nationality determines your visa, full stop. There's no option to "upgrade" to a cheaper visa or "switch" to a faster one. Here's the decision tree:

Step 1: Is your passport from one of the 36 eVisitor-eligible European countries?

• Yes → Apply for eVisitor (Subclass 651). It's free.

Step 2: Is your passport from one of the 8 ETA-eligible countries?

• Yes → Apply for ETA (Subclass 601). It costs AUD $20.

Step 3: Neither of the above?

• Apply for Visitor Visa (Subclass 600). It costs AUD $200.

That's the entire decision process. There's no points test, no skills assessment, no employer sponsorship. Just your passport.

Common Situations and Which Visa Applies

Dual Citizens

If you hold passports from two countries, you may be eligible for different visa types depending on which passport you use. A person with both a Brazilian and Italian passport could apply for the free eVisitor using their Italian passport, rather than the AUD $200 Visitor 600 they'd need with their Brazilian passport.

Always check which passport gives you the best visa option. And remember — you must travel on the same passport linked to your visa.

Business Visitors

All three visas permit business visitor activities. You can attend meetings, conferences, trade fairs, and conduct negotiations. What you can't do on any of these visas is actually work for an Australian employer or provide services to an Australian business for payment.

If you need to work in Australia, you'll need a different visa category entirely — potentially a Subclass 482 employer-sponsored visa or a Working Holiday Visa depending on your circumstances.

Extending Your Stay

Can you extend a tourist visa? It depends:

• eVisitor 651: Cannot be extended. You'd need to leave and re-enter, or apply for a different visa.
• ETA 601: Cannot be extended. Same situation.
• Visitor 600: Can potentially be extended by applying for a new Visitor 600 before your current one expires. Extensions aren't guaranteed and the Department will look closely at why you need more time.

Overstaying

Overstaying any of these visas has serious consequences. You'll be classified as an unlawful non-citizen, which can result in detention, removal from Australia, and a ban on future visa applications. The three-month limit exists for a reason — respect it.

Cost Comparison in Context

To put the fees in perspective, here's what AUD $200 actually means compared to visitor visa costs for other popular destinations:

Australia's eVisitor is genuinely one of the best-value tourist visas in the world — because it's free. Even the ETA at AUD $20 is a bargain. The Visitor 600 at AUD $200 is on the higher end globally, but it's roughly comparable to US and UK visitor visa fees.

Conditions That Apply to All Three Visas

Regardless of which tourist visa you hold, these conditions are universal:

• No work rights: You cannot work for an Australian employer. Volunteer work in some cases may be permitted, but paid employment is prohibited.
• No access to Medicare: You'll need private health insurance to cover any medical expenses during your visit.
• Study limited to 3 months: You can enrol in a short course, but anything longer requires a Student Visa (Subclass 500).
• Condition 8101: No work condition is attached to all three visa types.
• Must depart before expiry: Overstaying triggers serious immigration consequences.

Transitioning to Other Visas

A tourist visa is a temporary entry permit. It's not a stepping stone to permanent residency. However, once you're in Australia on a visitor visa, you may be able to apply for certain other visas onshore — provided you meet the eligibility criteria and there aren't "no further stay" conditions on your current visa.

Common transitions include:

• Applying for a student visa after enrolling in a course
• Applying for a partner visa if you've entered a genuine relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Applying for a Skilled Independent Visa (189) if you meet the points test requirements

However, the Visitor 600 sometimes comes with Condition 8503 (no further stay), which prevents you from applying for most other visas while onshore. The ETA and eVisitor don't have this condition by default, but they have their own limitation — you generally can't apply for most substantive visas while holding one.

Planning Your Visit

Before applying, check your passport's expiry date (valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure), book refundable flights (especially for Visitor 600 applicants), and arrange health insurance. Visitor 600 applicants should apply at least 4-6 weeks before travel and prepare financial and personal documents well ahead of time.

Thinking about a longer stay in Australia? Explore the State Nomination comparison to understand pathways beyond a visitor visa.

FAQ

Can I switch between the three tourist visa types?

No. Your nationality determines which visa you're eligible for. You can't choose to apply for an eVisitor if your passport qualifies you for an ETA, or vice versa.

Do I need to print anything for my tourist visa?

No. All three visas are electronic and linked to your passport number. Airlines and immigration authorities check your status digitally. There's nothing to print or carry.

Can I work remotely for my overseas employer while visiting Australia?

Technically, the "no work" condition refers to work for an Australian business. Working remotely for an overseas employer while physically in Australia falls into a grey area. The Department of Home Affairs hasn't explicitly prohibited it for short stays, but it's not explicitly authorised either. If remote work is your primary purpose, consider whether a different visa might be more appropriate.

What happens if my ETA or eVisitor application isn't approved instantly?

Most are approved within minutes, but some get flagged for additional checks. This can happen if there's a name match against a person of interest, or if there's an issue with your travel history. If your application isn't approved immediately, you'll typically receive a response within 24-48 hours. In rare cases, you may be asked to apply for a Visitor 600 instead.

Can I visit Australia multiple times on one ETA or eVisitor?

Yes. Both visas allow multiple entries within the 12-month validity period. Each visit is limited to three months, but there's no limit on the number of visits. However, if you're spending more time in Australia than in your home country, immigration officers may question whether you're genuinely a visitor.

Do children need their own visa?

Yes. Every person travelling to Australia needs their own visa, including infants. The same visa type and eligibility rules apply based on the child's passport nationality.

Is there an age limit for tourist visas?

No. Unlike working holiday visas or some skilled visas, there's no age restriction for any of the three tourist visa types. Whether you're 18 or 80, the same rules apply.