Australian eVisitor Visa (651) for French Citizens
Updated: 25 June 2026
French citizens travelling to Australia for tourism or business use the eVisitor (Subclass 651), not the ETA. France is one of the European passports eligible for this free visa, which permits stays of up to three months per visit and multiple entries across a 12-month validity period. French nationals apply online through ImmiAccount — there is no visa application charge.
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Are French Citizens Eligible for the eVisitor (651)?
Yes. France is on the list of eligible countries for the eVisitor (Subclass 651), the visa designed specifically for European passport holders visiting Australia. If you hold a valid French passport, you can apply for the eVisitor for tourism or business visitor purposes.
A common point of confusion: French citizens are not eligible for the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Subclass 601. The ETA is reserved for a small group of mostly non-European passports (the USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore and a handful of others). The eVisitor and the ETA are near-identical in what they allow you to do, but eligibility is split by nationality — and France sits firmly on the eVisitor side.
If you only remember one thing: French passport → eVisitor (651). Not the ETA, not the ETA app.
eVisitor (651) Quick Facts for French Passport Holders
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Visa subclass | 651 (eVisitor) |
| Who it's for | French and other eligible European passport holders |
| Visa application charge | No charge (see the visa fees schedule) |
| Maximum stay | Up to 3 months per visit |
| Validity | 12 months from grant |
| Multiple entries | Yes |
| Permitted activities | Tourism and business visitor activities |
| Work rights | No |
| Where to apply | ImmiAccount (online) — not the ETA app |
| Must be applied for | While outside Australia |
For the most current processing expectations, see our visa processing times guide — the eVisitor is typically one of the faster visas to be decided, but timeframes are not guaranteed.
How French Citizens Apply for the eVisitor (651)
The eVisitor is lodged online. Unlike the ETA — which uses a dedicated mobile app — the eVisitor is processed through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs' online portal. Here is the process for a French passport holder.
Step 1: Create an ImmiAccount. Register a free account on the Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount portal. This is the same system used for most Australian visa applications.
Step 2: Start an eVisitor (Subclass 651) application. Select the eVisitor from the list of visa types. Make sure you choose 651 and not a different visitor product.
Step 3: Enter your French passport details. Provide your passport number, full name exactly as printed, date of birth and nationality. Accuracy matters — the visa is linked electronically to this passport number.
Step 4: Answer the declaration questions. A short set of questions covers character (criminal history), health, and the purpose of your visit. Answer honestly. False or misleading declarations can lead to refusal, cancellation and future exclusion.
Step 5: Submit. There is no visa application charge for the eVisitor, so there is no payment step for the visa itself. Submit the application from outside Australia.
Step 6: Receive your grant notice. You'll be notified by email through ImmiAccount. The eVisitor is electronic and linked to your passport — there is no label or stamp. Save the grant notification for your records.
You must be outside Australia both when you apply and when the eVisitor is granted. If you are already in Australia on another visa, the eVisitor is not the right product — you would look at an onshore option instead.
Validity, Stay Length and Multiple Entries
The eVisitor for French citizens works on the same clock as it does for every other eligible nationality.
| Rule | How it works for French citizens |
|---|---|
| Validity period | 12 months from the date of grant (or until your French passport expires, whichever is first) |
| Stay per visit | Up to 3 months in Australia on each entry |
| Number of entries | Unlimited within the 12-month validity |
| Resetting the stay | Each time you leave and re-enter, a fresh 3-month stay period begins |
| Extending a stay | Not possible — the eVisitor cannot be extended past 3 months per visit |
This makes the eVisitor convenient for French travellers who want flexibility — a holiday now, a return trip later in the year — all on one grant. But the three-month limit per visit is firm. If you need to stay in Australia for longer than three months in one go, the eVisitor will not work; you would look at the Subclass 600 Visitor visa instead, which can allow longer stays.
One caution that applies to French citizens just as it does to everyone: the eVisitor is for visiting, not for living in Australia through back-to-back stays. The Department monitors travel patterns. Repeatedly chaining consecutive three-month visits to reside in Australia semi-permanently can lead to questions at the border, or to a visa being cancelled.
What French Citizens Can (and Cannot) Do on an eVisitor
The eVisitor covers two broad categories of activity: tourism and business visitor activities. It does not grant work rights.
Tourism activities include:
- Holidays, sightseeing and travel around Australia
- Visiting family and friends
- Recreational activities (surfing, diving, road trips)
- Short-term study of up to three months
- Receiving medical treatment (where you are not a public health risk)
Business visitor activities include:
- Attending conferences, seminars and trade fairs
- Making business enquiries
- Conducting negotiations or contract discussions
- General business meetings
What the eVisitor does not allow:
- Working for an Australian employer
- Selling goods or services directly to the public
- Providing services to an Australian business
- Filling a position or doing paid work, including freelance or contract work
The grey zone for many French professionals is the line between a "business visitor activity" and "work." Attending an industry conference in Sydney is fine. Being paid to deliver a workshop at that same conference is work, and that requires a different visa. If your trip involves any paid activity performed on Australian soil, the eVisitor is the wrong visa.
For longer stays, a working holiday, or paid work, the eVisitor won't help — see the Subclass 600 Visitor visa for extended tourism, or explore work and skilled options separately.
What's Different for a French Passport Compared to ETA Nationalities
The practical experience for a French citizen differs from, say, an American or Japanese traveller in a few specific ways. Both groups end up with very similar travel rights, but the route there is not the same.
| Feature | eVisitor (651) — French citizens | ETA (601) — e.g. US, Japan, Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible nationality | France and other listed European passports | A small group of mostly non-European passports |
| How you apply | Online via ImmiAccount | Via the Australian ETA mobile app |
| Visa application charge | No charge | App service charge applies |
| Maximum stay | Up to 3 months per visit | Up to 3 months per visit |
| Validity | 12 months | 12 months |
| Multiple entries | Yes | Yes |
| Work rights | No | No |
The headline difference is the application channel: French citizens use ImmiAccount online, while ETA nationalities use the phone app. A second difference is cost structure — the eVisitor has no visa application charge, whereas the ETA carries a service charge through its app. The permitted activities, stay length and validity are effectively the same once granted, which is why our ETA vs eVisitor comparison treats them as twins separated only by passport.
If you hold dual nationality — for example, a French passport and a passport from an ETA-eligible country — apply using whichever passport you'll actually present at the Australian border, and apply for the visa product that matches it.
Common Mistakes French Applicants Make
Trying to use the ETA app. The Australian ETA app is for ETA-eligible nationalities only. A French passport scanned into the ETA app will not produce a valid visa. Use ImmiAccount and apply for the eVisitor (651).
Applying from inside Australia. The eVisitor must be applied for, and granted, while you are outside Australia. If you're already onshore, this isn't the right pathway.
Assuming it covers remote work. Doing paid work for a French or other employer while physically in Australia is still work performed on Australian soil. The eVisitor does not authorise it.
Renewing your passport after the grant. The eVisitor is tied to a specific passport number. If you renew your French passport, the visa attached to the old one no longer works for travel — you'll need to apply again with the new passport details.
Overstaying. Staying beyond your permitted period — even briefly — can trigger an exclusion period and serious consequences for future Australian visas. Track your three-month limit carefully.
eVisitor vs Other Options for French Travellers
For most French tourists and business visitors, the eVisitor is the obvious choice: it's free, fast, and built for European passports. But it isn't the only door into Australia.
- For stays longer than three months at a time, the Subclass 600 Visitor visa can allow extended periods.
- To understand how the eVisitor stacks up against the near-identical ETA, read the ETA vs eVisitor comparison.
- For the full feature breakdown of the eVisitor product itself, see the dedicated eVisitor (Subclass 651) guide.
- For current charges across all visitor products, check the visa fees complete schedule.
The eVisitor is the right answer for the vast majority of French citizens making short, visa-free trips to Australia. Reach for an alternative only when your stay length or activity falls outside what the eVisitor permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do French citizens need a visa to visit Australia?
Yes. There is no fully visa-free entry for French passport holders, but the visa you need — the eVisitor (Subclass 651) — has no visa application charge and is applied for online through ImmiAccount. It permits tourism and business visitor activities for up to three months per visit.
Can French citizens use the Australian ETA?
No. The ETA (Subclass 601) is reserved for a different group of mostly non-European passports, such as the USA, Canada and Japan. French citizens are eligible for the eVisitor (651) instead, which offers near-identical travel rights but is applied for online rather than through the ETA app.
How long can a French citizen stay in Australia on an eVisitor?
Up to three months per visit. The eVisitor is valid for 12 months from grant, and within that period you can enter Australia multiple times — each entry allows a fresh stay of up to three months. The eVisitor cannot be extended beyond three months in a single visit.
Can French citizens work in Australia on an eVisitor?
No. The eVisitor allows tourism and business visitor activities — meetings, conferences, negotiations — but it does not grant work rights. Paid work, including remote work for a French employer while physically in Australia, is not permitted. Paid activity requires a different visa.
How do French citizens apply for the eVisitor (651)?
Create an ImmiAccount online, start an eVisitor (Subclass 651) application, enter your French passport details, answer the character and health declaration questions, and submit while you are outside Australia. Because there's no visa application charge, there is no payment step for the visa itself.
What happens if a French citizen needs to stay longer than three months?
The eVisitor cannot be extended past three months per visit. If you need a longer continuous stay, the Subclass 600 Visitor visa can allow extended periods. You would generally apply for that before your eVisitor stay runs out to avoid becoming unlawful.
