Australian eVisitor Visa (651) for German Citizens
Updated: 25 June 2026
German citizens travelling to Australia for tourism or business use the eVisitor (subclass 651), not the ETA. Germany is one of the European countries whose passport holders qualify for this free, fully electronic visitor visa. It allows multiple visits of up to three months each across a twelve-month period, and it's lodged online through ImmiAccount rather than the ETA app.
Why German Citizens Use the eVisitor, Not the ETA
This is the single most common point of confusion for German travellers. The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601) and the eVisitor (subclass 651) are almost identical in what they let you do, but they're allocated to different nationalities.
The ETA subclass 601 is reserved for a small group of passports — the United States, Canada, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and a few others. Germany is not on the ETA list. Instead, Germany sits on the eVisitor list alongside the other European Union member states, the United Kingdom and a handful of additional European countries.
So if you hold a German passport, the eVisitor is your standard pathway. You cannot apply for an ETA on a German passport, and you don't need to — the eVisitor gives you the same short-stay access at no visa application charge. For a side-by-side breakdown of the two, see our ETA vs eVisitor comparison.
Quick Facts: eVisitor 651 for German Passport Holders
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Visa subclass | 651 (eVisitor) |
| Who it's for | German citizens (and other eligible European passports) |
| Visa application charge | No charge — see the current fee schedule |
| Validity | 12 months from grant |
| Maximum stay | 3 months per visit |
| Multiple entries | Yes |
| Work rights | No (business visitor activities permitted) |
| Apply via | ImmiAccount (online) |
| Passport requirement | Valid German passport — not an ID card |
Are You Eligible? German-Specific Conditions
Holding a German passport is the starting point, but eligibility for the eVisitor rests on a few stable requirements that apply regardless of nationality.
| Requirement | What it means for German applicants |
|---|---|
| Eligible passport | You must hold a valid German passport. A German national identity card (Personalausweis) does not qualify — only the passport. |
| Outside Australia | You must be outside Australia both when you apply and when the visa is granted. |
| Purpose of visit | Tourism or business visitor activities only — not work or paid engagements. |
| Health | You must meet health requirements. For short tourist stays no examination is normally needed; longer or repeated stays can change this. |
| Character | You must meet the character requirement. Past visa refusals, cancellations or relevant criminal history can affect eligibility. |
| No outstanding debts | No outstanding debts to the Australian Government, or a formal arrangement to repay them. |
Dual nationals should apply on, and travel on, the passport that makes them eligible. If you hold both a German passport and a passport from a non-eligible country, use the German one for the eVisitor and present that same passport at the Australian border.
How German Citizens Apply for the eVisitor
Unlike the ETA — which is app-only — the eVisitor is lodged through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs online portal. There's no paper form and no need to visit an embassy. Here's the process.
Step 1: Create an ImmiAccount. Go to the official Department of Home Affairs ImmiAccount site and register with your email address. This is the same portal used for most Australian visa types.
Step 2: Start a new eVisitor (651) application. Select the eVisitor subclass from the visa list and begin a new application.
Step 3: Enter your German passport details. Type your passport number, full name and date of birth exactly as they appear on your German passport. Errors here are the most common cause of problems at the airport, because the visa is linked electronically to the passport number.
Step 4: Answer the declaration questions. A short set of questions covering health, character and the purpose of your visit. Answer honestly — a false declaration can lead to refusal or later cancellation.
Step 5: Submit. There's no visa application charge for the eVisitor. Confirm the current fee position before you assume any cost.
Step 6: Wait for the grant notification. Many eVisitor applications are decided quickly, but some are referred for additional checks. Don't book non-refundable travel until your visa is actually granted — see typical visa processing times for context.
Once granted, the eVisitor is attached electronically to your passport. There's no label, sticker or stamp. The airline confirms your authority to travel when you check in, so you don't need to print anything — though saving the grant notification as a personal record is sensible.
Validity and the Three-Month Stay Rule
The eVisitor is valid for 12 months from the date of grant, or until your German passport expires, whichever comes first. Within that twelve-month window you can enter and leave Australia as many times as you like.
The key limit is the three-month maximum per visit. Each individual stay cannot exceed three months. The clock resets when you leave Australia — fly to New Zealand or back to Germany, return, and a fresh three-month period begins. This makes the eVisitor well suited to German travellers doing a longer Australia-and-Pacific trip in segments, or business travellers visiting partners more than once in a year.
There's an important caveat. The three-month limit is not a loophole for living in Australia long term. The Department monitors patterns of repeated back-to-back stays. If it appears you're using consecutive three-month visits to effectively reside in Australia, the visa can be cancelled or you can be refused entry at the border. If you genuinely need a longer single stay, the Subclass 600 visitor visa allows stays of up to twelve months and is the correct option.
What German Citizens Can — and Can't — Do on an eVisitor
The eVisitor permits two broad categories of activity: tourism and business visitor activities. The distinction between "business visitor activities" and actual work is where most people get into trouble.
Tourism activities include:
- Holidays, road trips and sightseeing
- Visiting friends and family in Australia
- Recreational activities (diving the Great Barrier Reef, surfing, hiking)
- Short courses of study of up to three months
- Receiving medical treatment (subject to conditions)
Business visitor activities include:
- Attending conferences, trade fairs and seminars
- Making business enquiries
- Conducting negotiations or contract discussions
- Attending meetings with Australian partners or clients
What you cannot do on an eVisitor:
- Work for an Australian employer
- Sell goods or services directly to the public
- Provide a service to an Australian business
- Work as a freelancer or contractor — including remote work performed while physically in Australia
A German consultant flying to Sydney to negotiate a contract is fine. The same consultant delivering the paid consulting work on the ground in Sydney is not — that crosses into work and needs a different visa. If your trip involves any paid activity for an Australian entity, the eVisitor is the wrong visa.
eVisitor 651 vs Other Options for Germans
| Feature | eVisitor (651) | ETA (601) | Tourist Visa (600) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available to Germans? | Yes | No | Yes |
| Visa application charge | None | Service charge applies | Charge applies |
| Maximum stay | 3 months | 3 months | 3, 6 or 12 months |
| Multiple entries | Yes | Yes | Depends on grant |
| Apply via | ImmiAccount | ETA app | ImmiAccount |
| Work rights | No | No | No |
For German citizens, the practical choice is between the eVisitor and the Subclass 600. The eVisitor is free and fast and covers the vast majority of tourist and business trips. The Subclass 600 is the right call only when you need to stay in Australia for a single continuous period longer than three months. For the full mechanics of subclass 651 itself, see our dedicated eVisitor (subclass 651) guide.
When Your German Passport Changes
The eVisitor is tied to a specific passport number. If you renew your German passport, the eVisitor linked to the old passport no longer functions — even if its twelve months haven't expired. You'll need to lodge a fresh eVisitor application in ImmiAccount using your new passport details before you travel.
If you've changed your name (for example after marriage) and renewed your passport accordingly, the new passport details must match the visa exactly, so a new application is again the clean solution.
Common Mistakes German Travellers Make
Trying to use the ETA app. German passports aren't eligible for the ETA, so the app will reject you. Use ImmiAccount and apply for the eVisitor instead.
Travelling on a Personalausweis. The German national ID card is not accepted for the eVisitor or for entry to Australia. You need a valid German passport.
Booking flights before the grant. Most decisions are quick, but referrals happen. Wait for the actual grant notification — check realistic processing times first.
Overstaying by even one day. Overstaying any Australian visa creates a serious exclusion period that can bar you from returning for years. Set a reminder well before your three-month limit.
Assuming "business" covers paid work. Remote work for your German employer while sitting in a Melbourne café is, technically, work performed on Australian soil — outside what the eVisitor permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do German citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes. There is no visa-free entry to Australia for any nationality. German passport holders need an eVisitor (subclass 651), which is a free, electronic visitor visa applied for online through ImmiAccount before you travel. It covers tourism and business visitor activities for stays of up to three months at a time.
Can a German citizen apply for the ETA instead of the eVisitor?
No. The ETA (subclass 601) is only available to a specific list of passports that does not include Germany. German citizens use the eVisitor (subclass 651) instead. The two visas allow almost identical activities, so there's no disadvantage — you simply apply through ImmiAccount rather than the ETA app.
How long can a German citizen stay in Australia on an eVisitor?
Up to three months per visit, with multiple entries allowed across the twelve-month validity period. The three-month clock resets each time you leave and re-enter Australia, but you cannot use repeated back-to-back stays to live in Australia long term. For a single stay longer than three months, apply for a Subclass 600 visitor visa.
Is the eVisitor free for German passport holders?
The eVisitor has no visa application charge, which is one of its main advantages over the ETA. Because government charges can change, confirm the position on our visa fees schedule before you apply rather than relying on a figure you saw elsewhere.
Can German citizens work in Australia on an eVisitor?
No. The eVisitor permits tourism and business visitor activities only — meetings, conferences, negotiations and enquiries. It does not permit working for an Australian employer, selling services, contracting, or remote work performed while you're physically in Australia. Paid work requires a different visa entirely.
What happens if a German citizen's eVisitor is refused?
If your eVisitor is refused, you can apply for a Subclass 600 visitor visa through ImmiAccount, where you can attach detailed supporting documents. An eVisitor refusal doesn't automatically mean a Subclass 600 will be refused — the 600 allows a fuller application addressing whatever concern caused the original refusal.
This is an independent guide, not a government service. We are not affiliated with the Australian Government or the Department of Home Affairs. Always confirm current requirements through official channels before lodging a visa application.
