The ETA (Subclass 601) and eVisitor (Subclass 651) are both electronic visitor visas for Australia that allow 3-month stays with 12-month validity. The eVisitor covers 36 European countries (including the UK and Germany) and is completely free. The ETA now covers 34 passports — the USA, Canada, Japan and other Asia-Pacific passports, plus the UK British Citizen and BN(O) passports and much of western Europe — and costs $20. Twenty-four passports sit on both lists, so those holders can apply for either one. For everyone else, your passport decides.
Quick Facts — Side by Side
| Feature | ETA (Subclass 601) | eVisitor (Subclass 651) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $20 AUD service charge | Completely free |
| Eligible countries | 34 | 36 |
| Region | Asia-Pacific, North America + Europe | Europe |
| Validity | 12 months | 12 months |
| Maximum stay | 3 months per visit | 3 months per visit |
| Multiple entries | Yes | Yes |
| Work rights | No | No |
| Study allowed | Up to 3 months | Up to 3 months |
| Application method | Australian ETA app (mobile) | ImmiAccount (web browser) |
| Processing time | Usually immediate | Less than 1 day at every published percentile |
| Business activities | Yes (visitor activities only) | Yes (visitor activities only) |
Who Gets the ETA?
The ETA (Subclass 601) is available to passport holders from 34 countries and territories on the Home Affairs list — including the USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan, plus the UK and most European countries. The full list is in our ETA guide.
For ten of those passports, the ETA is the only option of the two: Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the USA, and the UK British National (Overseas) passport. None of them qualify for the eVisitor.
Who Gets the eVisitor?
The eVisitor (Subclass 651) covers 36 European entries on the Home Affairs list — all EU member states plus the UK British Citizen passport, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and several microstates. Notable countries include:
- United Kingdom (British Citizen passports only)
- Germany, France, Italy, Spain
- Netherlands, Belgium, Austria
- Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland
- Poland, Czech Republic, Ireland
- Switzerland, Greece, Portugal
If your passport is from a European country on the eligible list, the eVisitor is normally your visa — it's free. Since the ETA list expanded to include the UK and much of western Europe, many of those passports can also use the $20 ETA. Twelve EU countries cannot: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia are eVisitor-only. The choosing logic below explains when paying is worth it.
The Key Differences Explained
While these two visas function almost identically once granted, there are several practical differences worth understanding.
Cost: $20 vs. Free
The most obvious difference. The ETA has a $20 AUD service charge; the eVisitor has no charge whatsoever. If your passport is on both lists, price is the main reason to default to the eVisitor: it does the same job for free. The $20 is a service charge for using the Australian ETA app. Home Affairs says there is no other charge payable for an ETA.
Application Method: App vs. Website
This is where the day-to-day difference matters most.
ETA: Applied for exclusively through the Australian ETA mobile app (iOS and Android). You scan your passport's NFC chip with your phone, take a selfie for biometric matching, and submit. It's slick but requires a smartphone with NFC capability and a biometric (e-passport).
eVisitor: Applied for through ImmiAccount — the Department of Home Affairs' standard web portal. You fill in a form, enter your passport details manually, and submit. It works from any device with a web browser.
If you don't have a smartphone or your phone can't read NFC chips, the ETA process can be frustrating. The eVisitor's web-based approach is more universally accessible.
Processing Speed: Minutes vs. Under a Day
ETA applications are typically processed within minutes. The automated biometric check through the app allows near-instant decisions for straightforward applications.
Home Affairs publishes the eVisitor processing time as less than 1 day at the 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles. Fast, but not the instant decision of the ETA, where Home Affairs says it tells you the result immediately in most cases.
Both visa types can be delayed if your application triggers manual review — criminal history, complex immigration background, or health concerns will slow things down regardless of which visa you're applying for.
Eligible Activities: Identical
Once granted, both visas allow exactly the same activities:
- Tourism and holidays
- Visiting friends and family
- Business visitor activities (conferences, meetings, negotiations)
- Short-term study or training (up to 3 months in total)
And both prohibit the same things:
- Paid work
- Providing services to an Australian business
- Selling goods to the public
- Any activity that replaces a paid position
There is zero functional difference in what you can do on an ETA versus an eVisitor.
Visa Conditions: Nearly Identical
Home Affairs' conditions tool lists the same four possible conditions for both visas:
| Condition | ETA (601) | eVisitor (651) |
|---|---|---|
| Limited activities — business visitor activity only (8115) | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum 3 months study or training (8201) | Yes | Yes |
| Must be free from tuberculosis (8527) | Yes | Yes |
| No criminal convictions totalling 12 months or more (8528) | Yes | Yes |
The conditions are mirror images of each other. Note that 8201 caps study, not the length of your stay — your stay is 3 months per entry on both visas. Condition 8558, the 12-months-in-18 limit, is not on either list; it belongs to the subclass 600, where it is discretionary.
What If You Don't Qualify for Either?
If your passport isn't on the ETA or eVisitor eligibility lists, neither visa is available to you. Your option is the Subclass 600 visitor visa, which is available to all nationalities.
Notable countries that require a Subclass 600:
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Thailand
- Philippines
- Brazil
- Russia
- South Africa
- Most Middle Eastern countries
- Most African countries
- Most South American countries
The Subclass 600 costs from $250 AUD (Tourist stream), takes longer to process, and requires more documentation — but it also allows stays of up to 12 months, which neither the ETA nor eVisitor offer.
What If You Hold Dual Citizenship?
Dual citizens have an interesting situation. If you hold both a Canadian passport (ETA-eligible) and a British passport (eVisitor-eligible), you can choose which visa to apply for.
Practical considerations:
- Cost: Apply with your British passport for the free eVisitor
- Speed: Apply with your Canadian passport for the faster ETA
- Travel document: Apply using whichever passport you'll actually present at Australian immigration
You must travel on the same passport you applied with. If you get an eVisitor on your British passport, you must enter Australia on that British passport.
For dual citizens with one eligible passport and one non-eligible passport — say, a French and Moroccan passport — always apply with the eligible one (French, in this case) to get the free, fast eVisitor rather than paying $250 for a Subclass 600.
When Neither Visa Is Enough
Both the ETA and eVisitor are limited to 3-month stays. If you need more time in Australia, these visas won't cut it. Consider:
- Subclass 600 (Tourist stream): Up to 12 months, from $250
- Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417): Up to 12 months with work rights, if you're 18–30 (or 35 for some countries)
- Student Visa (Subclass 500): Duration of your enrolled course
The ETA and eVisitor are designed for short visits, not extended stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from an ETA to an eVisitor or vice versa?
There's no switching process, but if your passport is on both lists — 24 are, including the UK British Citizen and Ireland — it doesn't matter: if the ETA app won't cooperate you can simply apply for the free eVisitor instead. It doesn't work for everyone. A US citizen can only get the ETA, because the USA isn't on the eVisitor list, and a Polish or Czech citizen can only get the eVisitor, because those countries aren't on the ETA list.
Which is better — the ETA or eVisitor?
Functionally, they're identical. If your passport qualifies for both — the UK British Citizen passport, Ireland and much of western Europe — the eVisitor wins on price (free versus $20) and works from any web browser, while the ETA wins on processing speed and suits people who prefer the app. For ETA-only passports like the USA, Canada, and Japan, the comparison is academic: the ETA is your visa.
Can I apply for a Subclass 600 instead of an ETA or eVisitor?
Yes. It makes sense if you need to stay longer than 3 months. Home Affairs also points some travellers to the 600: if you have a criminal conviction in any country, if you have failed the health requirement before, or if you will enter health care or hospital environments. Otherwise, for visits of 3 months or less, the ETA or eVisitor is cheaper (or free) and faster.
Do airlines check my ETA/eVisitor before boarding?
Yes. Airlines electronically verify your visa status through Australia's Advance Passenger Processing system at check-in. If you don't have a valid ETA, eVisitor, or other visa linked to your passport, you won't be issued a boarding pass.
My ETA/eVisitor was refused. What now?
Apply for a Subclass 600 visitor visa. The Subclass 600 allows you to submit detailed supporting documents — employment letters, bank statements, travel itinerary — that can address whatever concerns led to the ETA/eVisitor refusal. A refusal of one doesn't automatically mean the other will be refused.
