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Australia: ETA for A$20, or eVisitor for free

Australia has two electronic visas for tourists and business visitors. Both give 12 months of multiple entries, with stays of up to 3 months each time. They differ by price, by how you apply, and by who can use them.

ETA (subclass 601)eVisitor (subclass 651)
CostA$20 service chargeFree
ApplyAustralian ETA app onlyOnline, ImmiAccount
AnswerUsually immediateSee processing time guide
Validity12 months or passport expiry12 months from grant
Stay3 months per entry3 months per entry

Passports that can choose (ETA or eVisitor)

  • Andorra
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Liechtenstein
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Portugal
  • San Marino
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom (British citizen)
  • Vatican City

For the UK, British citizens only (British Nationals (Overseas) can use the ETA, not the eVisitor).

ETA only

  • Brunei
  • Canada
  • Hong Kong (HKSAR passport)
  • Japan
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan
  • United States

Taiwan: official and diplomatic passports excluded. Hong Kong: HKSAR passports.

eVisitor only

  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Estonia
  • Hungary
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia

Everyone else

New Zealand citizens get a Special Category visa on arrival, free. Other nationalities apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600), which is a real visa application with a charge and longer processing.

Both electronic visas require you to be outside Australia when you apply and when it is granted, and each family member needs a separate application. A new passport ends the ETA: apply again.

Australia questions

How much is the Australian ETA?

There is no visa application charge, but a A$20 service charge to use the Australian ETA app, the only way to apply. Home Affairs: "There is no other charge payable for an ETA."

Is the eVisitor really free?

Yes. The eVisitor (subclass 651) costs nothing. It is for European passports (EU, EEA, Switzerland, UK British citizens and a few microstates) and is applied for online through ImmiAccount.

I have a UK or French passport: ETA or eVisitor?

Both are open to you and give the same stay (3 months per entry, 12 months of validity). The eVisitor is free but can take longer to decide; the ETA costs A$20 and usually answers immediately in the app. If you are not in a hurry, the eVisitor saves A$20 per person.

Do New Zealanders need an ETA for Australia?

No. New Zealand citizens are normally granted a free Special Category visa (subclass 444) on arrival.

Do US and Canadian citizens need an ETA for Australia?

Yes: the ETA (A$20 in the app) is their only visa-free option. They are not eligible for the eVisitor.

Official sources

Updated . Fees and country lists checked on the official government sites on . Rules change: the official site always prevails.