Australia Electronic Visa Types 2026: ETA vs eVisitor vs Visitor 600 — Which One Do You Need?
✍️ wicwic editorial team · verified Sep 21, 2026
Three Ways to Enter Australia Electronically
If you search for an “Australian electronic visa”, Google will show you a confusing mix of ETA, eVisitor and Visitor visa results. They are three different things, aimed at three different groups of passport holders. Choosing the wrong one wastes either money or weeks of processing time.
| Visa | Who can apply | Cost | Validity | Stay per visit | Apply via |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ETA (subclass 601) | US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong SAR passport holders | AUD 20 service fee | 12 months, multiple entry | Up to 3 months | Australian ETA App (official) |
| eVisitor (subclass 651) | EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland passport holders | Free | 12 months, multiple entry | Up to 3 months | ImmiAccount online |
| Visitor visa (subclass 600, Tourist stream) | China, India and other passports not eligible for ETA/eVisitor | AUD 250 offshore (from 1 Jul 2026) | Single or multiple entry, case by case | 3, 6 or 12 months, case by case | ImmiAccount online |
ETA (subclass 601): The AUD 20 Fast Lane
The Electronic Travel Authority is the quickest option for passport holders from the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Hong Kong SAR. There is no visa application charge — only a AUD 20 service fee payable in the official Australian ETA app. Approval is usually instant or within a few hours, and the ETA is valid for 12 months with multiple entries, each stay capped at 3 months. Beware of third-party sites charging USD 50–100 for the same thing: the official app is the only legitimate channel and costs exactly AUD 20.
eVisitor (subclass 651): Free, but Only for European Passports
The eVisitor covers citizens of the European Union, the wider EEA, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. It is completely free — the official page states plainly “The eVisitor is free” — and is lodged online through an ImmiAccount. Like the ETA, it is valid for 12 months for multiple visits of up to 3 months each. If you hold an eligible European passport and a website asks you to pay for an eVisitor, close the tab: it is a reseller charging for a free product.
Visitor Visa (subclass 600): For Everyone Else
If your passport is not eligible for either ETA or eVisitor — this includes China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and most of Asia, Africa and South America — you need the Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream. From 1 July 2026 the offshore application charge rose 25% to AUD 250 (onshore applications cost AUD 630). Processing takes from a few days to several weeks, and you must provide supporting documents such as proof of funds and travel plans. The upside: stays of 3, 6 or even 12 months are possible, and you can apply from inside Australia to extend your stay.
Which One Should You Pick?
The decision tree is simple. First check your passport: European (EU/EEA/UK/CH) → eVisitor, free. Eligible Asia-Pacific or North American passport → ETA, AUD 20. Everything else → Visitor 600. Then check your itinerary: if you need more than 3 months in one stretch, even ETA/eVisitor passports must apply for a Visitor 600. If you will transit through Australia at all — even airside — the same visa requirement applies; there is no transit exemption for any nationality that normally needs a visa.
Common Mistakes That Cost You a Trip
First, paying a reseller for an eVisitor that is free. Second, applying for an ETA with a European passport: the system will reject you because your correct category is eVisitor. Third, assuming an existing ETA/eVisitor covers you when you have renewed your passport — it does not; authorizations are linked to the passport used at application. Fourth, forgetting that the ETA app fee is non-refundable even if the application is refused. Always use the official channels: the Australian ETA App for 601, ImmiAccount for 651 and 600. See our Australia ETA guide for the step-by-step application walkthrough.