Key takeaways
- The eVisitor (Subclass 651) is free and available to passport holders from 36 European countries, including all 27 EU member states plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, and others
- Processing is usually instant. Most eVisitors are auto-granted within minutes. Some take up to a few days
- You can stay up to 3 months per visit with multiple entries over a 12-month validity period
- You apply online through ImmiAccount, not through the Australian ETA app
- Standard British Citizens are eligible. British National Overseas (BNO), British Dependent Territories Citizens, and British Overseas Citizens are not
- You cannot extend an eVisitor onshore. If you want to stay longer than 3 months, you need to apply for a Subclass 600 visitor visa
- Remote work for an overseas employer is allowed if it is incidental to your visit, but full-time remote work is a grey area
If you hold a European passport and want to visit Australia, the eVisitor (Subclass 651) is almost certainly your fastest and cheapest path. It costs nothing, takes minutes to apply for, and is usually granted on the spot. For most Europeans, this is the only visa you will ever need for a trip to Australia.
But "free and instant" does not mean there is nothing to know. Which European countries are actually eligible? What can you do (and not do) on an eVisitor? What if you want to stay longer than three months? And if you hold a British passport that is not a standard British Citizen passport, the rules change entirely.
This guide covers every detail, based on official Department of Home Affairs policy and our experience helping thousands of applicants through the process.
What is the eVisitor visa (Subclass 651)?
The eVisitor is a free, electronic visa that allows passport holders from 36 European countries to visit Australia for tourism, business visitor activities, or short-term study. It was created as a reciprocal arrangement between Australia and European nations, reflecting the historically low immigration risk from these countries.
Key facts:
- Cost: Free (no application charge)
- Stay: Up to 3 months (90 days) per visit
- Validity: 12 months from the date of grant
- Entries: Multiple (you can enter and leave Australia as many times as you want within the 12 months)
- Processing: Most applications are decided within minutes. Some take 1 to 3 days
- Applied for: Online through ImmiAccount
The eVisitor is linked electronically to your passport. There is no visa label or stamp. Airlines and border officers check your status digitally when you board or arrive.
Tern Tip
The eVisitor cannot be extended while you are in Australia. If you think you might want to stay longer than 3 months, consider applying for a Subclass 600 visitor visa from the start. It costs more and takes longer, but it gives you the flexibility to apply for extensions onshore.
Which countries are eligible for the eVisitor?
The eVisitor (Subclass 651) is available to passport holders from 36 European countries. You must hold a valid passport from one of these countries to apply. Residency alone is not enough: a Brazilian citizen living in Germany, for example, would need to apply for a Subclass 600 instead.
All 27 EU member states
Non-EU European countries
That is the complete list. If your country of passport is not listed here, you are not eligible for an eVisitor and should check whether you qualify for an ETA (Subclass 601) or need to apply for a Subclass 600 visitor visa.
Only your passport nationality matters for eVisitor eligibility, not your country of residence. A French citizen applies for an eVisitor regardless of where they live. A non-European citizen living in Europe applies for a different visa.
How to apply for an eVisitor: step by step
The eVisitor is one of the most straightforward Australian visa applications. The entire process takes about 15 minutes if you have your passport handy.
Important: You apply through ImmiAccount (the Department of Home Affairs online portal), not through the Australian ETA app. The ETA app is only for Subclass 601 applicants. Applying through the wrong channel is a common mistake.
Step 1: Create an ImmiAccount
Go to ImmiAccount and create an account if you do not already have one. You will need a working email address and to set up a password.
Step 2: Start a new application
Select "New application," then navigate to "Visitor" and choose "eVisitor (651)."
Step 3: Complete the form
The application asks for:
- Personal details: Name, date of birth, gender (as shown on your passport)
- Passport details: Passport number, country, issue and expiry dates
- Contact information: Address, phone, email
- Travel details: Planned arrival date (approximate is fine)
- Character declaration: Whether you have any criminal convictions
- Health declaration: Whether you have tuberculosis
Most of these fields are straightforward. The form does not ask for financial evidence, employment letters, or travel itineraries. This is one of the key differences from a Subclass 600 application.
Step 4: Submit
Review your answers, confirm your declarations, and submit. There is no fee to pay.
Step 5: Receive your decision
Most eVisitor applications are auto-granted within minutes. You will receive a Visa Grant Notification by email. Some applications are referred for manual processing, which can take a few days. If your application is referred, do not panic. This happens for various reasons (name matching, previous travel history) and does not mean refusal.
Tern Tip
Double-check that your passport details are entered exactly as they appear on your passport. Even a small typo (like transposing two digits in your passport number) can cause your visa to not be linked correctly, which means problems at the airport.
How long does eVisitor processing take?
The median processing time for an eVisitor (Subclass 651) is under 1 day, with most applications decided within minutes of submission. Based on Department of Home Affairs published processing times, 75% of eVisitor applications are processed within 1 day, and 90% are processed within 10 days.
The eVisitor system uses automated processing (sometimes called "auto-grant") for straightforward applications. If your passport is from an eligible country, you have no adverse immigration history, and there are no security flags on your name, the system approves your application without a human case officer ever looking at it.
When processing takes longer:
- Name matching: If your name matches someone on a security watchlist (more common than you might think with common European names), the system flags your application for manual review
- Previous visa history: If you have had a previous Australian visa refused or cancelled, even years ago, the application may be referred
- Criminal declarations: Declaring a criminal conviction triggers manual assessment
- System issues: Occasionally, technical backlogs cause delays unrelated to your application
If your eVisitor has not been granted within a few days and you have an imminent travel date, contact the Department of Home Affairs or your nearest Australian embassy. Do not submit a second application, as duplicate applications can cause further delays.
Use our Visa Time Checker for a personalised processing estimate based on your nationality and circumstances.
What does the eVisitor allow you to do in Australia?
The eVisitor covers three main purposes of travel. You can use the same eVisitor for different purposes across different visits within the 12-month validity.
Tourism and holidays
This is what most Europeans use the eVisitor for. Sightseeing, visiting friends and family, attending sporting or cultural events, cruises departing from Australian ports, and general recreation are all covered.
Business visitor activities
The eVisitor allows you to conduct certain business activities in Australia, but there is a clear line between "business visitor" and "work." The distinction matters because the eVisitor carries Condition 8101 (no work).
Allowed:
- Attending conferences, trade fairs, and seminars
- Making business enquiries or exploring investment opportunities
- Negotiating contracts or business deals
- Participating in meetings with Australian business contacts
- Government-to-government visits
Not allowed:
- Providing services to an Australian business (paid or unpaid)
- Selling goods or services directly to the Australian public
- Any work that an Australian resident could be hired to do
Short-term study
You can study or train for up to 3 months on an eVisitor. This includes English language courses, short professional development courses, and recreational classes. If your course runs longer than 3 months, you need a student visa (Subclass 500).
Can I work remotely on an eVisitor?
Remote work for an overseas employer is generally allowed on an eVisitor if it is incidental to your visit, following the same policy that applies to all Australian visitor visas. Department policy clarifies that "online work" for a foreign employer, done alongside genuine tourism, does not breach Condition 8101.
What this means in practice:
- Permitted: Checking emails, joining video calls, handling tasks for a few hours while primarily on holiday
- Grey area: Working full-time remotely for weeks while technically "visiting"
- Not permitted: Working for an Australian employer, freelancing for Australian clients, or receiving Australian-sourced income
The reality is that thousands of Europeans enter Australia on eVisitors and do some remote work alongside their holiday. The Department's concern is not occasional laptop use in a cafe. It is people using visitor visas to effectively live and work in Australia without the right visa.
If remote work is your primary purpose for being in Australia rather than an incidental activity alongside genuine tourism, you should consider a Working Holiday visa (if you are eligible) or explore other visa options.
Key conditions and limitations
Understanding your eVisitor conditions prevents problems at the border and during your stay.
3-month maximum stay per visit
Each time you enter Australia on an eVisitor, you can stay for a maximum of 3 months (90 days). The clock resets every time you leave and re-enter. However, using this to live in Australia semi-permanently (leaving briefly to reset your 3 months, then returning immediately) will attract scrutiny and likely refusal on a future entry.
12-month validity with multiple entries
Your eVisitor is valid for 12 months from the date of grant, not from the date of your first entry. You can enter and leave Australia as many times as you want during that period, as long as each stay is under 3 months.
Cannot be extended onshore
This is the most important limitation for Europeans planning longer trips. Unlike the Subclass 600, the eVisitor cannot be extended or renewed while you are in Australia. If you want to stay beyond 3 months, you must apply for a Subclass 600 visitor visa, and you must do so from outside Australia.
If you are already in Australia on an eVisitor and realize you want to stay longer, your options are limited. You can apply for a Subclass 600 onshore (as it is a different visa subclass), but this is a more involved process with fees and evidence requirements. Read our guide to visitor visa extensions for the full picture.
Linked to a specific passport
Your eVisitor is electronically linked to the passport you used when applying. If you get a new passport during the 12-month validity, you need to apply for a new eVisitor using the new passport details. The old eVisitor will not transfer.
No work (Condition 8101)
You must not work in Australia. This means no employment with an Australian employer, no providing services to Australian businesses, and no running a business in Australia. The remote work exception discussed above applies only to incidental work for overseas employers.
When do Europeans need a Subclass 600 instead?
The eVisitor works perfectly for most European travellers, but there are specific situations where you need to apply for a Subclass 600 visitor visa instead.
You want to stay longer than 3 months
The eVisitor has a hard 3-month limit per visit. If you plan to stay 6 months or even 12 months (perhaps visiting family for an extended period, or travelling extensively), you need a Subclass 600. The Subclass 600 allows stays of 3, 6, or 12 months depending on the stream.
You are already in Australia
The eVisitor can only be applied for from outside Australia. If you are onshore and your current visa is expiring, you cannot apply for a new eVisitor. Your option is to apply for a Subclass 600.
You hold a non-standard British passport
This catches many people by surprise. While standard British Citizen passport holders are fully eligible for the eVisitor, several other categories of British passport are not:
- British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders
- British Dependent Territories Citizens (BDTC) passport holders
- British Overseas Citizens (BOC) passport holders
- British Protected Persons
- British Subjects without citizenship
If you hold any of these passport types, you must apply for a Subclass 600 visitor visa. This is a common issue for Hong Kong residents who hold BNO passports. A BNO passport alone does not qualify for the eVisitor, even though it is issued by the UK government.
You have a serious criminal record
While minor convictions do not necessarily prevent an eVisitor grant, more serious criminal history may mean your application is refused or you are advised to apply for a Subclass 600, which allows for a more thorough character assessment. Read our guide to criminal records and the character test for details.
You need to apply from within Australia for a partner or other visa
If you are in Australia on an eVisitor and your circumstances change (for example, you enter a relationship and want to apply for a partner visa), the 8503 "No Further Stay" condition may or may not be attached to your eVisitor. Check your Visa Grant Notification carefully. If it is attached, you will need a waiver before you can apply for another visa onshore.
UK passport holders after Brexit: what changed?
Standard British Citizens remain fully eligible for the eVisitor (Subclass 651) after Brexit. The UK's departure from the European Union did not change eVisitor eligibility for British Citizen passport holders.
This is because eVisitor eligibility was never based on EU membership. It is based on bilateral agreements between Australia and individual countries. The UK's agreement with Australia predates and is separate from the EU arrangement.
What you need to know:
- British Citizen passport: Eligible for eVisitor. Nothing changed
- Irish passport: Eligible for eVisitor (Ireland remains an EU member state)
- BNO passport: Not eligible for eVisitor. Was not eligible before Brexit either
- Dual UK/EU nationals: Can apply using whichever eligible passport you prefer
The practical difference after Brexit is administrative rather than immigration-related. UK passport holders continue to use the eVisitor exactly as before.
What if your eVisitor is refused?
eVisitor refusals for European passport holders are rare, but they do happen. Common reasons include:
- Criminal history: Convictions that raise character concerns
- Previous visa non-compliance: Overstaying a previous Australian visa, or being refused or having a visa cancelled in the past
- Adverse security information: Matches on security databases (sometimes erroneous)
- Incorrect information: Inconsistencies between your application and Department records
- Health concerns: Declaring active tuberculosis
A refused eVisitor remains on your immigration record permanently. This does not mean you can never visit Australia, but it does mean every future application will reference the refusal, and you will need to address it.
If your eVisitor is refused:
- Read the refusal letter carefully. It should state the reason, though refusal letters for eVisitors are often brief and templated
- There is no formal review right for eVisitor refusals (unlike Subclass 600 refusals, which can be appealed to the Administrative Review Tribunal)
- You can apply for a Subclass 600 instead. This gives you the opportunity to provide supporting evidence and address whatever concern led to the refusal
- Do not reapply for the same eVisitor immediately with the same information. The system will likely produce the same result
For a deeper look at what happens after a refusal and how to recover, see our complete visitor visa guide.
A refused visa, even for a free eVisitor, stays on your immigration record. It affects every future Australian visa application. If you have any concerns about your eligibility, applying for a Subclass 600 with proper supporting evidence may be a safer first step than risking an eVisitor refusal.
eVisitor vs. ETA vs. Subclass 600: which do you need?
If you are a European passport holder, the decision is usually straightforward. But here is a quick comparison to make sure you are choosing the right visa.
The simple rule for Europeans: Use the eVisitor for trips up to 3 months. Apply for Subclass 600 if you need longer, are already in Australia, or have circumstances (criminal history, previous refusals) that make the eVisitor risky.
For the full breakdown of all visitor visa options, read our complete Australian visitor visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Next steps
For most Europeans, the eVisitor is the simplest visa you will ever apply for. Fifteen minutes on ImmiAccount, no fees, and a decision that usually arrives before you have closed the browser tab.
If your situation is more complex (you want to stay longer than 3 months, you have a previous refusal, or you hold a non-standard British passport), start with our complete visitor visa guide to understand all your options.
Ready to apply? Start your eVisitor application with Tern and we will guide you through each step, flag potential issues before you submit, and make sure your passport details are entered correctly the first time.
