Free, quick to apply for,no work: the visitorvisas most travellersnever think about.
If your passport is on the list, you do not need a subclass 600. The ETA (subclass 601) and the eVisitor (subclass 651) are free visas for tourism and business visits of up to three months at a time over twelve months. No work, no sponsor, and no lawyer for most people. This page is for when yours is refused, when you need longer, or when you have something to declare.
Government charges, subclasses 601 and 651
- ETA, subclass 601, visa application chargea separate service fee is charged in the Australian ETA app$0
- eVisitor, subclass 651no service fee$0
- Visitor visa 600 if you need it instead, from outside AustraliaTourist stream$250
- Visitor visa 600 lodged inside Australiato stay beyond three months$630
As at 1 July 2026. Third-party websites charge far more than the Department for the same application. Apply through the Australian ETA app or ImmiAccount only.
Free visitor visas for eligible passports, three months per visit.
The ETA (subclass 601) and the eVisitor (subclass 651) let holders of eligible passports visit Australia for tourism or business visitor activities for up to three months at a time during a twelve-month validity period. Both carry a $0 visa application charge, permit no work, and are refused where the applicant has a criminal conviction with a total sentence of twelve months or more.
Verified as at 1 July 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs subclass 601 and 651 pages and Schedule 2 of the Migration Regulations 1994.
Which one is mine? A 30-second check
Answer the questions to see where you stand.
A guide only, not legal advice. The consultation is where the real answer comes from.
ETA and eVisitor, side by side.
They do the same job for different passports. The eVisitor is free end to end; the ETA has a small app service fee on top of a $0 visa charge.
When you need the 600 Visitor visa
- 01
eVisitor, subclass 651
For passports of European Union member states plus the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra and the Vatican. Applied for free through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. Twelve months validity, three months per visit.
- 02
ETA, subclass 601
For passports of the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Hong Kong, and most eVisitor countries too. Applied for through the Australian ETA app, with a service fee. Valid for twelve months or until the passport expires.
- 03
What both allow
Tourism, visiting family and friends, and business visitor activities: meetings, conferences, negotiations and exploring opportunities. Study or training for up to three months. Multiple entries during the validity period.
- 04
What both forbid
Work for an Australian business, paid or unpaid. Selling goods or services to the public. Performing, competing or officiating for payment, which is 408 territory. A single stay beyond three months.
- 05
Health and character
Both are refused where the applicant has a conviction with a total sentence of twelve months or more, served or not. Tuberculosis and some other conditions need to be declared. Neither carries condition 8503, so onshore applications for other visas remain possible.
Apply before you fly, stay three months at most, leave on time.
The application takes minutes and most are granted quickly. The problems come at the border and on the third or fourth visit.
Apply before you travel
Passport details, contact details, and honest answers to the character and health questions. The eVisitor must be applied for from outside Australia. Airlines check for the visa before boarding.
Arrive and stay up to three months
Each entry allows up to three months. The twelve-month validity runs from the grant. You can come and go as often as you like while it is valid.
Leaving and returning
There is no fixed cap on total time, but spending most of the year in Australia on back-to-back visits invites questions at the border about whether you are really visiting. A pattern like that is better handled with a 600 and a plan.
Staying longer
Neither visa can be extended. To stay beyond three months, apply for a 600 Tourist stream visa from inside Australia for $630 before the current stay ends. A bridging visa keeps you lawful while it is decided.
If it is refused
ETA and eVisitor refusals cannot be reviewed. The next step is a 600 Visitor visa with the full evidence the automated system could not weigh: character documents, health evidence, reasons to return. Declare the refusal.
Six situations where the free visa stops working.
The ETA and eVisitor are automated. Anything that needs judgement moves you to the 600.
| Situation | Visa to use | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Passport not on either list | 600 Tourist or Business Visitor | $250 |
| Conviction with a total sentence of twelve months or more | 600 with character evidence | $250 |
| One stay longer than three months, up to twelve | 600 Tourist stream | $250 |
| Already in Australia on an ETA or eVisitor and need longer | 600 Tourist stream, lodged inside Australia | $630 |
| Relative sponsored by Australian family, or a security bond requested | 600 Sponsored Family stream | $250 |
| Working, performing, competing or training on the job | 400, 408 or 482, not a visitor visa | from $535 |
Charges as at 1 July 2026. A 600 lodged after an ETA or eVisitor refusal should answer the reason for the refusal directly.
What a short visit costs in government charges.
For most travellers the answer is nothing. The lines below show what changes if a 600 is needed.
As at 1 July 2026. The Australian ETA app charges a small service fee that is separate from the visa application charge and is not shown here.
Most fans need nothing more than this page.
The Rugby World Cup runs from 1 October to 13 November 2027 and the Brisbane Games from 23 July to 8 August 2032. For the majority of visiting fans the visa is free and takes minutes. The exceptions are the ones that need planning.
Australia's major events to 2032- 01
British, Irish and European fans
eVisitor, free, applied for online before departure. Three months covers the whole tournament with time to travel.
- 02
American, Canadian, Japanese and other ETA passports
ETA through the app, $0 visa charge plus the service fee. Apply once the trip is booked; it is valid for twelve months.
- 03
New Zealand citizens
No application at all. A New Zealand passport holder is granted a Special Category visa on arrival, subject to character and health.
- 04
Fans from everywhere else
A 600 Tourist stream visa at $250. Lodge as early as possible; visitor visa queues lengthen in the months before a major event.
- 05
Teams, staff, media and crews
Anyone working at the event needs a 408 Temporary Activity visa with a sponsor or invitation, not a visitor visa. Organisers should start a year out.
ETA and eVisitor, answered plainly.
Is the Australian ETA free?
The visa application charge is $0, but the Australian ETA app charges a small service fee to lodge. The eVisitor has no fee at all. Unofficial websites charge many times more for the same application; use the Department's app or ImmiAccount.
How long can I stay on an ETA or eVisitor?
Up to three months on each visit, as many times as you like during the twelve months the visa is valid. If your passport expires sooner, the visa ends with it. Neither visa can be extended.
Can I work on an ETA or eVisitor?
No. Business visitor activities such as meetings, conferences and negotiations are allowed, but working for an Australian business, paid or unpaid, is not. Short specialist work needs a 400 and event work needs a 408.
Can I stay longer than three months?
Not on the same visa. Apply for a 600 Tourist stream visa from inside Australia for $630 before your three months end. Neither the ETA nor the eVisitor carries condition 8503, so the onshore application is allowed.
I have a criminal record. Can I get an ETA or eVisitor?
Not if your convictions add up to a sentence of twelve months or more, whether or not it was served. Below that, declare it and the application may still be granted. Above it, apply for a 600 with character evidence and let a lawyer prepare it.
Can I apply for a partner visa while I am here on an eVisitor?
In principle yes, because the eVisitor and ETA do not carry condition 8503. The partner visa charge is $11,710 and a bridging visa follows. Timing and the genuine temporary entrant history matter, so get advice before lodging.
My ETA was refused. What now?
There is no review of an ETA or eVisitor refusal. Apply for a 600 Visitor visa instead, from outside Australia, with the evidence the automated system could not assess. Declare the refusal; it is on your record.
Where this visa connects.
- 600Open
Visitor visa
For longer stays, ineligible passports and anything that needs explaining.
- 408Open
Temporary Activity visa
For anyone working at an event, from players to crews.
- EventsOpen
Australia's major events to 2032
Rugby World Cup 2027, Brisbane 2032 and the visas each needs.
- PartnerOpen
Partner visa
When a visit becomes a life together in Australia.
Articles on this visa
- Rugby World Cup 2027 for Fans: ETA, eVisitor or the 600 Visitor Visa, and What a Past Refusal Means
- T20 World Cup 2028: Two Countries, Four Visa Groups, and Why a Commentator Is Not a Player
- Rugby World Cup 2027: The Visa Timeline for Teams, Staff and Broadcasters
- Netball World Cup Sydney 2027: The 408 Visa for Squads and Officials, and When an Invitation Beats a Sponsorship
ETA refused, or a visit that needs more than three months?
One consultation sets out whether a 600 is the answer, what evidence it needs and a fixed fee for preparing it.