Last updated 6 October 2026. Facts checked against the Home Affairs ETA (601) and eVisitor (651) pages.
We don't lodge ETAs. This page is free guidance. The ETA can only be applied for in the official Australian ETA app, and the traveller has to be physically present for the passport scan and live photo. Our paid service covers the eVisitor (subclass 651) only.
Can UK citizens get an Australian ETA?
Yes. Home Affairs' list of ETA-eligible passports includes "United Kingdom—British Citizen" and "United Kingdom—British National (Overseas)". British Citizens are also eligible for the eVisitor, so most British travellers can choose between them. GOV.UK's travel advice lists both:
- eVisitor: "there is no visa application charge or service fee".
- ETA through the iOS or Android app: "there is no visa application charge, but there may be a service fee". Home Affairs puts that fee at AUD20.
An ETA is a visa. Don't let the name fool you: it isn't a lighter "pre-registration" that sits below a visa. Both the ETA and the eVisitor let you visit for tourism, family or business visitor activities, for up to 3 months at a time.
ETA vs eVisitor for British Citizens
| ETA (subclass 601) | eVisitor (subclass 651) | |
|---|---|---|
| Government cost | AUD20 service fee, non-refundable, paid in the app | Free |
| How you apply | Only in the official Australian ETA app on a phone | Online in ImmiAccount (any browser), or through an assistance service |
| What you need | Phone with camera, NFC switched on, location services on, email, card or Apple/Google Pay | Passport details and an email address |
| Passport chip scan and live selfie | Required | Not required |
| Result | "In most cases" immediately, according to Home Affairs, but sometimes delayed | See the official processing time guide; acknowledgement within 12 hours |
| Validity | 12 months or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner | 12 months from grant |
| Stay | Up to 3 months per entry, multiple entry | Up to 3 months per entry, multiple entry |
| Family | Separate application each; can submit and pay together on one device | Separate application each |
| Applying for someone else | The traveller must be physically with the person using the app | Can be prepared and lodged for you, including by our service |
| Our help | Not offered. Free guidance only | US$49 per applicant (optional; the visa itself is free) |
For a fuller side-by-side, including which non-UK passports fit which visa, see ETA vs eVisitor.
Which should a British traveller choose?
The eVisitor usually makes more sense if…
- You'd rather not pay AUD20 per person. A family of four pays AUD80 for ETAs and nothing for eVisitors.
- Your phone doesn't support NFC, or the app says "device not supported".
- The app won't read your passport chip, or the live photo keeps failing. Our ETA app troubleshooting guide covers the fixes, but the eVisitor avoids the problem entirely.
- You're organising visas for someone who isn't with you, such as an elderly parent. The ETA needs that person physically present with the phone; the eVisitor doesn't.
The ETA may make more sense if…
- You hold a BN(O) passport. BN(O) passports are on the ETA list but are excluded from the eVisitor.
- You already have the app working on your phone, and paying AUD20 for a result that usually comes back immediately is worth it to you.
Either way, Home Affairs advises against making travel arrangements until the visa is granted. Holding one valid visitor visa is enough; you don't need both.
How to apply for an Australian ETA as a UK citizen (free guidance)
If you choose the ETA, apply yourself. It only takes a few minutes, and Home Affairs says the app is the way to apply when you hold an ETA-eligible passport. Australia's High Commission in Kuala Lumpur calls it "the only available channel".
- Download the official app. Search for "AustralianETA" by the Department of Home Affairs on the App Store or Google Play. On 6 October 2026 the App Store listing said it requires iOS 17.6 or later.
- Set a passcode. The app requires one, and you can add biometric login.
- Scan your passport's photo page, then hold the phone against the passport so it can read the chip by NFC.
- Take a live photo of the traveller's face. Use a plain, well-lit background.
- Answer the questions, including criminal convictions, any prior names and your contact details in Australia.
- Pay the AUD20 service fee by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and submit.
- Check the outcome by email (look in junk mail too), with "Visa check" in the app, or in VEVO.
Each family member needs their own application. If everyone applies on the same phone, you can submit and pay for them together. A friend, relative or travel agent can help, but the traveller must be physically present for the photo and the passport scan.
Check the fee before you pay anyone. Home Affairs' fee for the app is AUD20, with no other charge. Websites that ask for more to "process" an Australian ETA are not the official channel. Confirm the current amount on the official ETA page.
What a family trip costs: ETA vs eVisitor
| Travellers | ETAs in the app | eVisitors, applied for yourself | eVisitors with our help |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AUD20 | AUD0 | US$49 |
| 2 | AUD40 | AUD0 | US$98 |
| 4 | AUD80 | AUD0 | US$196 |
The eVisitor is free from Home Affairs. Our fee is only for our optional preparation, checking and lodgement service.
Things British travellers get caught out by
- New passport, new ETA. An ETA is tied to the passport you applied with. If that passport expires or you get a new one, the ETA ceases and you need a new ETA. An eVisitor is also linked to your passport; tell Home Affairs if you change passports.
- Mistakes can't be edited. Home Affairs says it can't change ETA details once the ETA is issued. Check every detail before you submit.
- Convictions. If you have a criminal conviction in any country, Home Affairs advises a Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead of an ETA or eVisitor.
- Dual British–Australian citizens can't apply for an ETA. Enter and leave Australia on your Australian passport.
- No work. Neither the ETA nor the eVisitor allows work in Australia.
Not the same thing: the UK's own ETA
The UK runs a separate electronic travel authorisation for visitors coming to the UK. It costs £20, and GOV.UK says people with a British or Irish passport don't need one. Australian citizens visiting the UK usually do. If you searched for "Australia ETA" and landed on the UK scheme, that's a different system. Australians apply for the UK ETA through GOV.UK.
Skip the app. British Citizens can get the eVisitor, which is free from Home Affairs. Apply with our help for US$49 per applicant, or apply yourself free on ImmiAccount. More detail: eVisitor for UK citizens.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens require an ETA for Australia?
British citizens need a visa, but it doesn't have to be an ETA. British Citizen passport holders can get either an ETA (subclass 601) through the official app or an eVisitor (subclass 651). The eVisitor is free from Home Affairs and covers the same kind of trip.
How much does an ETA cost for Australia?
There's no visa application charge, but Home Affairs charges an AUD20 service fee to use the Australian ETA app, with no other government charge. Check the current amount on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you apply.
Can I apply for an Australian ETA online or without the app?
No. The ETA is applied for through the official Australian ETA app. If you're eligible but can't use the app, Home Affairs says to apply for another visa in ImmiAccount: European passport holders, including British Citizens, may be eligible for the eVisitor, which has no charge.
How far in advance should you apply for an Australian ETA?
Home Affairs says most ETA results come back immediately, but some take longer, and it advises not to make travel arrangements until the ETA is granted. Australia's High Commission in Kuala Lumpur recommends applying at least 4 weeks before travel.
Do I need to print my Australia ETA?
No visa label is issued; an ETA is linked electronically to your passport. Home Affairs suggests keeping a copy of the decision with you while you're in Australia, and you can check your ETA in the app or in VEVO.
Can I enter Australia without an ETA?
Not without a visa. British visitors need an ETA, an eVisitor or another visa granted before they travel. Only New Zealand citizens are normally granted a visa on arrival.
Is the ETA or the eVisitor better for UK citizens?
For British Citizens they allow the same stay: 12 months of multiple entry, up to 3 months each visit. The eVisitor is free and doesn't need an NFC phone. The ETA costs AUD20 and usually returns an immediate result. BN(O) holders can only use the ETA.
How do I apply for a UK ETA from Australia?
That's the UK's own scheme for visitors to the UK, not the Australian ETA. Australian citizens visiting the UK usually need one. It costs £20 and is applied for through GOV.UK at gov.uk/eta. British and Irish passport holders don't need it.
Sources (checked 6 October 2026): Home Affairs, ETA (601) · Home Affairs, eVisitor (651) · GOV.UK, Australia entry requirements · Australian High Commission Kuala Lumpur, ETA · App Store listing · GOV.UK, UK ETA. Fees and rules can change, so always confirm on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.