Last updated 6 October 2026. Facts checked against the official Home Affairs eVisitor (subclass 651) page.
An eVisitor application is made online, from outside Australia, with one application for each traveller. There is no visa application charge: Home Affairs states plainly that "the eVisitor is free". Nobody needs to pay anything to get an eVisitor. What people pay for, if they choose to, is help getting the application right first time.
This page is written for travellers who hold an eVisitor-eligible passport (EU countries, the UK for British Citizens, and a few other European states) and want to know exactly what to do next.
Check your passport before you apply. Only citizen passports from 36 listed European countries can be used. US, Canadian, Japanese, Singaporean, Malaysian and other non-European passport holders can't get an eVisitor. Most of them use the Australian ETA app instead, which we don't lodge. See ETA vs eVisitor.
Two ways to apply for an eVisitor
| Apply yourself | Apply with our help | |
|---|---|---|
| Home Affairs charge | Free | Free. Home Affairs still charges nothing |
| Other cost | None | US$49 per applicant, our service fee only |
| Where it's lodged | Your own ImmiAccount | We lodge it with Home Affairs for you through ImmiAccount |
| Who checks the answers | You | We review every answer against the passport details you give us before anything is lodged |
| When you pay | Nothing to pay | Nothing is charged when you submit our form. We confirm details and the fee by email before lodging |
| Who decides | The Department of Home Affairs, either way. Nobody can guarantee a grant | |
If your situation is simple (one passport, no criminal history, no previous visa refusals) and you're comfortable with government forms, applying yourself is quick and free. Travellers tend to use our service when they're applying for a whole family, want someone to check spellings and passport numbers line by line, or would rather not set up an ImmiAccount.
Before you apply: eVisitor application checklist
Have these ready before you start. Each point comes from Home Affairs' eligibility criteria or its own tips for completing the application.
- The passport you will travel on. The eVisitor is digitally linked to that passport. If you renew or replace it, you must tell Home Affairs. British applicants need a British Citizen passport; BN(O), BOTC, BOC, BPP and British Subject passports can't be used. Neither can non-citizen passports, certificates of identity or a Titre de Voyage.
- Your name exactly as printed in the passport, including middle names. Home Affairs specifically warns against autocorrect changing spellings.
- Your date of birth in Australian order (day, month, year). An American-style 04/07 entry means 4 July, not 7 April.
- An email address you check often. Home Affairs says you should get an acknowledgement email within 12 hours. If it doesn't arrive, check ImmiAccount, and check that you typed the address correctly.
- Your location. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided.
- Honest answers on health and character. If you have a criminal conviction in any country, Home Affairs advises applying for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead. If you apply for an eVisitor anyway, declare everything; you could be refused entry, and you may be asked for a police certificate.
- Enough money for your stay, and a genuine intention to visit temporarily. Both are criteria for the visa.
- English translations of any documents you are asked to provide.
For the full list of criteria, including the debt and best-interests-of-the-child requirements, see our eVisitor requirements checklist.
How the official eVisitor application works, step by step
- Confirm eligibility. Check your passport against the official list and read the criteria above.
- Log in to ImmiAccount. Home Affairs' "Create your application" link goes to online.immi.gov.au. You can create a free account there if you don't have one.
- Complete the eVisitor form. You give personal and passport details, contact details, and answers to the health, character and purpose-of-visit questions. Copy names and numbers from the passport itself, not from memory or another document.
- Submit. There is no payment step, because there is no charge.
- Wait for the acknowledgement email, which Home Affairs expects to send within 12 hours.
- Get the written decision. If the visa is granted, the letter shows your grant number, the date the visa starts and its conditions. Keep a copy while you're in Australia.
- Check your visa any time in VEVO, Home Affairs' free online visa check.
How long does an eVisitor application take?
Home Affairs doesn't print a fixed processing time on the eVisitor page. Instead, it points applicants to its visa processing time guide tool, which is updated regularly. We don't quote a number here because it changes, and any figure copied onto a third-party page will eventually be wrong. Two things are fixed:
- Home Affairs advises not to book travel until your visa is granted in writing.
- Applications can take longer if information is missing or Home Affairs needs more from you. A complete, accurate application is the part you control.
How our eVisitor application service works
We are an independent private service, not the government. This is exactly what you get for US$49 per applicant:
- You complete our online form at apply.html. It takes about 10 minutes for the lead applicant. We collect other travellers' details afterwards.
- We check eligibility against the official passport list, and flag anything that suggests a different visa may suit you better, such as a criminal conviction.
- We email you to confirm the details and the fee before anything is lodged. Nothing is charged when you submit the form.
- We prepare and lodge your eVisitor with Home Affairs, after checking every name, date and passport number against what you gave us.
- Home Affairs decides and issues the decision. We help with questions by email until then.
We only handle the eVisitor. We don't lodge ETAs, Visitor 600 applications or any other visa, and we can't guarantee an outcome.
Common eVisitor application mistakes
Name and passport details that don't match
Leaving out a middle name, swapping the given and family names, or letting autocorrect "fix" a spelling are the errors Home Affairs itself warns about. Watch the passport number too: the letter O and the number 0 are easy to confuse.
Applying from inside Australia
You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the decision is made. If you're already in Australia on an eVisitor and want to stay longer, the eVisitor can't be extended. Home Affairs points to the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream, applied for in Australia, instead.
Choosing the wrong product
Some British and European travellers pay for an ETA through the app, or through a third-party site, when the free eVisitor would have covered the same trip. If you hold an eligible passport, compare the options on our ETA vs eVisitor page first.
Not declaring a conviction
Giving incorrect information can lead to refusal or cancellation. Home Affairs' guidance for anyone with a conviction is to use the Visitor 600 and provide evidence, not to hope an eVisitor slips through.
Booking non-refundable travel before the grant
This is Home Affairs' own advice: wait for the written grant.
Travelling on a different passport
The visa is linked to the passport you applied with. If you get a new passport, update Home Affairs before you travel.
eVisitor applications for families and children
There is no family application. Home Affairs requires a separate application for each person, including children listed on a parent's passport. Children must meet the same criteria, and Home Affairs may refuse a visa if granting it isn't in the best interests of an applicant under 18.
Cost for a family of four: AUD0 if you apply yourselves, or US$196 with our help (4 × US$49). Home Affairs charges nothing in either case.
If Home Affairs asks for more information or refuses
If Home Affairs needs more information, it will contact you. Answer by the deadline given, through the channel it names. If an eVisitor is refused, you get written reasons and information about any review rights. A refusal usually means the eVisitor isn't the right visa for your circumstances. The Visitor 600, which lets you provide supporting evidence, is the usual next step.
After your eVisitor is granted
- You get no visa label or sticker. The visa is linked to your passport, and airlines check it electronically.
- Each visit can last up to 3 months, and you can enter as many times as you like within the 12 months from the grant date.
- You'll complete an Incoming Passenger Card on arrival. On departure, you may be able to use SmartGate.
- Check your conditions in VEVO. The eVisitor is not a work visa.
Ready to apply? Start your eVisitor application with us for US$49 per applicant (the visa itself is free from Home Affairs), or apply free on ImmiAccount.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get an Australian eVisitor visa?
Apply online from outside Australia, through ImmiAccount yourself (free) or with an assistance service like ours. You need a citizen passport from one of the 36 eligible European countries, including the UK for British Citizens, and you must meet the health, character and genuine-visitor criteria. Each traveller needs their own application.
Is the eVisitor visa for Australia free?
Yes. Home Affairs charges nothing for the eVisitor (subclass 651). If you use our optional service, our fee is US$49 per applicant for preparing, checking and lodging the application. You can always apply yourself for free.
Can I apply for an Australian eVisa online?
Yes. The eVisitor is applied for entirely online through ImmiAccount, and the visa is linked to your passport electronically. There is no label. You don't need an app, an NFC passport scan or a selfie, unlike the Australian ETA.
How long does it take to get an eVisitor approved?
Home Affairs doesn't publish a fixed time on the eVisitor page. It directs applicants to its visa processing time guide tool. An acknowledgement email should arrive within 12 hours. Don't book travel until the visa is granted in writing.
Can I put my whole family on one eVisitor application?
No. Home Affairs requires a separate application for each person, including children listed on a parent's passport. Applying yourselves costs nothing. With our help, the fee is US$49 per applicant.
Can I apply for an eVisitor while I'm in Australia?
No. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided. If you're in Australia and want to stay longer, Home Affairs points to the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream, because the eVisitor can't be extended.
Do I need to print my eVisitor?
No label is issued, and the visa is linked to your passport electronically. Home Affairs' grant letter includes your grant number, start date and conditions, and it's sensible to keep a copy, printed or on your phone, while you travel.
Can an Indian citizen get a 651 visa for Australia?
No. The eVisitor is only for citizens of the 36 listed European countries. Indian passport holders usually need a Visitor visa (subclass 600). Check the official Visa Finder on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Sources (checked 6 October 2026): Home Affairs, eVisitor (subclass 651) · Home Affairs, Visitor (subclass 600) · Global visa processing times · VEVO. Visa rules can change, so always confirm on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.