Last updated 6 October 2026. Checked against Home Affairs and GOV.UK travel advice for Australia.
The short answer for British travellers
GOV.UK's travel advice is blunt: "You must have a visa to visit Australia." There is no visa on arrival for British visitors. Only New Zealand citizens get a visa on arrival, the Special Category visa (subclass 444). For a holiday, a family visit or a business trip, British Citizen passport holders can usually choose between two electronic visas:
- eVisitor (subclass 651). Applied for online through ImmiAccount. GOV.UK notes "there is no visa application charge or service fee".
- Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601). Applied for only through the official Australian ETA app, with a passport chip scan and a live photo. Home Affairs charges an AUD20 service fee for using the app. We don't lodge ETAs. See our Australia ETA for UK citizens guide.
Both give 12 months of multiple entry, with stays of up to 3 months each time. For most British Citizen travellers the eVisitor does the same job for free, and doesn't need an NFC-capable phone.
Which British passports can use the eVisitor?
The UK issues several kinds of passport, and Australia treats them differently. Check the nationality line on your passport's photo page, then find it in the table.
| Passport nationality line | eVisitor (651) | ETA (601) | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Citizen | Yes | Yes | Choose either. The eVisitor is free from Home Affairs. |
| British National (Overseas), BN(O) | No, specifically excluded | Yes | Use the ETA app, or a Visitor 600. |
| British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC, formerly BDTC) | No. Home Affairs excludes "British Dependent Territories Citizen" passports | Not on the ETA list | Visitor (subclass 600), or check the Visa Finder. |
| British Overseas Citizen (BOC) | No, specifically excluded | Not on the ETA list | Visitor (subclass 600). |
| British Protected Person (BPP) | No, specifically excluded | Not on the ETA list | Visitor (subclass 600). |
| British Subject | No, specifically excluded | Not on the ETA list | Visitor (subclass 600). |
Home Affairs' eVisitor page names the excluded types: British National Overseas, British Dependent Territories Citizen (the old name for BOTC), British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person and British Subject. Its ETA page lists only "United Kingdom—British Citizen" and "United Kingdom—British National (Overseas)".
Living in the UK on a different passport (BRP, ILR, settled status)
Australian visitor visas depend on the passport you hold, not where you live. A biometric residence permit (BRP), indefinite leave to remain (ILR) or EU settled status doesn't make you eligible for the eVisitor. If you live in the UK:
- On an EU, EEA or Swiss passport, such as French, Polish or Irish: check whether your country is on the eVisitor list. All EU member states are on it.
- On a US, Canadian, Japanese, Singaporean, Malaysian or other ETA-eligible passport: you'll usually use the ETA app. See ETA vs eVisitor.
- On any other passport (for example Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian or South African): you'll normally need a Visitor visa (subclass 600), applied for in ImmiAccount. We can't lodge this for you.
British–Australian dual nationals
If you're also an Australian citizen, you don't apply for an eVisitor or an ETA at all. Home Affairs says Australian citizens should use their Australian passport to enter and leave Australia, and its ETA page confirms that Australian citizens can't apply for an ETA. GOV.UK adds that British–Australian dual nationals may face difficulties and delays if they don't. If your Australian passport has expired, renew it before you travel.
What the eVisitor costs for UK citizens
| Option | 1 traveller | Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| eVisitor, applied for yourself in ImmiAccount | AUD0 (free) | AUD0 (free) |
| eVisitor with our optional help | US$49 | US$196 |
| ETA through the official app (for comparison) | AUD20 service fee | AUD80 |
The eVisitor is free from Home Affairs. Our US$49 per applicant is only for our optional service: eligibility check, preparing the application, checking every answer against your passport details, and lodging it. We are not the government, and you can always apply yourself for free.
What UK applicants should check before applying
Passport validity
GOV.UK says your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay in Australia. If you're transiting through another country, check that country's rules too; many require at least 6 months' validity remaining. Because the eVisitor is linked to your passport, renew first if your passport is close to expiry, then apply on the new one.
Names exactly as in the passport
Use every given name shown on the passport, in the same order and spelling. Home Affairs warns about autocorrect changing names. Dates use Australian order: day, month, year.
Where you are when you apply
You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided. Applying from the UK, or anywhere else outside Australia, is fine.
Criminal records
A UK conviction, including an old one, matters. Home Affairs advises anyone with a criminal conviction to apply for a Visitor 600 instead of an eVisitor. If you apply for an eVisitor anyway, declare all of it; you might be refused entry, and you may be asked for a police certificate.
Health
You must meet Australia's health requirement. GOV.UK also notes that you need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you're arriving from a country listed as a transmission risk.
What a UK citizen can do on an eVisitor
- Holidays, cruises, and visiting family or friends.
- Business visitor activities, such as attending a conference, negotiating or making general business enquiries.
- Study or training for up to 3 months in total. Health-care or childcare training needs a Visitor 600.
- Up to 3 months per entry, with as many entries as you like within 12 months of the grant.
You can't work. The eVisitor is not a work visa. If you want to work while travelling, look at the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and check its passport and age criteria there. We don't handle working holiday applications.
Cruising from the UK or Europe? Every passenger needs a visa before boarding. Home Affairs counts the time you spend on a round trip cruise as time in Australia, so a round trip cruise does not reset your 3-month stay period. Ask your cruise line whether your itinerary counts as a round trip.
How UK citizens apply for the eVisitor
- Check that your passport says British Citizen.
- Apply online from outside Australia: free through ImmiAccount, or through our form if you'd like us to prepare, check and lodge it.
- Make one application per traveller, including children on a parent's passport.
- Watch for the acknowledgement email; Home Affairs expects to send it within 12 hours.
- Book non-refundable travel only after the written grant.
For the full walkthrough, see how to apply for an eVisitor.
How long does it take for UK applicants?
There's no separate UK queue. Home Affairs directs all eVisitor applicants to its processing time guide tool, and doesn't print a fixed time on the visa page. Apply as soon as your plans are firm, so there is time to respond if Home Affairs asks for more information.
Arriving in Australia
You don't get a label or a printed visa to show. Your eVisitor is linked to your passport. You'll fill in an Incoming Passenger Card, which includes the biosecurity declaration GOV.UK describes. You can check your visa and its conditions at any time in VEVO.
British Citizen passport? Start your eVisitor with us (US$49 per applicant for our help; the eVisitor itself is free from Home Affairs), or apply yourself free on ImmiAccount.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Australia from the UK?
Yes. GOV.UK says you must have a visa to visit Australia. British Citizen passport holders can usually get an eVisitor (subclass 651), which has no Home Affairs charge, or an ETA (subclass 601) through the official app, which has an AUD20 service fee. Get it before you travel. There's no visa on arrival for British visitors.
Is the Australia eVisitor free for UK citizens?
Yes. Home Affairs charges nothing for the eVisitor, and GOV.UK notes there is no visa application charge or service fee. Our optional service costs US$49 per applicant if you'd like us to prepare, check and lodge it.
Do British citizens require an ETA for Australia?
Not necessarily. British Citizens need a visa, but it doesn't have to be an ETA. The eVisitor is an equally valid visitor visa with the same 12 months of multiple entry and up to 3 months per entry, and it's free from Home Affairs.
Can I get an eVisitor with a BN(O) or British Overseas Territories passport?
No. Home Affairs excludes British National (Overseas), British Dependent Territories Citizen (now BOTC), British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person and British Subject passports from the eVisitor. BN(O) holders can use the ETA app; the others usually need a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
I live in the UK with a BRP or ILR. Can I get an eVisitor?
Only if your passport is from an eVisitor-eligible country. UK residence status doesn't count. For example, a Polish citizen with settled status can apply, but an Indian citizen with ILR would normally need a Visitor visa (subclass 600).
How long does an Australian visa take for UK citizens?
Home Affairs doesn't print a fixed eVisitor processing time. It points to its visa processing time guide tool, which applies to all eVisitor applicants regardless of nationality. Don't book travel until your visa is granted in writing.
Can I work in Australia on an eVisitor?
No. The eVisitor allows tourism, family visits, business visitor activities and up to 3 months of study or training, but not work. Look at the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au if you want to work while you travel.
Do my children need their own eVisitor?
Yes. Home Affairs requires a separate application for every traveller, including children listed on a parent's passport.
Sources (checked 6 October 2026): Home Affairs, eVisitor (651) · Home Affairs, ETA (601) · Home Affairs, travelling as a dual citizen · GOV.UK, Australia entry requirements · Visitor (600). Visa rules can change, so always confirm on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.