Australia doesn't use a single visa-waiver scheme for short-term visitors — it runs two parallel online authorisations, the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601) and the eVisitor (subclass 651), and which one applies to you depends entirely on your passport. Applying for the wrong one, or assuming you're covered when you're not, can mean being refused boarding. Here's how to work out which you need and get it sorted before you fly.
Why there are two schemes, not one
The ETA and eVisitor were introduced separately, at different times and for different groups of passport holders, and Australia has never merged them into a single product. Both do broadly the same job — pre-screening visa-free visitors before they travel — but they're tied to different eligibility lists, different applications and, in one case, a different fee structure. Confusingly, a small number of nationalities are technically eligible for both, which is where most of the uncertainty comes from.
Who uses the ETA
The ETA (subclass 601) is aimed at a broad group of passport holders from outside Europe, including — as of current rules, which are worth reconfirming before you apply — the UK, US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong (SAR passport) and several others. It's applied for through the official Australian ETA app, available for Apple and Android devices, or through an authorised travel agent, and carries a modest application charge.
Most ETA applications are decided within minutes once submitted through the app, though the Department of Home Affairs notes some are referred for additional checks and can take longer. It's linked electronically to your passport rather than issued as a stamp or sticker — border staff and airlines verify it automatically against your passport number.
Who uses the eVisitor
The eVisitor (subclass 651) is for citizens of European Union member states, plus the UK, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It's applied for directly through the Department of Home Affairs website rather than an app, and — unlike the ETA — it's free of charge. Applicants need a valid European passport, an email address, and answers to standard character and health questions.
UK passport holders are a useful example of the overlap: technically eligible for either scheme, but the eVisitor is the one the Department of Home Affairs points UK travellers towards specifically, since it costs nothing. If you're unsure which applies to your exact nationality, the official eligibility checker on the Home Affairs site gives a definitive answer rather than guessing from general advice.
What both authorisations actually cover
The ETA and eVisitor grant the same broad permissions: stays of up to three months per visit, within an authorisation valid for 12 months, for tourism, visiting family or friends, and short-term business activities such as attending a conference or meeting. Neither authorisation permits taking up paid work in Australia, enrolling in a full-time study programme, or staying longer than three months on a single visit — even though the 12-month validity allows multiple separate visits within that window.
If your trip involves anything beyond tourism or short business — working, formal study, or a stay longer than three months — you'll need a different visa category entirely, such as a Working Holiday visa or a student visa, applied for in advance through the Department of Home Affairs.
New Zealand citizens: a separate arrangement
New Zealand passport holders don't use either the ETA or the eVisitor. Under a long-standing bilateral arrangement, eligible New Zealand citizens are granted a Special Category Visa on arrival in Australia, without needing to apply for anything in advance. If you hold a New Zealand passport, this simplifies things considerably, though it's still worth confirming current conditions before travel. New Zealand runs its own separate electronic authorisation for visitors heading the other way — see our guide to the NZeTA if your trip continues on to New Zealand.
Arriving in Australia
Most eligible passport holders can use SmartGate, Australia's automated passport-control system, at major international airports — a similar approach to the trusted-traveller and fast-track schemes covered in our guide to trusted-traveller schemes. It uses facial recognition matched against your passport's chip to clear you without a face-to-face officer interaction for routine arrivals. You'll still need to complete an incoming passenger card declaring goods, currency over the reporting threshold, and biosecurity items. Australia enforces its biosecurity rules strictly: undeclared food, plant material, wooden items and similar goods can attract significant fines even when the omission was accidental rather than deliberate.
Holding a valid ETA or eVisitor does not guarantee entry — Australian Border Force officers retain discretion to question the purpose of your visit or refuse entry if they aren't satisfied it's genuine.
If neither scheme applies to you
Citizens of countries not covered by either the ETA or eVisitor need to apply for a standard Visitor Visa (subclass 600) through the Department of Home Affairs or an Australian embassy or high commission. This is a more involved online application with longer processing times and more detailed documentation requirements than either electronic authorisation, so it's worth starting well ahead of your planned travel dates rather than close to departure. Our guide to how to check visa requirements for any trip covers the general process for working out which category applies to you before you commit to booking.
Whichever authorisation applies, don't overlook the basics that catch out otherwise well-prepared travellers — see our guide to passport validity rules for the minimum remaining validity Australia and most destinations expect.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for either the ETA or eVisitor if I'm eligible for both?
Technically some nationalities are eligible for both, but the Department of Home Affairs generally directs specific passport holders towards one over the other — for UK citizens, that's the free eVisitor. Check the official guidance for your exact nationality rather than choosing arbitrarily.
How long can I stay in Australia on an ETA or eVisitor?
Up to three months per visit. The 12-month validity period allows multiple separate visits, but you cannot use it to stay continuously beyond three months on any single trip.
Do I need a new authorisation if I renew my passport?
Yes. Both the ETA and eVisitor are linked to your specific passport number, so a new passport requires a new application, even if your old authorisation hadn't expired.
Can New Zealanders use the ETA instead of the Special Category Visa?
No — New Zealand citizens use the separate Special Category Visa arrangement granted on arrival, not the ETA or eVisitor. Check current conditions for New Zealand passport holders before travelling, as arrangements can be updated.
Sources and further reading:
- ETA and eVisitor eligibility and applications: Australian Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au).
- SmartGate and arrival procedures: Australian Border Force.
- Working Holiday visas: Working holiday visas explained on Viamo.
- Always confirm current requirements with your own government's travel advice before travelling.