Australia eVisitor (subclass 651) Checklist
The eVisitor (subclass 651) is a free, electronically stored authority for eligible European passport holders to visit Australia. It is applied for online, needs no stamp or label, and each traveller — including children on your passport — needs their own. This checklist sets out who qualifies and what to prepare. Facts are taken from the Department of Home Affairs eVisitor page as archived by the Wayback Machine (snapshot 2017-06-02, the last statically readable official version); verify the current wording on the official eVisitor page before you apply.
First, three quick facts
- No application charge — on the archived official page the eVisitor cost section states plainly: There is no charge for an eVisitor application. (Australian visa charges change; confirm the current position officially.)
- Three months per visit, valid 12 months — enter for up to three months during each visit, within the 12 months from the date the eVisitor is granted.
- One per person — every family member travelling, including children under 18 on your passport, needs a separate eVisitor.
Who is eligible
You may be eligible for an eVisitor if you:
- intend to visit Australia only temporarily, for tourism or business visitor purposes;
- are outside Australia when you apply and when the eVisitor is granted;
- hold an eVisitor-eligible passport;
- are free of tuberculosis when you enter Australia;
- have not been convicted of an offence or offences with a total sentence of more than 12 months (whether or not served).
The eligible passports are citizen passports issued by: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Republic of San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (British Citizen) and Vatican City.
Note the exclusions: you are not eligible if your only passport is a British National Overseas, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person or British Subject passport.
What the eVisitor lets you do
- Enter Australia for up to three months during each visit, within the 12 months from grant.
- Have a holiday or visit family and friends.
- Study for up to three months in some circumstances.
- Engage in business visitor activities — provided you do not work for or provide services to a business or organisation, and do not sell goods or services to the public. Examples include general business or employment enquiries, negotiating or signing a contract, official government-to-government visits, and attending conferences, trade fairs or seminars without being paid by the organisers.
In general the eVisitor does not allow you to work. Voluntary work may be possible where tourism is your main purpose, the work is genuinely unpaid (other than meals, accommodation or out-of-pocket living expenses), and it would not otherwise be done for wages by an Australian resident. You cannot study or train for longer than three months.
The checklist — what to prepare
| Eligible passport | A citizen passport from an eligible country (list above); the eVisitor is linked to this passport number. |
| Your application, per person | One application each, including children and those under 18 on your passport. |
| Applied from outside Australia | You must be outside Australia when you apply and when it is granted. |
| Health | Free of tuberculosis on entry; you meet standard health requirements. You cover your own health costs — Medicare does not cover visitors unless your country has a reciprocal agreement. |
| Character | No conviction carrying a total sentence of 12 months or more. Any criminal conviction may point you to a Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead. |
| Debts | No outstanding debts to the Australian Government, or an arrangement to repay them. |
| Timing | Apply at least two weeks before you intend to travel. |
Applying, and keeping it valid
- The eVisitor is applied for online; there is no immigration office visit and no stamp or label in your passport — you receive a confirmation for your records.
- It is linked to the passport number you use, so travel on the same passport. If you get a new passport, update your details before travelling, or you may be delayed at the airport.
- If you already hold another visa and are granted an eVisitor, the eVisitor could replace your existing visa and may be less beneficial — contact an immigration office outside Australia before applying if that applies to you.
- Each family member travelling, including children under 18, needs a separate eVisitor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Australia eVisitor (651) cost?
On the archived official page the cost section states there is no charge for an eVisitor application. Visa charges change over time, so confirm the current position on the official eVisitor page before you apply.
How long can I stay on an eVisitor?
You can enter for up to three months during each visit, within the 12 months from the date the eVisitor is granted.
Which passports are eligible?
Citizen passports from 36 listed European countries and territories, including the UK (British Citizen), plus Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. British National Overseas and similar passports are not eligible.
Can I work or study on an eVisitor?
Generally you cannot work. Genuine unpaid volunteering may be possible where tourism is your main purpose. You can study for up to three months in some circumstances, but not longer.
Does my child need a separate eVisitor?
Yes. Every family member travelling, including children under 18 who are on your passport, needs a separate eVisitor.
Do I apply inside or outside Australia?
You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the eVisitor is granted. Apply at least two weeks before you plan to travel.
Source: Australian Department of Home Affairs, “eVisitor (subclass 651)”, archived Wayback snapshot 2017-06-02 (the last statically readable official version). Australian visa charges, channels and passport lists change — confirm the current rules on the official eVisitor page and the Australia visa document checklist before you apply.