Short answer: British citizens need permission before visiting Australia, but you do not need a traditional visa for short trips. You can choose the Australia ETA (subclass 601), which you apply for through the official Australian ETA app for a service fee of AUD 20, or the eVisitor (subclass 651), which is free and applied for online. Both let you visit as many times as you like in 12 months and stay up to three months each time, for tourism or business visitor activities. Neither allows paid work.
| Quick facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Do you need a visa? | You need an ETA or eVisitor for short visits |
| Australia ETA | Subclass 601, applied for in the official app |
| ETA cost | No visa charge, AUD 20 service fee |
| eVisitor | Subclass 651, free, applied for online |
| Validity | 12 months, multiple visits |
| Stay per visit | Up to 3 months |
| Work allowed? | No paid work |
Table of Contents
What is the Australia ETA?
The Australia ETA, or Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), is a digital permission to visit Australia. It is linked electronically to your passport, so there is no sticker or stamp. When you check in for your flight, the airline sees that you hold a valid Australia ETA, and the border officer sees it when you land.
British citizens are one of the few nationalities who can choose between two light-touch options: the Australia ETA and the eVisitor. Both are much simpler than the full Visitor visa (subclass 600), which needs more documents and takes longer.
The Australia ETA is applied for through the official Australian ETA app on a smartphone. The app scans the chip in your passport and takes a live photo of your face, so the process is quick and you do not need to upload documents.
Australia ETA or eVisitor: which should you choose?
This is the question most British travellers ask. The two options give you very similar permissions. The main differences are cost and how you apply.
| Feature | Australia ETA (601) | eVisitor (651) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | AUD 20 service fee | Free |
| How to apply | Official Australian ETA app | Online through ImmiAccount |
| Validity | 12 months | 12 months |
| Stay per visit | Up to 3 months | Up to 3 months |
| Typical processing | Often very fast | Often within a few days |
| Purposes | Tourism, family visits, business visitor activities | Tourism, family visits, business visitor activities |
If you are planning ahead, the free eVisitor is excellent value. If you prefer using your phone, or you are travelling soon and want a fast answer, the Australia ETA is very convenient for a small fee. The UK government’s travel advice lists both options for British passport holders.
How much does the Australia ETA cost?
There is no visa application charge for the Australia ETA, but the Australian government charges a service fee of AUD 20 through the app. That is around £10, depending on the exchange rate. Each traveller needs their own Australia ETA, including children.
The eVisitor has no charge at all. Be careful with websites that charge large fees for an Australia ETA or eVisitor. They are not official, and you do not need them for a straightforward trip.
What do you need to apply?
For the Australia ETA, you need:
- A valid British biometric passport with a chip
- A smartphone that can read passport chips (most recent iPhone and Android phones can)
- An email address
- A card for the AUD 20 service fee
- Answers to health and character questions
You must be outside Australia when you apply. Your passport should be valid for your whole stay, and it is sensible to have at least six months left if you are transiting through other countries.
For the eVisitor, you create an ImmiAccount online, fill in the form and enter your passport details. You do not need to upload documents for most applications.
How to apply: the 6 easy steps
These steps follow the same simple flow that Alif Visa uses when we help a client choose and apply for an Australia ETA or eVisitor.
- Check your route on Alif Visa. Enter your nationality and destination on our visa checker to confirm that your passport can use the Australia ETA or eVisitor.
- Choose ETA or eVisitor. Pick the free eVisitor if you have time, or the Australia ETA if you prefer the app and a fast decision.
- Prepare your passport and phone. Make sure your passport is the one you will travel with and your phone can read its chip.
- Apply on the official channel. Download the official Australian ETA app, or apply for the eVisitor through ImmiAccount.
- Answer honestly. Declare any criminal convictions and serious health conditions. Hiding them can lead to cancellation.
- Check your grant. Confirm the name, passport number and dates in the approval email before you fly.
If you would like a specialist to check your answers first, especially if you have a past conviction or a previous refusal, Alif Visa can review your situation before you apply.
How long can you stay on an Australia ETA?
An Australia ETA lets you visit as many times as you like in the 12 months after it is granted, as long as your passport stays valid. Each visit can last up to three months. The same applies to the eVisitor.
If you want to stay longer than three months in one go, you need the Visitor visa (subclass 600), which can allow stays of up to 12 months. Our Australia visitor visa subclass 600 guide explains that route.
If you renew your passport, your Australia ETA does not move to the new passport. You need to apply again.
Can you work in Australia on an ETA?
No. The Australia ETA and the eVisitor allow tourism, visiting family and friends, and business visitor activities such as meetings, conferences and contract negotiations. They do not allow paid work for an Australian employer or providing services to Australian clients.
Young British citizens have a better option for working holidays. The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) is open to British citizens aged 18 to 35, and under the UK–Australia trade agreement British applicants no longer have to complete regional work to get a second or third year. If you want to work, apply for that visa instead.
Can you study on an Australia ETA?
You can take a short course of study of up to three months in total on an Australia ETA or eVisitor. That suits English courses, short professional training or a summer programme. If your course is longer than three months, or it leads to a formal qualification over a longer period, you need a Student visa (subclass 500).
If you are not sure whether your course counts as short study, ask the provider which visa their international students normally use. Choosing the right visa from the start avoids problems at the border and with the course provider.
Who cannot use the Australia ETA?
Some British citizens should not use the Australia ETA or eVisitor, including people who:
- Have certain criminal convictions, especially with a total prison sentence of 12 months or more
- Have tuberculosis or another serious health condition
- Have overstayed in Australia or breached visa conditions before
- Plan to stay longer than three months per visit
- Plan to work or study for more than three months
These travellers normally need the Visitor visa (subclass 600) or another visa type. Be honest on the form. A wrong answer can lead to cancellation at the airport, which is far worse than applying for the right visa at the start.
What about UK residents with other passports?
The Australia ETA is linked to your passport, not your country of residence. Many passports, including Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian and Bangladeshi passports, cannot use the Australia ETA or eVisitor. Holders of those passports need the Visitor visa (subclass 600), which involves more documents, such as bank statements and employment letters.
If your family travels on mixed passports, start the slower application first. Our guide to visa bank statements explains the financial evidence the Visitor visa usually needs.
An example: choosing between ETA and eVisitor
Here is a typical example. Priya, a British citizen in London, was planning a four-week trip to Sydney and Melbourne in December. Her husband, also British, would join her for two weeks.
Priya booked her flights in August and had plenty of time, so she applied for the free eVisitor through ImmiAccount. It was granted three days later. Her husband only decided to join her in late November. With little time left, he downloaded the official Australian ETA app, scanned his passport chip, took a selfie and paid AUD 20. His Australia ETA was granted within minutes.
Both had the same rights in Australia. The only difference was cost and convenience.
Which mistakes should you avoid?
These are the most common problems with the Australia ETA and eVisitor:
- Paying unofficial websites. Use the official app or ImmiAccount.
- Applying while in Australia. You must apply from outside the country.
- Using an old passport. The authority is linked to one passport number.
- Hiding convictions. Always answer honestly.
- Planning to work. Neither option allows paid work.
- Staying too long. Each visit is limited to three months.
Do you need anything else to enter Australia?
At the border, you complete an Incoming Passenger Card or the digital version where available. You must declare food, plant material, animal products and medicines, because Australia has strict biosecurity rules. Fines for not declaring items are high, so declare anything you are unsure about.
Keep your return ticket, accommodation and funds evidence ready in case the officer asks about your plans.
Key takeaways
- British citizens can use the Australia ETA (601) or the eVisitor (651) for short visits.
- The Australia ETA is applied for in the official app and costs AUD 20.
- The eVisitor is free and applied for online.
- Both last 12 months and allow stays of up to three months per visit.
- Neither allows paid work. Young British citizens can use the Working Holiday visa.
- People with serious convictions or health issues may need the Visitor visa (600).
How can Alif Visa help with an Australia ETA?
Alif Visa is a UK-registered visa assistance company helping travellers worldwide. For most British citizens, the Australia ETA or eVisitor is simple, and you can apply yourself through the official channels. We help when your situation is more complex: past convictions, previous refusals, family members on other passports, or longer stays that need a Visitor visa.
You can check your route, start an application or talk to our team. Our service fee is always shown separately from any government charge.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes, but most can use the Australia ETA (601) or the free eVisitor (651) instead of a full visa.
How much does the Australia ETA cost?
There is no visa charge, but the official app charges a service fee of AUD 20.
Is the eVisitor really free?
Yes. The eVisitor (subclass 651) has no application charge.
How long can I stay on an Australia ETA?
Up to three months per visit, with multiple visits in 12 months.
How do I apply for the Australia ETA?
Through the official Australian ETA app, which scans your passport chip and takes a live photo.
Can I work in Australia on an ETA?
No. Young British citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply for the Working Holiday visa instead.
Can I apply for an Australia ETA from inside Australia?
No. You must be outside Australia when you apply.
Do children need their own Australia ETA?
Yes. Every traveller needs their own authority.
