If you hold a British Citizen passport and you’re planning a trip to Australia, the eVisitor visa (subclass 651) is almost certainly the one you need. It’s free to apply for, done entirely online, and most applicants get a decision within hours. No trips to an embassy, no stickers in your passport.
This guide covers everything UK travellers need to know: eligibility, what the visa allows, what to prepare, how to apply, and what can go wrong.
What Is the Australia eVisitor Visa?
The eVisitor visa (subclass 651) is an electronic visa issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. It’s designed for short-term visitors from eligible countries who want to visit Australia for tourism or permitted business activities.
Once granted, it’s tied to your passport number digitally. There’s no label or stamp. When you arrive at an Australian airport, Border Force checks your passport number against the system. That’s it.
Here’s a quick summary of the key conditions:
| Detail | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Visa type | eVisitor (Subclass 651) |
| Who it’s for | Standard British Citizen passport holders |
| Maximum stay per visit | Up to 3 months |
| Validity from grant date | 12 months |
| Number of entries | Multiple |
| Work allowed | No (business visitor activities only) |
| Cost | £ 26/GBP |
Are UK Citizens Eligible?
Yes. Standard British Citizen passport holders are eligible for the eVisitor visa. The UK’s departure from the EU made no difference to this. UK citizens were eligible before Brexit and remain eligible now.
That said, not every type of British passport qualifies. The following passport types are not eligible for the eVisitor:
- British National Overseas (BNO)
- British Dependent Territories Citizen
- British Overseas Citizen
- British Protected Person
- British Subject
If you hold any of these, you would need to apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead, which is a different process and does carry a fee.
The simplest way to check: look at the “Nationality” field on your passport. If it says “British Citizen,” you’re eligible.
eVisitor vs ETA: Which One Do UK Travellers Use?
Some people searching for an Australia visa from the UK come across two options: the eVisitor and the ETA (Electronic Travel Authority). This trips people up, so it’s worth clearing up quickly.
The ETA is a different visa (subclass 601) and it is not available to UK passport holders. UK citizens use the eVisitor. Full stop.
The two look similar on the surface — both are electronic, both are short-stay — but they cover different eligible countries. If you’re British, the eVisitor is your visa. Don’t try to apply for the ETA.
For a full overview of how the eVisitor visa works, including what it covers and who it’s designed for, that page has the detail.
What Can You Do on an eVisitor Visa?
Permitted:
- Tourism, sightseeing, and holidays
- Visiting family or friends
- Cruises that include Australian ports
- Short business activities: attending meetings, conferences, negotiating contracts, making business enquiries
Not permitted:
- Paid work for an Australian employer
- Running a business from Australian soil
- Enrolling in a course longer than 3 months
One question that comes up often is remote working. If you’re employed by a UK company and you work on your laptop while in Australia, that sits in a grey area. The Department of Home Affairs does not have a specific provision for it. It’s not the same as working for an Australian employer, but it is not explicitly approved either. If your trip is primarily for tourism and you check emails occasionally, that is generally considered incidental. Full-time remote working for an extended stay is a different situation.
What Documents Do You Need?
The eVisitor application is simpler than most people expect. There’s no requirement to submit bank statements, employment letters, or a travel itinerary. What you do need:
- A valid British Citizen passport
- An email address for correspondence
- An ImmiAccount login (you create one if you don’t have it)
- Answers to health and character questions
On the health and character questions: most people will answer these without any issue. However, if you have a criminal conviction in any country, you should know that the eVisitor has a character requirement. Anyone with a conviction may want to look into the subclass 600 Visitor visa instead, or seek advice before applying.
A note on passport validity: Your passport should be valid for your entire planned stay in Australia. And importantly, if you renew your passport after getting the eVisitor visa, the visa becomes void. It’s tied to the passport number, not to you. You’ll need to apply again using the new passport details.
Each family member needs their own application. Children cannot be included on a parent’s eVisitor.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Applying takes most people around 15 to 20 minutes. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Start a new application Once go to the official portal which is application.applyaustraliavisa.com, then fill up the application form and click “continue to apply.”
Step 3: Enter your passport details You’ll type in your passport number, expiry date, and personal details. Type these exactly as they appear on your passport. Even a single transposed digit can cause problems when you arrive at the border.
Step 4: Answer the health and character questions These are yes/no declarations. For most travellers, this section takes under two minutes.
Step 5: Submit There’s nothing to pay. Review your answers and submit.
For a detailed walkthrough of the full eVisitor visa application process, that page goes through each section in more detail. You can also read the how to apply for the eVisitor visa from the UK guide for a step-by-step walkthrough aimed at UK applicants specifically.
How Long Does It Take?
Most UK applicants get a decision within hours of submitting. Many receive their visa grant notification within minutes. The application is processed by an automated system, and when everything checks out cleanly, it’s fast.
Some applications get referred for manual review. This can happen if a name matches a watchlist, if there are previous visa refusals, or if the character declaration triggers a check. Manual review doesn’t mean a refusal — it just means a case officer looks at it, which takes longer. This can range from a few days to several weeks in more complex cases.
The Department of Home Affairs publishes current processing times through their official tool. Before you travel, it’s worth checking the eVisitor visa processing time page for the latest guidance, and verifying against the official tool at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Don’t book non-refundable flights before you have your visa grant notice.
Common Mistakes UK Travellers Make
Applying for the ETA instead of the eVisitor. As covered above, the ETA is not available to UK citizens. If you end up on a third-party site, make sure the visa you’re applying for is subclass 651.
Mistyping passport details. The visa is linked to the exact passport number on the application. A typo means the system won’t find it when you arrive. Double-check before you submit.
Not accounting for passport expiry. If your passport expires during your planned Australia trip, apply for a new passport first, then apply for the visa.
Renewing their passport after getting the visa. If your visa is already granted and you then renew your passport, you need to apply again. The old visa won’t carry over.
Assuming the visa allows an extended stay. The eVisitor cannot be extended from within Australia. If you want to stay longer than 3 months in a single visit, you need the subclass 600 Visitor visa, which is a separate application before you travel.
Thinking one visa covers the whole family. Everyone needs their own application, including children.
Travelling to Other Countries Before or After Australia
The eVisitor does not require you to travel directly from the UK to Australia. You can visit other countries before or after your Australian trip without it affecting your visa. If you’re doing a longer trip — say, stopping in Southeast Asia before flying into Sydney — your eVisitor remains valid as long as it hasn’t expired.
Just make sure your eVisitor is still within its 12-month validity window when you enter Australia. And remember, each time you enter, the 3-month clock resets for that visit.
For more on what to do once you land, the trip to Australia from the UK guide covers flights, cities, and how to plan your time.
What Happens Once You Have the Visa?
You’ll receive a Visa Grant Notification by email. Save it. You don’t need to print it or carry it with you — the visa is electronic — but having the email saved means you have your visa details on hand if you’re ever asked.
When you arrive at an Australian airport, Border Force will scan your passport and the eVisitor will show up on their system. You may still be asked about the purpose of your visit, how long you plan to stay, and whether you have onward travel booked. This is standard entry procedure and not a sign of a problem.
Ready to Apply?
If you hold a standard British Citizen passport and you’re planning a short trip to Australia, the eVisitor visa is straightforward. Apply online, get a decision quickly, and you’re done.
Australia eVisitor Visa can help you with your eVisitor visa for UK citizens and walk you through the process with confidence.
For any questions before you apply, the FAQ page covers the most common ones. And for current processing fees and timelines, the processing fees and time page has the latest information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can British citizens get the Australia eVisitor visa? Yes. Standard British Citizen passport holders are eligible for the eVisitor visa (subclass 651). BNO and other British passport types are not eligible.
Is the eVisitor visa free for UK applicants? Yes. There is no application fee for the eVisitor (subclass 651).
How long can UK citizens stay in Australia on an eVisitor visa? Up to 3 months per visit. The visa itself is valid for 12 months from the grant date, with multiple entries allowed during that time.
Can I work in Australia on an eVisitor visa? No. Paid work is not permitted. Short business activities such as attending meetings or conferences are allowed.
What if I need to stay longer than 3 months? The eVisitor cannot be extended. You would need to apply for the subclass 600 Visitor visa before travelling.
What’s the difference between the eVisitor and the ETA? The ETA (subclass 601) is for passport holders from countries like the US, Canada, and several Asian nations. UK citizens are not eligible for the ETA and should apply for the eVisitor instead.
