Which European Countries Qualify for the eVisitor Visa (Subclass 651)?

If you’re European and planning a trip to Australia, there’s a good chance you won’t need to walk into an embassy or pay for a full tourist visa. The eVisitor visa (subclass 651) was built specifically for passport holders from Europe, and it’s completely free to apply for.

But not every European country is on the list. Here’s a full breakdown of who qualifies, plus a few details that trip people up.

The Full List of Eligible European Countries

Australia grants the eVisitor 651 to passport holders from 36 European nations. That covers all 27 EU member states, plus 9 additional European countries outside the EU.

All 27 EU Member States

If your passport is from any of these countries, you’re eligible:

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden

Non-EU European Countries That Also Qualify

These 9 countries are not EU members, but Australian immigration includes them in the eVisitor program:

Andorra
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Monaco
Norway
San Marino
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Vatican City

So if you hold an Icelandic passport or a Norwegian passport, you’re covered even though neither country is in the EU.

What Matters Is Your Passport, Not Where You Live

This is the part that confuses a lot of people. Eligibility is based on your passport nationality, not where you currently live or work.

Say you’re a French citizen living in Dubai. Your French passport still qualifies you for the eVisitor 651. An American living in Germany with a US passport does not qualify for this visa. They’d need a different visa type.

So before you apply, make sure you’re applying with the right passport.

The UK Exception Worth Knowing About

British citizens are eligible, but there’s a catch. Not every British passport type qualifies.

Standard “British Citizen” passport holders are fine. But if your passport says any of these, the eVisitor 651 is not available to you:

British National Overseas (BNO)
British Dependent Territories Citizen
British Overseas Citizen

If that’s your situation, you’d need to apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead. The process is different and involves a fee.

Standard British citizens wanting more details can check out the dedicated guide on how to apply for the eVisitor visa from the UK.

Country-Specific Guides

Some nationalities have their own detailed pages with step-by-step instructions tailored to their documents and situation. If your country is listed below, it’s worth reading the specific guide:

What the eVisitor 651 Lets You Do

Once approved, the visa lets you stay in Australia for up to 3 months per visit. It’s valid for 12 months from the date it’s granted, so you can enter and exit multiple times within that year as long as each stay is under 3 months.

You can use it for tourism, visiting family, or short business trips. You cannot work on it.

The visa is linked electronically to your passport. There’s no stamp or label. When you check in at the airport or arrive at the border, Australian immigration can see it in their system automatically.

How to Apply

The application is done entirely online. There’s no visa fee, no embassy visit, and most people get approved within a few days (sometimes within hours).

You’ll need a valid passport, an email address, and basic travel information. For a full walkthrough, the eVisitor visa application guide covers every step.

If you want to understand the costs involved (the visa itself is free, but there are service fees if you use a third-party platform), check the breakdown on Australia eVisitor visa cost.

And if you’re curious how long it actually takes to get approved, the eVisitor visa processing time page has current estimates.

Planning Your Trip

Once your visa is sorted, you’ll want to actually plan the trip. Australia is a big country and it helps to go in with a rough plan rather than figuring it out as you go.

A few resources that are worth reading before you book anything:

Best Australia itinerary for a general overview of the country
3-week Australia itinerary if you have a month to work with
Two-week Australia itinerary for a tighter schedule
Best time to visit Sydney so you don’t show up during a heatwave
Travel insurance for Australia (worth sorting before you fly)

If you’re coming from the UK specifically, the guide on planning a trip to Australia from the UK covers flights, time zones, and what to expect on arrival.

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