Am I Eligible for the Australia eVisitor Visa? Here’s How to Check
If you’re planning a trip to Australia and keep seeing the term “eVisitor visa” pop up, you’re probably wondering one simple thing: can I actually get one? Good news, for most European passport holders, the answer is yes, and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Let’s walk through exactly who qualifies, what can get you rejected, and what you need before you apply for the Australia eVisitor Visa (subclass 651).
What the eVisitor Visa Actually Is
The eVisitor is a free electronic visa that lets you visit Australia for tourism, to see family, or for short business trips. It’s not a sticker in your passport. It’s linked electronically to your passport number, so once it’s approved, you’re set.
With this visa, you can enter Australia as many times as you like within a 12-month window, and each visit can last up to 3 months. It’s one of the easiest visas out there, but only if your passport is on the approved list.
Step 1: Check If Your Passport Qualifies
This is the big one. Your eligibility comes down to your passport’s nationality, not where you live or work. So if you’re a French citizen living in Canada, you still qualify based on your French passport.
The eVisitor is open to passport holders from all 27 European Union countries, plus a handful of others in Europe like the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino, and Vatican City.
We’ve got dedicated guides for a lot of these, so if you want the details specific to your country, check out the pages for UK citizens, German citizens, French citizens, Irish citizens, Italian citizens, Spanish citizens, Dutch citizens, Swiss citizens, Swedish citizens, Danish citizens, Polish citizens, Portuguese citizens, Finnish citizens, Austrian citizens, Belgian citizens, Norwegian citizens, Romanian citizens, Hungarian citizens, Cypriot citizens, and Icelandic citizens.
One thing that trips people up: not every British passport counts. Only standard British Citizen passports work for the eVisitor. If you hold a British National (Overseas), British Overseas Citizen, or British Dependent Territories Citizen passport, you won’t qualify for this particular visa and will need to look at a different visa option.
If your country isn’t on this list, don’t worry, you’re not out of options. You’d just need to apply for a different visitor visa, like the ETA or a standard visitor visa, instead.
Step 2: Make Sure Your Purpose of Travel Fits
The eVisitor covers a specific set of reasons for visiting. You’re good to go if you’re traveling for:
Tourism and holidays, visiting family or friends, business activities like attending a conference or meeting with clients, or short study or training courses (up to 3 months).
What it doesn’t cover is working in Australia. If your plan is to take up paid employment while you’re there, this isn’t the right visa. Doing some emails for your overseas employer while on holiday is generally fine, since it’s considered incidental to your trip, but full-time remote work is a grey area you should be careful with.
If your trip is more about exploring the sights, it helps to have your itinerary sorted too. Our guides on the best places to visit in Australia and how long to spend in Australia can help you plan that part once your visa is sorted.
Step 3: Pass the Health and Character Checks
This is where a lot of people assume they’re fine but should double check. To be eligible, you generally need to be in good health and have no serious criminal convictions.
A couple of specifics worth knowing:
If you have active tuberculosis, your application can be refused. And if you have a significant criminal record, especially anything involving a prison sentence of 12 months or more, it can affect your outcome too. If this applies to you, it’s worth reading our page on traveling to Australia with a criminal record before you apply, so you know what to expect.
For most travelers, though, this step is just a formality. If you’re healthy and don’t have a serious criminal history, you’ll clear this without any issues.
Step 4: Have the Right Documents Ready
Before you sit down to apply, make sure you have your passport information ready, since the visa is tied directly to your passport number and details. You’ll also want a valid email address for confirmation, since everything is handled electronically. And a Australia visitor visa card, if you plan to pay for anything during the process, though the eVisitor itself is free.
That’s genuinely it. There’s no need for bank statements, invitation letters, or supporting documents for most applicants. It’s one of the simpler visa applications you’ll come across.
Step 5: Know What You’re Not Allowed to Do
Even once you’re approved, there are a few limits to keep in mind. You can’t extend the eVisitor while you’re in Australia, so plan your dates carefully. You can’t work for an Australian employer. And you can’t use it as a way to live in Australia long term, since it’s strictly for short visits.
If you overstay or use the visa for something it’s not meant for, it can affect your ability to get future visas, so it’s worth sticking to the rules.
So, Are You Eligible?
If you hold a passport from one of the eligible European countries, you’re in good health, you don’t have a serious criminal record, and your trip is for tourism, business, family visits, or short study, then yes, you’re eligible for the Australia eVisitor visa.
The next step is putting together your application. Our guide on how to apply for the eVisitor visa walks you through the process from start to finish, and you can check the current processing times so you know when to apply before your trip.
Once you’ve got your visa sorted, the fun part starts, planning where to actually go. Take a look at our Australia travel guides to start mapping out your trip.
