Australia eVisitor Visa Application: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

The Australia eVisitor visa application is one of the simplest ways to get permission to visit Australia. It is fully online, and takes most people less than 20 minutes to complete. No embassy appointment. No paper forms. You do it from your phone or laptop and wait for an email.

This guide covers everything you need to know — who can apply, what documents to prepare, how to fill in the form, and what happens after you submit.

What Is the Australia eVisitor Visa Application?

The Australia eVisitor visa application is the process of applying for an eVisitor visa (subclass 651) through the https://applyaustraliavisa.com. The visa itself is electronic — it gets linked directly to your passport, so there is no physical sticker or stamp.

Once approved, the visa lets you:

Stay in Australia for up to 3 months on each visit
Enter and exit Australia multiple times
Travel for tourism or short business purposes

The visa is valid for 12 months from the date it is approved. After 12 months, you would need to submit a new Australia eVisitor visa application if you want to visit again.

Who Can Submit an Australia eVisitor Visa Application?

Not everyone can apply for an eVisitor visa. It is only available to passport holders from eligible countries, which are mostly in Europe.

Countries whose citizens can submit an Australia eVisitor visa application include: the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Portugal, Hungary, Romania, Cyprus, and Iceland, among others.

You will also need to meet basic character and health requirements. For most visitors, this is straightforward — the form just asks a series of yes/no questions.

Who Can Apply for the eVisitor (Subclass 651) Visa?

eVisitor vs ETA: Which Application Do You Need?

Many people confuse the eVisitor visa application with the ETA application. They are both online, electronic, and allow the same length of stay — but they are for different passport holders.

	eVisitor Application (subclass 651)	ETA Application (subclass 601)
Who it is for	Eligible European and UK passport holders	USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and others
How to apply	Online via application.applyaustraliavisa.com	Online or via the Australian ETA app
Stay per visit	Up to 3 months	Up to 3 months
Validity	12 months, multiple entry	12 months, multiple entry

If you are from Europe or the UK, you want the eVisitor. If you are from the US, Canada, or Japan, you want the ETA. Submitting the wrong application wastes time and will get refused.

What to Prepare Before You Start Your Application

Before you open the Australia eVisitor visa application form, get these items ready. Having everything at hand helps you move through the form without stopping or making mistakes.

What You Need	Notes
Valid passport	Must be valid for your full stay in Australia
Email address	Your visa grant notification is sent here
Travel dates	Approximate dates are fine
General destination	City or region — no need for a hotel booking
Employment details	Job title and employer name
Recent travel history	Countries visited in the past few years
Card for payment	Only needed if applying through a third-party service

Standard eVisitor applications do not require you to upload documents. The form is question-based. In some cases, the Department of Home Affairs may request supporting documents after you submit, so it is worth having a digital copy of your passport ready just in case.

How to Complete the Australia eVisitor Visa Application

Here is how the process works from start to finish.

Step 1: Start a New Application

Go to https://application.applyaustraliavisa.com and simply fill up the application form.

Step 2: Fill In Your Personal Details

This is the section where most errors happen. You will need to enter:

Your full name, exactly as it appears on your passport
Date of birth
Passport number, issue date, and expiry date
Country of birth and citizenship

Go slowly here. A wrong digit in your passport number or a misspelled name is the most common reason Australia eVisitor visa applications get delayed or flagged for review.

Step 3: Enter Your Travel Details

You will be asked for your intended arrival date and where you plan to visit in Australia. These do not have to be exact, but they should be realistic. If your planned arrival date is very soon but you have not booked a flight, that can look inconsistent.

Step 4: Review Everything Before You Submit

Before you click submit on your Australia eVisitor visa application, check every section again. Look for:

Typing errors in your name or passport number
Wrong passport expiry date
Any blank required fields

Once the application is submitted, you cannot go back and change it. If you find a serious mistake after submitting, you will need to withdraw the application and start again, or contact the Department of Home Affairs.

Step 5: Submit and Wait

After submission, most Australia eVisitor visa applications are processed quickly. Many are approved within minutes or a few hours. Some take longer depending on application volume and whether any additional checks are needed.

For a detailed look at what affects timing, see our guide on Australian visa processing times.

What Happens After You Submit Your Application?

Once your Australia eVisitor visa application is submitted, you wait. Here is what to expect.

You will get an email. The visa grant notification goes to the email address. Check your spam folder — these emails regularly end up filtered.

The email includes your visa grant number. Save this. You may need it at check-in or when you arrive at the Australian border.

There is nothing to print. The eVisitor visa is electronic. Australian Border Force can verify it using your passport number when you arrive. That said, keeping a screenshot or digital copy of your approval email is a good idea.

You can check the status of your Australia eVisitor visa application at any time through the application status check page.

Common Mistakes in the Australia eVisitor Visa Application

These are the errors that actually cause problems. Most are easy to avoid if you know about them in advance.

Entering passport details incorrectly. Your name on the application must match your passport exactly. This includes middle names if they appear in your passport. Even a small difference can cause a delay.

Applying with the wrong visa type. If your passport is not from an eligible country, the eVisitor application will be refused. Always check eligibility first.

Not disclosing past criminal history. The character requirement applies to all applicants. If you have had any criminal convictions — even minor ones — you may need to declare them. Failing to do so can result in cancellation or a future travel ban.

Applying too close to your travel date. Many Australia eVisitor visa applications come back quickly, but not all. Apply at least one week before you travel, and ideally two or more weeks in advance.

Using a passport that expires soon. Your passport must be valid for your entire stay in Australia. If it expires while you are there, you will have problems at the border.

Missing the approval email. Check your spam or junk folder. The approval often lands there.

Can You Extend an eVisitor Visa?

No. The eVisitor visa cannot be extended. Each stay is capped at 3 months, and the visa itself is valid for 12 months from the grant date.

If you need more time in Australia, you would need to leave the country and re-enter, which resets your 3-month allowance. However, this is not a workaround for living in Australia long term. Border officers can ask questions if you are repeatedly entering for extended periods.

If you need to stay longer for work, study, or family reasons, a different visa category is required.

What Are You Allowed to Do on an eVisitor Visa?

Allowed:

Tourism and sightseeing
Visiting friends or family
Short business meetings or conferences
Short-term study (up to 3 months)

Not allowed:

Working for pay
Enrolling in long courses or full-time study programs
Accessing Australian Medicare benefits

Planning Your Trip After Approval

Once your Australia eVisitor visa application is approved, the planning begins. Our tips for tourists in Australia covers the practical things you need to know before you arrive — from getting around to what to pack.

Travel insurance is also important. Healthcare in Australia is high quality but expensive for overseas visitors without cover. Our guide on travel insurance for Australia breaks down what to look for.

Need help with your itinerary? Start with our best Australia itinerary guide or browse options by trip length: 1 week, 10 days, 2 weeks, or 3 weeks.

Country-Specific eVisitor Application Guides

If you want guidance based on your specific passport, we have dedicated pages for many eligible countries:

Ready to Start Your Australia eVisitor Visa Application?

The Australia eVisitor visa application process is free, quick, and fully online. Most people get approved the same day. The key is taking a few minutes to get your details right before you submit.

If you want help completing your application correctly the first time, Australia eVisitor Visa offers a guided service that walks you through every step.

Have questions? Visit our FAQ page or check the processing fees and time page for more details.

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