Australia Visa Requirements (2026): ETA, eVisitor and Visitor Visa Made Simple

Australia visa requirements trip up more first-time visitors than any other part of the planning process. Australia does not have visa-free travel — every non-citizen, even children, needs a valid visa to enter. The good news is that for most travellers the process is online, fast, and either free or cheap. This 2026 guide walks you through every Australia visa pathway relevant to a Melbourne trip: the free eVisitor for Europeans, the A$20 ETA for North Americans and Asians, the standard Visitor Visa for everyone else, and the Working Holiday and student options. We cover what to apply for, where to apply, how long it takes, what it costs, and the common mistakes that get applications rejected.

Do I need a visa to visit Australia?

Yes — every non-Australian and non-New Zealand citizen needs a visa to enter Australia, including for short tourist stays. Australia is one of the very few high-income countries with no visa-waiver program. New Zealand citizens are the only major exception: they receive a Special Category Visa automatically on arrival.

Australia visa requirements differ depending on your nationality. There are three main tourist visa options most Melbourne visitors will use:

• eVisitor (subclass 651) — free, for European citizens, applied online.
• Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601) — A$20 service fee, for citizens of selected countries (US, Canada, Japan, Singapore, etc.), applied via mobile app.
• Visitor Visa (subclass 600) — A$190+, for citizens of countries not eligible for the above two.

All three allow tourist stays of up to 3 months per visit (12 months for the Visitor Visa in some streams). All three are linked electronically to your passport — Australia issues no physical visa stamp or sticker.

eVisitor visa (subclass 651) — for Europeans

The eVisitor visa is the cheapest, easiest pathway into Australia for European passport holders. It is completely free, applied for online, and usually granted within 24 hours.

Who is eligible for the eVisitor

Citizens of all 27 EU member states, the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. If you hold any of these passports, the eVisitor is the visa you want.

What it allows

• Multiple entries to Australia for up to 12 months from grant date.
• Each visit can be up to 3 months long.
• Tourist activities, visiting family or friends, attending business meetings, conferences, or short courses.
• NOT work — paid work is not allowed under the eVisitor.

How to apply for the eVisitor

1. Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (the official Department of Home Affairs site).
2. Click “Visa finder” and select eVisitor (subclass 651).
3. Create an ImmiAccount (free).
4. Fill in personal details, passport information, and travel plans.
5. Declare any criminal history or prior visa refusals honestly.
6. Submit the form. No payment required.
7. Receive a grant notification by email — usually within 24 hours, sometimes within minutes.

You do not need to print or bring anything: the visa is electronically linked to your passport. Border staff will see it when they scan you on arrival.

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601)

The Electronic Travel Authority is the equivalent of the eVisitor for non-European countries that have a visa cooperation agreement with Australia. It costs A$20 (a service fee, not a visa fee), is applied for via a mobile app, and is generally granted within minutes.

Who is eligible for the ETA

Passport holders from these countries are ETA-eligible:

• United States, Canada
• Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong (SAR), Macao (SAR)
• Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei
• The full list is published on the Department of Home Affairs website and updates periodically.

What the ETA allows

• Multiple entries to Australia for 12 months from grant date.
• Each visit up to 3 months long.
• Tourist, business visitor, or family-visit activities.
• NOT work — paid employment is prohibited.

How to apply for the ETA

The ETA can only be applied for through one official channel: the Australian ETA mobile app, available free on the Apple App Store and Google Play. There is no website application route. Beware of third-party “ETA” websites that charge A$50–A$150; they are commercial agents who simply submit the same A$20 form on your behalf and are not endorsed by the Australian government.

1. Download the official Australian ETA app from the Apple App Store or Google Play (publisher: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs).
2. Open the app and follow the verification process — it will scan your passport’s chip via NFC.
3. Take a selfie inside the app for biometric verification.
4. Enter travel and personal details. Pay the A$20 fee with credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
5. Receive a grant notification — usually within minutes, occasionally up to 12 hours.

Your ETA is now electronically linked to the passport you scanned. Do not leave the country and re-enter on a different passport.

Visitor Visa (subclass 600)

For passport holders not eligible for either the eVisitor or the ETA — including most travellers from China, India, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America — the Visitor Visa subclass 600 is the standard tourist option.

Visitor Visa streams

• Tourist stream — for holiday or visiting family. Most common.
• Business Visitor stream — for short business meetings or conferences.
• Sponsored Family stream — sponsored by an Australian relative.
• Approved Destination Status (ADS) stream — for Chinese citizens travelling in approved tour groups.
• Frequent Traveller stream — for repeat Chinese-citizen visitors, valid 10 years.

Visitor Visa cost and processing

Application fee in 2026: A$190 for the Tourist stream, A$1,635 for the Frequent Traveller stream. Processing time can be anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on country of application and individual circumstances. The Department of Home Affairs publishes “global processing times” on its website — for tourist visas, 90% of applications are processed within 35 days at the time of writing.

Documents typically required

• Passport bio page scan (valid 6 months beyond planned stay).
• Passport-style photo (digital).
• Travel itinerary including return flight.
• Hotel bookings or letter of invitation from Australian host.
• Bank statements showing sufficient funds (typically 3 months).
• Employment letter / proof of strong ties to home country.
• Health insurance is recommended though not always required.

Apply at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au via ImmiAccount. Once submitted, do not book non-refundable flights until you receive the grant notification.

Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417 / 462)

For young travellers wanting to combine a Melbourne visit with paid work, the Working Holiday visa is the right pathway. Subclass 417 is for citizens of UK, Ireland, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and a few others. Subclass 462 is for citizens of the US, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and others.

Working Holiday eligibility

• Aged 18–30 (35 for some nationalities including Canada, France, Italy, Ireland, UK).
• Holding a passport from an eligible country.
• Sufficient funds (typically A$5,000) plus return flight money.
• No dependent children accompanying.
• Not previously holding a Working Holiday visa (or eligible for second/third extensions via regional work).

What the Working Holiday allows

• 12 months in Australia, with multiple entries.
• Paid work, but no more than 6 months with any single employer.
• Up to 4 months of study.
• Eligible for second and third 12-month extensions via specified regional or critical-industry work.

Cost in 2026: A$670. Apply via ImmiAccount. Processing usually 2–6 weeks.

Other visa types relevant to Melbourne visitors

• Student Visa (subclass 500) — A$1,840+, for enrolled study at Australian institutions. Allows part-time work.
• Transit Visa (subclass 771) — free, for layovers under 72 hours where you must leave the airport.
• Medical Treatment Visa (subclass 602) — for visitors entering for medical reasons.
• Visitor Sponsored Family Visa (subclass 600 sponsored stream) — for visiting Australian relatives, with formal sponsorship.

Australia visa requirements: passport conditions

Whichever visa you apply for, your passport must:

• Be valid for the entire duration of your stay (and ideally 6 months beyond).
• Have at least one blank page (some airlines insist on 2).
• Be the same passport you apply with — Australian visas are linked to a specific passport number, not to you as a person. If you renew your passport, you must transfer the visa to the new passport number via ImmiAccount.
• Have a chip for SmartGate eligibility (most modern passports do).

At Melbourne Airport, SmartGate self-service kiosks are available to ePassport holders from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, and others. Check eligibility before flying.

Common mistakes that delay or sink visa applications

• Applying through agent sites for the ETA — pay only the official A$20 in the Australian ETA app. Agent sites charge A$50–A$150 for no added value.
• Wrong visa subclass — Europeans should always use the eVisitor (free), never an ETA or Visitor Visa.
• Lying on the form — even minor undeclared traffic offences from years ago can cause refusals.
• Booking flights before grant — visas are usually fast but never guaranteed. Book refundable until granted.
• Wrong passport details — typos in the passport number void the visa.
• Renewing passport without transferring the visa — Australian visas link to the specific passport number; you must update.
• Applying too late — although ETAs and eVisitors are usually fast, technical issues can delay grants. Apply at least 2 weeks before flying.

Useful related guides

Once your visa is sorted, dive deeper into trip planning with our Melbourne travel guide, our Melbourne Airport to city transport guide, and our Melbourne on a budget resource.

Australia visa requirements at a glance: comparison table

Visa	Cost (2026)	Stay length	Validity	Application channel	Work allowed?
eVisitor (subclass 651)	Free	3 months/visit	12 months	immi.homeaffairs.gov.au	No
ETA (subclass 601)	A$20	3 months/visit	12 months	Australian ETA app only	No
Visitor Visa Tourist (subclass 600)	A$190	3, 6, or 12 months	varies	ImmiAccount	No
Working Holiday (417/462)	A$670	12 months (extendable)	12 months from grant	ImmiAccount	Yes (limited)
Student (subclass 500)	A$1,840+	course duration	course duration	ImmiAccount	Limited (40 hrs/fortnight)
Transit (subclass 771)	Free	72 hours	single use	ImmiAccount	No

Australia visa requirements by country: full eligibility list

eVisitor-eligible countries (free visa)

If you hold a passport from any of the following 35+ countries, the eVisitor (subclass 651) is your visa. It’s free, applied for online via immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, and usually granted within 24 hours.

• All 27 European Union member states (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).
• United Kingdom (and British National (Overseas) passports).
• Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein.
• Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City.

ETA-eligible countries (A$20 visa)

If you hold a passport from one of these countries, the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) is your visa. Apply only via the official Australian ETA app for A$20.

• United States, Canada.
• Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.
• Hong Kong (SAR), Macao (SAR).
• Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei.

Visitor Visa subclass 600 (everyone else)

If your passport is not on the eVisitor or ETA list, you’ll apply for the Visitor Visa subclass 600. This includes citizens of China (mainland), India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe outside the EU, and Latin America. Application fee is A$190 in the Tourist stream.

How to apply for an Australia visa: step-by-step walkthrough

eVisitor step-by-step

1. Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and create an ImmiAccount.
2. Click “Visa finder” and select eVisitor (subclass 651).
3. Fill in passport bio data exactly as shown on your passport. Double-check the passport number.
4. Provide travel dates and Australian address (hotel name and address is fine).
5. Answer character questions. If you’ve ever been arrested, charged, or convicted, declare it — even minor offences and even if dismissed.
6. Declare any health conditions that may affect Australian citizens (TB, etc.) — usually nothing to declare.
7. Submit. No payment required.
8. You’ll receive an automated email confirmation, then a grant notification — usually within 24 hours, sometimes within minutes.

ETA step-by-step

1. Download the official “Australian ETA” app on the Apple App Store or Google Play. Verify the publisher is “Australian Government Department of Home Affairs.”
2. Open the app. Tap “New ETA application.”
3. Scan your passport’s chip via NFC (hold your passport to the back of the phone).
4. Take a selfie within the app for biometric verification — bright lighting, no glasses, no smile.
5. Complete the personal-detail form — same name, date of birth, address as on your passport.
6. Pay A$20 with credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
7. Receive a grant email — usually within 12 hours, often within minutes.

Visitor Visa subclass 600 step-by-step

1. Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au and create an ImmiAccount (free).
2. Click “New application” → “Visitor” → “Tourist stream.”
3. Complete the multi-page online form. Save progress as you go.
4. Upload supporting documents:

• Passport bio page scan (clear, in colour).
• Recent passport-style photo (digital).
• Travel itinerary including return flight.
• Hotel bookings or letter of invitation from Australian host.
• Bank statements showing 3 months of activity and sufficient balance (typically A$5,000+).
• Employment letter or proof of strong ties to home country (property, family responsibilities).
• For sponsored applications: Form 1149 from the Australian sponsor.

5. Pay the A$190 fee (or higher for non-Tourist streams).
6. Submit. Processing takes a few days to several weeks.
7. Track via ImmiAccount. You may be asked for additional documents (PIC 4020 — Public Interest Criterion).
8. Once granted, your visa is electronically linked to your passport.

Common Australia visa rejection reasons (and how to avoid them)

• Insufficient ties to home country — the case officer believes you may not return. Mitigate by providing employment letters, property documents, family commitments, evidence of returned from previous overseas trips.
• Insufficient funds — bank statements show too low a balance, or unexplained large deposits. A$5,000+ in stable balance is a safe baseline.
• Inconsistent or incomplete information — names, dates, employment history must match across the form, your passport, and supporting documents.
• Undeclared criminal history — even minor undisclosed offences cause rejection. Always declare.
• Fraudulent or fake documents — instant denial and possible 3-year ban.
• Health concerns — TB-affected countries may require chest x-rays before grant.
• Previous visa overstay or breach — instant denial of new visas typically applies.
• Suspected work intent — Visitor Visas are tourism only; if your application looks employment-seeking, you may be denied.

What to do if your Australia visa is denied

• Read the rejection letter carefully — it identifies the specific clause that triggered the denial.
• For most tourist visa rejections, you can re-apply immediately with stronger supporting documents addressing the rejection reason.
• For some rejections (PIC 4020 — fraud), there’s a 3-year exclusion period.
• You may be able to seek review through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) for some refusals — but this is expensive and slow.
• Migration agents (registered with the MARA) can help with complex cases for A$1,500–A$5,000 — only use registered MARA agents, never unregistered “consultants.”

Travelling to Australia with children

• Every child needs their own visa, regardless of age — including infants.
• Children apply on the same forms (eVisitor, ETA, Visitor Visa) as adults; the fee structure is identical.
• Children under 16 cannot use SmartGate at Melbourne Airport; manual immigration is required.
• Single-parent travellers may be asked to show a notarised consent letter from the absent parent.
• Children on a parent’s passport (uncommon but legal in some countries) can travel on the parent’s eVisitor or ETA, but the app-based ETA may have technical issues with this — apply early.
• For Visitor Visa subclass 600, children’s bank statements and ties are usually waived if travelling with a sponsoring adult.

Dual nationals and Australia visa requirements

If you have two passports, you can choose which to enter Australia on — this matters because eligibility differs by passport. Example: a US-British dual national can use the free eVisitor (better than the A$20 ETA on the US passport). Once you enter on a specific passport, that’s the passport linked to your visa — keep that passport for your entire trip and exit on the same one. You cannot switch mid-trip.

Transit visa (subclass 771) for short Australia layovers

If you’re transiting through Australia for under 8 hours and remain airside (in the international transit area without clearing immigration), no visa is required. If you’re transiting for up to 72 hours and need to exit the airside area — for example, to reclaim luggage or change between Melbourne Airport’s domestic and international terminals — you need a Transit Visa (subclass 771). It’s free and applied for online via ImmiAccount. Most leisure travellers will simply use the eVisitor or ETA for short stays instead.

Biometric data, SmartGate, and arrival in Melbourne

Australian visas are linked to your passport biometrics. On arrival at Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine), most ePassport holders from eligible countries can use SmartGate self-service kiosks — they scan your passport, take a photo, match against your biometric data, and clear you in 30 seconds. SmartGate is available to passport holders from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, and others (the eligibility list updates periodically). You must be aged 16 or over and travelling on your own passport (not a parent’s).

Visitor Visa subclass 600 applicants from “high-risk” countries may be required to provide biometric data (fingerprints and photo) at an Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) before grant. Check your ImmiAccount messages for instructions.

Health requirements for Australia visa

• Most visitors do not need a health examination for short tourist stays.
• Visitors from countries with high TB rates may be required to undergo a chest x-ray, particularly if staying longer than 3 months.
• Visitors with serious medical conditions that may require Australian healthcare may be required to demonstrate insurance.
• Pregnancy-related travel: airlines and Australian Border Force generally allow travel up to 36 weeks for healthy pregnancies; check your airline policy.
• Yellow Fever vaccination certificate may be required if you’ve been to a yellow-fever country in the past 6 days.
• COVID-19 entry rules removed entirely as of 2022; no testing or vaccination required as of 2026.

Renewing a passport while holding an Australia visa

Australian visas are linked to a specific passport number, not to the person. If you renew your passport, the visa does not automatically transfer. You must update your passport number in your ImmiAccount via the “VEVO” (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) update form. The update is free, takes 5–10 minutes, and is processed within 24 hours. Failure to update means the airline will deny boarding at check-in. If you’re at the airport already with a new passport not linked to your visa, you can sometimes update at an Australian airport — but it’s a panic-inducing situation, so update before flying.

Visa overstays and consequences

• Visitors who overstay their visa become “unlawful non-citizens” and can be detained and deported.
• A 3-year automatic ban from re-entering Australia applies to most overstays.
• If you overstay accidentally (illness, missed flight), contact the Department of Home Affairs immediately — voluntary disclosure is treated more leniently.
• Bridging visas may be granted in genuine emergencies (medical, family death) but require evidence and application.

Avoiding fake “Australia visa” agent websites

The single most common mistake we see is applicants paying third-party agent websites that charge A$50–A$150 to “process” an ETA or eVisitor on your behalf. These are not endorsed by the Australian government and provide no added value beyond filling in the same form you can complete yourself. Some are outright scams that take your money and never apply. Always:

• Use only the official websites: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au for eVisitor and Visitor Visa, and the official Australian ETA app for the ETA.
• The official app’s publisher is “Australian Government Department of Home Affairs” — verify this in the app store before downloading.
• The official ETA fee is A$20 service fee. Anything higher (A$50, A$75, A$120) is an agent surcharge.
• Sponsored search results on Google often promote agent sites; the official site is in the organic results, marked “homeaffairs.gov.au.”

Australia visa for cruise passengers

Cruise ship passengers visiting Australian ports (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Fremantle) need a valid visa just like air arrivals — there is no special “cruise visa” exception. eVisitor and ETA holders can simply use those for cruise visits. Visitor Visa subclass 600 is valid the same way. The cruise line generally checks visas at boarding; bring printed copies of your visa grant notice as a backup.

Australia visa application processing times in 2026

• eVisitor: 75% of applications processed within 1 day; 90% within 2 days.
• ETA: 90% within 12 hours; many applications grant within minutes.
• Visitor Visa Tourist stream: 50% within 17 days; 90% within 35 days. Country of application affects timeline.
• Working Holiday: 50% within 14 days; 90% within 47 days.
• Student Visa: 50% within 25 days; 90% within 4 months.