Australia Tourist & Visitor Visas: 600, ETA and eVisitor
Australia Tourist & Visitor Visas: 600, ETA and eVisitor
The three entry visas compared — Visitor 600, ETA and eVisitor. Fees as at 2026, documents, processing times and how to pick the right one.
Which visa you need comes down to your passport and how long you’ll stay — the rest is documents, evidence and timing.
Planning a holiday, a visit to family, or a short business trip to Australia? You will generally need one of three things: a Visitor visa (subclass 600), an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), or an eVisitor (subclass 651). They sound interchangeable — they are not. Which one applies to you depends mainly on your passport, and on how long you will stay.
This is the honest guide: what each visa costs as at 2026, how long you can stay, what you can and cannot do, and how to avoid the mistakes that lead to refusals.
Pick the right one for your passport
An eVisitor (subclass 651) is the free one — for eligible passports (largely European) — applied for through ImmiAccount, and good for visits of up to 3 months.
An ETA (subclass 601) suits other eligible passports — apply through the Australian ETA app, stay up to 3 months per visit, with multiple visits over a 12-month period.
The Visitor visa (subclass 600) is the general one: for everyone who cannot use an eVisitor or ETA, or who needs a longer stay (up to 12 months) or a specific stream — tourist, business visitor, or sponsored family. The table below sets out the two choices in practice.
| Feature | eVisitor & ETA — short stay | Visitor 600 — longer / general |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Eligible passports, visits up to 3 months | Everyone else — or a stay over 3 months |
| Cost (as at 2026) | ETA AUD20 (app) · eVisitor free | From AUD250 |
| Stay per visit | Up to 3 months | Up to 12 months (depending on stream) |
| Apply via | ETA app / ImmiAccount | ImmiAccount (decided offshore) |
| Work allowed? | No | No |
What it costs — as at 2026
Fees were checked on the official pages on 13 October 2026 and are indexed every 1 July:
- eVisitor (651): free.
- ETA (601): a AUD20 service charge to use the ETA app — no other charge.
- Visitor 600 (tourist stream, offshore): from AUD250. Applications made in Australia, or subsequent applications, cost more (from AUD630), and the 10-year Frequent Traveller stream is AUD1,845.
Before you apply, confirm your exact fee with the official Visa Pricing Estimator.
Fees are indexed every 1 July — confirm with the Visa Pricing Estimator before you apply.
Applying: ImmiAccount, apps and forms
The Visitor 600 and the eVisitor are applied for through your ImmiAccount; the ETA through the Australian ETA app. For the 600 tourist stream, you must be outside Australia both when you apply and when the decision is made.
The application asks for your personal details, passport information, travel plans, and supporting evidence — the documents below are where most people trip up, so gather them before you start.
Choose your visa
600, ETA or eVisitor — by your passport and how long you'll stay.
Gather documents
Passport, funds, and the purpose of your visit.
Apply online
ImmiAccount for 600 and eVisitor; the ETA app for an ETA.
The decision
A grant — or a request for more information before it's decided.
Documents — and the “how much money” question
The core documents are straightforward: a valid passport, your completed application, evidence of funds to support your stay, and the purpose of your visit (an itinerary, or an invitation from family). Health and character checks are requested only where they apply to your case.
On bank balance: there is no single published dollar figure. The department wants evidence that you can genuinely fund your stay — savings or income consistent with your itinerary. Claims that you “must show $X” float around online and are unreliable; consistent, real evidence is what matters.
How long it takes
ETA and eVisitor decisions are usually quick — often minutes to a few days. The Visitor 600 varies a great deal by passport, location and the individual case. One of the most-searched questions is processing time for applicants from India, and the honest answer is the same for everyone: check the official visa processing time tool, and never book non-refundable travel on an assumption.
Working, studying and staying longer
None of these visas allows work in Australia — if you want to work, that is a different visa class (see our guide to Australian work visas). Short study or training is possible in some circumstances (for example, up to 3 months on an eVisitor), and conditions attach to your visa that you must follow.
These are temporary visit visas — you can’t stay for longer on them, and overstaying damages future applications. If your plans change, look at the right visa before the wrong one runs out.
Refusals and what to do next
Common refusal reasons are a shortfall of evidence that your visit is genuinely temporary (ties to home, a return plan), insufficient or inconsistent funds, and information that does not add up. If you are refused, read the reasons carefully — they tell you exactly what to strengthen before you apply again.
Common questions, answered
How much does a tourist visa to Australia cost?
A Visitor visa (subclass 600) starts from AUD250 for the offshore tourist stream. An ETA costs a AUD20 service charge to use the ETA app (no other charge), and the eVisitor is free. Fees are indexed every 1 July — confirm with the official Visa Pricing Estimator when you apply.
How much bank balance do I need for an Australian tourist visa?
There is no single published figure. The department wants evidence that you can genuinely fund your stay — savings or income that are consistent with your itinerary and circumstances. Treat any “you need $X” figure you see online as unreliable; show consistent, real funds instead.
Can I work on a tourist or visitor visa?
No. The Visitor visa (600), ETA and eVisitor do not allow work in Australia. If you want to work, a different visa class is required — see our guide to Australian work visas.
How long can I stay on each visa?
An ETA or eVisitor lets you stay up to 3 months on each visit, with multiple visits over a 12-month period. A Visitor 600 can be granted for longer — up to 12 months, depending on the stream and your circumstances (granted stays are often 3, 6 or 12 months).
How do I apply from my country?
The Visitor 600 and eVisitor are applied for through ImmiAccount; the ETA through the Australian ETA app. The 600 tourist stream is applied for and decided while you are outside Australia. Which visa you can use depends on your passport, not on where you are now.
How long does processing take?
ETA and eVisitor are usually quick — often minutes to a few days. The Visitor 600 varies a lot by passport, location and the individual case; use the department’s official processing-time tool rather than a third-party estimate, and don’t book non-refundable travel on an assumption.
Do I need a visa for a short holiday in Australia?
Almost every visitor needs one of the three — which one depends on your passport. Citizens of some countries use an ETA, others an eVisitor, and everyone else applies for a Visitor 600. There is no general visa-free entry for tourism.
What changed for 2026?
Visa fees are indexed every 1 July, so amounts change yearly — the figures in this article were checked on the official pages on 13 October 2026. Always re-check current fees and rules in ImmiAccount before you apply.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026. We re-check fees and rules whenever they change (fees are indexed every 1 July).
Questions about your visitor visa?
A discovery call can help you pick the right visa and prepare your documents for your circumstances.