You can apply for various types of visas for Australia. Most European travellers, including travellers from the UK, are eligible for an eVisitor visa or an ETA. If you travel to Australia for a holiday, to visit friends and family, to study or for a business trip, and if you do not intend to stay in the country for more than 3 months, you may apply for an eVisitor visa or an ETA Australia.
What is an Australia ETA (subclass 601)?
The abbreviation ETA stands for ‘Electronic Travel Authority’. An ETA Australia is an electronic travel authorisation, comparable to the ESTA USA and the eTA Canada. If you have an approved ETA, you do not receive a paper document or a stamp in your passport. Instead, you receive a digital confirmation, allowing you to travel to Australia. Once the ETA Australia has been approved, you may check in to your flight or cruise to Australia.
The application procedure for the ETA is the same for nationals of all eligible countries. However, depending on the nationality, an applicant may be asked slightly different questions. The entire application procedure can be completed online.
What is an eVisitor Australia (subclass 651)?
The eVisitor visa is also an electronic travel authorisation. Similar to the ETA, travellers can submit their applications online. The eVisitor visa will also not be physically inserted in the passport. The requirements and validity period are the same as those of the ETA.
Both e-visas can be used as a tourist visa or business visa. However, the eVisitor and ETA Australia are not available to nationals of the same countries. Also, the application procedures and costs differ.
A map of Australia
Differences ETA Australia and eVisitor visa
The three differences between the two types of visas are explained in the following.
Difference in accepted nationalities
The ETA Australia is available to nationals of more countries than the eVisitor visa. Since it is easier and cheaper to apply for an eVisitor visa than an ETA, you should check whether you are eligible for an eVisitor visa first. The following table contains all countries whose nationals are eligible to apply for an eVisitor visa:
| Eligible nationalities for the eVisitor visa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria |
| Croatia | Cyprus | Czech Republic |
| Denmark | Estonia | Finland |
| France | Germany | Greece |
| Hungary | Iceland | Ireland |
| Italy | Latvia | Liechtenstein |
| Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta |
| Monaco | Netherlands | Norway |
| Poland | Portugal | Romania |
| San Marino | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| Spain | Sweden | Switzerland |
| United Kingdom* | Vatican City | |
| * Travellers with the nationality of the United Kingdom can only apply for an eVisitor visa if they are British citizens. You cannot apply for an eVisitor visa if your passport states British National (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person or British Subject. | ||
Do you have one of the above nationalities?
Then you can apply for your eVisitor visa Australia right away:
Apply for the eVisitor visa Australia
Is your nationality not listed in the table above?
In that case, you cannot apply for an eVisitor visa. However, you may be eligible for an Australia ETA. You are eligible if the following table contains your nationality.
| If you have any of these nationalities, you are eligible for an ETA, but not for an eVisitor visa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Andorra | Brunei | Canada |
| Hong Kong | Japan | Malaysia |
| Singapore | South Korea | Taiwan* |
| United Kingdom - Overseas Territories** | United States of America | |
| * Excluding travellers with official or diplomatic passports. | ||
| ** The ETA Australia is available for British nationals if their passport states British National (Overseas) or British Overseas Citizen. | ||
Difference in application procedure
Besides the above-mentioned differences in eligible nationalities, the application procedures for the ETA and the eVisitor visa are different as well. You can apply for an eVisitor visa easily by using this application form. After filling in the form, you can pay the visa cost and submit the required passport scans digitally. The application will then be processed. Once it is approved, you receive a confirmation by e-mail. From that moment on, you are allowed to travel to Australia.
Are you not eligible for an eVisitor visa because of your nationality, but are you eligible for an Australia ETA? Then you can apply for your ETA Australia using your smartphone. To do so, download the app of Australia’s immigration department. Does your nationality allow you to apply for both an ETA and an eVisitor visa? In that case, you are recommended to use the eVisitor visa. If you want to apply for an ETA anyway, you can arrange it through the immigration service app.
Difference in cost
The cost of an eVisitor visa application for Australia through e-Visa.ie is € 24,95 per person. The consular cost of an ETA Australia is higher than that of the eVisitor e-visa.
e-Visa.ie is a commercial and professional visa agency, and supports travellers in obtaining, among others, the Australia visa. e-Visa.ie is an official partner of the International Air Transport Association, IATA, with membership number 57231226, acts as an intermediary, is no law firm, nor does it employ lawyers, does not provide legal advice, and is in no way part of any government. You can also apply for a visa directly with the immigration service (0 AUD per visa, via immi.homeaffairs.gov.au). However, not with our level of support. If you submit your application via e-Visa.ie, our support centre is available to you 24/7. In addition, we manually check your application and all the documents you provide before submitting it to the immigration authorities on your behalf. If we suspect any errors or omissions while doing so, we will personally contact you to ensure that your application can still be processed quickly and correctly. To use our services, you pay us 0 AUD in consular fees, which we pay to the immigration service on your behalf, as well as € 24,95 in service fees as compensation for our services, including VAT. Our services have saved many travellers from major problems during their trip. Should an application be rejected despite our support and verification, we will refund the full purchase price (unless an application for a previous Australia visa was rejected for the same traveller). Read more about our services here.