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Australia eVisitor Visa or ETA for UK citizens: What's the difference?
iVisa
5 min read
Updated on Mar 11, 2024

Find out the differences between the Australian eVisitor Visa and ETA and the easiest way for UK citizens to enter Australia. Let’s explore.

Australia Sunny Beach

Do UK citizens require an Australian Visa to visit the country?

Yes, UK citizens visiting Australia need a visa. But it’s easy to do online. As a UK citizen travelling to Australia you don’t need a traditional paper visa to enter Australia if you’re travelling for tourism or business, and you shouldn’t need to visit an embassy or consulate in person.

There are two types of visas tourists can apply for to visit Australia – the Australian EVisitor visa or the Australian ETA, (which stands for Electronic Travel Authorisation).

Both documents are easy to apply for online from the comfort of your own home.

However, as a UK citizen, you can only apply for an Australian eVisitor visa with us.

Apply now for an Australian eVisa

What are the differences between the Australia eVisitor Visa and ETA?

Eligibility:

  • eVisitor Visa: This visa is available to citizens of European Union (EU) countries and a few other European countries, including the United Kingdom. It’s primarily intended for tourism and short-term business visits.

  • ETA: The ETA is far more restrictive since it can only be applied for by 9 different nationalities outside the UK and Europe. The eligible countries are: the United States, Canada, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Validity and duration of Stay:

  • eVisitor Visa: The eVisitor visa allows multiple entries to Australia for up to 1 year after arrival. Each stay can last for up to 90 days Per Entry.

  • ETA: The ETA allows multiple short visits to Australia over 12 months, with each visit limited to a maximum stay of 90 days Per Entry.

Application process:

  • eVisitor Visa: The eVisitor visa application needs to be completed online. It is a straightforward process, and you’ll receive an email confirmation of your visa grant.

Apply now for an Australian eVisa

What’s the purpose of the eVisitor Visa: The Australian eVisitor Visa is designed for tourism and business purposes, such as attending conferences, and meetings, or exploring as a tourist.

Eligibility conditions: Both visas have certain eligibility conditions, including health and character requirements. Applicants must not have tuberculosis and can’t have any criminal convictions.

See the full list of character requirements for the eVisitor visa.

Australian eVisitor Visa for UK citizens

Apply easily online for the Australia eVisitor Visa (also known as the electronic Australian Tourist Visa or Visa Subclass 651) for family visits, tourism, or business trips. In contrast to the ETA, it also allows travellers to study for up to three months in Australia.

The visa is electronically linked to your passport, so no Australian embassy visits are needed.

You can kick-start the application process online in a few clicks through our platform and receive your eVisa via email after a careful review and our straightforward process.

You’ll only pay for our service fee since there’s no government fee for this visa.

What’s the eligibility criteria for the Australia eVisitor Visa?

Before you apply, check if you meet all the eligibility criteria for this visa:

  • You have a valid UK passport

  • No criminal convictions

Please note: You can’t apply with a non-citizen passport, certificate of identity, or another travel document (including a Titre de Voyage) or with a British National Overseas, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person or British Subject passport.

What you can do with the Australia eVisitor visa

This visa lets you:

  • Visit family or friends who live in Australia

  • Enjoy a cruise or holiday in Australia

  • Attend meetings and travel for other business purposes in the country

  • Enrol in a short course of up to 3 months

Please note: Eligibility doesn’t guarantee you’ll automatically be approved for a visa.

If you’re from a country other than the UK, use our Visa Checker Tool to discover your options.

Other Australian visa options for UK citizens

Australian Working Holiday Visa: British citizens can apply for this Working Holiday Visa Program to enter Australia if they want to travel and work there.

It allows travellers between 18 and 30 to stay for up to 12 months and work in the country. It’s ideal for a gap year, long holidays, exploring the country on a backpacking trip, short-term studies, or short work periods.

Remember, the eVisitor Visa allows short studies for up to three months (not work). So if a short training or studies is what you’re after, go for the eVisa instead.

Australian Student Visa: This visa is for UK students who want to study (temporarily) in Australia. You must be accepted into an Australian educational institution to meet the Australian visa requirements.

Australia Permanent Residency Visa: The visa application process to live permanently in Australia varies according to the reason for immigration. For example, you want to join a spouse, find work, or other purposes. You must usually submit supporting documents to prove that you meet all Australian visa requirements, such as employer contracts, bank statements, a marriage certificate, and more.

Australia Nature Landscape

Benefits of applying for an Australia eVisitor Visa with iVisa

Get your eVisitor Visa quickly with iVisa. You’ll benefit from:

  • The best chance of approval - Applying with iVisa maximises your approval chances, ensuring an error-free application.

  • Flexible form completion - Fill out your forms at your own pace, take breaks, and save progress.

  • Expert agent support - Receive end-to-end assistance for any doubt or worry. Real-time order tracking - Easily monitor your visa application process through your iVisa account.

Apply now for an Australian eVisa

I still have questions about travelling to Australia. Who can I contact?

Please contact our Customer Service Team if you have any doubts about the eVisitor, Australian entry requirements, or other details about the application. We’re always available via online chat or WhatsApp

Disclaimer
  • iVisa is NOT affiliated with any government agency. This site does not provide legal advice and we are not a law firm. None of our customer service representatives are lawyers and they also do not provide legal advice. We are a private, internet-based travel and immigration consultancy provider dedicated to helping individuals travel around the world. You may apply by yourself directly on the various government websites. The source of information: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/

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