Australia eVisitor for British Citizens

The eVisitor is a multiple-entry visa for short visits to Australia for tourism or business visitor activities. It is granted electronically and is designed for passport holders of eligible European countries, including British citizens. Once approved, it is tied to the passport you used to apply, so you simply travel on that passport and the airline and border systems read your visa automatically.

Typical reasons British travellers use the eVisitor include holidays and sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, attending conferences or business meetings, and short courses of study. It does not permit paid work in Australia. If your plans involve working, long-term study or migration, you will need a different visa category.

Yes — the Australian government does not charge a visa application fee for the eVisitor. This is one of the key advantages of the eVisitor over other Australian travel permits: there is no government cost for the visa itself for eligible European passport holders such as British travellers. If you choose to apply through an assisted service, an optional service fee may be added for help completing the form, checking your details for errors and supporting you if anything needs to be corrected — but the eVisitor itself carries no Australian government charge.

• Who needs it: Every British traveller, including children and infants, needs their own visa.
• Visa type: eVisitor (subclass 651) — granted electronically, no label in your passport.
• Cost: Free of Australian government charge for eligible European citizens.
• Validity: Up to 12 months from the date it is granted.
• Length of stay: Up to 3 months per visit, multiple entries allowed.
• Purpose: Tourism or business visitor activities — no paid work.
• Processing: Often within minutes to around 24–72 hours.
• Where to apply: Online, before you travel — you must be outside Australia.

The eVisitor is mandatory for every British citizen travelling to Australia for a short visit, regardless of age. There is no family or group visa: each traveller, including children and infants, needs their own eVisitor linked to their own passport. A parent or guardian can complete the application on a child's behalf using the child's passport details.

British permanent residents who hold a passport from a non-eligible country cannot use the eVisitor on that passport — eligibility is based on holding a passport from an eVisitor country. If you hold dual nationality, apply on your British (or other eligible European) passport and travel on the same passport.

The eVisitor is requested online, so you do not upload a stack of paperwork, but you do need accurate details and you must meet Australia's entry conditions. Have the following ready before you apply:

• A valid British passport — check it will still be valid for the whole of your intended stay.
• Your passport number, issue and expiry dates, entered exactly as printed.
• A valid email address — your visa grant notice is sent here.
• Details of any criminal convictions and your health background, as you must answer character and health questions truthfully.
• Your travel plans — approximate arrival dates and purpose of visit.

1. Get your British passport ready and check its validity covers your travel dates.
2. Start the online Australia eVisitor application and enter your passport and personal details exactly as they appear in your passport.
3. Answer the health and character questions honestly.
4. Add your travel information — purpose of visit and approximate dates.
5. Review every field carefully, since the visa is linked to your exact passport number.
6. Submit your application and wait for the grant notice by email.

Most British travellers fly to Australia from London Heathrow with a connection through Singapore, Dubai or Perth (the direct Qantas route from London), so total travel time is long. Apply a few days before departure so your grant has time to come through comfortably before check-in. Remember you must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is granted.

For British applicants, the eVisitor is frequently approved within minutes, and very often the grant notice arrives by email the same day. In some cases — for example if additional checks are needed — it can take up to around 24 to 72 hours. You should not count on instant approval at the airport: apply several days before departure so you have a buffer if anything needs attention. If you are asked for more information, respond promptly so your grant is not delayed.

The eVisitor is valid for up to 12 months from the date it is granted and allows multiple entries. On each visit you may stay up to 3 months. This makes it well suited to British travellers planning a single long holiday, a multi-stop trip around Australia, or several shorter business or family visits across the year.

The 12-month period and the 3-month-per-visit limit are separate: you can come and go as often as you like while the visa is valid, provided no single stay exceeds three months. The eVisitor is tied to the passport you used to apply, so if you renew or replace your British passport you will need a new eVisitor linked to the new document.

The eVisitor is a visitor visa, so it covers tourism and a defined set of business activities — but not employment. As a British eVisitor holder you can:

• Travel as a tourist — holidays, sightseeing, road trips and visiting friends or relatives.
• Carry out business visitor activities such as attending conferences, meetings or negotiations.
• Undertake a short course of study of up to three months.

You cannot work for or provide services to an Australian business, sell goods or services to the public, or stay longer than three months on a single visit. If you need to work or study long-term, apply for the appropriate visa instead.

The eVisitor lets you board your flight and is checked electronically, but the final decision to enter Australia is made by a Border Force officer on arrival. Be ready to show your valid British passport (the same one linked to your visa) and to explain the purpose and length of your visit. Australia has strict biosecurity rules, so you must declare any food, plant material, wooden items or medicines on your Incoming Passenger Card — when in doubt, declare it. Many airports use SmartGate for eligible ePassport holders, which can speed up clearance for British travellers.

• Mismatched passport details: the visa is linked to your exact passport number — check every field against your passport before submitting.
• Applying on the wrong passport: you must use an eligible European passport; a British passport qualifies, a non-eligible second passport does not.
• Being inside Australia when applying: you must be offshore both when you apply and when the visa is granted.
• Answering character or health questions inaccurately: answer truthfully — undisclosed issues can lead to refusal.
• Passport expiring during the trip: make sure your British passport stays valid for your whole visit.
• Leaving it to the airport: apply several days ahead in case extra checks are needed.

An approved eVisitor allows you to board your flight, but entry is confirmed by the immigration officer on arrival. Present the same British passport you used to apply, complete your Incoming Passenger Card accurately, and be ready to explain where you will stay and how long you plan to visit. Provided your documents are in order and consistent with your application — and you have declared anything required under Australia's biosecurity rules — you will be admitted and can begin your trip, whether that is Sydney and the east coast, the Outback, or Australia's wine regions and reefs.

Every traveller needs their own eVisitor, including children and infants, because each visa is linked to an individual passport. A parent or guardian can complete the application for a child using the child's own British passport details. If you are travelling as a British family, simply submit a separate eVisitor application for each member. The visa is free of Australian government charge for each eligible person, so a family trip does not carry a per-person visa cost from the Australian government.