Australia eVisitor Visa or ETA for UK citizens: What's the difference?

Planning a trip to Australia from the United Kingdom? Find out the differences between the Australian eVisitor Visa and ETA, and the easiest way for UK citizens to enter Australia.

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

Yes.

UK citizens visiting Australia need a visa or ETA.** And the best news is that as a UK citizen traveling to Australia, you don’t need a traditional paper visa if you’re traveling for tourism or business. No embassy visits are needed!

Types of Australian visas for UK passport holders

There are two types of visas tourists from the United Kinhdom can apply for to visit Australia – the Australian eVisitor Visa and the Australia ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation).

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

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

Which travel document to choose? Let's explore the differences.

The eVisitor Visa (Subclass 651) and the Australia ETA (Electronic Travel Authority, Subclass 601) are both popular travel documents that allow entry into Australia. Still, they cater to different travel needs and have distinct characteristics.

• ETA: This is the simplest option for UK citizens. It permits multiple entries, with each stay up to 3 months within 12 months. The ETA is typically used for tourism and short-term business trips. The ETA requires less documentation is generally cheaper.

• eVisitor Visa: Stay up to 3 months at a time within a 12-month period. The online application process is similar to the ETA, but may require more documentation and is a bit more expensive.

The only difference is that the nationalities that can apply for this permit differ from those eligible for the eVisitor Visa.

Since UK citizens can apply for both, we recommend you apply for the Australia ETA due to the easier process and lower fees. This is why we only offer the ETA for UK citizens currently.

If you'd still like to apply for the eVisitor Visa for Austalia, for example, because you've been rejected from getting an ETA in the past, you can apply through the official government website.

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.