Australia short-stay options 2026: Subclass 601 ETA, 600 and 651 eVisitor compared
If you are planning a short trip to Australia in 2026, the choice between the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), the Visitor visa (subclass 600) and the eVisitor (subclass 651) is settled mainly by your passport, not by your itinerary. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) page as of July 2026, the ETA is an app-based route for holders of an ETA-eligible passport, European passport holders are pointed to the eVisitor (subclass 651), and other passport holders are pointed to the Visitor visa (subclass 600). The rest of this article is general reference for trip planning, not advice on an individual case; where your circumstances are unusual, the Department's published criteria and a qualified professional's view are what should settle it.
Which route does your passport actually point to?
The three routes are not three tiers of the same product. They are three different entry doors, and the 601 page states the passport logic explicitly:
| Route | Who it is aimed at | How the application is made | Charge recorded on the official 601 page | Stay terms recorded on the official 601 page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 601 Electronic Travel Authority | Holders of an ETA-eligible passport applying from outside Australia | The Australian ETA app (free from the Apple and Google Play stores) | No visa application charge; AUD20 application service fee for using the app | Valid for travel for 12 months or the period the passport is valid, whichever is shorter; multiple entry; up to 3 months after each entry |
| 651 eVisitor | European passport holders may be eligible | Online, through ImmiAccount, where the app route is unavailable | No charge to make an eVisitor application | Set out on that visa's own official page |
| 600 Visitor visa | Other passport holders may be eligible; also the route the Department names for cases needing further assessment | Online, through ImmiAccount | Not set out on the 601 page | Set out on that visa's own official page |
Under the Migration Regulations 1994, clause 601.211 requires the applicant to hold an ETA-eligible passport, and the composition of that list is maintained in the regulations and published by the Department, so the current version is the one that counts. The practical consequence for a European passport holder is straightforward: the same official page that sells you the ETA app also steers you to 651 instead, and the absence of an application charge is part of that page's own wording.
What does the AUD20 on the 601 ETA actually buy?
Fee structure is the most common source of confusion, because "free visa" and "AUD20" are both true in different senses. The Department states that there is no Visa Application Charge for subclass 601, but that there is an application service fee of AUD20 to use the Australian ETA app — the fee attaches to the channel, not to the visa grant. For 651, the same page states that there is no charge to make an eVisitor visa application. The Department's Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) page does not set out a charge for subclass 600, so confirm any figure against the Department's Visitor visa (subclass 600) page.
Suppose an applicant holds a European passport and is planning a two-week holiday: on the Department's own framing, the 651 eVisitor is the route named for that passport, and no application charge attaches. Suppose instead that a traveller holds an ETA-eligible passport and wants the speed of the app: AUD20 is the cost of using it, payable per application, and each family member's application is a separate transaction even when they are submitted together on one device.
What can you do on a 601 ETA, and what gets you refused entry?
An ETA covers tourism (including cruising and holidays), visiting family or friends, and business visitor activities. Business visitor activities are genuinely limited: you can make general business or employment enquiries, investigate, negotiate, enter into or review a business contract, take part in an official government visit, and attend a conference, trade fair or seminar — but the organisers cannot pay you to take part. You cannot work for or provide services to an Australian-based business or organisation, and you cannot sell goods or services directly to the public.
Study and training are allowed for up to three months in total, which the regulations carry through conditions such as 8201; if study is your main reason for travelling, the Department says you should apply for a student visa instead. The ETA is not a work visa, and working or intending to work on it can lead to cancellation, removal or refusal of entry.
Two edge cases matter for planners. First, cruise passengers: if your cruise is a round trip starting from Australia, time on board counts as time in Australia and does not reset your stay period. Second, health costs: the Department recommends health insurance, notes that visitors are personally liable for healthcare costs in Australia, and points to reciprocal healthcare agreements for some countries.
When is subclass 600 the right route even if your passport qualifies for an ETA?
Passport eligibility is not the only gate. The official 601 page names subclass 600 in several situations where the automated ETA route is the wrong fit:
- You have a criminal conviction in any country. The Department says it will need more information and that you should apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) and provide evidence about your convictions.
- You intend to train at a childcare centre, study to be a doctor, dentist, nurse or paramedic, or enter health care or hospital environments — the 600 route with the relevant health checks applies.
- Your main purpose is study, in which case a student visa is the intended route.
- You want to stay longer than three months at a time. An ETA cannot be extended; you must apply for a different visa.
The regulations also attach conditions requiring the holder to be free of active tuberculosis and to have no criminal convictions totalling 12 months or more, which is the legal backdrop to the conviction rule above.
Can your family members travel on the same application?
No. The Department states that you cannot include family members such as children or a spouse in an ETA application; each family member, including those listed on your passport, must submit a separate application. There is one concession for logistics: if all family members apply using the same mobile device, the applications can be submitted and paid for at the same time.
The app route also has hardware conditions that trip up travellers at the airport gate rather than at the application stage: a mobile device with a camera able to photograph you and your passport data page, near-field communication (NFC) enabled, location services enabled, a valid email address, and a valid payment method. A live facial image is required when the application is lodged, including when a travel industry representative submits it for you, and the Department states it will not grant the visa without one.
What if the app will not work, or the Department asks for more information?
The official page's own fallback is ImmiAccount: if you are ineligible for or unable to apply through the Australian ETA app, you can apply online for another visa that suits your needs. That is the same channel the 651 and 600 routes sit in, which is why the app is best understood as a convenience layer over one specific eligibility group rather than the only way in.
If the Department cannot process an ETA application without further information, it sends a letter explaining how to respond: you use the link in the letter to submit an online form in ImmiAccount, answer the questions, attach the supporting documents, and include Form 1554 (ETA Request for further processing). Importantly, the Department says you should not submit further ETA applications through the app, because you will receive the same result. In most cases the outcome arrives immediately, but processing can take longer where the form is filled in incorrectly, more information is needed, or your information is hard to verify — so travel arrangements should wait until the grant is in writing.
Does the ETA follow you to a new passport?
It does not. The ETA is digitally linked to your current passport rather than issued as a label, and the Department states that if your passport expires or you obtain a new one, the ETA ceases and you must apply for a new one. The same logic applies to accuracy: details cannot be changed once the ETA is issued, and a mismatch with your passport can cause boarding delays or refusal of entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the 601 ETA, the 600 Visitor visa or the 651 eVisitor?
Start with your passport. The Department's official subclass 601 page directs holders of ETA-eligible passports to the ETA app, European passport holders to the eVisitor (subclass 651), and other passport holders to the Visitor visa (subclass 600). Purpose can override passport: criminal convictions, certain health-related study and stays longer than three months all point to subclass 600.
Is the 601 ETA free?
There is no visa application charge for subclass 601, but the Department charges an AUD20 application service fee to use the Australian ETA app. For the eVisitor (subclass 651), the same page states there is no charge to make an application.
Can I include my spouse and children in one ETA application?
No. Every family member, including children listed on your passport, must submit a separate application and pay separately. You can still submit and pay for those applications in one session if everyone applies using the same mobile device.
Can I work or study while holding an ETA?
You cannot work — the ETA is not a work visa, and working or intending to work on it can lead to cancellation or refusal of entry. Study or training is permitted for up to three months in total; if study is your main reason for travel, a student visa is the intended route.
What happens to my ETA if I renew my passport?
The ETA is digitally linked to the passport it was granted against, so a new or expiring passport ends it. The Department's position is that you must then apply for a new ETA.
My ETA application was not decided instantly. What should I expect?
Delayed outcomes happen where the form is filled in incorrectly, more information is needed, or your information is hard to verify. If the Department formally requests more information, respond through the online form in ImmiAccount with Form 1554 attached rather than lodging another ETA in the app.