eVisitor

What this visa is for#

The eVisitor (subclass 651) is a visitor visa. It is a free visitor visa for eligible European passport holders.

This visa is used for short visits to Australia. It sits in the visitor category, in the Visitor stream.

A visitor visa is generally used for activities such as tourism, seeing family or friends, or short business visitor activities. Business visitor activities usually mean things like attending meetings, conferences or business enquiries, not taking up ongoing work in Australia.

The visa is usually linked electronically to the passport used in the application. That means the passport details need to stay accurate throughout the process and at travel time.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who hold an eligible European passport and want to visit Australia temporarily.

This visa is for people who are visiting as tourists, visiting family or friends, or coming for short business visitor activities. It is designed for temporary visits rather than long-term stay.

This visa is for people who need a visitor visa in an electronic form linked to their passport. It is commonly used by travellers who want a simpler visitor visa process and who hold a passport from a country covered by the eVisitor arrangements.

The Department of Home Affairs publishes the current list of eligible passports and the visa conditions attached to grant. The passport used for travel needs to match the passport linked to the visa.

What it costs#

No visa application charge is recorded for this item in our data. Do not state one.

The government charge is set by the Department, and the government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application. A registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner may charge a separate professional fee for preparing or lodging the application, answering requests for information, or helping organise supporting documents.

Professional fees are not government charges, and they vary from one provider to another. On VisaBid, registered migration agents and Australian legal practitioners can respond with itemised quotes so the service, scope and fee can be compared side by side.

Government visa charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. Professional fees can change at any time because they are set by the individual provider.

How long it takes#

Processing times can change over time. They depend on application volumes, whether identity details are clear, whether the application is complete, and whether the Department asks for more information.

Some eVisitor applications are decided quickly, especially where passport details are clear and no follow-up is needed. Others take longer if the Department needs to check identity, travel history, or supporting information.

A practical point is that travel should not be booked on the assumption that a visa will be granted by a particular date. Processing can be delayed by missing information, unreadable documents, or a passport issue that has to be resolved before decision.

The Department publishes processing information from time to time, but that information is not a promise for any individual application. Timeframes can also change during busy travel periods.

What the process involves#

The process usually starts with checking the passport details carefully before the application is lodged. Because the visa is electronic, the surname, given names, date of birth, passport number, nationality and passport expiry date need to match the travel document exactly.

The application is generally made online through the Department's systems. The applicant enters identity details, answers the required questions and, where requested, uploads documents or information to support the application.

After lodgement, the Department may either make a decision from the information already provided or send a request for more information. If more information is requested, the response usually needs to be uploaded by the deadline stated in the request.

If the visa is granted, the grant notice sets out the visa details and conditions. The notice is important because it shows the visa grant number, the date of grant, the period for travel and stay, and any conditions that apply.

Before travel, it is sensible to check that the passport intended for travel is the same one linked to the visa grant. If a new passport is issued after grant, the visa-holder may need to update passport details with the Department before travel.

What commonly goes wrong#

One common problem is simple data entry error. A wrong passport number, a missing middle name, the wrong nationality field or a mistaken date of birth can stop the application matching the passport properly and can delay a decision.

Another common issue is incomplete evidence. Even where a visa type is designed to be straightforward, the Department can still ask for more information. If the information provided is partial, inconsistent or hard to read, the Department may take longer to decide the application.

Documents expiring during processing can also cause trouble. A passport that is close to expiry can create practical problems if it expires before travel or if the visa is linked to an old passport and the traveller later tries to board using a new one.

People also run into problems when they do not monitor their email or ImmiAccount after lodgement. If the Department sends a request for information and the deadline is missed, the application can be decided on the material already on file.

Changes in personal details can matter more than people expect. If an address, email address, passport or other key detail changes after lodgement, the Department needs to be told through the proper update process so notices and records stay accurate.

Another practical issue is assuming all visitor visas work the same way. Conditions can differ from one visitor visa to another, so it is important to read the actual grant notice rather than rely on what applied to an earlier visa or to another person's visa.

People sometimes also assume that a bridging visa carries the same rights as the substantive visa they held before. It does not necessarily do so. If a bridging visa comes into existence in another context, its work, travel and stay conditions depend on the bridging visa grant, not on the earlier substantive visa.

Travel timing causes avoidable stress. Booking non-refundable flights or important events before visa grant can create losses if the application is delayed, if the Department asks for more information, or if the traveller needs to update passport details before boarding.

A final issue is failing to keep copies of what was lodged. Saving the application summary, uploaded documents, transaction reference number and grant notice makes it much easier to answer Department requests and to check that the visa linked to the passport is the right one before travel.

Frequently asked questions#

Is the eVisitor 651 free?#

Our data records this as a free visitor visa for eligible European passport holders. No visa application charge is recorded for this item in our data. If a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner helps with the application, that provider may charge a separate professional fee.

How long can a person stay in Australia on an eVisitor 651?#

The grant notice sets out the exact stay period and visa conditions. Visitor visas can differ in their conditions, so the safest source is the grant notice issued for that visa, together with the Department's current visa information.

Can the eVisitor 651 be used for business visits?#

It is in the Visitor stream and is generally used for tourism, visiting family or friends, and short business visitor activities. Short business visitor activities usually include things like meetings, conferences and business enquiries, rather than ongoing employment in Australia.

What happens if the passport changes after the visa is granted?#

Because this visa is generally linked electronically to the passport used in the application, a new passport can create travel problems if the Department's records are not updated. The passport used at travel time needs to match the visa record, so updated passport details may need to be notified to the Department before travel.

Can a migration agent speed up an eVisitor 651 application?#

A registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner can help prepare a complete application, organise documents and respond to Department requests. They do not control Department processing times, and the government charge is the same no matter who lodges the application.

About this page. This is general information about how the eVisitor (subclass 651) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the OMARA register.