Australia visa for United Kingdom citizens
UK passport holders travelling to Australia for tourism lodge either the ETA (subclass 601) for short trips of up to three months per visit, or the Visitor (subclass 600) for longer stays — the eVisitor (subclass 651) stream is closed to British passports after the end of the Brexit transition. The 200 AUD fee shown applies to the Visitor 600 stream; the ETA carries a separate, lower charge inside the Australian ETA app published by the Department of Home Affairs, which is the only lodgement route for the 601 since browser submission was retired. Most decisions arrive in the 1-to-5-day band, with a subset referred for further checks. The visa is entirely electronic — no stamp, no sticker — so the grant email becomes the travel document at the boarding gate. UK travellers aged 18 to 35 who plan to combine tourism with short-term paid work apply through the separate Working Holiday (subclass 417) stream instead.
| Visa required | No (source) |
|---|---|
| e-Visa available | Yes (source) |
| Maximum stay | 90 days (source) |
| Processing time | Varies — verify on the official source |
| Visa fee | Free (source) |
Official resources
Requirements
ETA / Visitor 600 eligibility
- Hold a chip-equipped, machine-readable UK passport — the eVisitor (subclass 651) stream is closed to UK passports after the end of the Brexit transition.
- For the ETA stream, install the Australian ETA app published by the Department of Home Affairs and scan the passport's chip through the app — browser lodgement of the 601 is no longer available.
- For the Visitor 600 stream, open ImmiAccount on a desktop browser and start a Tourist-stream application.
- Pay the lodgement fee inside the app or ImmiAccount — 200 AUD for the Visitor 600 Tourist stream, with a separate, lower charge for the ETA.
- Provide a working email address for the grant notification.
- Answer the character-declaration questions truthfully, including disclosure of cautions and convictions including unspent items.
- Provide travel itinerary, accommodation bookings, and evidence of sufficient funds for the trip.
- Carry travel insurance covering medical incidents during the stay.
- Plan within the visitor scope — tourism and business meetings, but not paid work for an Australian employer. UK citizens aged 18-35 can apply through the Working Holiday (subclass 417) for short-term paid work.
Documents checklist
- UK passport with sufficient remaining validity for the planned trip — chip-equipped and machine-readable for the ETA stream.
- Australian ETA app installed on a smartphone, with the passport's chip read through the app — browser lodgement of the 601 stream is no longer available.
- Working international payment card to pay the lodgement fee inside the app or ImmiAccount.
- Email address that can receive the grant notification.
- Travel itinerary covering flights, accommodation, and the planned stay length.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for the trip — bank statements or recent payslips.
- Travel insurance covering medical incidents during the stay.
- Disclosure of any prior visa refusals, cautions, or convictions — the application asks specific questions, including unspent items, and honest answers prevent later cancellation for misrepresentation.
- For Visitor 600 lodgements, employment evidence, study evidence, or evidence of ties to the UK supporting intent to return.
- Invitation letter from an Australian host with their address and contact details, for stays with friends or family.
- A printed copy of the e-visa grant email — airline staff occasionally check at the boarding gate.
Application steps
- Choose the subclass that matches the trip — the ETA (subclass 601) for short tourism or business trips up to three months per visit, or the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream for longer stays. The eVisitor (subclass 651) is closed to UK passports after the end of the Brexit transition.
- For the ETA, download the Australian ETA app published by the Department of Home Affairs from the Apple or Google store, and scan the UK passport's chip through the app's chip-reader. Browser lodgement of the 601 is no longer available.
- Complete the application form with travel, contact, and prior-travel details. Answer the character-declaration questions about cautions and convictions truthfully — including unspent items — to prevent later cancellation for misrepresentation.
- Pay the lodgement fee inside the app, or inside ImmiAccount for the Visitor 600 stream. The 200 AUD figure shown applies to the Visitor 600 lodgement.
- Wait for the decision. Most cases approve in the 1-to-5-day band, with a subset referred for further checks.
- Save the grant email and print a copy to keep with the boarding documents — UK airline staff occasionally verify at the gate.
- On arrival in Australia, present the passport at SmartGate or the immigration counter; the visa reads electronically against the passport number.
- If the UK passport is renewed before travel, lodge a fresh ETA on the new passport — visas attach to a single passport number and the old grant cannot be transferred.
Processing time
Varies — verify on the official source
Visa cost
Fee (from our data): Free (source) . Fees are subject to change; check the official source before applying.
The fee indicator of 200 AUD reflects the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream lodgement charge. UK passport holders applying for the shorter ETA (subclass 601) pay a separate, lower fee on the Australian ETA app published by the Department of Home Affairs. The eVisitor (subclass 651) stream — historically free — is no longer open to British passports after the end of the Brexit transition.
Australia does not collect biometrics for UK ETA or short-stay Visitor 600 applications, so no separate service-centre fee applies. ImmiAccount accepts supporting documents as direct uploads, avoiding courier and counter fees.
Payment is made by international card inside ImmiAccount or the ETA app at the rate the system displays for the subclass. Australian visa charges are reviewed twice a year and can move with each update, so confirm the live figure on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before paying.
Common mistakes to avoid
British travellers heading to Australia most often confuse the eVisitor, the ETA, and the Visitor 600 streams — three separate pathways with different fees and lodgement portals. The mistakes below come up repeatedly in casework from the UK.
- Trying to lodge an eVisitor (subclass 651) on a British passport. The 651 stream is reserved for EU passport holders; UK passports lost eligibility at the end of the Brexit transition. UK travellers belong on the ETA (601) or Visitor 600 path.
- Treating the ETA portal as instant. Most decisions arrive in a small number of days, but referrals can take longer. Lodge ahead of any ticket purchase rather than relying on a same-day grant.
- Booking the wrong subclass for a longer stay. Stays beyond three months per visit need the Visitor (600) stream, not the ETA. Filing the wrong subclass means re-doing the application and paying again.
- Lodging on a passport that expires mid-trip. Australian visas do not extend the validity of the underlying passport. Renew at the UK passport office before lodging if the document has under twelve months left.
- Using third-party 'australia-visa' websites. The lodgement portal is immi.homeaffairs.gov.au or the Australian ETA app from Home Affairs. Commercial intermediaries add service fees on top of the consular charge.
- Confusing the visa with the work entitlement. Visitor streams prohibit paid work for an Australian employer. UK citizens aged 18 to 35 qualify for the Working Holiday (subclass 417) — a separate application with its own fee.
- Skipping the character declaration questions. Australia asks specific questions about cautions and convictions, including unspent items. Honest answers, with documentary evidence where requested, prevent later cancellation for misrepresentation.
Country context & recent trends
Recent rule changes
British passports lost eVisitor (subclass 651) eligibility at the end of the Brexit transition. UK travellers now lodge either an ETA (subclass 601) — through the Australian ETA app published by Home Affairs — or a Visitor (subclass 600) on ImmiAccount for longer stays. Browser lodgement of the 601 is no longer available; the app is the only route.
Peak-season patterns
UK outbound demand for Australia clusters around the Northern Hemisphere winter — December through February — and around the late-summer school holiday window. ETA decisions usually arrive in a small window, but a subset is referred for manual review. Lodge ahead of any non-refundable booking, particularly during peak season.
How it compares to nearby destinations
UK travellers planning a South Pacific or Asia-Pacific itinerary often combine Australia with New Zealand, Fiji, or Singapore. The summary below puts the entry rules for the four side by side.
| Destination | Visa required | Typical processing | Indicative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ETA / Visitor 600) | Yes (electronic) | 1–5 days | ~ 20 AUD / 200 AUD |
| New Zealand (NZeTA) | Yes (electronic authorisation) | Hours to days | ~ 23 NZD + 35 NZD IVL |
| Fiji (visa-free for tourism) | No | On arrival | Free for stays up to 4 months |
| Singapore (visa-free for tourism) | No | On arrival | Free |
UK travellers stopping in Australia en route to New Zealand still need the Australian ETA — transit and tourism share the same authorisation. The eVisitor (subclass 651) stream that was once an option for British passport holders is closed after the end of the Brexit transition.
Frequently asked questions
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Do UK passport holders need a visa for Australia?
Yes — Australia has no Visa Waiver Programme, so UK travellers lodge either the ETA (subclass 601) for short trips or the Visitor (subclass 600) for longer stays. The eVisitor (subclass 651) is closed to UK passports after the end of the Brexit transition.
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Where is the ETA lodged from the UK?
The ETA application runs through the Australian ETA app published by the Department of Home Affairs. Browser lodgement of the 601 is no longer available — the app is the only route. The Visitor 600 stream continues to lodge through ImmiAccount on a browser.
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How long does the decision take?
Most ETAs decide in a small window, with a subset referred for further checks that can extend the timeline. The 1-to-5-day window reflects that range — lodge ahead of any non-refundable flight purchase.
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What is the difference between the 200 AUD fee and the ETA charge?
The 200 AUD figure shown applies to the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream lodgement. The ETA (subclass 601) carries a separate, lower charge inside the Australian ETA app. Pick the subclass that matches the trip before paying.
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Does the ETA cover paid work for an Australian employer?
No. The 601 and 600 streams cover tourism and business meetings only. UK citizens aged 18 to 35 can use the Working Holiday (subclass 417) for short-term paid work — a separate application with its own fee.
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What does the character declaration ask?
The application asks specific questions about prior visa refusals, criminal convictions, and cautions, including unspent items. Honest answers, supported by documentary evidence where requested, prevent later cancellation for misrepresentation.
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Do children need their own ETA?
Yes. Each traveller, including infants, needs an individual ETA or Visitor 600 application with their own form and fee. Family lodgements run in parallel rather than as a single grouped file.