Australia ETA from UK 2026: Subclass 601, Cost, Process

British passport holders travelling to Australia for tourism or business visits of up to three months use the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601). The official fee is A$20 (approximately £10 at typical exchange rates) and the visa is valid for 12 months multiple entry, with each stay limited to 90 days. The only direct channel is the official Australian ETA app on iOS or Android, or the Department of Home Affairs immi portal at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. This guide explains the application process, the practical differences between the ETA and longer-stay visas including the Working Holiday Visa subclass 417, and how to recognise third-party services that charge £40 to £80 over the A$20 official fee. It does not provide regulated immigration advice.

Last reviewed: May 2026 · Sourced from GOV.UK

The ETA subclass 601 for UK travellers

The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), formally known as subclass 601, is the standard short-stay visa for UK passport holders visiting Australia for tourism, business meetings, or family visits. It is electronic, linked to the passport at application, and verified by the airline before boarding the flight to Australia. Every UK traveller, including infants and children, requires their own ETA. There is no exemption for short transit; even passengers connecting through an Australian airport for an onward flight require the ETA.

The ETA grants 12 months of multiple-entry validity from the date of grant or until the passport expires, whichever is sooner. Each individual visit is limited to 90 days from the date of arrival. This pattern suits standard tourism, business trips, and family visits, but is not the right route for work, study, or longer-term residence, each of which has its own visa class.

What the ETA does not cover

The ETA does not permit paid work in Australia. Even short consultancy or freelance work performed remotely for a non-Australian employer should be assessed carefully against the ETA conditions, although remote work for a non-Australian employer during a tourism visit is generally accepted. Formal study at an Australian institution, employment with an Australian employer, journalism with an Australian outlet, and any form of medical treatment beyond emergency care require different visa classes.

How to apply for the Australia ETA

The official application route is the Australian ETA app, available on iOS and Android via the App Store and Google Play respectively. The app is published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs. The application takes around 15 minutes and uses the phone's camera to scan the passport's biometric chip, capture a live photograph, and verify the applicant's identity against the passport data.

This is a deliberate design choice and is one of the few examples globally where the official channel is a mobile app rather than a web portal. UK travellers without a smartphone, or whose passport is older and does not have a working biometric chip, can apply through an Australian migration agent or directly at the immi.homeaffairs.gov.au portal under certain conditions. The app route is intended to be the default for the majority of UK applicants.

What you need before opening the app

Materials needed for the app application are a valid UK passport with a working biometric chip, a smartphone with a working camera, a credit or debit card to pay the A$20 fee, and around 15 minutes of uninterrupted time. The app guides through passport scanning, live photograph capture, declaration of any prior criminal convictions or health issues, and confirmation of personal details. Approvals typically arrive within seconds of submission; in a minority of cases the application is held for additional checks and resolved within 12 to 24 hours.

eVisitor (subclass 651) for EU passport holders

A separate but functionally similar visa, the eVisitor (subclass 651), is available to passport holders from EU member states and a small number of other European countries. Unlike the ETA, the eVisitor has no application fee, only the same 12-month multiple-entry validity and 90-day per-visit limit. UK travellers are not eligible for the eVisitor; the ETA at A$20 is the route for British passport holders.

For UK travellers with dual nationality, applying on the eligible passport (typically a European Union member state passport) saves the A$20 fee, but the practical difference is minor and the choice of which passport to use also affects entry stamps, return flexibility, and consular protection while in Australia.

Working Holiday Visa subclass 417 for longer stays

For UK citizens aged 18 to 35 (inclusive) planning a longer working visit to Australia, the Working Holiday Visa subclass 417 is the route. It permits a 12-month stay with the right to work, including extending to a second or third 12-month visa for those who complete specified regional work during the first year. The application fee is A$650 and the visa is applied for through the immi.homeaffairs.gov.au portal directly.

The 417 visa requirements include the age limit at the time of application (not at travel), evidence of A$5,000 in available funds, health and character requirements, and no prior 417 visa refusals or overstays. Once the visa is granted, the traveller has 12 months from the grant date to enter Australia, after which the 12-month stay clock starts. The 417 visa is one of the most popular long-term routes for UK citizens visiting Australia and provides flexibility that the ETA does not.

Other longer-stay routes

For UK travellers over 35 or planning to stay beyond a working holiday, the Visitor Visa subclass 600 covers stays of up to 12 months for tourism or family visits, with a fee of A$190 upwards. Skilled migration visas (subclass 189, 190, 491) handle permanent residence applications for those qualifying under the General Skilled Migration programme. Each of these requires substantially more documentation and longer processing than the ETA, and most UK applicants for these visas use an Australian-registered migration agent.

Cost: official fees and third-party markup

The official Australia ETA fee is A$20, paid through the Australian ETA app at the point of application. There is no separate processing fee and no premium expedited tier. The fee is in Australian dollars and converted to sterling by the cardholder's bank, working out at approximately £10 to £11 at typical exchange rates.

Third-party Australia visa services typically charge UK applicants £40 to £80 for an ETA application. These services collect documents and lodge the application either through the same channels as the official app or through migration agent channels. The marketing claim that a third-party service handles complex applications more reliably is not generally supported for standard tourist ETAs from UK passport holders. For genuinely complex cases (prior visa refusals, health declarations, criminal record questions) a registered Australian migration agent can add value; for a standard application the app is the direct route.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do British passport holders need a visa for Australia?

Yes. All UK passport holders, including infants and children, require an Electronic Travel Authority subclass 601 to enter Australia for tourism or business visits up to 90 days. The visa is applied for through the official Australian ETA app on iOS or Android, with a fee of A$20 (approximately £10). The ETA is valid 12 months multiple entry, with each visit limited to 90 days. There is no visa-free arrangement between the UK and Australia.

How long does the Australia ETA take to process?

Most Australia ETA applications return an approval within seconds of submission through the official Australian ETA app. A minority of applications are held for additional checks and resolved within 12 to 24 hours. For trips with non-changeable flights, applying at least 72 hours before travel provides a safe buffer. UK travellers should not assume same-day approval is guaranteed, particularly for first-time applications or those with any history of prior visa applications.

How much does the Australia ETA cost?

The official Australia ETA fee is A$20, paid through the Australian ETA app. This converts to approximately £10 to £11 at typical exchange rates. There is no separate processing fee charged by the Australian government and no premium expedited tier. Third-party visa services typically charge UK applicants £40 to £80 for an application that costs A$20 through the official app, with the difference retained as a service fee.

What is the difference between the Australia ETA and eVisitor?

The ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) are functionally similar short-stay visas for Australia, both valid 12 months multiple entry with 90 days per visit. The eVisitor is free and available to passport holders from EU member states and selected other European countries. The ETA costs A$20 and is available to UK and certain other nationalities. UK travellers are not eligible for the free eVisitor and must use the ETA route, although dual nationals can apply on whichever eligible passport they prefer.

Can UK citizens work in Australia on the ETA?

No. The Electronic Travel Authority subclass 601 does not permit paid work in Australia. UK citizens wishing to work in Australia for a longer period typically use the Working Holiday Visa subclass 417, available to those aged 18 to 35 (inclusive at the time of application), with a fee of A$650 and a 12-month stay permitted, extendable to a second and third year subject to specified regional work in earlier years. Skilled migration visas handle permanent work-based applications.

Why do some Australia visa sites charge so much more than the official app?

The official Australia ETA channel is the Australian ETA app, which charges the A$20 government fee directly. Third-party visa services charging £40 to £80 collect applicant details and lodge the application through the same or equivalent channels, retaining the difference as a service fee. For a standard British tourist with a current biometric passport and a working smartphone, the app is the direct route. For complex cases involving prior visa refusals or health declarations, a registered Australian migration agent can add genuine value.

Primary Sources

• Australian Department of Home Affairs - Electronic Travel Authority subclass 601
• UK Foreign Travel Advice for Australia - entry requirements for British nationals
• Australian High Commission in London - consular services and visa categories
• Australian Department of Home Affairs - Working Holiday Visa subclass 417
• UK Foreign Travel Advice for Australia - overview and safety information