Australia Visa for Tourists in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide

Australia has a complex visa policy, but thankfully, visiting Australia as a tourist is quite easy. Australia does not offer visa exemption, so all visitors must obtain a tourist visa. All Australian visa applications are done entirely online. 

In this article, I will summarize visa requirements, eligibility, and procedure for the four main ways to visit Australia as a tourist: the ETA, eVisitor, tourist visa, and transit visa.

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Australia Visa Policy

Australia does not offer VISA-FREE access to any nationality. You would either need an ETA or a visa.

All Australian visas are electronic visas. Visa information is linked to the passport number and verifiable online.

Visa Types

There are 4 different visa options for tourists, which are summarized in the following table:

Visa Type	Eligibility	Cost	Validity	Entries Allowed	Permitted Stay
Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)	33 countries and territories worldwide	20 AUD	1 year	Unlimited	3 months at a time
eVisitor (Subclass 651)	36 European countries	Free	1 year	Unlimited	3 months at a time
Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)	Everyone else	190 AUD	6 months, 1 or 3 years	Single or multiple	3 months at a time
Transit Visa (Subclass 771)	Everyone	Free	72 hours	One entry only	72 hours

According to the Trans-Tasman Travel Agreement, citizens of New Zealand receive a free Special Category Visa (subclass 444) on arrival at any Australian port of entry. This allows them to live and work in Australia indefinitely.

Entry requirements

All tourists coming to Australia must meet the following requirements:

• Must hold a passport valid for the entire duration of stay
• Must have at least one blank page in the passport
• Must hold a valid Australian ETA or visa
• Must hold a return or onward ticket
• Must complete Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) on arrival

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ETA (Electronic Travel Authority, Subclass 601)

Australia ETA is available to nationals of 33 countries and territories listed below. In most cases, the ETA is approved immediately. For that reason, ETA is often considered a visa exemption or visa waiver.

1. Andorra
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4. Brunei
5. Canada
6. Denmark
7. Finland
8. France
9. Germany
10. Greece
11. Hong Kong
12. Iceland
13. Ireland
14. Italy
15. Japan
16. Liechtenstein
17. Luxembourg
18. Malaysia
19. Malta
20. Monaco
21. Netherlands
22. Norway
23. Portugal
24. San Marino
25. Singapore
26. South Korea
27. Spain
28. Sweden
29. Switzerland
30. Taiwan
31. United Kingdom
32. United States of America
33. Vatican City

The ETA application is entirely online and can only be applied using the Australian ETA mobile phone app. The app is available as a free download.

There is no charge to apply for ETA, but using the app itself costs a service charge of 20 AUD.

For more information, read the complete guide to Australia Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) for details on eligibility, required documents, the ETA app and the application process.

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eVisitor Visa (Subclass 651)

The eVisitor visa is available to nationals of 36 countries exclusively in Europe.

1. Andorra
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4. Bulgaria
5. Croatia
6. Cyprus
7. Czechia
8. Denmark
9. Estonia
10. Finland
11. France
12. Germany
13. Greece
14. Hungary
15. Iceland
16. Ireland
17. Italy
18. Latvia
19. Liechtenstein
20. Lithuania
21. Luxembourg
22. Malta
23. Monaco
24. Netherlands
25. Norway
26. Poland
27. Portugal
28. Romania
29. San Marino
30. Slovakia
31. Slovenia
32. Spain
33. Sweden
34. Switzerland
35. United Kingdom
36. Vatican City

The main difference between the eVisitor visa and the ETA is that the eVisitor requires more documents to be submitted, such as a bank statement as proof of sufficient funds. 

Most eVisitor visa applications are processed within 1 day. There is no fee to apply for an eVisitor visa. 

The success rate of the eVisitor visa is 98.5%, even higher than the ETA’s success rate of 97%. This means that if you’re eligible for both the ETA and the eVisitor, you can save 20 AUD by applying for the eVisitor as they are identical in all other aspects.

For more information, read the complete guide to Australia eVisitor Visa for details on eligibility, required documents, the application process and our personal experience.

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Visitor Visa (Tourist Stream, Subclass 600)

The subclass 600 is Australia’s main tourist visa. It has several streams depending on the purpose such as tourism or business and whether you are applying from outside or within Australia. 

For this guide, we will focus on the visitor visa for tourism that can only be applied from outside Australia. 

Eligibility, validity and duration of stay

Visitor visas for tourism are available to all nationalities. 

Australia issues only eVisas. Therefore, the tourist visa is also an eVisa. The visa will be electronically linked to your passport. You can carry a print of the eVisa with you when you travel. 

Visitors visas are either single or multiple-entry valid for up to 3 years. On each visit, you are allowed to stay up to 3 months. 

Application process and documentation

Applications for tourist visas can be made online through the ImmiAccount portal.

The documents required for a tourist visa include any of the below. The actual documents required depends on your country of passport and the country you are applying from.

• Proof of sufficient funds, such as bank statements, pay slips, tax returns, etc.
• Proof of reasons to return home, such as employment letter, property ownership, family dependency, etc. 
• Proof of travel history such as previous visas and entry/exit stamps of the countries you have traveled to.

50% of applications get processed within a week and 90% of all applications get processed within 21 days.

The fee for the tourist visa is 195 AUD. 

For more information, read the complete guide to Australia Visitor Visa for details on required documents, biometric appointment, application process and our personal experience.

Benefits of an Australian visa

Australian tourist visa not only grants you access to Australia but also to many other countries. As of 2025, you can travel to 17 countries VISA-FREE with an Australian visa. Read this article on VISA-FREE countries for Australian visa to learn how to visit these 17 countries.

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Transit Visa (Subclass 771) 

Eligible nationalities can transit without a visa (TWOV) through Australian airports. For TWOV, you must meet the following conditions:

• Stay airside and not clear immigration
• Have your onward flight within 8 hours of arriving in Australia
• Hold a passport from the following eligible countries

TWOV eligible countries

1. Andorra
2. Argentina
3. Austria
4. Belgium
5. Brunei
6. Bulgaria
7. Canada
8. Chile
9. Croatia
10. Cyprus
11. Czechia
12. Denmark
13. Estonia
14. Fiji
15. Finland
16. France
17. Germany
18. Greece
19. Hungary
20. Iceland
21. Indonesia
22. Ireland
23. Italy
24. Japan
25. Kiribati
26. Latvia
27. Liechtenstein
28. Lithuania
29. Luxembourg
30. Malaysia
31. Malta
32. Marshall Islands
33. Mexico
34. Micronesia
35. Monaco
36. Nauru
37. Netherlands
38. New Zealand
39. Norway
40. Oman
41. Palau
42. Papua New Guinea
43. Philippines
44. Poland
45. Portugal
46. Qatar
47. Romania
48. Samoa
49. San Marino
50. Singapore
51. Slovakia
52. Slovenia
53. Solomon Islands
54. South Africa
55. South Korea
56. Spain
57. Sweden
58. Switzerland
59. Thailand
60. Tonga
61. Tuvalu
62. United Arab Emirates
63. United Kingdom
64. United States of America
65. Uruguay
66. Vanuatu
67. Vatican

Transit visa requirements

If you already hold an ETA, eVistor or Visitor visa, then you do not need a transit visa. Rest must obtain a transit visa (subclass 771). The transit visa allows entry into Australia for short stays of up to 72 hours.

To apply for a transit visa, you must have a confirmed onward ticket to another country within 72 hours of arrival and the required visas for it. In addition to those, you may also require proof of adequate health insurance. 

For more information, read the complete guide to Australia Transit Visa for details on the application process, required documents, fees and transit procedure at the airport.

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Visa Extension

Extensions are not allowed for any of the Australian tourist visas. You are allowed to apply for another visa while you are in Australia, such as the Visitor Visa (Onshore stream).

Certain conditions attached to your current visa may prevent you from applying for another visa while in Australia. The most notable one is Condition 8503: No further stay.

When applying for a new visa from within the country, a Bridging Visa is automatically applied for you. A Bridging Visa will keep your stay lawful while waiting for your new visa to be approved.

As a tourist, you will receive a Bridging Visa A (BVA) while you are waiting for your new visa. BVA expires if you leave Australia.

For more information, read the article on Australia Visa Extension for details on rules, conditions and procedures to extend your stay in Australia.

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Entry and Exit Procedures

Australia has one of the most streamlined entry procedures in the world. Passports are not stamped on entry or exit. 

If eligible to use SmartGates, you can process your entry and exit without even speaking to a border official. 

SmartGates eligibility

To use SmartGates at Australian airports, your passport must be an ePassport from one of the following countries. 

1. Argentina
2. Austria
3. Canada
4. China
5. Denmark
6. France
7. Finland
8. Hong Kong
9. Ireland
10. Italy
11. Japan
12. Korea
13. Luxembourg
14. Macau
15. Malaysia
16. New Zealand
17. Qatar
18. San Marino
19. Singapore
20. Switzerland
21. Sweden
22. Taiwan
23. Thailand
24. United Arab Emirates
25. United Kingdom
26. United States of America

You must check your eligibility to use SmartGates at the kiosks just before the gates. If eligible, you will be given a ticket. Then you must proceed to the SmartGates and follow the procedure. 

If not eligible, you will be directed to a border officer.

Other passports

All other passport holders must proceed to an immigration officer box. Answer any questions about your stay and intentions. 

Your passport will not be stamped. But if you need evidence of entry, you can request a stamp. 

Incoming Passenger Card (IPC)

All arriving passengers must complete and present a paper arrival card called Incoming Passenger Card (IPC). You will be given one on your flight to Australia.

Pay attention to the items you must declare. Australia has stringent biosecurity protocols and failure to declare even harmless items, may lead to fines and severe penalties.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I stay in Australia for 6 months as a tourist?

The eVisitor, ETA, and most Tourist Visas allow stays of up to 90 days at a time. You need to explicitly apply for a 6-month Tourist Visa to stay in Australia that long.

How many times can you enter Australia on a tourist visa?

The eVisitor and the ETA allow unlimited entries into Australia. Regular tourist visas can be either one or multiple entries.

How much bank balance is required for an Australia tourist visa?

Australian Immigration does not specify a minimum and it will depend on the length of your trip. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 4000 AUD per month of intended stay.

How long do you have to leave Australia for before returning?

There is no minimum time outside of Australia required. As long as you have a valid visa, you can go back whenever you want.

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