Most eVisitor applications are decided in minutes to a few days. If yours comes back refused, the important thing is to understand why before you do anything else.
Do not simply reapply
Submitting the same application again will usually produce the same result, and a pattern of repeated applications does not help you. Read the decision, which states the reason.
Common reasons
- The passport is not on the eVisitor list — in that case the ETA or a Visitor visa may be the right route instead.
- Details did not match the passport exactly. Names, numbers and dates must be entered as printed.
- A declaration about health or character required assessment rather than an automatic decision.
If you already have flights
Do not travel on the assumption that it will be resolved at the airport. Without a valid visa you will not be boarded. Contact the airline about changing dates while you sort out the correct application.
A refusal is not the same as a cancellation. If a visa you already hold is cancelled, an exclusion period of up to 3 years can apply to future applications.
Source: Department of Home Affairs — eVisitor (subclass 651)
More on the eVisitor
What is the eVisitor
The eVisitor is a full visitor visa granted electronically to holders of eligible European passports. What it covers and how it differs from the ETA.
How to apply
Applications are made free of charge through ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website. The order of the steps and the mistakes that cause delays.
Cost
The Australian government charges AUD $0 for the eVisitor: no visa application charge and no service fee. The ETA for other passports costs AUD $20.
What you need
A valid European passport, an email address and about fifteen minutes. No photo, no payment, no documents to upload for most applicants.
Processing time
Most eVisitor applications are decided automatically within a day. What causes an application to take weeks instead.
Validity
An eVisitor lasts 12 months from the date of grant, or until your passport expires, and allows as many entries as you like within that period.