Australia short-stay visas: ETA, eVisitor, Visitor and Working Holiday options (updated)

This update explains Australia's common short-stay visas: the ETA and eVisitor (electronic authorisations usually allowing up to three months per visit), the Visitor visa (subclass 600) for wider short-term stays, and the Working Holiday Maker (subclass 417 and 462) program for young travelers who want to work short-term while traveling. Key points: ETA/eVisitor/Visitor generally prohibit work and allow short study (up to three months); WHM permits temporary work under age and country-specific rules; verify current country lists, age limits, and onshore application rules with the Department of Home Affairs.

Overview

Australia offers a range of short-stay visas for sightseeing, visiting family, short study and limited business activity. The most common are the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), the eVisitor, the Visitor visa, and the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program. These visas are for temporary stays and generally do not permit full-time employment.

ETA, eVisitor and Visitor visas

The ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) and the eVisitor are electronic visitor authorisations for eligible passport holders. They typically allow stays of up to three months per visit and cover tourism, visiting friends and relatives, and short non-work business activities.

The Visitor visa (subclass 600) is a broader category that can allow longer stays in some circumstances and includes streams such as the tourist stream and the sponsored family stream.

Important restrictions for these short-stay visas:

• Work is not permitted on an ETA or eVisitor. The Visitor visa generally does not allow work either, unless a specific work condition is granted.

• You may study while on these visas, usually for courses no longer than three months.

Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visas

The WHM program (commonly referred to as Working Holiday visas) lets eligible young people travel to Australia and take short-term work to supplement their travel funds. The main subclasses are subclass 417 and subclass 462, each with its own list of participating countries and eligibility rules.

Typical WHM conditions:

• Age limit is usually 18-30 at application, though for some partner countries the upper age may extend to 35.

• You generally must have a passport from a participating country and meet health, character and financial requirements.

• WHM work is intended to be temporary and supplementary - it is not designed for long-term career progression.

• Completing specified regional work can make you eligible for a second or third-year WHM visa if you meet the required days and types of work.¹

Practical points and how to apply

Apply online through the Australian Department of Home Affairs website or via approved agents and mobile apps for ETA and eVisitor. The Visitor visa has online application options and some streams may permit onshore applications - rules vary by stream and applicant circumstances.²

Always check the Department of Home Affairs for the up-to-date list of eligible passports, participating WHM countries, age limits, fees and processing times before you apply.

Final note

These short-stay visas make travel and short stays in Australia straightforward, but each visa has strict limits on work and study. If you plan to work extensively, study long courses, or extend your stay, look at the appropriate work, student or permanent migration options.

1. Confirm current lists of ETA and eVisitor eligible passport countries on the Department of Home Affairs website.
2. Verify age limits and which WHM partner countries permit ages up to 35.
3. Confirm onshore application rules for Visitor visa (subclass 600) streams and whether ETA/eVisitor can be applied for while in Australia.
4. Check current requirements and qualifying work types/days for second and third year WHM visa eligibility.