Visit Australia from the UK

To visit Australia from the UK, most British citizens apply for a free eVisitor (subclass 651) online before travelling. It is usually valid for 12 months and lets you stay up to three months on each visit for tourism or business visitor activities. Travellers with other passports may need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601, AUD 20 service charge through the AustralianETA app) or a Visitor visa (subclass 600), which costs AUD 250 for the tourist stream applied for outside Australia from 1 July 2026. GIEC Global UK helps UK residents of every nationality choose the right visa and prepare a complete application. If you are looking for an Australia visa agent who explains the options clearly, this guide is the place to start.

Visiting Australia from the UK with a British passport

Visiting Australia from UK cities is simple for most British citizens. The eVisitor (subclass 651) is free, applied for online through ImmiAccount, and electronically linked to your passport. There is no visa label. You can:

• holiday, sightsee and visit family and friends;
• attend business meetings, conferences and negotiations;
• study or train for up to three months in total.

You cannot work for an Australian business or provide services to Australian clients on an eVisitor. If you want to work while travelling, look at the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417), which British citizens aged 18 to 35 can use for up to three years.

Most eVisitor applications are decided quickly, but some are referred for extra checks, especially if you have a criminal record, health issues or past visa problems. Apply at least a few weeks before you book non-refundable travel.

Non-British UK residents: the Visitor visa (subclass 600)

Many of our clients live in the UK but hold another passport, such as Indian, Pakistani, Nigerian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Ghanaian, Filipino or Chinese. They usually need the Australian Visitor visa (subclass 600). Its main streams are:

Stream	For	Key points
Tourist	Holidays, family visits, short courses	AUD 250 when applied for outside Australia (from 1 July 2026)
Sponsored Family	Visiting a family member who sponsors you	The sponsor must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident; a security bond may be asked for
Business Visitor	Meetings, conferences, negotiations	No paid work for an Australian organisation
Frequent Traveller	Eligible nationals who travel often	Long validity for certain passports

Parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents can also look at longer-stay visitor options and the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, which allows longer visits than a standard tourist visa.

Australian tourist visa requirements for UK residents

For a Visitor visa, the Department of Home Affairs checks whether you are a genuine visitor. As your Australia visa agent, we usually prepare:

• Identity: passport, UK residence permit (BRP or eVisa share code evidence) and any previous passports.
• Purpose of visit: an itinerary, hotel bookings or an invitation letter from family.
• Funds: recent bank statements and payslips showing you can pay for the trip.
• Ties to the UK: employment letter with approved leave, a tenancy or mortgage, family responsibilities, or enrolment at a UK university.
• Travel history: previous visas to Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada or Schengen countries help show good compliance.
• Health and character: health checks for longer stays or older applicants in some cases, and police certificates if asked.

Visitors who will stay longer than they are allowed, or who seem to want to work, are refused, so be accurate about your purpose and dates.

How to apply for an Australian visitor visa from the UK

1. Check your passport to see whether you need an eVisitor, ETA or Visitor visa.
2. Decide your purpose and length of stay: tourism, family visit or business.
3. Prepare documents: identity, itinerary, funds, ties and invitations.
4. Apply online through ImmiAccount (eVisitor and Visitor visa) or the AustralianETA app (ETA).
5. Pay the fee, if any, and give biometrics or health checks if requested.
6. Receive the grant notice and check the conditions, including any “no further stay” condition 8503.
7. Travel with your passport and keep a copy of the grant notice.

What Australian visitor visas do not allow

• No work: condition 8101 usually applies; working for an Australian employer or Australian clients is not allowed.
• Limited study: no more than three months of study in total.
• Possible “no further stay”: some Visitor visas carry condition 8503, which stops you applying for most other visas while in Australia.

Need to do short specialist work? Look at the Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa, subclass 400, or the Temporary Activity visa for events, entertainment and research activities.

Visiting family in Australia: invitation letter checklist

Family visits are the most common reason our UK clients travel. A clear invitation letter from your relative in Australia helps the case officer understand the trip. It should include:

• the host’s full name, address, phone number and immigration status (citizen, permanent resident or visa holder), with a copy of their passport or visa grant;
• how you are related, with supporting documents such as birth or marriage certificates;
• the purpose and dates of the visit, such as a wedding, the birth of a grandchild or a holiday;
• where you will stay and who will pay for what;
• a short statement that you intend to return to the UK at the end of the visit.

If your relative will sponsor you under the Sponsored Family stream, they lodge a sponsorship and may be asked for a security bond, which is refunded if you follow the visa conditions.

Business travel to Australia from the UK

UK companies send staff to Australia for meetings, sales visits, conferences and site inspections. British citizens can usually do this on an eVisitor, and other nationalities use the Visitor visa Business Visitor stream or an ETA where eligible. Bring a letter from your UK employer confirming your role, the purpose of the trip and that you remain paid in the UK. If the trip involves hands-on work, installing equipment or providing services to an Australian client, you probably need a work visa such as the subclass 400 instead. Getting this wrong can lead to cancellation at the airport, so check before you travel.

Travelling with children or elderly parents

Every traveller needs their own eVisitor, ETA or visa, including babies. If a child travels with only one parent, carry a consent letter from the other parent and the child’s birth certificate. Older visitors, particularly those planning longer stays, may be asked for health examinations, and good travel insurance is essential because medical care for visitors can be very expensive. If grandparents want to spend long periods with family in Australia, ask us about longer-stay visitor options before booking.

Popular places UK visitors combine with family trips

Most first-time visitors from the UK spend time in Sydney (the Harbour, Bondi and the Blue Mountains) and Melbourne (laneways, the Great Ocean Road and sport). Many add Queensland for the Great Barrier Reef and the Gold Coast, or the Red Centre for Uluru. Perth is the closest major city to the UK by flight time, and Western Australia’s coast and wine regions are a favourite with returning visitors. Distances are huge, so build in domestic flights and allow for jet lag in the first few days.

Practical travel tips for visiting Australia from the UK

• Health cover: Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement with the UK that gives UK residents limited access to medically necessary treatment, but it does not replace travel insurance.
• Biosecurity: declare all food, plant material and animal products on arrival; fines are strict.
• Passport validity: make sure your passport is valid for your whole stay; a new passport means a new eVisitor or ETA.
• Timing: flights are long (usually 22 hours or more), and Australia is 9 to 11 hours ahead of the UK.
• Seasons: Australian summer is December to February, which is peak season for family visits and flight prices.

Arriving in Australia: what to expect at the border

Your eVisitor, ETA or visa is checked electronically when you check in for your flight, so there is no label to show. On arrival, eligible passport holders, including British citizens, can usually use SmartGate for passport control. Border officers can still ask about the purpose of your trip, where you will stay and how long you plan to remain, so keep your return ticket details, accommodation address and invitation letter handy. Carry enough money or cards for your stay and know your visa conditions. Be honest when declaring goods: Australia’s biosecurity rules cover food, medicines, plant and animal products, and items such as hiking boots with soil. If you take prescription medicines, carry them in original packaging with a copy of the prescription or a letter from your doctor. Planning these details in advance makes arrival smoother, especially after a long flight from the UK.

Common reasons Australian visitor visas are refused

• Not enough evidence of funds or unexplained deposits.
• Weak ties to the UK, such as no job, tenancy or study commitment.
• An itinerary that does not match the length of stay requested.
• Previous overstays or visa refusals not disclosed.
• Inconsistent information between the form and documents.

If you have been refused before, get advice before you reapply with the same documents. A refusal notice explains the reasons, and a new application should address each one directly with stronger evidence rather than simply repeating the original paperwork. You must also declare previous refusals on every future application.

Choosing an Australia visa agent you can trust

Many people search for an “Australia visa agent near me” or the best Australian immigration consultants in the UK. Before you choose, remember an important rule: under Australian law, only registered migration agents (with a MARN) and Australian legal practitioners can give immigration assistance for a fee. You can check any agent on the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority register. Ask any Australia visa consultant:

• Who will advise on and lodge my visa, and what is their MARN?
• What do your fees cover, and are they in writing?
• How will you check my documents before lodgement?
• Will you tell me if my case is weak rather than taking my fee?

Avoid any agency that promises a guaranteed visa or “fast-track” approvals; Home Affairs makes every decision.

How GIEC Global UK helps

We help British citizens and UK residents of all nationalities choose the right visitor visa, prepare family invitation letters and sponsor documents, check finances and ties evidence, and lodge complete applications. We also help with longer plans, from study to skilled migration. Whether you are visiting family, attending a conference or planning a holiday, we explain what each visa allows in plain English, and we will tell you honestly if we see a risk.

Thinking about more than a holiday?

Many visitors fall in love with Australia. If you are thinking about living there, these pages are a good next step:

• Can I live in Australia with a British passport?
• Do UK citizens need a visa to work in Australia?
• How to move to Australia from the UK permanently
• Our migrate to Australia hub, study in Australia and work in Australia pages
• Answers to common questions in our Australia visa FAQ

Sources and review

Reviewed on 31 October 2026 against the Department of Home Affairs pages for the eVisitor (651), ETA (601) and Visitor visa (600), Home Affairs visa pricing from 1 July 2026, Services Australia’s reciprocal health care information, and the OMARA register guidance. Visa rules and fees change, so check the official sites before you apply. This page is general information, not immigration advice for your situation.