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Amit Taya (Perth): +61 426 488 909 | Harmandeep Kaur (Adelaide): +61 8 8120 4199
Amit Taya (Perth): +61 426 488 909 | Harmandeep Kaur (Adelaide): +61 8 8120 4199
Travellers often compare the eVisitor 651 and Visitor Visa 600 at the time of planning a short stay for tourism, family visit or business activities in Australia. There are growing levels of international travel in the country, which hit about 8 million visitor trips by the end of September 2025. It shows there is a high demand for short-term visits to Australia. In this aspect, this blog presents both visa eligibility criteria, required documents, the processing time and cost to help you with a smooth application process.
Both visa options allow a temporary stay to Australia. But the difference between 651 and 600 visas reflects on their validity and documentation. Here’s a quick look at both of these visa options:
The eVisitor visa (subclass 651) serves as an electronic visa that permits entry to specific European passport holders. The visa permits travellers to visit Australia for tourism and business purposes without incurring government visa application fees. The visa functions as an electronic link to the traveller’s passport, which requires online application submission.
The four main characteristics of the eVisitor subclass 651 include:
The Visitor Visa (subclass 600) serves as an extended visa option that permits entry to most international travellers who wish to visit Australia. The visa permits visitors to travel temporarily for three purposes, which include tourism activities, family visits and specific short-term business engagements.
Some of the main characteristics of subclass 600 visa Australia include:
Also Read: How To Apply For Tourist Visa Australia: A Complete Guide
At the time of the eVisitor visa 651 and Visitor Visa 600 Australia application, applicants must meet the following five eligibility conditions.
If you are going to apply for eVisitor visa Australia, then it is important to know that this visa is only available for passport holders from specific European countries. Individuals with British National Overseas status, British Dependent Territories Citizen status or British Subject passport holders cannot apply for this visa. On the other hand, the Visitor Visa (subclass 600) allows applicants from most countries around the world to apply for the visa.
Applicants of both the eVisitor Australia visa 651 and Visitor Visa 600 must show that they have sufficient financial resources to support themselves during their travel. In order to become financially eligible, you must meet the following financial requirements:
The financial evidence may include bank statements, employment information or any other source of funds.
Medical treatment can be expensive for Australian visitors. Travellers applying for the AUS Visitor Visa 600 and eVisitor 651 visa are encouraged to get adequate insurance coverage for the duration of their stay. It provides a financial safety net against unforeseen circumstances.
Both the eVisitor visa 651 and Visitor Visa 600 are intended for short-term visits. Applicants must show that they are travelling for an acceptable purpose, such as:
The permitted stay period differs between the two visas. The length of the stay for both visas includes:
Applicants must meet standard health and character requirements before applying for both the visitor visa and eVisitor visa for Australia, which include:
Read More: Why Australia Tourist Visa Gets Refused & How to Avoid It?
Both the Australia tourist visa (Subclass) 600 and eVisitor visa 651 documentation requirements are similar. Here are a few documents required for both of them:
Applicants less than 18 years of age need to submit the following documents:
The main thing to check before you apply for visitor visa 600 and eVisitor 651 visa is their processing time. The processing time may vary depending on the visa stream, application completeness and individual circumstances. The Department of Home Affairs publishes indicative timelines based on the financialised applications. The following is a quick look at the average processing time:
| Visa Type | Processing Time (50% of applications) | Processing Time (90% of applications) |
| eVisitor Visa Subclass 651 | Less than 1 day | Less than 1 day |
| Tourist Stream of Subclass 600 Visa | Around 10 days | Around 33 days |
| Business Visitor Stream of Subclass 600 Visa | Around 6 days | Around 23 days |
| Sponsored Family Stream of Subclass 600 Visa | Around 50 days | Around 4 Months |
The government charges different visa application fees for the eVisitor 651 visa Australia and the Visitor Visa Subclass 600. The following is a quick view of both visas’ application costs.
| Type of Visa | Application Fee |
| eVisitor Visa Subclass 651 | Free of cost. |
| Visitor Visa Subclass 600 | Starts from $200. |
The most common question among applicants is,’ Visitor visa 600 refused can I apply again?’ The answer is yes, you can apply for this visa again if you are outside Australia. For onshore applicants, there might be some limitations if you have had a visa refused or cancelled since your last entry into Australia, and if you do not hold a substantive visa.
Also Read: Understanding the Australia eVisitor Visa Requirements and Process
So, now, the differences between these two visas are quite evident. Knowing about the eligibility, health and character requirements, as well as processing times, will help you in the application process. Other than that, it is also important to mention that the eVisitor 651 is limited to certain European passport holders. It offers short visits without a government application fee, while the Visitor Visa 600 is available to a wider range of nationalities with more flexible stay periods. For additional help, you can also take assistance from a registered migration agent Adelaide to complete the application and respond to the Department of Home Affairs’ additional requirements.
