What is the difference between the eVisitor (651) and the ETA (601)?

The eVisitor (subclass 651) and the ETA (subclass 601) are both electronic visitor visas that allow stays of up to 3 months per visit within a 12-month period and permit tourism and business visitor activities but not work.

The key difference is eligibility. The eVisitor is available to European passport holders (EU member states, the UK and several other European nations) and is free to apply for. The ETA covers a separate list of eligible countries and regions and is generally applied for through the Australian ETA app.

If you hold a European passport that qualifies, the eVisitor is usually the natural choice; otherwise you would look at the ETA or the Visitor visa (subclass 600).