How much does the Australia Subclass 601 ETA cost in 2026 (AUD20 service fee)?
The Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) has no visa application charge (VAC). The only amount attached to it is an AUD20 application service fee for using the Australian ETA app. According to the Australian Department of Home Affairs' official Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) page, as of July 2026, the cost line reads, in effect: free to apply for the visa, AUD20 to use the app.
That distinction is the whole story, and it is worth getting right before you budget. The AUD20 is a charge for the application channel, not a fee for the visa itself, and it is generally non-refundable — paying it does not guarantee a grant. What follows is general information for planning rather than advice tailored to your circumstances, so confirm the current amount on the official page before you pay.
Is the AUD20 a visa application charge?
No. A VAC is the government charge for lodging a visa application, and the ETA does not carry one. The AUD20 is described separately as an application service fee tied to the Australian ETA app, which is the channel most applicants use.
Practically, this means the amount you see at the payment step is not "the price of the visa." It is the cost of submitting through the app. The visa decision — whether you are granted an ETA at all — is made on eligibility and the answers you give, not on the fee.
What does the AUD20 actually cover?
The app itself is free to download from the Apple Store (Apple) and Google Play (Android). The service fee comes later, at the submission stage, and the official page lists "a valid payment method ready to pay the service fee" as one of the things you need before you start.
You will need:
- a mobile device with a camera able to photograph you and your passport data page
- near-field communication (NFC) enabled on that device
- location services enabled
- a valid email address
- a valid payment method for the service fee
The app workflow is: scan your passport to pre-fill name, date of birth, passport number and other details; take a photo of yourself; answer questions including criminal convictions, prior names and contact details in Australia; pay the service fee; submit. The department asks you to check that all details are correct before submitting, because ETA details cannot be changed once issued.
Do you pay AUD20 for every traveller, including children?
Yes. You cannot include family members in one application. Each family member — including children listed on your passport — must submit a separate application, and each application carries its own AUD20 service fee. So a family of four lodging together pays four separate service fees, not one.
The one convenience the official page offers: if all family members apply using the same mobile device, you can submit and pay for the applications at the same time.
Is the AUD20 refunded if the ETA is refused?
Do not count on it. The service fee is generally non-refundable, including where an application does not result in a grant. The department notifies you of the outcome in writing; if the visa is refused, the notice tells you why and whether you have a right to a review of the decision.
Most ETA applications return a result immediately, but processing can take longer if you answer the app's questions incorrectly, if the department needs more information, or if your information is hard to verify. If an application cannot be processed or approved without further information, you receive a letter explaining how to provide it — and the official guidance is not to submit further ETA applications through the app, because you will get the same result.
What if you cannot use the Australian ETA app?
If you are ineligible for or unable to use the app, the official page points to applying online for another visa that suits your needs through ImmiAccount. Two named alternatives appear on that page:
| Option | Who it may suit | Charge shown on the ETA page |
|---|---|---|
| eVisitor (subclass 651) | European passport holders | No charge to make an eVisitor visa application |
| Visitor (subclass 600) | Other passport holders | Cost is set out on that visa's own page |
Either way, a friend or family member may help you apply through the app, but you must be physically with them when the application is made, and you must take your own live photo. Authorised travel agents and industry representatives can also lodge an application on your behalf using the app; you must still be physically present with your passport available to scan. The AUD20 remains the same official service fee regardless of who taps the screen.
What else belongs in the budget besides the AUD20?
The visa cost is small; the rest of the trip is not. The department recommends taking out health insurance, since you are personally liable for all healthcare costs while in Australia, and it points to its guidance on what it considers adequate health insurance. Some countries have a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia, which is a separate question from the visa fee.
One point that helps the value maths: the ETA is valid for travel for 12 months, or for the period your passport is valid, whichever is shorter, with multiple entry and up to 3 months' stay after each entry. A single AUD20 service fee can therefore cover several short trips within that window — until the passport linked to it expires, at which point the ETA ceases and a new one is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a visa application charge for the Australia Subclass 601 ETA?
No. The official Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601) page states there is no Visa Application Charge (VAC). The only amount payable to the department is the AUD20 service fee for using the Australian ETA app.
How much does the 601 ETA cost in 2026?
AUD20 per application, described as an application service fee rather than a visa charge. The app itself is free to download from the Apple Store and Google Play, and the fee is paid when you submit the application.
Does each family member need to pay the AUD20 separately?
Yes. Family members — including children listed on your passport — cannot be included in one application, so each person needs a separate application and a separate AUD20 service fee. If everyone applies on the same mobile device, you can submit and pay for all of them in one go.
Will I get the AUD20 back if my ETA is refused?
Generally no; the service fee is typically non-refundable and is not tied to the outcome. If the visa is refused, you are told in writing why, and whether you have a right to a review of the decision.
Can a travel agent or industry representative pay the fee for me?
Authorised travel agents and industry representatives can lodge an application on your behalf using the app, and they must take a live facial image of you — no live image means no visa. The amount charged through the app stays the same AUD20 official service fee.
Is the eVisitor (subclass 651) free?
The ETA page states there is no charge to make an eVisitor visa application, and it flags the eVisitor as an option for European passport holders. Eligibility for it depends on your passport, so check that visa's own page.
Do I need to pay anything again if I get a new passport?
Yes. The ETA is digitally linked to the passport you applied with, and if that passport expires or you get a new one, the ETA ceases and you must apply again — which means another AUD20 service fee.