Australia Mandates Online Lodgement for eVisitor Visa Applications from 29 September 2026
Updated: 2 hours ago
CANBERRA, September 30, 2026 — All applications for Australia's Subclass 651 eVisitor visa must now be lodged online using Form 1362, after the Migration (Arrangements for eVisitor Visa Applications) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/061) came into force on 29 September 2026.
The instrument was registered on 28 September and formally embeds what has long been the Department of Home Affairs' preferred channel — a fully electronic application lodged through ImmiAccount.
What the Instrument Requires
Under LIN 26/061, a valid Subclass 651 visa application must meet two conditions:
Requirement | Detail |
Approved Form | Form 1362 (Internet) |
Lodgement Method | Internet application |
This instrument is created in accordance with subregulation 2.07(5) of the Migration Regulations 1994, allowing the Minister to determine the approved form, location, and method for submitting a valid visa application as permitted by Schedule 1 of the Regulations. LIN 26/061 revokes and substitutes the Arrangements for E-Visitor Applications 2016/111 (IMMI 16/111), which was set to expire on 1 April 2027. The new version remains largely unchanged in structure and does not offer a new application process.
What Changes in Practice
For travellers from the 36 European countries eligible for an eVisitor, nothing changes operationally. The visa remains free, valid for 12 months, and permits stays of up to three months per entry for tourism or business visitor activities.
The distinction is legal rather than practical. An application that is not made using Form 1362 (Internet) or not submitted as an internet application may not meet the requirements for a valid visa application. Essentially, submitting the application outside the designated channel makes it legally invalid.
Migration agents warn this could catch out small tour operators still using legacy workflows, or clients who attempt to post forms directly to overseas embassies.
The Department's Position
The Department of Home Affairs views online lodgement as a positive, low-risk administrative arrangement that lowers application costs and prevents delivery delays.
This initiative is part of a larger effort to digitise 90 percent of visa applications by 2027, thereby reducing processing costs and the risk of fraud. Border systems already use ImmiAccount data to pre-fill passenger cards, and the Department anticipates that stronger integration will enhance automated risk profiling, enabling low-risk visitors to pass through SmartGates more quickly.
Airlines are expected to benefit as well, with Advance Passenger Processing error messages likely to decline when passport data is entered only once by the traveller.
Compliance Implications for Employers
For multinational employers, the primary implication lies in documentation rather than process.
Staff travelling on an eVisitor for short business meetings must now retain screenshots of the online form and the confirmation email as part of their travel file. Internal auditors have flagged several recent cases where expense claims lacked proof that the correct visa was held.
Employer Action | Detail |
Update Pre-Trip Checklists | Build Form 1362 and the ImmiAccount URL into standard procedures |
Retain Evidence | Screenshot the submitted form and save the confirmation email |
Brief Frequent Travellers | European assignees making repeated trips should understand the lodgement channel |
Review Legacy Workflows | Tour operators and agents using PDF or paper processes must migrate |
Read Also
Quick Reference Summary
Aspect | Details |
Instrument | LIN 26/061 |
Effective Date | 29 September 2026 |
Replaces | IMMI 16/111 |
Approved Form | Form 1362 (Internet) |
Lodgement Method | Internet application via ImmiAccount |
Eligible Nationalities | 36 European countries |
Visa Cost | Free |
Validity | 12 months, three months per entry |
Invalid Applications | Lodged outside prescribed channel |
Department Target | 90% of visa applications digitised by 2027 |
Official Resources
Resource | Link |
Migration Alliance – LIN 26/061 Summary | |
Department of Home Affairs – eVisitor (subclass 651) | |
ImmiAccount | |
Federal Register of Legislation |
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