The standard visitor visa, with streams for tourists, sponsored family visits and business visitors. Stays are usually 3, 6 or 12 months. It's the right option when your passport isn't eligible for the online ETA or eVisitor, or you need a longer or sponsored stay.

• No work allowed — business visitors can attend meetings and negotiations, but not sell to the public
• Longer visitor options exist for parents of Australians
• Study is capped at 3 months

Free or low-cost electronic authorities for short visits. The ETA (601) covers passport holders from countries including the US, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, applied for via the ETA app. The eVisitor (651) covers most European passports and is free. Both allow visits of up to 3 months at a time over a 12-month period.

• Tourism and business-visitor activities only — no work
• Multiple entries during the validity period
• Not extendable — if you need longer, look at the Visitor 600

Twelve months to travel and work your way around Australia, for young people from partner countries. The 417 (Working Holiday) and 462 (Work and Holiday) differ mainly in eligible countries and some extra requirements. Do specified work — like regional farm, construction or hospitality jobs — and you can earn a second, then third, year.

• Ages 18–30, or up to 35 for some countries (including the UK)
• Recent changes have relaxed rules for some nationalities (e.g. UK applicants no longer need specified work for extensions) — check your country's current settings
• Study up to 4 months; work for the same employer usually capped at 6 months