Issue · September 2026 · everything a nomad needs, city by city

Nomadzine

The visa · Australia

Australia

Australia has no visa for remote workers, and none is proposed. Nomads enter as visitors on the free eVisitor, the Electronic Travel Authority or the paid Visitor visa, or on a Working Holiday visa if they are under the age cap for their passport. The one thing to know is that every visitor stream carries a no-work condition, and Home Affairs has never published a rule that expressly allows remote work for an overseas employer.

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The routes

Researched 6 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice

  1. Temporary stay

    Visitor visa (subclass 600)

    Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream / Business Visitor stream / Frequent Traveller stream

    Passports that are not eligible for the eVisitor or the ETA, and anyone wanting a single stay longer than three months.

    Income floor
    None published. Home Affairs requires evidence of enough money to support the stay; migration agents report no fixed figure is set for any visitor stream.
    Duration
    Granted for stays of 3, 6 or 12 months per visit; multiple-entry grants can be valid for longer, but a 12-month stay is the ceiling and a further onshore visitor grant is not guaranteed.
    Cost
    From 1 July 2026, as reported by migration agents after the 25 per cent fee rise: Tourist stream AUD 250 lodged outside Australia, AUD 630 lodged inside Australia, Frequent Traveller stream AUD 1,845. Home Affairs' own fee table could not be read this month.
    Processing
    No statutory time. Home Affairs publishes a processing-time guide tool showing times for recently decided applications; it warns the figures are a guide only.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality; genuine temporary entrant; health and character requirements; the Tourist stream carries condition 8101 (no work). Onshore applicants must not hold a visa with a no-further-stay condition.
    Work rights
    No work in Australia (condition 8101 on the Tourist stream). The Business Visitor stream allows business visitor activities such as meetings and negotiations but not work for an Australian business. Remote work for an overseas employer is not addressed by Home Affairs; migration agents report it is generally treated as compatible with a visit when tourism remains the main purpose. Treat it as grey.
    Dependants
    Each family member applies for their own visitor visa; there is no dependant add-on.
    Leads to
    no
    Apply
    Online through ImmiAccount, from outside or inside Australia.

    Documents Passport valid for the stay · Evidence of funds to support the visit · Evidence of purpose of visit and intention to leave (itinerary, ties at home) · Health examination or insurance if requested · Character documents if requested

    Official page →

  2. Temporary stay

    eVisitor (subclass 651)

    eVisitor (subclass 651)

    Holders of eligible European passports, including EU member states, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway, who want repeated short stays at no cost.

    Income floor
    None published beyond having enough money to support the stay.
    Duration
    Up to 3 months at a time, as many times as wanted within 12 months of grant.
    Cost
    No visa application charge in most cases.
    Processing
    Home Affairs directs applicants to its processing-time guide tool; most grants are reported within days.
    Eligibility
    Eligible European passport; must be outside Australia when applying and when granted; health and character requirements; no work.
    Work rights
    No work in Australia; business visitor activities only. Remote work for an overseas employer is not addressed in the published rules and is reported as tolerated in practice but not authorised.
    Dependants
    Each traveller, including children, needs their own eVisitor.
    Leads to
    no
    Apply
    Online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia.

    Documents Eligible passport · Contact and travel details entered online

    Official page →

  3. Temporary stay

    Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)

    Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)

    Holders of eligible passports outside the eVisitor list, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

    Income floor
    None published beyond having enough money to support the stay.
    Duration
    Up to 3 months per visit, multiple entries, for 12 months from grant or until the passport expires.
    Cost
    No visa application charge; a small service charge in AUD is paid when applying.
    Processing
    Usually granted quickly; Home Affairs publishes indicative times in its processing-time guide tool.
    Eligibility
    Eligible passport; must be outside Australia when applying; health and character requirements; no work.
    Work rights
    No work in Australia; business visitor activities only. Remote work for an overseas employer is unaddressed and reported as grey.
    Dependants
    Each traveller applies separately.
    Leads to
    no
    Apply
    Online, from outside Australia, through the Australian ETA app.

    Documents Eligible passport · Application through the Australian ETA app or an authorised channel

    Official page →

  4. Working holiday

    Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

    Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)

    Remote workers aged 18 to 30, or 18 to 35 for some passports, from partner countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Ireland and Italy, who want a full year with lawful work rights.

    Income floor
    No income test; applicants must show funds to support themselves on arrival, a figure Home Affairs publishes on its eligibility tab, which could not be read this month.
    Duration
    12 months. A second visa follows specified regional work in the first year, and a third after further specified work in the second year.
    Cost
    From 1 July 2026: AUD 840 for a first visa, AUD 1,000 for a second or third visa (previously AUD 670 for each).
    Processing
    No statutory time; Home Affairs publishes indicative times in its processing-time guide tool.
    Eligibility
    Eligible passport; aged 18 to 30 inclusive, or up to 35 for United Kingdom passports and, from 1 July 2026, Cyprus, Finland, Germany and the Republic of Korea; from 1 July 2026 the age is assessed at lodgement; no dependent children accompanying; health and character requirements.
    Work rights
    Work for any Australian employer, with a published limit on time spent with one employer and published exemptions; study for a limited period; remote work for an overseas employer sits alongside that lawfully.
    Dependants
    No dependent children may accompany the holder; a partner applies in their own right.
    Leads to
    no
    Apply
    Online through ImmiAccount; the first visa is lodged from outside Australia.

    Documents Eligible passport · Evidence of funds for the first months and an onward fare · Health examinations where requested · Character documents where requested · Evidence of specified work for a second or third visa

    Official page →

  5. Working holiday

    Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)

    Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)

    Nationals of the second tier of partner countries, including the United States, Spain, Argentina and Vietnam, who meet extra education and English conditions.

    Income floor
    No income test; funds to support the stay must be shown, as for the 417.
    Duration
    12 months, with second and third visas available after specified work.
    Cost
    From 1 July 2026: AUD 840 for a first visa, AUD 1,000 for a second or third visa.
    Processing
    No statutory time; indicative times in Home Affairs' processing-time guide tool.
    Eligibility
    Eligible passport; age limits as published per country, assessed at lodgement from 1 July 2026; education and English requirements for most countries; annual country caps apply to many passports; health and character requirements.
    Work rights
    Work for Australian employers within the published per-employer limit; remote work for overseas clients alongside.
    Dependants
    No dependent children may accompany the holder.
    Leads to
    no
    Apply
    Online through ImmiAccount.

    Documents Eligible passport · Evidence of funds · Evidence of education level where required · Evidence of English where required · Government support letter where the partner country requires it

    Official page →

  6. Long stay

    Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

    Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)

    A remote worker who decides to stay and takes a sponsored job with an Australian employer; it is the realistic long-term door, not a nomad route.

    Income floor
    The sponsoring employer must pay at least the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold, AUD 79,423 a year for applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026, or the market rate if higher.
    Duration
    Up to 4 years depending on stream, renewable while the sponsorship continues.
    Cost
    Core Skills stream AUD 4,015 from 1 July 2026 (previously AUD 3,210), plus employer nomination charges.
    Processing
    No statutory time; indicative times published by Home Affairs.
    Eligibility
    Approved employer sponsor and nomination; skills and experience for the occupation; English; health and character.
    Work rights
    Employment for the sponsoring employer only; remote work for others is not what the visa is for.
    Dependants
    Partner and dependent children can be included with full work rights.
    Leads to
    Yes; Home Affairs publishes an employer-sponsored pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme after a period with the sponsor.
    Apply
    Online through ImmiAccount, inside or outside Australia.

    Documents Employer nomination · Evidence of qualifications and work experience · English test result or exemption · Health and character documents

    Official page →

Without a visa, by passport

The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated

  • EU / EEA / SwitzerlandeVisitor (651): free, 3 months per visit, multiple entries over 12 monthsNo work; business visitor activities only. Remote work for an overseas employer is unaddressed by Home Affairs and reported as tolerated in practice, so grey.
  • United KingdomeVisitor (651): free, 3 months per visit over 12 months; Working Holiday to age 35Same no-work condition as all visitor streams; the Working Holiday visa is the lawful route to earn locally.
  • United StatesETA (601): 3 months per visit over 12 months, small service chargeNo work in Australia; remote work for a US employer is not authorised in the published rules and is reported as grey.
  • CanadaETA (601): 3 months per visit over 12 monthsNo work; grey for remote work for a Canadian employer. Working Holiday visa available.
  • JapanETA (601): 3 months per visit over 12 monthsNo work; business visitor activities only.
  • SingaporeETA (601): 3 months per visit over 12 monthsNo work; business visitor activities only.
  • New ZealandSpecial Category visa (444) granted on arrival, no set limitFull work rights, so remote and local work are both lawful.
  • IndiaVisa required: Visitor visa (600), AUD 250 from outside AustraliaCondition 8101, no work; remote work for an Indian employer is grey.
  • BrazilVisa required: Visitor visa (600)Condition 8101, no work; remote work grey.
  • South AfricaVisa required: Visitor visa (600)Condition 8101, no work; remote work grey.
  • TurkeyVisa required: Visitor visa (600)Condition 8101, no work; remote work grey.

Tax

When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer

Residency trigger
The Australian Taxation Office applies four tests and says immigration status is irrelevant. The primary resides test weighs physical presence, intention, family, business or employment ties, assets and living arrangements. Failing that, residence arises under the domicile test, or under the 183-day test if present for more than half the income year (1 July to 30 June), continuously or with breaks, unless the usual place of abode is abroad and there is no intention to take up residence. The Commonwealth superannuation test only concerns Australian government employees posted overseas.
Special regime
No nomad or newcomer flat-tax regime. Temporary visa holders can be temporary residents, a status the ATO publishes separately and which limits tax on most foreign-sourced income. Working holiday makers are taxed under their own published rates from the first dollar. The 2021-22 Budget proposal to replace the tests with a 183-day bright line and a secondary 45-day test had not been legislated as at June 2026, so the current tests apply in full.
Social security
Australia has no contribution-based social insurance for workers; there is no certificate-of-coverage system for someone working remotely for a foreign employer. Australian employers must pay superannuation for local employees. Residents pay the Medicare levy; the ATO states foreign residents do not pay it.
Treaties
Australia has a wide network of double-taxation agreements. For someone who stays a foreign resident, the ATO states that only Australian-sourced income is taxable and that Australian interest, dividends and royalties are subject to withholding as a final tax. A remote employee who becomes resident is taxed on worldwide income with treaty relief for tax paid abroad.

Practicalities

Bank account
Major banks open accounts for temporary visa holders on an identity check at a branch with passport and visa; several allow the account to be opened online before arrival and activated in person.
SIM registration
Prepaid SIMs must be activated with an identity check against a passport or other approved document under federal telecommunications identity rules.
Health insurance
Visitor and working holiday visa holders have no Medicare cover unless their country has a reciprocal health care agreement with Australia, which covers essential care only for holders from countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Malta and Slovenia; others need private travel or visitor cover.
Tax file number
A tax file number is free from the ATO, applied for online after arrival while holding a valid visa; it is required for any Australian employment, including working holiday work.
Address registration
There is no residence registration; Home Affairs only requires visa holders to keep their contact details current in ImmiAccount.
Overstay penalties
Overstaying makes the person an unlawful non-citizen liable to detention and removal. Leaving voluntarily more than 28 days after the visa expired triggers a three-year exclusion from further temporary visas under public interest criterion 4014; a Bridging visa E is the published way to regularise before departure.

Australia: no nomad visa, a free eVisitor for Europeans, and a working holiday that now costs more

Where remote workers base themselves

Australia sells itself to nomads on lifestyle rather than paperwork. Sydney and Melbourne hold most of the coworking stock and the flights, Brisbane and the Gold Coast draw the surf-and-laptop crowd, and Perth suits anyone whose clients sit in Asian time zones. Costs are the catch: rents in the big cities are among the highest in the English-speaking world, and short lets in the coastal towns spike in the southern summer.

The legal shape of a stay is fixed by passport. Europeans cycle through free three-month eVisitor visits, North Americans and East Asians do the same on the ETA, and everyone else pays for a Visitor visa that can run to twelve months in one stay. Nobody under the age cap should overlook the Working Holiday visa: it is the only route that turns a nomad into someone who can lawfully invoice an Australian client or take a local contract.

What applicants report about the process

Visitor grants are fast and largely automated; the friction is at the border and on the second visit. Immigration officers can ask what an eVisitor or ETA holder does for money, and a pattern of back-to-back three-month stays invites the genuine-visitor question. Migration agents advise that tourism must remain the main purpose and that a laptop for an employer abroad is generally accepted, but no official page says so, and condition 8101 is written as an outright ban on work.

Working holiday applicants report smoother handling since the July 2026 rule that age is checked at lodgement rather than at decision. The fee jump to AUD 840, and AUD 1,000 for a second or third visa, is the main complaint of 2026. Home Affairs' own eligibility and fee tabs on the visa pages load separately from the page itself, which is why third-party summaries are so widely relied on.

Money, banking and tax

Opening a bank account is straightforward on a temporary visa, with several majors letting arrivals set one up online in advance. A tax file number is free and needed only if there will be Australian earnings. Working holiday makers are taxed from the first dollar at their own rates and need an employer registered for the scheme.

The tax trap is residence, which the ATO decides on its own tests and not on the visa. A twelve-month Visitor visa holder who rents a flat, brings a partner and keeps returning can be found to reside in Australia, and the 183-day test bites at more than half the July-to-June year. The proposed bright-line test that would have made this arithmetic simpler has still not been legislated four years after it was announced.

What is changing

The direction of travel is higher fees and tighter checks rather than new routes. July 2026 brought a 25 per cent rise across most visa charges, a higher sponsored-salary floor, and the working holiday age extension to four more countries. There is no announced digital nomad visa, no consultation on one, and the department's public position remains that remote workers use the visitor and working holiday subclasses as they stand.

Researched from immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · immi.homeaffairs.gov.au · ato.gov.au · visaenvoy.com · firstmigrationservice.com · themigration.com.au · discover.passportindex.org · visasnews.com · the authority