Subclass 651 vs 500 Visa | Choose the Best Visa for Australia

Know how you can visit Australia during holidays. But wait…are you planning to study in Australia? Here is the guide to Subclass 651 vs 500 visas.

This comprehensive guide will give answers to all questions like;

• What are the conditions and requirements for an eVisitor subclass 651 visa?
• What is the eligibility requirements?
• How can you transition from the 651 visa to PR?
• What is the way to PR through a subclass 500 visa?
• Comparison with different Australian subclass visas.

So, let’s get started with the in-depth overview of the subclass 651 and 500 visas.

Overview: Subclass 651 vs 500 

The eVisitor subclass 651 visa is a kind of multipurpose visa. People use it for family visits, business tours, or holidays. This eVisitor visa allows you to stay in Australia not more than three months.

The eVisitor subclass 651 visa has a very high success rate in Australia. According to statistics, about 91.6% of applications were approved by Australia in 2022, whereas the percentage of approved visa applications was 85.8% in 2023.

In contrast t, the subclass 500 visa has more stay duration and validity. So, it is basically a student visa. The international students who want to pursue education in Australia apply for this visa. Also, the duration of the visa depends upon the course or program. So, the maximum course length can be up to five years.

According to statistics, the student v a  has a great record in 2024. 

“There is a success rate of 85.1 % to 86.7 % with the 13% rejection rate.”

But Subclass 651 vs 500  has many differences in the conditions and requirements.

Key Differences: Subclass 651 vs 500

Let’s have a look at the key differences of subclass 651 and 500.

1. Purpose and Eligibility Criteria

eVisitor subclass 651 is especially thirty-six countries in the world. Thus, people apply for this visa mostly for tourism. But this visa is also the best option for business tours. Also, visa holders can take part in short-term courses of approximately months.

Here is the eligibility criteria for the subclass 651.

• The applicant must apply from outside Australia.
• There must a be valid passport of an eligible country.
• Authentic health certificates.
• No past criminal record.
• The family the of applicant must not owe any debt the to Australian Government.
• Enough financial funds to support the needs during the stay in Australia.

On the other hand, a Subclass 500 visa is for students who want to shape their bright future in Australia. Here is the eligibility criteria for the subclass 500 visa. 

• The applicant must apply from outside Australia.
• Proof of the enrollment the in the course (Australia)
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• The proof of welfare arrangement for students under 18.
• Authentic health certificates.
• No past criminal record.
• No pending debts in Australia.
• Enough financial funds to support the needs of the ng stay.
• If there a is student scholarship proof of it is also needed. 

2. Duration of stay and processing time: Subclass 651 vs 500

The eVisitor subclass 651 visa has a validity of twelve months. Bhe Australia gives permissito stay for just three months per entry. Moreover, the visa application takes es few business days a to couple of weeks.

On the other hand, Subclass 500 visa has different stay duration for different study programs. Thus, the maximum stay can be up to five years in Australia. Moreover, the subclass 500 visa takes a bit longer time than that of the 651 visa.

So, according to statistics of subclass 500 visa processing in 2024, 

“51% of visa applications are processed within one and half months, while 90% of applications took more than two months.”

3. Visa Costs and Work rights

The subclass 651 visa is free of cost. So, it is an ideal eVisitor visa for budget-conscious people. Therefore, this is a cost-effective option for exploring Australia in a short-term visit. But only a few European countries are eligible for this kind of visa. Here is the list of ten popular countries.

• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Sweden
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Austria
• Ireland

Moreover, if you are on a business tour, the government will allow you to attend the meetings. But there is no permission to work in Australia while having an eVisitor visa.

In subclass 651 vs 500, one of the major differences the is cost an of Australian visa. The subclass 500 visa costs AUD 1,600. However, the cost may vary due to different educational institutions and study programs. 

Moreover, the students have also permission to earn money. The Australian government allows part-time work of about 20 hours per week during a study visa.

So. fiout ll the form from our website and start your new journey in Australia.

Comparison with other visas

Subclass 651 vs Subclass 600

While applying fa or visitor visa, it is always important to check the eligibility criteria. So, the in case of subclass 651, a list of particular European countries is eligible for the visa. However, if you don’t find your country in this list, the subclass 600 visa is the solution.

Here is the detailed comparison of eVisitor subclass 651 and visitor visa subclass 600.

Feature	eVisitor Subclass 651	Visitor Visa Subclass 600
Purpose	Short-term tourism or business	Tourism, business, or visiting family
Duration	Up to 3 months per entry in one year	Up to 12 months
Cost	Free	Starting from AUD 145
Eligibility	Citizens of eligible European countries	All nationalities
Application Method	Online application only	Online or paper application
Processing Time	1-2 business days	Up to 20 business days

Subclass 651 vs Subclass 417

The Australian government has many visitor visa options. Subclass 417 is the popular visa that gives permission for full-time work to the visa holder. Thus, it is called a working holiday along with part-time work. 

She people fund their holiday trips in Australia by workipart-timeime. 

Here is the detailed comparison of subclass 651 vs subclass 417.

Feature	eVisitor Subclass 651	Working Holiday Subclass 417
Purpose	Short-term tourism or business	Holiday with short-term work
Duration	Up to 3 months per visit	Up to 12 months
Work Rights	No work allowed	Full-time work allowed
Age Limit	No age limit	18 to 30 years old
Eligibility	European countries	Citizens of eligible countries (e.g., UK, Canada)
Visa Cost	Free	AUD 510
Processing Time	1-2 business days	Up to 3 weeks

Subclass 500 vs Subclass 462

Work and study are a good combination if you are living in Australia. Thus, the subclass 500 gives full freedom of study to the foreign students. Therefore, it is up to the students if they want to work part-time or not. The subclass 462 visa is a short-term visa that permits full-time work in Australia.

Here is the detailed comparison of the subclass 500 and 462.

Feature	Visitor Visa Subclass 500	Work and Holiday Subclass 462
Purpose	Full-time study	Holiday with short-term work
Duration	Duration of academic course	Up to 12 months
Work Rights	Part-time work (20 hours/week during term; full-time during breaks)	Full-time work allowed
Age Limit	No age limit	18 to 30 years old
Eligibility	Accepted into an Australian educational institution	Citizens of eligible non-European countries (e.g., USA, China)
Visa Cost	Starts from AUD 650	AUD 510
Processing Time	1 to several months, depending on assessment requirements	Up to 2 months

Final Verdict

The subclass 651 vs 500 visas is a debate until you don’t know your needs. If you are a European national, subclass 651 is the ideal visa option. Thus, you can explore the beauty of Australia, visit family, etc. If you are a foreign student then the subclass 500 is the best option for you. Moreover, there are higher chances of permanent residency after the completion of studies.

So, hurry and fill out the form,orm, and don’t miss one ut the opportunities shaping a secure future.

FAQs

Can I work on a Subclass 651 (eVisitor Visa)?

No, the eVisitor Visa does not permit any form of work. It is strictly for tourism or business purposes, and holders must leave Australia before the visa expires.

How long can I stay in Australia with a Subclass 500 (Student Visa)?

The duration of stay on a Subclass 500 Visa is based on the length of the enrolled academic program. The visa remains valid for the entire duration of the course, plus any additional time specified by the visa conditions.

What are the requirements for applying for a Subclass 651 (eVisitor Visa)?

To apply for the eVisitor Visa, applicants must be citizens of eligible countries, hold a valid passport, or health certificate, and have no criminal record. Additionally, they must intend to visit Australia for tourism or business and must not intend to work during their stay.