This comes up constantly — the passport is renewed, replaced after loss, or reissued after a name change, and the traveller assumes the visa is gone. It is not, but it does not follow the new passport by itself either.
What actually happens
The eVisitor stays attached to the passport number it was granted against. Airlines and border systems check the passport you present. If that passport is new, the link has to be updated first.
What to do
- Tell the Department of Home Affairs about the new passport before you travel.
- Do not apply for a second eVisitor to "replace" the first — that is not how the change is handled.
- Carry the old passport if you still have it and it is not cancelled in a way that prevents this.
Do this as soon as the new passport arrives, not at the airport. Updating details is routine when there is time and a problem when there is not.
Source: Department of Home Affairs — eVisitor (subclass 651)
More on the eVisitor
Which one do I need?
Similar names, very different rules. Which scheme applies to which destination, what each costs, and the mistakes that come from mixing them up.
After you land
Your visa gets you on the plane. What comes after — SmartGate, cash, tax refunds, healthcare, driving, emergencies — checked against official sources.
SmartGate on arrival
Arrival SmartGates take travellers aged 7+ on any valid passport during an ABF trial. The paper Incoming Passenger Card is still required.
Liquids in hand luggage
On international flights from Australia, liquids, aerosols and gels must be in 100 mL containers in one clear bag. Inorganic powders are limited too.
Money, cards and tipping
Prices include 10% GST, card surcharges are banned from 1 October 2026, and tipping is optional. Cash of AUD 10,000+ must be declared.
Tax refund (TRS)
Spend AUD 300+ with one business within 60 days of leaving, carry the goods, and claim at the airport at least 30 minutes before departure.