The Visitor visa (subclass 600) allows people to travel to Australia temporarily for:
- Tourism (holiday)
- Business visitor purposes
- Visiting family
This visa is designed for short-term stays and does not allow permanent residence.
What this visa allows you to do
With this visa, you can:
- Visit Australia for tourism or family visits
- Travel for short-term business activities
- Stay for up to 3, 6, or 12 months (depending on what DHA grants)
- Enter Australia once or multiple times (depending on visa conditions)
Visitor Visa Streams (Types)
The Visitor visa (subclass 600) has 3 main streams:
1) Tourist Stream
For people travelling to Australia for a holiday or to visit family/friends.
You must:
- Genuinely intend to visit Australia for tourism or to visit family/friends
- Have enough funds to cover your stay
- Meet health and character requirements
- Possibly obtain health insurance (if requested)
2) Business Visitor Stream
For people travelling to Australia for short-term business activities.
You must:
- Genuinely intend to visit for eligible business activities, such as:
- attending a conference or seminar
- business meetings
- negotiations
- exploring business opportunities
- Have a business background relevant to your visit
- Have enough funds to cover your stay
- Meet health and character requirements
- Possibly obtain health insurance (if requested)
3) Sponsored Family Stream
For people travelling to Australia to visit family and who are sponsored by an eligible relative in Australia.
Applicant Requirements
You must:
- Be sponsored by an eligible relative in Australia
- Genuinely intend to visit family
- Have enough funds to cover your stay
- Meet health and character requirements
- Possibly obtain health insurance (if requested)
Sponsor Requirements
Your sponsor must:
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be settled in Australia (usually at least 2 years)
- Be a close family member, such as:
- spouse/de facto partner
- parent, child, sibling
- grandparent, grandchild
- aunt, uncle, niece, nephew
- including step or adopted equivalents
In some cases, sponsorship may also be done by:
- a Member of Parliament
- an authorised government representative
- a local government mayor
The sponsor must also:
- Not be sponsoring another visitor currently (unless it’s the same family and same travel reason)
- Not have sponsored someone in the last 5 years who breached visa conditions
Security Bond (If Required)
In some cases, DHA may require a security bond, usually between:
- AUD $5,000 to $15,000
This bond is paid by the sponsor and is refunded if the visitor:
- Complies with visa conditions
- Leaves Australia before the visa expires
Stay Period
This visa can allow a stay of:
- Up to 3 months
- Up to 6 months
- Up to 12 months
The visa can be:
- Single entry, or
- Multiple entry
Even on a multiple-entry visa, you cannot stay longer than the total period DHA grants.
Cost
The base application charge usually ranges from:
- AUD 200 (offshore)
- AUD 500 (onshore)
Some passport holders may qualify for cheaper or free options such as:
- eVisitor (subclass 651) – free
- Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) – AUD 20 service charge
Applying from Inside Australia
If you are inside Australia, you may be able to apply online for the Tourist stream if:
- You currently hold a valid visa
- Your visa does not have Condition 8503 (No Further Stay)
Applying from Outside Australia
If you are outside Australia:
- Only certain passport holders can apply online
- If you cannot apply online, you may need to lodge a paper application
Visa Conditions (Important)
No Further Stay (8503 / 8534 / 8535)
If your visa has condition 8503, 8534, or 8535:
- You usually cannot apply for another substantive visa while in Australia
- You may request a waiver if:
- your visa expires in less than 4 weeks, and
- you cannot leave due to compelling circumstances
Condition 8531
This condition means you must not remain in Australia beyond the stay period granted.
If you cannot depart as planned:
- Apply for a new visa before your current visa expires
Condition 8558
This condition limits your stay to:
- No more than 12 months in any 18-month period
If you cannot depart as planned:
- Apply for a further visa before your visa expires
Extending a Visitor Visa
Visitor visas and ETAs cannot be extended.
If your visa expires, you must apply for a new visa.
Bridging Visas (If You Apply Onshore)
If you apply for a new visa before your current visa expires:
- You may be granted a Bridging Visa to stay lawful until a decision is made
- Work rights depend on the bridging visa conditions
If your visa has already expired:
- You should apply immediately for a Bridging Visa E (BVE)
Checking Your Visa
You can check:
- visa expiry date
- visa conditions
- travel conditions
using VEVO, or your visa grant letter.
