Visitor visa (subclass 600)
Visitor visa (subclass 600)
If you have a member of your immediate family who is a permanent resident of Australia or an Australian citizen, you might be able to apply for a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600).
The application fee for a subclass 600 Visitor Visa from within Australia is AUD 475.
Visitor visa (subclass 600) – Features
Holders of this visa are permitted to visit Australia:
- as tourists, to see family or as a business visitor
- for a period of up to three, six or 12 months, depending on their circumstances
Applications for a subclass 600 Visitor visa cost from AUD 190 for applications from outside Australia, and from AUD 475 for applications from within Australia.
Some individuals may be able to apply instead for a cheaper, or even a free visa. Eligibility for such visas is tied to your nationality.
Individuals with passports from certain countries may be eligible for an eVisitor (subclass 651) visa, which is free. Others may qualify for the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) visa, which carries an application fee of AUD 20.
Eligibility requirements
You may be eligible for this visa if you intend to travel to Australia
- as a tourist
- to see members of your family
- to undertake certain business activities
- on a tour provided by a registered travel agent from PR China
Applications can be submitted online if you are already in Australia as long as you already have another valid visa, and have not been placed under ‘condition 8503’.
For applications from individuals located outside Australia, you can only apply online if you hold a passport from certain countries. If you are not eligible to apply online, you can submit a paper application using the appropriate form.
How often can I come to Australia on a Visitor Visa?
It may be that you are only permitted to enter Australia once, and that if you leave the country you would have to apply for a new visa in order to be allowed to return.
It is also possible that you will be granted the ability to leave and return to Australia as often as you like, providing that you are still within the validity period of your visa.
Who can get a Visitor Visa
In order to be awarded this visa, you should:
- meet the standard health and good character requirements for Australian visa applications
- be able to financially support yourself during your visit
- be planning to travel to Australia as a genuine visitor e.g. to visit family or friends, as a tourist
You must be physically located outside Australia when you receive the decision on your visa.
Please note that you may be required to demonstrate that you have health insurance to cover a 12 month period. You may also be required to provide evidence of a sponsor, or to arrange a security bond. We can advise whether these additional requirements will apply to you.
Parents of Australians
Because the queue for the permanent Parent (Migrant) visa (subclass 103) is so long, it may be possible to secure a longer visitor visa if you are intending to visit family in Australia. If this is the case for you, you may wish to request a validity period of up to 12 months and provide evidence that your child or step-child is either a citizen of Australia, a permanent resident of Australia, or an eligible New Zealand citizen.
Visas are considered and granted on a case-by-case basis, and can be granted for up to:
- five years if you are a parent currently outside of Australia and who is in the queue for a Parent (Migrant) visa (subclass 103)
- three years if you are a parent currently outside Australia with a history of being issued an Australian visa and:
- have not applied for a Parent visa; or
- have applied for a Parent visa (subclass 103) but are not yet in the Parent visa queue
- 18 months for parents who have not previously travelled to Australia and either:
- have not applied for a Parent visa
- have applied for a Parent visa (subclass 103) but are not yet in the Parent visa queue.
A visa issued in these circumstances will usually have three extra visa conditions:
- Maximum 12 month stay in 18 months: It will not be permitted for you to remain in Australia for longer than 12 months in a single visit, or for more than 12 months out of 18
- Health insurance: Successful applicants will be required to have suitable health insurance to cover their entire stay in Australia.
- No further stay: Applications for additional visas will not be permitted unless the holder has left Australia.
Health requirements
Applicants must ensure that they are in good health, and will be required to provide proof of this through health examinations, the precise nature of which will depend on their country of application and recent travel history.
Health insurance
Travellers on Visitor Visas are responsible for their own healthcare costs while in Australia, unless they are from a country with a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia.
Character requirements
Applicants must meet standard good character requirements, and may need to provide police certificates from any country they have lived in for at least one year during the previous ten years.
Debts to the Australian Government
Applicants should not owe any money to the Government of Australia, unless such debts are the subject of a formal repayment program.
Tourist Stream: checklist
What information and supporting documentation you will need for your tourist visa application will depend on your nationality. If asked to provide supporting information, it is in your best interest to submit as much relevant information as possible in order to assist caseworkers in making their decision.
You will not usually be asked to provide original documents (except for police documents), but you will generally need to ensure that any copies of official paperwork you provide have been certified and, if not in English, translated into English by an accredited translator.
The following checklist can help you ensure that you have all the necessary information to hand when preparing your application.
Forms
- A completed application form.
If you are receiving formal assistance
- If someone else has given you formal advice or is submitting your application on your behalf, you will need:
- Form 956 – Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance (the agent or exempt person will complete this form, but it must be signed by you).
- If you would like another person to receive correspondence from the Department of Home Affairs on your behalf :
- Form 956a Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient
Fees
- Be ready to pay the visa application fee
Your identity
- You will need certified copies of the photo and personal details page/s of the passports or travel documents from everyone included in the visitor visa application
- You will also need one 45mm x 35mm passport photo for each person in the application, with their name written clearly on the reverse
- If anyone on the application has legally changed their name, you will need a certified copy of the proof of this name change
- You may also need certified copies of birth certificates for anyone on the application
Military records
- If someone in the application has served in the military (in any country), you may need to provide copies of their discharge papers or service record
Proof of visitor status
- Documents showing you have sufficient funds to travel to, visit and leave Australia, such as pay slips, a credit card statement showing an unused limit, or bank statements
- Letters of invitation from any family or friends whom you intend to visit
- Planned tourist activities, such as hotel bookings, tour itineraries, internal flight details
- If necessary, information to show that you have motivation to return home at the end of your trip. For example:
- evidence of current employment
- proof of enrolment in full-time study
- evidence of owned property or other assets in your home country
Children 17 or younger
- Underage children will need to enclose proof that anyone with legal responsibility for them is content for them to travel to Australia, as well as the ‘Form 1229’ consent form, unless all those people are accompanying the child.
- Underage children who plan to stay with someone not their relative in Australia will also need to enclose a declaration from that person (Form 1257)
Business Visitor Stream: checklist
What information and supporting documentation you will need for your tourist visa application will depend on your nationality. If asked to provide supporting information, it is in your best interest to submit as much relevant information as possible in order to assist caseworkers in making their decision.
You will not usually be asked to provide original documents (except for police documents), but you will generally need to ensure that any copies of official paperwork you provide have been certified and, if not in English, translated into English by an accredited translator.
The following checklist can help you ensure that you have all the necessary information to hand when preparing your application.
Fees
- Be ready to pay the visa application fee
Your identity
- You will need certified copies of the photo and personal details page/s of the passports or travel documents from everyone included in the visitor visa application
- You will also need one 45mm x 35mm passport photo for each person in the application, with their name written clearly on the reverse
- If anyone on the application has legally changed their name, you will need a certified copy of the proof of this name change
- You may also need certified copies of birth certificates for anyone on the application
Military records
- If someone in the application has served in the military (in any country), you may need to provide copies of their discharge papers or service record
Proof of visitor status
- Documents showing you have sufficient funds to travel to, visit and leave Australia, such as pay slips, a credit card statement showing an unused limit, or bank statements
- Letters of invitation from any family or friends whom you intend to visit
- Planned tourist activities, such as hotel bookings, tour itineraries, internal flight details
- If necessary, information to show that you have motivation to return home at the end of your trip. For example:
- evidence of current employment
- proof of enrolment in full-time study
- evidence of owned property or other assets in your home country
Children 17 or younger
- Underage children will need to enclose proof that anyone with legal responsibility for them is content for them to travel to Australia, as well as the ‘Form 1229’ consent form, unless all those people are accompanying the child.
- Underage children who plan to stay with someone not their relative in Australia will also need to enclose a declaration from that person (Form 1257)
Additional documents
- Proof of your reasons for visiting Australia on business, for example:
- an invitation from a host business in Australia
- registration details for a conference
- details on your trip from your employer
- a trip itinerary which includes the business parties you will be meeting and their contact details
- Any qualifications you may have which are relevant to your trip
- Details of your job and what you will be doing while you are in Australia
- Evidence of previous contact with businesses in Australia
- Evidence that your company is active and operating normally, such as an annual report or tax filings
Sponsored Family Stream: checklist
What information and supporting documentation you will need for your tourist visa application will depend on your nationality. If asked to provide supporting information, it is in your best interest to submit as much relevant information as possible in order to assist caseworkers in making their decision.
You will not usually be asked to provide original documents (except for police documents), but you will generally need to ensure that any copies of official paperwork you provide have been certified and, if not in English, translated into English by an accredited translator.
The following checklist can help you ensure that you have all the necessary information to hand when preparing your application.
Fees
- Be ready to pay all visa application fees.
Your identity
- You will need certified copies of the photo and personal details page/s of the passports or travel documents from everyone included in the visitor visa application
- You will also need one 45mm x 35mm passport photo for each person in the application, with their name written clearly on the reverse
- If anyone on the application has legally changed their name, you will need a certified copy of the proof of this name change
- You may also need certified copies of birth certificates for anyone on the application
Military Records
- If someone in the application has served in the military (in any country), you may need to provide copies of their discharge papers or service record
Proof of visitor status
- Documents showing you have sufficient funds to travel to, visit and leave Australia, such as pay slips, a credit card statement showing an unused limit, or bank statements
- Letters of invitation from any family or friends whom you intend to visit
- Planned tourist activities, such as hotel bookings, tour itineraries, internal flight details
- If necessary, information to show that you have motivation to return home at the end of your trip. For example:
- evidence of current employment
- proof of enrolment in full-time study
- evidence of owned property or other assets in your home country
Children younger than 18 years of age
- Underage children will need to enclose proof that anyone with legal responsibility for them is content for them to travel to Australia, as well as the ‘Form 1229’ consent form, unless all those people are accompanying the child.
- Underage children who plan to stay with someone not their relative in Australia will also need to enclose a declaration from that person (Form 1257)
Additional documents
- Certified copies of any marriage certificate or registration of relationship for yourself, and for anyone else in your application
- If your relationship is a de facto one, you should provide evidence you have been together for at least one year (e.g. bank statements, bills in both of your names)
- If you or your partner has been divorced, legally separated or widowed, you should provide a certified copy of any documentary evidence of this
- Proof of dependency for anyone aged 18 or over:
- a certified copy of their birth certificate and proof of their relationship to you
- proof that they live in your household
- proof that they have been dependent on you for at least the 12 months immediately before you lodge your application.
Approved Destination Status (ADS) Stream: document checklist
What information and supporting documentation you will need for your tourist visa application will depend on your nationality. If asked to provide supporting information, it is in your best interest to submit as much relevant information as possible in order to assist caseworkers in making their decision.
You will not usually be asked to provide original documents (except for police documents), but you will generally need to ensure that any copies of official paperwork you provide have been certified and, if not in English, translated into English by an accredited translator.
The following checklist can help you ensure that you have all the necessary information to hand when preparing your application.
Fees
- Be ready to pay any visa application fees.
Your identity
- You will need certified copies of the photo and personal details page/s of the passports or travel documents from everyone included in the visitor visa application
- You will also need one 45mm x 35mm passport photo for each person in the application, with their name written clearly on the reverse
- If anyone on the application has legally changed their name, you will need a certified copy of the proof of this name change
- You may also need certified copies of birth certificates for anyone on the application
Military records
- If someone in the application has served in the military (in any country), you may need to provide copies of their discharge papers or service record
Children 17 or younger
- Underage children will need to enclose proof that anyone with legal responsibility for them is content for them to travel to Australia, as well as the ‘Form 1229’ consent form, unless all those people are accompanying the child.
- Underage children who plan to stay with someone not their relative in Australia will also need to enclose a declaration from that person (Form 1257)
Applicants 75 or older
- Applicants aged over 75 will need to show that they have health insurance for their whole planned stay in Australia
Documents that ADS agents submit for ADS tour groups:
- Letter from ADS agent including ADS tour group name list and tour itinerary
- ADS tour itinerary for your stay in Australia
- Copy of the ADS Tour Leader’s passport
- Copy of the ADS Tour Leader’s Tour Leader Certificate
- Copy of the ADS Tour Leader’s visa grant letter, if they already hold a valid Subclass 600 Visitor (Business Stream) visa.
- ADS agent must provide a statement detailing what integrity checks have been undertaken, and why the agent is willing support the applicant for cases of:
- any applicants of working age declares they are unemployed, or,
- anyone included in the application has been previously refused a visa application to Australia, or held a visa that was cancelled, or has been removed from Australia.
Who can sponsor a family member
In order to sponsor a family member for a visa to visit Australia, you must:
- be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia
- be 18 or over
- have been settled in Australia for (usually) at least two years
- be the family member’s close relative, or a relative of someone who is in the potential applicant’s family unit and who will also be applying for a visa to visit Australia
Related: Bringing family members to Australia
You can only sponsor one person at a time, unless other applicants are within the same family unit (the head of the family, their partner, and any dependent children). You usually have to wait until the first visa you sponsor expires before you can sponsor another visa.
If you sponsored someone previously and they broke the conditions attached to their visa, you will usually be barred from sponsoring similar visas for five years.
Obligations of sponsors
As a sponsor for a Visitor Visa, you must:
- provide assurances that individuals you are sponsoring will abide by all the conditions of their visa, and leave Australia before their visa ceases to be valid
- provide assurances that you will accept responsiblity for any financial obligations to the government as a consequence of your visitor’s stay in Australia
Security bond
The Department of Home Affairs will decide if a security bond is required by the sponsor before a Visitor Visa will be issued.
Security bonds are usually between AUD 5000 and AUD 15000 and must be paid in full before a decision is made on the application. Security bonds are deposits which are fully repaid providing that the visitor does not overstay their visa or breach any of its conditions.
Your visa’s validity period and any conditions attached to it can be found in your grant letter, as well as in VEVO.
Individuals in Australia on an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) can use the Check an ETA service to see their validity period and any conditions attached to their stay.
Visa conditions
No further stay condition (includes 8503, 8534 and 8535)
Visas with condition 8503, 8534 or 8535 may be able to be waived if the visa will expire in less than 4 weeks.
Condition 8531 (must not remain in Australia beyond the period of stay permitted by the visa)
Holders of visas with condition 8531 attached should apply for an additional visa if they are not able for whatever reason to leave Australia before their current visa expires. Doing so may make them eligible for a bridging visa which will prevent them from becoming unlawfully present in Australia once their initial visa runs out.
Condition 8558 (must not stay in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period)
Holders of visas with condition 8558 attached should apply for an additional visa if they are not able for whatever reason to leave Australia before their current visa expires. Doing so may make them eligible for a bridging visa which will prevent them from becoming unlawfully present in Australia once their initial visa runs out.
Related:
- How to extend your stay in Australia on a Visitor visa?
- Reasons for Australian Visitor Visa Refusal
- Australia Visa Waivers and Refunds
- Australia and New Zealand Safe Travel Zone
- Permissible Activities on Visitor Visas
- Bringing Family Members to Australia
- Visitor Visa options for Parents after COVID-19
- Australian borders to open in beginning of 2022
- Australia’s four-phase plan to open its border
- Visas for Digital Nomads
