Explore Australia with confidence

Visitor Visa Subclass 600 Australia

The Visitor Visa Subclass 600 lets you come to Australia for a holiday, to visit family or friends, or for short business meetings. Touseef Abbasi, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2518930), helps travellers and their Australian families choose the right stream and prepare a strong application.

Registered Migration Agent · Touseef Abbasi · MARN 2518930

Quick overview

Visitor visa 600 at a glance

Understand the main conditions before choosing a stream and preparing your application.

Visa type

Temporary

For tourism, family visits and eligible short business activities.

Application fee

3, 6 or 12 months

The Department decides the stay period on your grant.

Entries

Single or multiple

Depending on the conditions of your visa grant.

Work

Not permitted

You cannot work for an Australian business or provide services to the public.

Study

Up to 3 months

Longer study generally requires a student visa.

Application cost

From AUD 250

Outside Australia, from 1 July 2026; charges vary by stream.

Processing guide

33 days

90% of Tourist stream applications decided within this time in September 2026.

Choose the right pathway

The five Visitor Visa 600 streams

The correct stream depends on why you are travelling, who is supporting your visit and your passport.

Stream	Who it is for	Apply from	Maximum stay
Tourist	Holidays and visiting family or friends	Inside or outside Australia	Up to 12 months
Sponsored Family	Visiting a relative who sponsors you	Outside Australia	Up to 12 months
Business Visitor	Meetings, conferences and business enquiries	Outside Australia	Up to 3 months
Approved Destination Status (ADS)	Organised tour groups from China	Outside Australia	As set by the tour
Frequent Traveller	Frequent visitors with a Chinese passport	Outside Australia	Up to 3 months per visit; visa valid up to 10 years

Find your stream

Which Visitor Visa stream is right for you?

Tourist stream

Choose this if you are visiting for a holiday or to see family or friends and can show you have enough money for your trip. No sponsor is needed. This is the only stream you can apply for while in Australia.

Business Visitor stream

Choose this for short business trips: meetings, conferences, contract negotiations or looking at business opportunities. You cannot work or sell goods or services to the public on this visa.

ADS and Frequent Traveler streams

These two streams are available only to Chinese passport holders. ADS is for organised tour groups; Frequent Traveller gives a long-validity visa for people who visit often.

Plan your budget

Visitor visa cost

Visa application charges from 1 July 2026, as listed in the supplied content.

Stream	Visa application charge
Tourist, applying outside Australia	AUD 250
Tourist, applying in Australia	AUD 630
Sponsored Family	AUD 250
Business Visitor	AUD 250
Frequent Traveller	AUD 1,845

You may also pay for biometrics, health examinations and police certificates if requested. Charges rise each year, so check the exact amount with the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before you apply.

Timeframes

Visitor visa processing time

Home Affairs processing figures published in September 2026. Processing times change monthly.

Stream	50% decided within	90% decided within
Tourist	21 days	33 days
Sponsored Family	40 days	3 months
Business Visitor	7 days	19 days

Travel planning tip: Apply at least two months before you plan to travel. Do not book non-refundable flights until your visa is granted. Check the latest figures on the Home Affairs processing times page.

Eligibility

Visitor visa requirements

For every stream you must show that:

There is no fixed bank balance for a visitor visa. The Department looks at whether your funds match the length of your trip and whether your income explains them. A large deposit just before you apply raises concerns. Older applicants and those planning a long stay should consider travel health insurance, and may be asked to hold it.

Show a genuine reason to visit

Your application should explain the purpose and length of your trip, how you will pay for it and what will bring you home at the end of your visit.

Know your conditions

Visitor visa conditions

No work

You cannot work for an Australian business or provide services to the public.

Study up to 3 months

Longer study needs a student visa.

Leave on time

Overstaying by more than 28 days can stop you getting most visas for up to three years, and any overstay will count against future applications.

No Further Stay (condition 8503)

If this condition is on your visa, you cannot apply for most other visas while in Australia. It is often added to Sponsored Family visas.

No student visa application in Australia

Since 2 October 2026, visitor visa holders cannot make a valid student visa application in Australia.

Condition 8503 – No Further Stay: Some Australian Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) applicants may be granted a visa with Condition 8503 attached. This condition generally prevents them from applying for most other visas while in Australia. It is a visa restriction, not a refusal. A waiver may be possible in limited circumstances.

Application pathway

How to apply for a Visitor Visa 600

Prepare the right documents and follow the correct process for your stream.

Choose your stream

Tourist, Sponsored Family or Business Visitor, depending on your purpose and circumstances.

Gather your documents

Use the checklist below to prepare identity, financial, travel and supporting evidence.

Arrange sponsorship if required

Your relative lodges the sponsorship in ImmiAccount first, or with your application, as the Department directs.

Apply online

Lodge through ImmiAccount and pay the relevant visa application charge.

Provide biometrics

Attend a visa application centre if the Department asks you to.

Complete health examinations

Attend examinations if requested, for example because of your age or a long stay.

Wait for the decision

Respond to any further requests. If a security bond is requested, the sponsor pays it before the visa is granted.

Prepare your evidence

Visitor visa document checklist

Your documents

Documents from your family or friend in Australia

Make your documents consistent

Dates, employment details, relationships and financial information should tell the same story throughout your application.

Avoid common problems

Common reasons visitor visas are refused

Not a genuine visitor

The officer is not satisfied that you will return home, often because of weak job, family or property ties.

Funds not explained

Money was deposited just before applying, or the balance does not match your income.

Unclear purpose

A long stay has no clear plan, or the evidence suggests you want to work or study.

Past immigration problems

An earlier overstay, refusal or breach of conditions, especially if it was not disclosed.

Inconsistent information

Dates, relationships or employment details do not match across documents.

We check your evidence against each of these points before you apply.

For parents visiting family

Longer stays for parents

If you are the parent of an Australian citizen or permanent resident and want to stay longer than 12 months at a time, the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, subclass 870, allows stays of up to 3 or 5 years per visa.

For permanent options, see our parent visa pages.

Planning an extended family visit?

Compare the Visitor Visa 600 with the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa 870 before making travel arrangements.

If your application is refused

If your visitor visa is refused

Applied outside Australia: There are generally no review rights for Tourist and Business Visitor refusals. You can apply again with stronger evidence. For a Sponsored Family refusal, the sponsor may be able to apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal.
Applied in Australia: You may be able to apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal, usually within 28 days.

Do not rush into a new application

Address the reasons for refusal and make sure any new evidence directly responds to the Department’s concerns.

Frequently asked questions

Visitor Visa 600 FAQs

Qick answers to common questions about visitor visa applications and conditions.

How much bank balance do I need for an Australian visitor visa?

There is no fixed amount. You need enough to cover your flights, accommodation and daily costs for the length of your stay, and your income or savings history should explain where the money came from. If a relative in Australia is paying, include their financial evidence.

Can I extend my visitor visa in Australia?

You can apply for a new Tourist stream visa in Australia if your visa does not have condition 8503 (No Further Stay) and you still meet the requirements. Apply before your current visa expires.

Can I work on a visitor visa?

No. Visitor visas do not allow work for an Australian employer or providing services to the public.

Can I change from a visitor visa to a student visa in Australia?

No. Since 2 October 2026, visitor visa holders cannot make a valid student visa application in Australia. You need to apply from outside Australia.

Can my parents get a multiple-entry visitor visa?

The Department may grant a multiple-entry visa valid for longer than one trip. Each stay is still limited, and the Department decides the period. For longer continuous stays, look at the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa 870.

What is a security bond?

For the Sponsored Family stream, the Department may ask the sponsor to pay a bond. It is refunded once the visitor leaves Australia on time and meets their visa conditions.

Reviewed by Touseef Abbasi, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2518930).

This page is general information, not advice for your situation. Visa charges and processing times change often, so check the Department of Home Affairs website or speak to us before you apply.

Your visit to Australia starts here

Plan your visit to Australia

Whether you are inviting your parents, visiting family or travelling for business, we will help you choose the right stream and check your documents before you apply.