Visitor Visa Subclass 600: Requirements, Application Process and Costs
The Visitor Visa Subclass 600 is the visa most overseas travellers use to visit Australia for a holiday, to see family or friends, or to attend short business activities. It does not give you the right to work or live in Australia, but it can allow a stay of up to 3, 6 or 12 months depending on what the Department of Home Affairs grants.
Many applications fail for reasons that have nothing to do with the traveller's good intentions. The evidence is incomplete, the funds are not explained, or the plan to return home is not convincing. This page explains how the subclass 600 works, which stream suits your situation, what documents to prepare, what it costs, and what commonly goes wrong. It is written for applicants in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Europe and Australia, including Australians who want to bring a relative to visit.
If you would like your plans reviewed before you lodge, Migration Factor offers a free consultation. You can request a free consultation through our contact form. Nothing on this page guarantees a visa outcome, and each application is decided on its own facts under the rules in force when it is assessed.
On this page
What the Visitor Visa Subclass 600 Is
The subclass 600 is a temporary visa for people who want to visit Australia for a limited time. Home Affairs describes it as a visa for tourists, business visitors and people visiting family, with stays of up to 3, 6 or 12 months. The exact period is decided by the Department and shown in your grant letter, so that letter is the document to follow, not the maximum on the website.
It is a single visa subclass with several streams. The stream you apply under depends on why you are travelling, where you are when you apply, and in some cases who is supporting your visit. Choosing the correct stream matters, because each has its own evidence expectations and its own charge.
Visitors are expected to leave Australia before the visa ends. The visa is not designed to test the waters for a later move, and the Department assesses whether you genuinely intend a temporary visit.
The Streams Explained
Tourist stream
The tourist stream is for holidays, sightseeing, cruises, and visiting family and friends. Home Affairs says it can allow a stay of up to 12 months. Most applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India who are travelling independently apply through this stream while they are outside Australia.
A separate tourist route exists for people who are already in Australia. It is more restricted and costs more, and it should be considered carefully, especially if your current visa carries conditions about further stay.
Sponsored family stream
The sponsored family stream is for people who are sponsored, usually by a family member, to visit relatives in Australia. A sponsor must meet the Department's criteria, and being a friend or a distant relative does not make someone an eligible sponsor automatically. The sponsor completes a form that covers their eligibility and the sponsorship undertaking, and the Department may ask for a security bond in some cases. If a bond is requested, the Department tells you the amount and how to pay it, and a bond does not guarantee approval.
Many family visitors do not need this stream. If you can show that you can pay for your own trip, the tourist stream may be simpler. The sponsored family stream is more useful when the person visiting depends on the Australian relative for part of the cost, or when the Department's guidance directs the application into it.
Business visitor stream
The business visitor stream is for permitted business activities such as negotiations, conferences and short meetings. It does not allow you to work for an Australian business or sell directly to the public. If the activity looks like work, a different visa will be needed.
Other streams
There are also streams for approved destination status tours from China and for frequent travellers from specific countries. Neither is likely to apply to most readers of this page, so check the Department's eligibility guidance if you think one may fit.
Do You Need a Subclass 600 or an ETA?
Some passport holders can use an Electronic Travel Authority or an eVisitor instead of a subclass 600, and those are usually quicker. Passport holders from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India are generally not among the countries eligible for those options, which is why a subclass 600 application is the normal route for them. Eligibility depends on your passport, so confirm it on the Department's website before you start. European passport holders should check whether eVisitor applies to them, because it can be simpler than the subclass 600.
Who Can Apply and Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility depends on the stream and your personal circumstances. The main requirements that apply across most applications are:
- A genuine intention to visit Australia temporarily, for the stated purpose
- Enough money to support yourself during the stay, or a sponsor or other person who will pay
- Evidence of ties that make leaving Australia at the end of the visit realistic
- A good immigration history, with no previous breaches of visa conditions
- Meeting health and character requirements
- A valid passport and, where relevant, identity documents for accompanying family
- Applying from the right location for your chosen stream
The Department looks at your overall circumstances rather than one document. A strong application tells a consistent story: why you want to travel, who is paying, what you will do in Australia and what is waiting for you at home.
Documents You Will Need
The document list depends on your stream, but most applicants should be ready with the following.
- A passport with enough validity, and copies of earlier passports if you hold them
- A completed online application through ImmiAccount
- A recent passport style photograph if requested
- Evidence of your travel plans, such as a proposed itinerary, accommodation details and the purpose of the trip
- Evidence of funds, such as bank statements, savings records and proof of income
- Evidence of employment, business ownership, study or family responsibilities in your home country
- National identity documents, and relationship documents if relatives are travelling with you or you are visiting family
- An invitation letter from your host, where you are visiting someone in Australia
- Details of your host, including their status in Australia, and proof of the relationship
- Police certificates and health examinations if the Department asks for them
- Certified English translations of any document not in English
An invitation letter is not always mandatory, but it is very useful when you are staying with family or friends. It should state the relationship, the planned dates, where you will stay, who is paying for what, and the host's contact details. A letter alone does not prove your case. It works best alongside evidence of your own circumstances.
Financial Requirements and Bank Statements
There is no official fixed minimum bank balance for the subclass 600. The Department wants to see that you can fund the trip you describe, including flights, accommodation, daily costs and, where relevant, health cover. The right amount depends on how long you will stay, where you will stay and who is paying.
Bank statements are the most common evidence. A few practical points help.
- Provide statements covering a meaningful period, not just the most recent weeks.
- Make sure the account holder is you or the person who is supporting you.
- If you rely on someone else's funds, include their statements and proof of your relationship.
- Explain the source of any large deposit, because unexplained deposits shortly before lodgement can raise doubts.
- Show regular income or business activity, so that the balance is supported by a history.
Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India often rely on family funds. That is perfectly acceptable, as long as the support is clear and documented. A short letter from the person funding the trip, with their identity and financial documents, usually helps an officer follow the arrangement.
Visitor Visa for Parents and Family Visits
Many people searching for this visa want to bring a parent, a spouse's parent or another relative to see a new baby, attend a wedding or spend time with grandchildren. The subclass 600 can be used for this, but it has limits that families should understand before they book flights.
Parents can apply under the tourist stream or, where appropriate, the sponsored family stream. The Australian host should be ready to provide an invitation letter, proof of their own status and address, and, where relevant, evidence of their ability to support the visit. The visiting parent still needs to show their own ties at home, such as property, a pension, other family or ongoing commitments, because the Department must be satisfied the visit is temporary.
A visitor visa is not a way to move to Australia to live with children. If your goal is a long term stay, there are separate parent visa options with different requirements, costs and waiting periods. Applying for a visitor visa with a hidden intention to stay is risky and can damage later applications.
Visiting parents should also think about health. Australian medical treatment for visitors is not free, and the Department can attach a condition requiring you to hold health insurance for the stay. Treat travel insurance or health cover as part of the budget, not an afterthought.
How to Apply Step by Step
Applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount, the Department's secure portal. The general process looks like this.
Confirm which stream suits your situation and whether you need a subclass 600, an ETA or an eVisitor.
Check the current charge using the Department's Visa Pricing Estimator.
Gather your documents, and arrange certified translations where needed.
Create or sign in to your ImmiAccount and start a Visitor visa application.
Complete the form accurately, including your travel purpose, the dates, who is paying and your history.
Upload your supporting documents in the right categories.
Pay the visa application charge.
Provide biometrics or health examinations if the Department asks, and meet any deadlines in the request.
Respond promptly if the Department asks for more information.
Wait for the decision before buying non refundable flights or accommodation.
Check the form before you submit it. Incorrect or inconsistent details cause more problems than missing optional documents, and false information can have longer consequences for future applications.
Visa Costs
The visa application charge was updated on 1 July 2026. Several migration sources report that the charge for the tourist stream when you apply from outside Australia is now AUD 250, up from AUD 200, and that the charge for applying from inside Australia is AUD 630, up from AUD 500. The sponsored family and business visitor streams are reported at AUD 250. These figures come from practitioner and industry sources, so please confirm your exact charge in the Visa Pricing Estimator or in ImmiAccount before you pay.
The charge is not refunded if your application is refused. Charges for other applicants, such as children, and for special streams may differ, and reduced rates may apply to eligible citizens of some regions.
The visa charge is only part of the cost. Budget for:
- Flights and local transport
- Accommodation or a contribution to your host
- Travel or health insurance
- Health examinations and police certificates, if requested
- Certified translations and document copies
- Biometric collection fees or travel to a collection centre, where this applies
- Daily living costs during your stay
Processing Time Guidance
No one can promise how long a visitor visa will take. Processing depends on the stream, your passport country, how complete your application is, whether checks or additional documents are needed, and the Department's workload.
Home Affairs publishes a processing times tool that reflects recently decided applications. It is an indication only, not a prediction for your own case. A sensible approach is to lodge well before your intended travel date, avoid booking non refundable travel until you have your grant, and respond quickly to any request. Agents cannot make the Department decide faster, and you should be cautious about anyone who says otherwise.
Length of Stay and Visa Conditions
The visa grant letter tells you how long you may stay and what conditions apply. Common ones include the following.
- Stay period. The tourist stream can allow up to 12 months, but many people are granted shorter periods. The grant letter, not the website, is what counts.
- No work. A visitor visa does not allow you to work in Australia. Business visitors may carry out limited business activities, but not employment.
- No further stay. Many visitors receive a condition that restricts applying for most other visas while in Australia. Limited exceptions and waivers exist, but they are narrow, and a waiver request does not extend your stay.
- Time limits. Some visitors have a limit on the total time they can spend in Australia, such as 12 months in an 18 month period.
- Health insurance. In some cases the Department requires you to maintain health cover.
- Study. Visitors can do only limited, short study. If you want to study for longer, you need a student visa, and the rules for applying from inside Australia have tightened. Most temporary visa holders can no longer lodge a student visa application from inside Australia for applications made from 2 October 2026.
If you wish to stay beyond your visa, apply for a new visa before the current one ends, and check whether your conditions allow you to do so. Overstaying has serious consequences, including future visa bans.
Common Reasons for Refusal
Understanding refusal risks helps you prepare a stronger application.
- The Department is not satisfied that you intend a genuine temporary visit
- Insufficient or unexplained funds
- Weak ties to your home country, such as no job, property or family responsibilities
- A travel plan that is vague, inconsistent or unrealistic for your circumstances
- A previous visa refusal, cancellation or breach of conditions that is not explained
- Incomplete forms or missing documents
- Documents that do not match, including names, dates and amounts
- Health or character concerns that are not resolved
- A host who does not meet the sponsor criteria in the sponsored family stream
- False or misleading information
Many of these can be fixed before you lodge. A common mistake is submitting a large pile of documents without a clear explanation. Officers respond better to a clear story supported by evidence than to volume alone.
If Your Application Is Refused
Read the refusal notice carefully. It states the reasons, whether you have any review rights and any deadline. Review rights depend on the type of decision and where you were when you applied, and there is no automatic right of review for every refusal. A refused visitor visa does not always prevent a new application, but lodging again without fixing the problem is likely to produce the same result. Seek advice before you reapply, and be honest about the earlier refusal in your next application.
Considerations for Applicants from South Asia and Europe
For applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India, the most common difficulties are documenting the source of family funds, explaining ties to home in a way that is believable and verifiable, providing certified translations and obtaining documents on time. Biometrics may be required, so check the Department's instructions for your country early. Many people also prefer to apply well before the expected travel date because of the time biometrics and checks can add.
European applicants should check whether eVisitor or another simpler option applies to their passport before applying for a subclass 600. Where a subclass 600 is needed, the same principles apply: a genuine plan, clear funding and ties to home.
Australian hosts should know that their role carries responsibility. A host who writes an invitation letter or acts as a sponsor is signalling that the visitor will follow their conditions and return home. Make sure the details in the letter match the visitor's application exactly.
How Professional Help Can Assist
A migration professional cannot change the rules, guarantee a decision or speed up the Department. What a good adviser can do is help you choose the right stream, check whether your evidence tells a consistent story, spot gaps in financial documents, prepare a clear explanation of your plans, and advise on what to do if the Department asks for more. This kind of review is most useful before you pay the visa charge, since the charge is not refunded after a refusal.
Make sure anyone you pay for immigration advice in Australia is appropriately authorised, and ask to see their registration details.
Why Consider Migration Factor
Migration Factor provides information and assistance on Australian visa pathways, including visitor visas. We offer a free consultation where you can talk through your travel plans, your documents and your circumstances before deciding on your next step. To arrange one, request a free consultation through our contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Visitor Visa Subclass 600?
It is a temporary Australian visa for tourism, visiting family or friends and certain short business activities. Stays of up to 3, 6 or 12 months can be granted, and the grant letter shows the exact period.
Who can apply for the subclass 600 visa?
Anyone who meets the requirements for the stream they choose, including a genuine intention to visit temporarily, enough funds, and health and character requirements. Eligibility depends on your passport, purpose and personal circumstances.
How much does the visitor visa cost?
Sources report that the tourist stream charge from outside Australia is AUD 250 from 1 July 2026, and AUD 630 when applying from inside Australia. Confirm your exact amount in the Visa Pricing Estimator. The charge is not refunded after refusal.
How long does the subclass 600 visa take to process?
There is no fixed time. Home Affairs publishes a processing times tool that gives an indication only. Lodge early and respond to requests quickly.
What documents are required for an Australian visitor visa?
Typically a passport, travel plans, evidence of funds, evidence of ties to your home country, identity documents, and an invitation letter if you are visiting someone. Relationship documents and certified translations are needed where relevant.
What are the financial requirements for a visitor visa?
There is no official minimum balance. You must show you can pay for the trip you describe, or that a sponsor or relative will, with documents that explain the source of the funds.
What are the bank statement requirements for an Australian visitor visa?
Provide statements covering a meaningful period, in the name of you or your supporter, and explain large or unusual deposits. Statements should match the income and employment evidence you provide.
Do I need an invitation letter?
Not always, but it helps if you are visiting family or friends. It should set out the relationship, dates, accommodation, who will pay for what and the host's contact details, and it should be supported by other evidence.
Can my parents visit me on a visitor visa?
Yes, parents can apply under the tourist stream or the sponsored family stream. They must still show that they genuinely intend to return home. A visitor visa is not a way to move permanently, and separate parent visas exist for that purpose.
Can I apply for a tourist visa from Pakistan?
Yes. Pakistani passport holders generally apply for a subclass 600 visa under the tourist stream while outside Australia, and may need to provide biometrics. Check the Department's current instructions before you apply.
What is the sponsored family stream?
It is for people who are sponsored, usually by a family member in Australia, to visit relatives. The sponsor must meet the Department's criteria, and a security bond may be requested in some cases.
Can I work or study on a visitor visa?
You cannot work. Study is limited to short periods, and a visitor visa is not a substitute for a student visa. Since 2 October 2026, most temporary visa holders cannot apply for a student visa from inside Australia, so plan study from outside the country.
Why do visitor visas get refused?
Common reasons include doubts about genuine temporary intent, unexplained funds, weak ties to home, inconsistent documents, previous immigration problems and incomplete applications.
Next Step
If you are planning a family visit, preparing an invitation letter, or want a second opinion on your documents before you lodge, request a free consultation with Migration Factor through our contact form. Please bring your passport details, travel plans and a summary of your funds so the conversation can be specific.
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