Visitor visa (Subclass 600)

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Project Introduction

The Australian Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) allows eligible travellers to visit Australia temporarily for tourism, visiting family and friends, or certain business visitor activities.

Depending on the stream and your circumstances, a Subclass 600 visa may allow you to stay in Australia for up to 12 months. Some frequent travellers may be granted a visa with a longer validity period, although the permitted stay for each visit will depend on the visa granted.

Visitor Visa 600 at a Glance

Visitor Visa 600	Subclass 600 Visitor Visa
Main purpose	Tourism, visiting family and friends, or eligible business visitor activities
Stay	Usually up to 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on the visa granted
Work rights	No
Study	Generally up to 3 months
Application location	Depends on the stream
Visa cost	Depends on the stream and where you apply
Processing time	Varies by stream and individual application

Your visa grant letter will confirm exactly how long you can stay, whether you have single or multiple entry, and any conditions attached to your visa.

Which Subclass 600 Stream Should You Apply For?

There are several Visitor Visa Subclass 600 streams. The right one depends mainly on why you are coming to Australia, where you are applying from and your personal circumstances.

Tourist Stream – Apply Outside Australia

This is one of the most common options for people travelling to Australia for:

holidays and tourism
visiting family or friends
taking a cruise
other temporary visitor purposes

You must generally be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided.

A stay of up to 12 months may be granted, although the actual period depends on your circumstances and the Department of Home Affairs’ decision.

Tourist Stream – Apply in Australia

This stream may be available if you are already legally in Australia and want to remain for further tourism or to spend more time with family or friends.

You must meet the relevant eligibility requirements and your current visa must not prevent you from applying for another visa while in Australia.

For example, a No Further Stay condition such as condition 8503 may affect your ability to lodge another visa application in Australia.

Business Visitor Stream

The Business Visitor Stream allows eligible applicants to make a short visit to Australia for business visitor activities, such as attending meetings, conferences or conducting certain business enquiries.

It does not provide normal Australian work rights.

If your main purpose is to take up employment in Australia, you may need a work visa instead, such as the Skills in Demand Subclass 482 visa (482签证).

Frequent Traveller Stream

The Frequent Traveller Stream is available to eligible passport holders who travel regularly to Australia for tourism or permitted business visitor activities.

A visa may be granted with validity of up to 10 years, with stays of up to 3 months on each visit. Eligibility depends on your nationality and other requirements.

Approved Destination Status Stream

This stream is available to eligible citizens of the People’s Republic of China travelling to Australia as part of an organised tour with an approved travel agent.

It is generally not the appropriate stream for independent tourism.

Visitor Visa Subclass 600 Requirements

Requirements vary between streams, but most applicants need to show that they are a genuine temporary visitor.

Home Affairs may consider whether you:

genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily
have enough funds to support your trip
have a clear and reasonable reason for visiting Australia
meet relevant health and character requirements
will comply with the conditions attached to your visa
have circumstances supporting your intention to leave Australia after your visit

There is no single document that guarantees approval. Your application should present a consistent picture of why you are travelling, how the trip will be funded and why the proposed stay makes sense in your circumstances.

Documents Required for Visitor Visa 600

The exact document checklist depends on your stream and individual circumstances.

Common supporting documents may include:

passport and identity documents
travel plans or itinerary
evidence of your financial capacity
employment, study or business information
evidence of family, financial or other ties outside Australia
invitation letter and supporting documents from family or friends in Australia
previous travel and visa information
sponsorship documents where required
English translations for documents issued in another language

Additional documents may be requested depending on your age, travel purpose, nationality and immigration history.

It is important that the information provided across your application and supporting documents is accurate and consistent.

Visitor Visa 600 Fees and Costs

The visa application charge depends on the stream and where the application is lodged.

As of September 2026, Home Affairs lists a base application charge of AUD 250 for several offshore Subclass 600 streams, including the Tourist Stream applied for outside Australia, Business Visitor Stream and Sponsored Family Stream.

Different charges may apply to other applications, and additional costs such as health examinations, biometrics or document translations may also apply.

Visa charges can change, so the current Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator should be checked before submitting an application.

Visitor Visa 600 Processing Time

There is no single fixed processing time for all Subclass 600 applications.

Processing times vary between streams and can also depend on:

whether the application is complete
the supporting evidence provided
health or character checks
requests for further information
application volumes
individual circumstances

Home Affairs publishes current indicative processing times based on recently finalised applications.

For this reason, applicants should avoid relying on old estimates such as a fixed 15-working-day processing period and should apply well before their intended travel date.

Visitor Visa Subclass 600 Application Process

A typical application involves four main steps:

1. Choose the correct Visitor Visa stream

Confirm your travel purpose, application location and whether sponsorship is required.

2. Prepare your supporting documents

Prepare evidence covering your identity, finances, travel purpose and personal circumstances.

3. Lodge the application

Most applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount. Pay the applicable visa application charge and upload the required documents.

4. Respond to further requests if required

Home Affairs may request further documents, biometrics, health examinations or other information before making a decision.

Do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until your visa has been granted.

Can I Work or Study on a Visitor Visa?

A Subclass 600 Visitor Visa does not provide work rights.

You may generally undertake study or training for up to 3 months, but if studying is the main reason you are coming to Australia, a Student Visa Subclass 500 (澳洲学生签证) is usually more appropriate.

Your individual visa grant letter should always be checked for the conditions applying to your visa.

Can I Extend a Visitor Visa While in Australia?

A Visitor Visa is not simply “extended”.

If you want to remain in Australia longer, you may need to apply for a new visa before your current visa expires.

Whether you can apply from within Australia depends on your current visa conditions and circumstances. In particular, conditions such as 8503 No Further Stay can restrict your ability to lodge another substantive visa while in Australia.

If your circumstances have changed significantly, another visa type may also be more appropriate.

For example, someone whose partner is an Australian citizen or permanent resident may need to consider whether a Partner Visa (澳洲配偶签证) is relevant rather than repeatedly relying on visitor visas.

Similarly, someone planning to undertake longer-term study may need a student visa, while a person who has received an eligible job offer may need to consider an appropriate work or employer-sponsored visa.

If your longer-term goal is to live in Australia permanently, it may also be worth assessing whether a skilled, family or employer-sponsored migration pathway (雇主担保) is more suitable for your circumstances.