Find out how to get visitor visa Australia (subclass 600), visitor visa Australia processing time, and Australia visa application requirements here. To travel to Australia from another country, you must have a valid visa and a passport. This page contains information about the Australia Visitor Visa and how to apply online.
NOTE: Since January 5, 2023, all travelers aged 12 and older, coming from China, Hong Kong, or Macao, will need to provide evidence of a negative PCR or Antigen test result, taken no more than two days before their departure.
Before we move to how to get visitor visa to Australia, lets quick go over somethings you might need to know before applying for Australia visitor visa online.
What Exactly is an Australia Visitor Visa?
The Australia Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) is a short-term visa required to enter Australia. Some visitors require a valid Australian visa to participate in tourist activities, take a cruise, or visit friends and family in the country. It can be applied for from either within Australia or from outside of Australia.
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This visitor visa for Australia does not have a barcode or QR code; it simply states the traveler’s information and the conditions. There is also no need to visit an Australian embassy or consulate. However, in some cases, Australian immigration officials may request additional information over the phone.
There are several steps to the visa application process that can be confusing, but don’t worry. We’re here to make the entire process as easy and stress-free as possible.
What You can and can’t do with the Australia Visitor Visa
The Australian Visitor Visa is subject to certain rules. Check them out below.
With an Australia Visitor Visa, you can do the following:
- Travel to Australia for tourism and cruise around.
- Visit friends and family (if you’re sponsored by immediate family members living in Australia).
- Carry out business activities such as contract negotiations or attending trade shows or conferences.
- You can study or take a short course for a maximum of three months in Australia.
The Australia Visitor Visa does not permit you to do the following:
- Work or sell products.
- Participate in a trade show or conference if you are compensated by the organizer.
- Study or take a course for more than three months.
- Travel to Australia for health reasons, such as medical treatment.
Who Can Apply for Visitor Visa Australia?
If you want to know if your nationality is eligible for the Australia Visitor Visa, check the eligibility criteria below:
Basic Eligibility
To enter Australia with visitor visa, the applicant must:
- be a genuine visitor
- have enough funds to support your stay and leave
Note: Passport holders from the People’s Republic of China (excluding SARs) are only eligible for this visa if they are part of an approved tour group.
Who doesn’t need to Apply for Visitor Visa to Enter Australia?
You do not need this visitor visa if your passport is issued by a country that is eligible for the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). The Australia ETA is available to the following countries:
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Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy (including Vatican City), Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America are all members.
People from Antarctica, Hong Kong, United States, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Canada or Brunei Darussalam can also apply for the ETA.
Get your Australia Visitor Visa: Step-by-step Approach
Applying for a visitor visa to Australia: Follow the tips below to help you apply for a visitor visa to come to Australia easily:
1. Submit your application at least 4 months before you travel
We recommend that you apply for a visa at least four months before your intended trip to Australia.
2. Make sure to attach all required documents
You must submit all of the documents requested with your application, including a clear copy of your passport’s personal details page.
3. Make sure that autocorrect hasn’t changed your name
Due to auto-correct changing applicants’ names on smartphones and tablets, visa applications are being submitted with incorrect names. Therefore, make sure your name is spelled exactly as it appears on your passport, and include your middle name. See How To Get Visitor Visa Australia!
4. Cross check the format of your birth date.
Check that your date of birth is entered in dd/mm/yy format.
5. Attach translated copies of all documents
If any of the required documentation is not in English, you must include both a translation and a copy of the original. Each translated document must include the translator’s (in English):
- full name, address, and phone number
- Qualifications and experience in the language they are translating are required.
If you are under 18
If you are under the age of 18 and plan to travel alone or with just one parent, you must submit Form 1229 – Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 (240KB PDF) with your application. Form 1229 must be completed and signed by your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) for visitor visa Australia.
You must also provide a copy of whoever signed the form’s driver’s license or passport (or other form of identification with signature and photo).
If you are under the age of 18 and intend to travel without a parent or guardian, and you will not be staying with a relative or joining an organized tour, you must submit both of the following forms with your application:
- Form 1229 – Consent to grant a child under the age of 18 an Australian visa (240KB PDF). Form 1229 must be completed and signed by your parent(s) or legal guardian(s). You must also provide a copy of whoever signed the form’s driver’s license or passport (or other form of identification with signature and photo).
- Form 1257 – Declaration of Undertaking (211KB PDF). This form must be completed and signed by the person designated by your parent/s or legal guardian/s to provide accommodation and care for you during your stay in Australia.
6. Provide birth certificates and passports to applicants under the age of 18
If you are applying for a visa for a family member who is under the age of 18, you must include a copy of their birth certificate and passport, as well as a copy of both parents’ passports.
7. Have enough money to support yourself during your stay
When applying for your visa, you must demonstrate that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Australia. You will need to upload documents to your ImmiAccount, such as your most recent bank statement.
8. Include an invitation from a friend or family member
If you intend to visit family or friends in Australia, include a copy of a letter from them inviting you to visit.
9. Provide proof of your intention to return home
Documents proving your intention to return to your home country for work, family, study, or other reasons must be included as part of your visa application. These documents could include the following:
- a current payslip
- a certificate of enrolment in education in your home country
- your children’s birth certificates.
- a letter from your employer granting you leave from work
10. Ensure To Complete your Biometricsas quickly as Possible
Once you’ve submitted your visa application, keep an eye on your ImmiAccount to see if you need to provide us with additional information, such as biometric data (photo and fingerprints).
If you have been asked to provide biometric information during visitor visa Australia application, you must do so as soon as possible so that your visa application is not delayed.
You may have to travel a short distance to a biometric collection center. As soon as you receive the request, begin making arrangements to have your biometric data collected.
11. Attach a copy of your current visa if you are a non-New Zealand citizen living in New Zealand.
If you are a non-New Zealand citizen living in New Zealand, you will be asked to provide information about your visa status. As part of your Australian visa application, upload a copy of your New Zealand visa to ImmiAccount.
Visitor Visa Australia Processing Times
Visa processing times are updated as new information becomes available. Visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Processing times can vary for a range of reasons, including the following:
- whether you have submitted an application with all necessary supporting documents. Use the checklists provided by ImmiAccount to ensure that you attach all required documents.
- whether you submitted an online or paper application. Applying online speeds up the application process.
- how quickly you respond to information requests
- how long it takes us to complete the necessary checks
- and, how long it takes to receive information from external agencies, especially when it comes to health, character, and national security requirements
- How many spots are available in the migration program for permanent visa applications?
Here is an idea of how long your visa application might take to process.
Visitor visa Australia Processing Time range:
- 25% of applications: 8 Days
- 50% of applications: 16 Days
- 75% of applications: 33 Days
- 90% of applications: 85 Days
However, due to COVID-19, some visa processing times have been affected and applications may take longer to finalise.
What is the Cost for Visitor Visa Australia?
Australia visitor visa costs from AUD380.
How long is the Australia Visitor Visa valid?
Tourist visas are valid for three years and allow a maximum stay of 3, 6, or 12 months, depending on the applicant’s background.
This type of Australian Tourist Visa is a Multiple Entry document, which means you can enter Australia as many times as you want during the validity period.
In some cases, you may be able to extend your stay in Australia. Here are some examples:
- If you are an Australian citizen and your parents wish to visit you and stay in Australia for an extended period of time, they can apply for a stay of up to 12 months.
- If your current Australian visa is about to expire and you have a tourist visa for 3 or 6 months, you can apply for this visitor visa from within Australia to extend your stay.
Documents Required to Apply for Visitor Visa Australia?
You will need the following documents to apply for this Australian visa through:
- A copy of your current valid passport, including your photo, personal information, passport issue and expiration dates, and the pages with immigration stamps.
- a photocopy of your ID (if you have one).
- Photograph of the candidate
Following your application for a tourist visa, the Australian government may request additional documents such as (but not limited to):
- Documents demonstrating your ability to fund your trip during your stay, such as bank statements or financial assets.
- Documents proving that you work or study in your home country.
- Any evidence of planned tourism activities in Australia, such as a travel itinerary.
- Letters inviting you to visit a relative or friend in Australia.
- A police clearance.
- For applicants under the age of 18, a birth certificate is required.
- Composition form and family register (if applicable).
- Do you have all of these papers? Apply right away!
If your documents are not in English, they must be translated.
COVID-19 requirements and restrictions for Australia Visa
The majority of COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in Australia, but some requirements still apply to certain travelers (Visitor Visa Australia).
People traveling to Australia from China, Hong Kong, and Macau will be required to present a negative PCR or Antigen test result COVID-19 taken within 48 hours of departure beginning January 5, 2023.
To meet Australia’s travel requirements, you do not need to show a negative COVID-19 test if you arrive from another country.
In some countries, airlines and vessel operators may require you to present a pre-departure test result at check-in. Because these requirements change on a regular basis, we recommend that you double-check the entry requirements with your airline and the Australia Embassy before your trip.
If you need help with your Visitor Visa application
If you require assistance with your visa application, you can:
- Use a registered migration agent, a practicing lawyer, or someone else authorized to provide immigration assistance.
- Use the online visa assist services provided by the Australian Government’s service delivery partners, VFS Global and CSRA, which are available in some countries.
Visit Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream – Step by step for more information on the steps you must take and the documents you must provide when applying for a visitor visa to Australia.
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