Australia Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
The Visitor visa allows genuine temporary visitors to travel to Australia for tourism, family visits or eligible business visitor activities, depending on the stream granted.
A Visitor visa does not provide work rights. Applicants must intend to stay temporarily, have sufficient funds and undertake only activities permitted by the relevant stream and visa conditions.
What is the Subclass 600 Visitor Visa?
Subclass 600 is available through several streams designed for different visit purposes. The Tourist stream supports holidays, cruises and visits to family or friends. Other streams cover sponsored family visits, limited business visitor activities and specified traveller groups.
A visa may allow a stay of three, six or up to 12 months depending on the stream and individual decision. The visa grant letter confirms the permitted stay, entry type, validity and conditions; applicants should not assume that the requested duration or multiple entries will be granted.
Main Subclass 600 streams
Key eligibility considerations
Applicants must be genuine visitors who intend to remain only temporarily and comply with the activities and stay period permitted by the visa. They need enough money for travel, accommodation and daily expenses and must satisfy health, character and other requirements.
The Department may assess employment, study, family responsibilities, assets, immigration history, previous visa compliance, travel plans, invitation arrangements and the applicant's ability and incentive to leave Australia before the authorised stay ends.
How the Visitor visa process works
Select the correct stream
Identify whether the purpose is tourism, family visit, sponsored family travel or permitted business visitor activity.
Plan the visit
Prepare realistic dates, accommodation, itinerary, travel purpose and estimated expenses without making non-refundable commitments before decision.
Prepare genuine visitor evidence
Document funds, employment or study, family and economic ties, previous travel, invitation details and reasons to return home.
Lodge the application
Submit the correct application with a valid passport, complete documents and certified English translations where required.
Respond and check the outcome
Complete biometrics or health checks if requested and carefully review stay dates, entries and conditions if the visa is granted.
Genuine visitor evidence
Useful evidence can include an invitation letter, itinerary, accommodation details, recent bank statements, payslips, tax records, employment leave approval, business ownership, ongoing study, property or assets, dependent family ties and previous compliant international travel.
If another person will fund the visit, include their identity, relationship to the applicant, invitation and financial evidence. Sponsorship or an invitation does not remove the applicant's obligation to satisfy the visa criteria.
Business Visitor activities
The Business Visitor stream can permit activities such as making general business or employment enquiries, negotiating or reviewing a business contract, participating in an official government visit, or attending a conference or seminar. It does not permit working for, supplying services to, or directly selling goods or services to the Australian public.
Visitor Visa Conditions to Remember
- Do not work in Australia.
- Stay only for the period authorised by the visa.
- Undertake only activities allowed by the granted stream.
- Tourist-stream study or training is generally limited to three months.
- Maintain health insurance if required and consider cover even when optional.
- Check whether the visa permits single or multiple entry.
- Check for a No Further Stay or other condition in VEVO.
Health insurance and family applications
Visitors are generally responsible for their healthcare costs in Australia, so adequate private health insurance is strongly recommended and may be required by a visa condition. Each family member, including children and persons listed on another passport, must lodge a separate Visitor visa application.
Documents commonly required
Documents may include passport and identity records, itinerary, invitation letter, accommodation plans, financial statements, employment or business evidence, approved leave, study enrolment, family and asset evidence, sponsor documents, travel history, health examinations, police certificates and consent documents for children.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can help identify the appropriate Visitor visa stream, prepare a personalised checklist, review genuine visitor and financial evidence, organise invitation or sponsorship documents and assist with lodging a complete Subclass 600 application.