Visitor Visa
The Visitor visa (subclass 600) allows people to travel to Australia for a short-term visit for tourism, to visit family and friends, or for business visitor activities (such as attending meetings, conferences, or exploring business opportunities).
In most cases, the visa allows a stay of up to 3, 6, or 12 months per visit (depending on your circumstances and what the Department grants). This visa is generally not intended for long-term stay or ongoing residence in Australia.
Main streams
- Tourist stream (apply outside or in Australia) – for holidays, cruises, or visiting family/friends.
- Business Visitor stream – for business visitor activities (not work).
- Sponsored Family stream – where an eligible family member sponsors the applicant (bond may be requested).
- Approved Destination Status (ADS) stream – for eligible travellers from certain parts of China on organised tours.
- Frequent Traveller stream – may be granted for up to 10 years, with up to 3 months each entry.
What you can and cannot do
- No work in Australia (condition 8101 is commonly applied).
- Study or training is generally limited to up to 3 months (condition 8201 may apply).
- Some visas may include “No Further Stay” (8503), which restricts further onshore visa applications unless waived.
Processing times
Processing times vary by stream and applicant profile. The Department recommends using the official Global visa processing times tool for the latest estimate
Genuine temporary entrant
To be granted a Visitor (subclass 600) visa, you must satisfy the Department that you genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily for the purpose of your visit. In making this assessment, the Department will consider (among other things):
- Your compliance history — whether you have substantially complied with the conditions of your last substantive visa (and any subsequent bridging visa).
- Your future compliance — whether you intend to comply with the conditions that would apply to the visitor visa (for example, no work and study limits).
- Your ties and reasons to return home — such as employment, family commitments, financial situation, and other obligations that encourage you to leave Australia at the end of your visit.
- Other relevant matters — including your travel/immigration history, the credibility of your purpose and itinerary, and whether you have adequate
Apply for a Visitor visa smartly
Most visitor visa applicants choose either the Tourist stream or the Sponsored Family stream. Both streams can allow you to visit family and friends, so many people ask: “If I have close family in Australia who are PR or citizens, what’s the point of the Sponsored Family stream?”
Here’s the practical difference:
Tourist stream (more flexible)
- Usually simpler and more flexible for general holidays and visiting family/friends.
- You rely mainly on your own circumstances (funds, ties to home country, travel purpose, compliance history).
Sponsored Family stream (more structured, but “no further stay “condition will apply)
- Your eligible family member in Australia acts as a sponsor, and in some cases the Department may request a security bond.
- Condition 8503 (No Further Stay) will be imposed, you generally cannot apply for most other visas while you are in Australia (unless a waiver is granted, which is not easy).
- Because a sponsor is involved, some applicants feel it can be a “stronger” application—but there is no guarantee the grant rate is higher. It always depends on the applicant’s overall profile.
Feeling overwhelmed? We’re here to help.
Our expert team will be at your side at every stage of your partner visa journey, from
understanding eligibility requirements and gathering evidence to submitting your application.
FAQs
If you (or your parents) are thinking of travelling to Australia first and then applying for another visa onshore — for example, an onshore Aged Parent visa — you should be very careful about choosing a visitor stream that may result in 8503 being imposed.
Yes. Under policy, if you are an Australian PR or citizen, we can request the Department to grant a 3-year visitor visa with a 12 months stay in any 18 months condition. This means that once your parents arrive, they may be able to stay in Australia for up to 12 months without needing to travel outside Australia.
After they have stayed for 12 months, they will need to travel back to their home country and remain there for around 6 months, because within any 18-month period they cannot stay in Australia for more than 12 months. Once the 6 months has passed, your parents can return to Australia and stay for another up to 12 months.
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