Subclass 600 · Visitor visa
The right application begins by separating tourism, family sponsorship, business activity, organised group travel and frequent travel. A strong file is not simply an invitation letter—it is a coherent temporary-visit story.
01 · Six application settings
Location, permitted activity, sponsorship, stay and charge change across streams. Compare all five formal streams, with Tourist split into offshore and onshore settings.
Tourism, cruises, or visiting family and friends without a formal family sponsor.
For an eligible person already in Australia who wants a further temporary tourist or family visit.
Visiting family under formal sponsorship by an eligible settled Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Business enquiries, contract negotiation, official government visits, conferences, trade fairs or seminars.
For eligible citizens of the People's Republic of China, excluding SARs, travelling with a tour organised by an approved travel agent.
For eligible passport holders who travel frequently for tourism or business visitor activities.
02 · Tourist or Sponsored Family?
Tourist stream can also be used to visit family and friends without a formal sponsor. Sponsored Family adds an eligible sponsor, Form 1149, possible security bond and mandatory No Further Stay condition—but does not guarantee approval. The better stream depends on the applicant's own evidence and the reason formal sponsorship is being considered.
03 · Core requirements
Explain exactly why you are travelling, for how long and why you will leave at the end of the authorised stay.
Show who will fund travel, accommodation and living costs, and that the arrangement is credible for the proposed trip.
Employment, study, family, assets, travel history and other commitments should be consistent with the claimed temporary purpose.
Health examinations, biometrics or police documents may be requested. Previous refusals, cancellations or breaches must be addressed accurately.
04 · Business visit is not work
General business or employment enquiries; investigating, negotiating, entering into or reviewing contracts; official government visits; unpaid participation in conferences, trade fairs or seminars.
Working for or providing services to an Australian business, selling directly to the public, or using a business visit to perform a short specialist assignment that needs a work visa.
05 · Conditions that change your options
A visitor visa does not permit work. Business Visitor activities are carefully limited and are not productive employment.
Study or training is generally limited to three months. If study is the main purpose, consider a student visa.
This can prevent most further onshore visa applications. It is mandatory for Sponsored Family stream and may be imposed elsewhere; waiver is limited.
Adequate health insurance may be required. Visitors are generally responsible for their own healthcare costs.
06 · Application process
Start with purpose, passport, location and whether formal sponsorship is required.
Set realistic dates, accommodation, activities, funding and—if visiting family—the relationship evidence.
Connect employment, study, family, assets and immigration history to a clear reason to leave Australia.
Apply in the location required by the chosen stream and upload complete, translated documents through ImmiAccount.
Check visa validity, permitted stay per entry, single or multiple entry and every condition before travel.
07 · Government charges
Charges are current at 2 August 2026. Eligible Pacific-regional applicants may receive lower charges and limited nil-charge classes exist. Each family member lodges and pays separately. Health, biometrics and police-document costs are additional; an onshore applicant may also face a subsequent temporary application charge depending on prior applications.
08 · Before you apply
We can assess the correct stream, visit purpose, funding, family and economic ties, travel history, previous refusals and the risk of restrictive conditions—then structure the evidence around the real weak points.
