What Is A Subclass 600 Visitor Visa?
Subclass 600 is a visa that permits you to visit Australia as a tourist, to see family and friends or for business purposes on a temporary basis.
How Long Does A 600 Visitor Visa Last?
Grant periods are usually three, six or twelve months.
How Long Does It Take To Process A 600 Visa?
Processing times vary depending on which stream you are applying for, ranging from 16 Days to up to 5 months.
How Much Does A Subclass 600 Visa Cost?
The application fee for a subclass 600 visitor visa ranges from AUD$145 to AUD$1065. This depends on the stream that you are applying for.
If you are a passport holder of the following countries, you are eligible to apply for the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) online with a charge of AUD$20:
- Brunei – Darussalam
- Canada
- Hong Kong (SAR PRC)
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Korea, Rep of (South)
- United States
If you are a citizen of the countries below and you hold a valid passport, you may be eligible to apply for an eVisitor visa (subclass 651) through your Immi Account for free:
Which stream should I apply to?
There are 5 different streams for visitor visas:
Tourist stream
For the tourist stream, you can apply inside or outside Australia. However, if you are in Australia and you would like to lodge a visitor visa application, you must not have the dreaded ” 8503 No Further Stay ” condition attached to your visa grant. Recently processing time is 3 months give or take 1 month.
Sponsored family stream
If you have a relative who is at least 18 years old and he or she is an Australian permanent resident or citizen, then you might be able to apply for a visitor visa under the sponsored family stream. Normal processing time for a family-sponsored visitor visa is 4 months plus or take 1 month.
Business visitor stream
This stream will suit you if you are currently outside Australia, and you plan to visit Australia for business purposes for a short time for business meetings but not actually to “work” in Australia. The normal processing time for this stream is typically shorter than the others. You will be required to provide evidence of your trip, this may include but is not limited to:
- an invitation from a host organisation
- conference registration details
- a letter from your employer stating why you are visiting
- your plans for your stay and details of your Australian business contacts
- proof of your current employment and professional qualifications
- evidence your company is an active business, such as an annual report
- evidence of prior contact with Australian businesses
You can apply to fast-track your application under this stream if you are a citizen of China (Mainland), United Arab Emirates or India with an extra cost of AUD$1000. The fast track cannot be applied for online, you can check the Immigration partner institution for this service.
Approved destination status stream
This stream is for people who plan to travel as part of a group for a temporary short period of stay in Australia. Your travel agent can apply for this on your behalf. Please contact your local overseas-based travel agent for further assistance.
If you are a travel agent who is looking for assistance in applying for this visa stream for your client, and you need the help of an immigration lawyer, you can book a consultation with me to discuss this further.
Frequent traveller stream
If you are a passport holder of China (Mainland) who travels often to Australia for business or personal reasons, you may consider the frequent traveller stream which can be granted for up to 10 years with a stay of up to 3 months for each time you enter.
Health and character concerns?
Do you have health issues? Or do you have a criminal record that you are worried that Immigration might refuse your visitor visa application? Talk to me today. Book a consultation, and together we can decide what you should do next.
How do I apply for a tourist visa to Australia?
Visitor visas can be applied for online through an online portal called the Immi Account without any assistance and in most cases, you do not need the assistance of a migration lawyer like me.
You should understand that a visitor visa can be applied for in most cases outside of Australia (offshore) but also in limited cases when you are already inside Australia (onshore).
For a discussion about making an application for a visitor visa to enter Australia or for making a further visitor visa application or visitor visa extension whilst onshore, please book a chat with me to discuss your options.
How much money do you need in the bank?
To apply for a visitor visa, you need to satisfy the following requirements:
- Be a genuine temporary entrant
- Have adequate means of support
- Meet the Australia Public Interest Criteria
- Meet special return criteria
There is no specific amount of money that is required when you apply for a visitor visa. The case officer may seek evidence including, but not limited to:
- bank statements and/or passbooks showing a consistent history of saving
- letters from banks and/or other financial institutions concerning the financial position of the applicant or the applicant’s access to the funds of another person
- air tickets that have already been purchased
- available credit card funds.
Please note, cash and traveller’s cheques are not considered acceptable evidence of funds. You’ll need to prove that you “own” such funds. That’s awkward!
If you are invited by a family or friend, and they will cover the expenses for your stay, generally the person offering the support should confirm their offer, in writing.
You can book a consultation with me to discuss how I can help you put a better visitor visa submission.
Your Experience?
Please share your comments with me.
I’d love to know more about your experience with applying for this visa subclass!
Omer says
My mother got her visa for 1 year with (3 months max stay) without “no further stay” multiple entries.
Her visa expires in late January 2024
Can i apply her visit visa again as onshore applicant ?
Regards
Omer
Harish says
Hi Nilesh,
My mum has applied for 864 visa while on vsitor visa(multiple visi with max stay of 12months and must not arrive by feb2025) She arrived on 13march 2022 and planning to leave 5mar2023. She is now granted bridgingA which will come into effect after substantiative visa expires. does this mean she can leave australia and come back on her vistor visa? please advise
Sunita says
My sister and family of 4 have applied for tourist visa on 2nd Dec to Australia from Denmark and not much progress yet. They just attached the return flight tickets on 29th Jan. they plan to travel end of March 2023.
Can we convert to sponsored family tourist visa as she is a blood relative. Also does her husband also qualify for sponsored family visa if travelling with her?
Regards
Sunita
isra says
please guide me in planning for partner visa.I want to apply for partner Visa 820, if I get visitor visa600 that does not have No further stay. Should I mention about temporary visa or satisfy the clause about returning back.
Sukhchain singh says
I got finalised status on my application on 10 November but still didn’t get my e paper.Can you please help me with that?
David Charles says
Hello, i have a question,
my mother is in the country and she is currently on 600 visa with the following conditions
8558, 8101, 8201 –
she has been about 11 months here, and i am looking at a way to extend this visa for another year or more, what are my current options,
I am not on PR yet but have lodged the application in April 2022.
thank you
Ahmad Alissa says
Hi Nilesh Nandan!
I have Swedish nationality and i want to stay in Australia legally, so which the best way can i stay and work there. I have my cousin who Australian citizen and he has jobb.
I will buy a coffe for you ,,,
Best regards
Ahmad Alissa
Raj says
Hello,
My application for tourist visa subclass 600 was rejected. The reason was I failed to satisfy the decision maker that I will go back to my country. My question is: can I reapply for a tourist visa or not..?
Can I apply for tourist visa again immediately with additional documents?
Thank you
Navneet says
Hi,
My parents are here in Australia on tourist visa subclass 600. I want to extend their visa. So what are the requirements for it and what are the processing Times for onshore subclass 600 visa.
Thanks
Ratu Orisi Lalabalavu says
Hi Nilesh,
I have applied for my tourist ( subclass 600) on June 5th ,2022 and I’m still waiting till now . Just wanted to follow up regarding my Visa because I really wanna visit Australia during this festive season to see families and friends before I return back to continue with my studies here in Fiji. Can you just help me out on this , please ?
Thank you 😌
Nilesh Nandan says
Hi Ratu
Thank you very much for your question. Here are the first three (3) things that come to my mind in relation to your post. There may also be other important issues which arise from your particular circumstances and you should seek specific immigration law advice before taking any further steps. It could be that I misunderstood you.
1. To access the current processing times for a given visa type visit this site https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times . Remember it keeps changing.
2. Check that you have uploaded necessary supporting material.
3. I wonder whether you have travelled previously to Australia on a visitor Visa. Make sure that your expectation level is appropriate and that you have clearly demonstrated that you will return after your period of stay in Australia.
Did you benefit from this response? Feel free to buy me a coffee if this was useful. It helps me answer more questions like yours! https://Buymeacoffee.Com/NileshNandan
Regards Nilesh Nandan BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus) Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory myvisa.com.au/about/ 1300558472
*In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
Nguyet says
How are you. My mum would like to invite my grandma to visit to Australia. She will apply sponsor subclass 600.My grandma is 90 now, but she is still strong. Could my mom invite her? Does the visa subclass 600 limited the age?
Shazz says
Hi, I have a question,
I got refused on my 408 visa as I haven’t uploaded my police check. (I am 100% sure I did but I can’t find the document in the application) i am not sure if I could win the aat. I was on bridging visa a and now I have 35 days to leave the country, or to get another visa. Will it be possible to apply for a onshore visitor/tourist visa?
I’ll prefer to be able to apply for the covid visa again but I’m not sure if that willl be possible?
Thanks, shazz
AK says
Hi we have applied for a visitor visa 600 for my son’s Filipino girlfriend. We did apply while we were on holiday in the Philippines and we also git the Biometric scan done in Manila. I’ve also attached a letter stating that my son’s girlfriend will be staying with us and she will also have travel insurance. I am just wondering about the wait time? Is it because she is from the Philippines that the application takes much longer??? Also when the visa is approved and maybe only 3 month’s at a time? Would she need to leave the country and come back to get another 3 month’s? Or can we apply for extension?
Shihab says
Can we fast track the visit visa?
Arpan says
Hi,
I have applied for my mother’s tourist visa – 600 from Fiji. Last updated on 08/07. All the documents uploaded, biometrics & medical completed as well in May/July. Immi account is still showing further assessment. How long does it take usually? Or is there anything I can do about it?
She has been to Australia few times in the past. However, during her last stay, she over stayed 1 day as I completely forgot to reapply. We hired the migration lawyer who applied for the visa (on-shore) and got approved for 3 months. She went back to Fiji and reapplied in June’22 and since then no update.
Please assist. I really appreciate your help.
Thanks
Shriani says
Hi Nilesh
I submitted a visitor visa for my mum to visit. I put in the application on the 27th of June, had the biometrics and health checks done in her home country and I acknowledged that we had provided all the information sought after she went for both the biometrics and health checks. But all it says on the the application home page is further assessment and it still displays the “arrange biometrics collection”. It approaching the maximum processing time frame of 37 days and we not heard anything back from them. Is this normal, for them to take such a long time to process visitor visas. She was granted one pre covid once we submitted all the requested documents. I am not sure what we can do at this stage. She can’t travel alone and we had hoped that she will get the visa in time to travel with my sister who has gotten her visa and will be travelling down on the 26th. Any advise is appreciated.
Muneeb says
Hi Nilesh,
I applied for visitor visa family sponsored stream subclass 600 in march 2020..after two years in june 2022 i recieved an emal and they asked me for further information via s56 request..i have submitted very next day..now one month has passed but i am still waiting..can u help me regarding this issue?
Nilesh Nandan says
Please contact me if you are still waiting for a response after a few days of having provided the additional material. Unfortunately it can be that your case has been handed to another person or added to another persons work queue And delays of several months are not uncommon.
I know this must be frustrating for you. Once you get it is not uncommon.
Did you benefit from this response? Feel free to buy me a coffee if this was useful. It helps me answer more questions like yours!
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
myvisa.com.au/about/
1300558472
Visitor Visa says
Excellent language choices! Isn’t it satisfying to produce such excellent work? Very interesting ideas! Your capacity to think through these issues. I’m amazed with how you’re approaching your posts and the effort you put into obtaining this. Really, you went above and above with your suggestions. You’re fulfilling your duties and responsibilities effectively. Continue your wonderful work.
Madhumita says
Hi, thanks for the informative website.
My husband has applied for a tourist visa on 9th April and its well over 37 days at this point. We are thinking of withdrawing our application and applying for a new fasttrack visa. However MHA is unclear about fast track processing time, and if it goes against the applicant or not? Would you have any advice on this?
MaricarD says
Hi, my application for tourist visa subclass 600 was rejected. The reason was I failed to satisfy the decision maker that I will go back to my country. My question is: if I will not appeal will I still be able to apply for a visa in the future?
Anna says
Hi, I have a small concern. I applied for a tourist visa as a friend back in March 2022 from UAE. However, I had done biometrics and health examinations. The health examinations have been cleared, but there is still a flag indicating “arrange biometrics collection”, with the overall status as “Further assessment” When we contacted the Department of Home Affairs, they informed us that there has been a technical issue. But this issue has been going on for a few months. We are in two minds if we should reapply the application again. Is there something we can do re-submit the biometrics?
They have now increased the global processing time for 90% of the applications to 20 months.
Yin Peng Lee says
Hi,
If I applied for 600 onshore and ask for 2 days stay, would I be able to get 2 days visa instead of 3month?
Raza says
HI Nilesh Nandan,
You are doing a great job.
Can I ask one question?
Can we apply for a Partner visa while the partner is in Australia on a Visit visa SC 600?
Does she get a bridging visa?
Thanks
Nilesh Nandan says
1. yes.
2. yes.
I’m assuming that there is no condition on the Visa which suggests “No further stay”. If such a condition does attach to the Visitor Visa held in an application will need to be made for a waiver of that prohibition.
I can help with making submissions in respect of the waiver in certain circumstances.
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*In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
Hunter Chaudhary says
I would like to know, Does DUI conviction (First Offence , NZD $800 fine only in New Zealand) prevent to obtain Visitor visa to Australia? with Nepalese Passport? & as I am Nepalese passport holder, am I eligible to apply (Fast-Track processing)? I opt your team to apply my visa Asap.
Nilesh Nandan says
Certainly would be easier if you did not have any drink driving charge at all. I do not believe the charge is photo of particularly in circumstances where it was only a fine. I am more concerned about the fact that you are the holder of a Nepali passport and whether or not you will meet the requirements to be a genuine temporary entrant. This involves looking at the factors pulling you back to Nepal after your temporary stay on the one hand and potential motivation for you to stay in Australia and overstay your Visa on the other hand. Your employment and social ties could particularly impact this as well your immigration history not just with Australia but with other countries.
*In the interest of speed, my communications are transcribed and transmitted using voice-to-text software – please ignore any unintended typographical or interpretation errors. Please also see the standard Notes and Disclosures which apply to my communications. These are located at the footer of my work emails.
Regards
Nilesh Nandan
BBus(Accy) LLB(QUT) MBA(IntBus)
Immigration Lawyer | Special Counsel
MyVisa® Immigration Law Advisory
Hope this helps. Please help me answer more questions like these by leaving an honest review here: https://g.page/r/CfBw8UcKreaaEAg/review
Nikhil Jain says
What if my visa subclass states, must enter before 30/03/2022 and I am entering Australia on 15/03/2022, in this case what is the maximum time I can stay in Australia?
Swati Dash says
Is it true, that a tourist visa 600 stream- requested period of stay 3 months, does not require a medical check to be done, by the applicant?
Jurgen says
I managed to get a 600 visa, however, I requested the visa for a period of 12 months but I got it granted for 6 months only. Is there a way to appeal or should I just apply for a new visa when this expires?
Ben says
After a visa subclass 600 is approved, how much time do you have to travel to Australia/ what is the start date of the visa?
Lakshmi says
Hi Nilesh,
My husband working in Australia and we applied 190 visa and waiting for the PR grant. He is planning to apply visitor VISA for us to travel from India. Are we eligible to apply this VISA as we yet to get the PR grant?
Bijay Ghimire says
Is there any approvals of visitors visa in Australia during this period for South Asia?
Nilesh Nandan says
Bijay
If you’re asking whether or not immigration has ceased processing applications for visitor visas to enter Australia, I’m not aware of any cessation in processing.
The difficulty of course is in obtaining a travel exemption in respect of crossing Australian borders even if a visitor visa is held.
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robyn moses says
Informative article so I thought I would share my experience with subclass 600 visa. I am a NZer who was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment in 2005. My application for a visitor visa has been sitting under further assessment for the past 3 months they have not asked for any further information nor have they notified if it has been sent to the character assessment (VACCU). I have had two previous such visas granted; the first one took 9 months for a decision to be made and was granted for 1 years. The 2nd was a 2year visa that took just 2 weeks to process after application. I am at a loss at the current delay as my circumstances are unchained e.g. no further convictions, same employer/residence for past 10 years
Nilesh Nandan says
I don’t know why the delay this time.
The discretion applied by a decision maker is unique to that decision maker.
Additionally, guidelines and policies may change from time to time. This may require a different consideration or a different weighting to be given to the the nature and seriousness of the particular offending or the present likelihood of re-offending.
In short, unfortunately, just because you were granted previously, it does not necessarily follow that you’ll be granted again.
Does that help?
Bhawna says
Hi Nilesh,
Thanks for the insights.I also have a query, I applied for a Visitor visa (family visit) 600 ( paid AUD 145)a month back on 26th April 2022. Since, my brother is on a PR, I thought this would be the fastest visa to get. However, till date status on immi showing only application received. What could be the reasons, was it better to apply for Tourist visa instead & can I do anything further to expedite the visa processing. I was planning to travel in June 1st week. I am seriously not sure what went wrong.