Request Free Consultation
Move abroad with your family.
Don't know what to do Get free Counselling
Australia · Visit visa
Australia visit visa: tourist, business, and family, Subclass 600
An Australia visit visa is the Visitor visa, Subclass 600, that lets Indian travellers enter Australia for a short stay. It covers tourism, visiting family or friends, and short business activities, and a child or dependant can apply too. It does not allow paid work or long study. The Department of Home Affairs decides each application.
Data current as of June 2026
What the Australia visit visa covers
An Australia visit visa, officially the Visitor visa Subclass 600, lets Indian travellers come to Australia for a short stay. One visa with several streams covers many purposes.
It covers tourism, visiting family or friends, and short business activities, and a child or dependant can apply on their own. Indian passport holders use Subclass 600, because the ETA Subclass 601 and eVisitor Subclass 651 are not open to Indian passports.
The visit visa does not allow paid work, and study is limited to three months. This page is a full guide: the streams, the costs, the documents, the steps, what to do before you fly, and what to do once you arrive.
Subclass 600 streams at a glance
All short visits for Indian travellers run through the Visitor visa Subclass 600, which has several streams for different purposes. The diagram shows how they branch from one visa.
The visit visa streams explained
Subclass 600 has several streams. Here is what each one means and what the department expects to see.
Tourist stream
The tourist stream is for holidays, sightseeing, cruises, and visiting family or friends. You apply from outside Australia, show funds for the trip, a travel plan, and strong ties to your home country. You meet the genuine visitor test, you cannot work, and study is limited to three months.
Family and friends visit
You can visit family or friends on the tourist stream with an invitation letter from your host that includes their status and address. The invitation supports your file but does not by itself guarantee approval. Your own funds and home ties still matter to the case officer.
Business visitor stream
The business visitor stream is for short business activities such as meetings, conferences, and negotiations. You must not do paid work or join the Australian labour market. A letter from the host company or your employer explaining the purpose and who pays the costs strengthens the file.
Sponsored family stream
The sponsored family stream is for visiting relatives who are Australian citizens or permanent residents and who agree to sponsor you. The sponsor may need to provide a financial security bond. This stream can help applicants who need a sponsor to strengthen the case.
Child or dependant
A child or dependant applies for their own Subclass 600 visa, usually within the same stream as the parent. Include documents that show the family relationship, such as a birth certificate, and parental consent where a minor travels with one parent or alone. Each applicant pays their own charge.
Not sure which stream fits your trip?
Get a free assessment and we will confirm the right Australia visit visa stream for your purpose and family.
Australia visit visa streams compared
All streams sit under one Visitor visa Subclass 600, with different purposes and conditions. This table compares them for Indian applicants.
| Stream | Who it is for | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist stream | Holidays, sightseeing, family, friends | 3, 6 or 12 months |
| Business visitor stream | Meetings, conferences, negotiations | Up to 3 months |
| Sponsored family stream | Visiting a sponsoring relative | Up to 12 months |
| Frequent traveller stream | Regular travellers, longer validity | Up to 3 months each visit |
| Child or dependant | Children travelling with family | As per the stream |
Source: Department of Home Affairs visitor visa guidance, current for 2026. Indian passport holders use Subclass 600, since the ETA Subclass 601 and eVisitor Subclass 651 are not open to Indian passports. The case officer sets the exact stay, and rules can change. Confirm before you apply.
For most Indian travellers the tourist stream serves holidays and family visits, while the business visitor stream covers short work trips. We match you to the right stream.
Documents you need for an Australia visit visa
A complete file is the single biggest factor you control. This table shows the core documents and the extras for each purpose.
| Document | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | All applicants | Usually valid at least 6 months |
| Proof of funds | All applicants | Bank statements and income proof |
| Proof of ties to home | All applicants | Job, family, property, or study |
| Travel plan and purpose | All applicants | Why you are going and when you return |
| Invitation or sponsor letter | Family and business visits | Host details, or sponsor and bond |
| Birth certificate, consent | Child or dependant | Relationship proof and parental consent |
Source: Department of Home Affairs document guidance, current for 2026. Requirements vary by case and the department can ask for more, such as a health examination or police clearance. Documents in other languages may need certified translation. Confirm the current checklist before you apply.
Strong, honest documents that meet the genuine visitor test are what officers reward. We build and review your full file so it tells a clear, genuine story of your visit.
Want your documents checked before you apply?
Get a free assessment and we will review your file for gaps that lead to refusals.
Australia visit visa fees
The visa application charge is set by the Department of Home Affairs and is the same across most streams, with the frequent traveller stream costing more. The table shows the main charges to plan for.
| Charge | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist stream base charge | About AUD 190 | Per applicant, paid online |
| Business visitor stream | About AUD 190 | Same base charge as tourist |
| Sponsored family stream | About AUD 190 | Sponsor may post a security bond |
| Frequent traveller stream | Higher charge | For the longer validity, by invitation |
| Other costs | Varies | Biometrics, health checks, translations |
Source: Department of Home Affairs visa pricing, current for 2026. These are government charges set by the department and can change at any time, so confirm the current amount before you apply. Third-party costs such as biometrics, health checks, and translations are extra and vary. The charge is generally non-refundable, even if refused.
Budget for the visa charge, any biometrics or health checks, and travel medical insurance for your trip. We give you a clear, current cost picture before you apply.
What to do before you travel to Australia
A smooth trip starts before you fly. Get your documents, money, and plans in order so your visit matches what you told the department.
Check your passport and grant
Make sure your passport is valid for your trip and save your visa grant letter with its conditions and stay period.
Read your visa conditions
Note conditions such as no work and the three-month study limit, and check for a no further stay condition, so you do not breach them.
Buy travel medical insurance
Health care in Australia is costly for visitors. Buy private travel medical insurance for your trip dates before you leave.
Prepare a document folder
Carry your invitation, funds proof, return ticket, accommodation details, and travel plan in case they are asked for.
Know the customs rules
Australia has strict biosecurity. Declare food, plants, and other goods on arrival, and do not bring anything that breaks the rules.
Want a pre-travel checklist for Australia?
Get a free assessment and we will prepare your documents and a clear plan before you fly.
The Australia visit visa application process
Indian applicants apply online through ImmiAccount. This table explains the key steps so nothing is missed.
| Step | What it is | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Choose your stream | Tourist, business, or sponsored family | The stream sets conditions and stay |
| Gather documents | Passport, funds, ties, invitation | The genuine visitor test is examined |
| Create an ImmiAccount | Complete the online application | Paper applications are discontinued |
| Pay the charge and submit | The visa application charge | Keep your transaction reference |
| Biometrics and health | Fingerprints, photo, any health check | Book early so it does not delay you |
| Wait for the decision | The department assesses and notifies | Apply well before your travel dates |
Source: Department of Home Affairs application guidance, current for 2026. Steps, charges, and timelines are set by the department and can change, and processing times vary by stream and demand. A visa does not guarantee entry, since a border officer decides at arrival. Confirm current details before you apply.
Good planning is everything here. We choose your stream, prepare your funds proof, invitation, and documents, then guide the ImmiAccount lodgement and any biometrics so each step lines up before you travel.
Worried about the application steps?
We prepare your documents and funds proof, then guide your ImmiAccount application so nothing slips.
Australia visit visa dos and donts
Small mistakes cause many refusals. These dos and donts keep your application honest and strong.
Do the right things
- Show genuine funds and a clear source of money.
- Prove strong ties to your home country, such as a job, family, or property.
- Meet the genuine visitor test with a clear purpose and dates.
- Apply early and answer every question honestly.
- Read and follow your visa conditions.
- Buy travel medical insurance for your trip.
Do not do these
- Do not work, including remote work, under condition 8101.
- Do not study or train for more than three months.
- Do not overstay the period on your grant.
- Do not give false information or fake documents.
- Do not hide a past visa refusal from any country.
- Do not book non-refundable travel before the grant.
Source: Department of Home Affairs visa conditions and eligibility guidance, current for 2026. Breaching a condition such as working can lead to visa cancellation and a ban. Rules can change, so confirm current details. Following them protects your record.
What to do once you are in Australia
A visit visa lets you do plenty, within clear limits set by your conditions. Here is what you can and cannot do as a visitor.
You can
- Travel, sightsee, and visit family and friends.
- Attend business meetings and conferences in the relevant stream.
- Study or train for up to three months.
- Open a bank account and arrange short-term housing.
- Travel in and out if your visa allows multiple entries.
- Enjoy holidays, cruises, and events.
You cannot
- Do paid work, including remote work, under condition 8101.
- Study or train for more than three months.
- Stay past the period on your grant.
- Apply for most other visas if 8503 applies.
- Breach the conditions written on your visa.
At the airport, a border officer may ask about your visit, so keep your documents ready. Your grant letter shows your conditions and how long you can stay. Plan your trip around that period and those conditions.
Source: Department of Home Affairs guidance on visitor conditions, current for 2026, including condition 8101 no work and condition 8201 study limited to three months. Activities must fit within your grant. Rules can change, so confirm current details before you rely on them.
Plans changing while in Australia?
Get a free assessment and we will explain your conditions and the right visa if you want to stay or do more.
Stay, validity, and visa conditions
Your stay, your visa validity, and the conditions on your grant are all set by the department. This table explains the key points.
| Item | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stay granted | 3, 6 or 12 months | Set by the case officer per entry |
| No work | Condition 8101 | No paid work, including remote work |
| Study limit | Condition 8201 | Study or training up to 3 months |
| No further stay | Condition 8503 | If applied, cannot apply onshore |
| Extension | New application | Not guaranteed; apply before expiry |
Source: Department of Home Affairs visitor visa conditions, current for 2026. Not every condition applies to every grant, so read your visa letter carefully. The frequent traveller stream allows stays of up to 3 months each visit over a longer validity. Rules can change, so confirm current details.
To stay longer, you usually apply for a new visa before your current one ends, unless a no further stay condition applies. We help you understand your conditions and options.
What officers look for, and refusal reasons
A visit visa is approved when you meet the genuine visitor test, show enough funds, and prove strong ties to your home country. Knowing what officers check helps you prepare.
Common refusal reasons include a weak genuine temporary entrant case, weak proof of funds, unclear ties to your home country, an incomplete file, or doubts about the purpose of the visit. Health or character issues can also matter. Many cases can be reapplied with a stronger file, though offshore visitor refusals usually have no appeal right.
An Australia visit visa, the Visitor visa Subclass 600, has a base charge of about AUD 190, covers tourism, family, business, and child or dependant travel through its streams, and is granted for a stay of 3, 6, or 12 months. It does not allow paid work under condition 8101, and study is limited to three months under condition 8201.
Factual overview, verified against Department of Home Affairs visitor visa guidance, current for 2026. Charges, stay periods, and conditions are set by the department and can change at any time. A visa does not guarantee entry.
Meeting the criteria improves your chances, but the final decision rests with the Department of Home Affairs and the border officer. We give you a realistic view and help you build the strongest possible application.
Speak with BestMigrationConsultant.com about your Australia visit visa
Our immigration experts guide Indian applicants through every Australia visit visa stream, from tourist and business to sponsored family, child, and dependant applications, including charges, documents, pre-travel preparation, and the ImmiAccount lodgement. Call +91-7670800002 or visit BestMigrationConsultant.com, and start with a free assessment today.

