Australia Tourist Visa

Australian Tourist Visa stream of Subclass 600 is for those applicants who want to visit Australia to see their family and friends; or for tourism purposes. This stream is not for those who want to visit for business or medical treatment purposes.

Tourist Visa to Australia

Tourist Visa 600

As a holder of this visa you can:

• Visit family or friends.
• Be in Australia as a tourist, for a cruise, or for any purpose except business or medical treatment.
• You can study or or do training for up to 3 months on this tourist visa 600. But if your principle reason for travelling to Australia is to study, then you should consider applying for a student visa.
• You will need a tourist visa 600 if you enter Australia during a cruise. However, if your cruise is a round trip cruise that starts and ends in Australia, then the time you spend on the cruise counts as time spent in Australia. You will not be considered to have left Australia. A round trip cruise will not reset your stay period on your visa.

Tourist Visa Australia Cost (Outside Australia)

If you are applying from outside Australia then your Australia tourist visa fees will be A$150 per applicant. Read for more information: Visa 600 Fees and Costs

Australia Tourist Visa Fees (Inside Australia)

If you are applying for tourist visa in Australia then your visa application fee will be A$380 per applicant. If you are applying for this visa second time since you last entered Australia, then your application fee will be A$1090 for each applicant lodging their second temporary visa application.

Fast Track Tourist Visa Australia

Fast track processing is a premium service that provides priority processing to Visitor visa (subclass 600) applicants. The fast-track application fee of A$1000 is in addition to the visa application charge. The department intends to finalise fast track visa applications within 48 hours excluding weekends and public holidays. However, it is not guaranteed that fast-track visa applications will be finalised within that 48 hour timeframe. Fast track visa application processing does not affect the Department of Home Affairs decisions on Visitor visa applications.

Australia Tourist Visa Processing Time

Some visa applications may take longer to finalise. However the normal processing times are as follows:

• 25% of applications: 16 Days
• 50% of applications: 39 Days
• 75% of applications: 63 Days
• 90% of applications: 4 Months

Read for more information: Visitor Visa Processing Time

Australian Tourist Visa Requirements

• You must have access to enough money to support yourself while you are in Australia.
• If you owe the Australian government money, you must have paid it back, or have arranged to pay it back.
• You must meet the Department of Home Affair's health requirement.
• You must meet the Department of Home Affair's character requirement.
• You must intend to stay only temporarily in Australia; and do only the things the visa allows you to do.
• If you are in Australia while lodging tourist visa application then you can only apply online if you hold a substantive visa, or your substantive visa ceased within the last 28 days.
• The Department of Home Affairs might not grant this visa if it is not in the best interests of an applicant under 18.

Apply for Tourist Visa Australia

You will need to lodge Australian tourist visa application online unless you are already in Australia, and your last substantive visa expired within last 28 days. If you are in Australia, and your last substantive visa expired within 28 days then you can apply for tourist visa for Australia by paper application.

There are no provisions to grant a tourist visa subclass 600 to applicants who are in Australia and apply for the visa more than 28 days after their last substantive visa ceased because they cannot satisfy Schedule 3 criteria 3001.

Read about tourist visa document checklist: Australian Tourist Visa Checklist

Invitation Letter for Tourist Visa Australia

Your tourist visa application Australia must be accompanied by an invitation letter from a relative or a friend within Australia must have the following information:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Passport Number
• Contact Mobile Number
• Contact Email Address
• Residential Address of the Invitee
• Occupation of the Invitee
• Resident Status in Australia of the Invitee
• How long you are inviting the person for
• Accommodation and living expenses (Whether they will be staying with the invitee, or at the hotel)
• Expected date of departure of the person being invited

You will also need to mention the following information of the person being invited:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Date of Birth
• Passport Number
• Contact Mobile Number
• Contact Email Address
• Residential Address of the person being invited in home country
• Occupation of the person being invited

Requirements for Tourist Visa in Australia

If you apply for tourist visa 600 in Australia that will extend your stay for more than 12 consecutive months as the holder of a visitor visa or work and holiday visa or working holiday visa, then the visa cannot be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances may include:

• An unanticipated change in an applicant's circumstances (or the circumstances of an Australian citizen or permanent resident) that are beyond the applicant's control and are extraordinary; or
• If an applicant is required to stay in Australia to provide assistance or support due to the death, serious illness or serious medical condition of a member of the applicant's close family in Australia.

Tourist Visa Australia Requirements for Student Visa Holders in Australia

Tourist visa subclass 600 lodged in Australia by applicants who hold a student visa or have held a student visa since last entering Australia, will not be able to meet the eligibility requirement, unless the case officer is satisfied that an applicant is not seeking to stay in Australia for the purpose of commencing, continuing or completing any studies or training in a registered course in which the applicant is enrolled. This means tourist visa can not be used by a student to complete studies where study duration of less than 3 months is pending.

Student visa holders in Australia may be eligible for a tourist visa subclass 600 to remain in Australia to attend a graduation ceremony, re-sit an examination or obtain accreditation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Sponsored Family Stream and Tourist Stream?

The main difference between sponsored family stream and tourist stream is that; to apply for tourist visa 600 in sponsored family stream you must have a sponsor.

How much is Security Bond for Sponsored Family Stream?

The case officer might ask an amount between A$5,000 to A$25,000, as security bond from the sponsoring relative. This bond is usually released when the visa applicant leaves Australia.

Is Tourist Visa a Substantive Visa?

Yes, tourist visa is a substantive visa.

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Disclaimer: ‘Atlantis International Pty Ltd’ and its associates are independent consulting entities which are not associated in anyway with the Australian ‘Department of Home Affairs’ (DOHA). Information on this website does not constitute personal migration advice. For a customized migration advice based on your personal circumstances, please call and talk to one of our Immigration Consultants or register your interest with our Associates.