Whenever you think about Australia, do you think about the historic sites, vibrant cities, and picturesque landscapes of Australia? If it’s so, then it’s not your fault.
Australia is a fascinating country that offers a wide variety of experiences. You can explore the outback’s untamed natural landscapes, experience the diverse culture, and relax on the stunning beaches.
So, you’re curious about Australia? Yes?
Then let your curiosity lead you to “hop like a kangaroo” straight into the heart of Australia via a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600).
What is Visitor Visa Subclass 600?
Subclass 600, known as the Visitor Visa Australia, is allocated for people who want to visit Australia as tourists, for business purposes, or to visit their family. This temporary visa stream allows internationals to stay in Australia for a specified period of time (3 to 12 months only).
Available Streams Under Visitor Visa Subclass 600
Australian visitor visas are categorised into various streams. The available visitor visa streams based on different categories are:
- Tourist Stream
- Business Visitor Stream
- Family Visitor Stream
Let’s discuss them in details.
Subclass 600 – Tourist Visitor Stream
The tourist stream is designed for individuals who wish to travel to Australia for the purpose of tourism for a holiday or to visit family and friends in Australia. This stream is not intended for business or medical treatment purposes.
There are some common conditions for the Australian Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) under the Tourist Stream. Following these conditions means that you are within the jurisdiction of Australian immigration authorities during the application procedure and final decision.
These conditions includes:
If you apply within Australia;
You must be physically present in Australia both at the time of your application and when the decision on your visa is made.
If you apply outside of Australia;
You must be outside Australia when you apply and when your visa is decided.
Subclass 600 Visa Eligibility for Tourist Stream
Offshore – Visitor Visa Subclass 600
Applicant must:
- Be outside Australia when applying for this visa.
- Have the intention of coming to Australia for the purpose of visiting only
- Have sufficient money to support your stay in Australia.
- Have health insurance.
- Meet health and character requirements.
- 600 visa eligibility.
Onshore — Visitor Visa 600
Applicant must:
- Be inside Australia when applying for this visa.
- Have the intention of coming to Australia for the purpose of visiting only.
- Have sufficient money to support the stay in Australia.
- Have health insurance.
- Meet health and character requirements.
Subclass 600: Business Visitor Stream
The Business Visitor Stream is allocated for business people who want to make a short business visit to Australia. This visit may be to attend a conference, negotiation, or meeting. This visa stream only facilitates business-related travel to Australia to ensure that the individuals will engage in their business-related activities legally and with the proper authorization.
Note: This visitor stream does not allow employment in Australia and is precisely designed for business visitation only.
Eligibility Criteria for the Business Visitor Stream
Applicants must:
- Be outside Australia when applying for this visa stream.
- Have the intention of coming to Australia for business reasons only.
- Have sufficient money to support your stay in Australia.
- Meet health and character requirements.
Subclass 600: Family Visitor Stream
The Family Visitor Visa stream is also known as the Sponsored Family Stream under the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600). This visa stream is allocated to individuals who want to visit their family members in Australia on a temporary basis.
Note: Applicants for this stream must be sponsored by an eligible relative or family member who is already a citizen or permanent resident of Australia. The sponsor of this visa must be over 18 and have been settled in Australia for at least two years.
Subclass 600: Approved Destination Status Stream
This visitor stream is for citizens from some regions of China who visit Australia on a tour organised by an approved travel agent.
Eligibility Criteria for Approved Destination Status Stream
Applicants must:
- Be a part of a tour to approved destinations in Australia organised by an approved travel agent.
- Be a citizen of the People’s Republic of China.
- Have the intention of coming to Australia for the purpose of visiting only
- Have sufficient money to support the stay in Australia.
- Meet health and character requirements.
Visitor Visa Australia Must Meet Conditions
Regardless of the visitor visa you may choose, it will help if you meet certain visitor visa conditions apart from the eligible criteria for a visitor visa (subclass 600).
No Further Stay Conditions (8503, 8534, 8535):
This condition prevents you from applying for other visas while staying in Australia. If you hold a visa with this condition (8503, 8534, or 8535), you will not be allowed to depart Australia before your visa expires. You may request a waiver of this condition, but only if your visa expires in less than four weeks.
Visit Visa Condition 8531
According to condition 8531, you must leave Australia before your visa expires. Suppose you cannot leave Australia as planned because of unforeseen circumstances. In that case, you should apply for another visa before the current one expires to restrain yourself from being unlawful. Once you are eligible to apply for a new visa, you can also get a bridging visa. This visa will help you stay in Australia legally while your new visa application is being processed.
Visit Visa Condition 8558
Through this condition, you are restricted from staying more than 12 months within 18 months. If you cannot leave Australia according to your departure plans, you must apply for a new visa before your current one expires. Similar to condition 8531, when you apply for a new visa, you can get a chance to receive a bridging visa so that your stay may remain lawfully in Australia until your new visa application is decided.
Visitor Visa Subclass 600: Documents Checklist
Once you decide to visit Australia on a visitor visa, you must confidently prepare your journey dance. For this purpose, meeting visitor visa subclass 600 requirements is important.
Starting an international trip or securing your Visa Subclass 600 is a critical step that requires careful preparation. However, the comprehensive checklist helps you ensure that you have all the necessary documents to make your application process hurdle-free.
Here is the checklist of the documents required for Visa Subclass 600:
Valid Passport: You must ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.
Visa Application: It’s necessary to ensure you have completed and submitted your visitor visa successfully.
Recent passport-sized photographs: It is essential to submit coloured passport photos against a white background.
Proof of funds: You need to ensure that your bank statements or financial documents show sufficient funds for the trip to Australia.
Travel Itinerary: You should double-check that you have arranged the details of your flight bookings and accommodations.
Employment Verification: You must submit a verification letter from your employer that may state your position and leave approval.
Invitation Letter: If you are visiting family or friends in Australia, you must include a letter of invitation from the host.
Health Insurance: Health insurance for a visitor visa to Australia is an Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC), which is designed to cover the costs of medical treatment if you get sick or have an accident during your visit in Australia. It is an important proof of travel health insurance, which may be required for certain subclasses of visitor visas to Australia.
Vaccination Certificates: Vaccination certificates are mainly allocated for the International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (ICVC); it helps to prove your COVID-19 vaccination history when travelling internationally. Vaccination proof of vaccination is mandatory for any kind of visitor visa to Australia, depending on your travel history.
Local Regulations: Local regulations for an Australian visitor visa may differ based on the specific requirements of subclass 600 and the country of origin of the visitor visa applicants. However, for the visitor visa (subclass 600), here are some general local regulations that you need to consider.
Note: Be aware of any specific documents required by the country from which you are applying.
How to Apply for an Australian Visitor Visa?
So, are you ready to visit Australia and explore its wonders? Let’s make it happen, and most of it.
Here are three simple ways to Apply for the subclass 600 visitor visa in Australia.
Online Application Form
Once you are eligible to apply, you can submit your visitor visa Australia application electronically over the Internet. In this fastest and easiest way, the application is submitted online through the official Australian Department of Home Affairs website. It helps you to fill out the application, upload the necessary documents, and pay the visitor visa application fee.
In-Person Paper Application Submission
You can submit your application in person with the help of an expert visa processing team or via email at the nearest Australian Visa office. In many countries, there are application centres where you can submit your visa application in person. Their staff can help with the application process and make sure all your documents are in order.
Travel Agencies & Visa Processing Agents
Companies like The Migration and migration agents offer a wide range of services relevant to visa application services. They will guide you throughout the complete process. From gathering documents to application submission, they will be your helping hands.
Note: With the help of a Service Delivery Partner (SDP) on behalf of the department in some countries, please check if an SDP is available in your country or not.
Now that you have all the information, it’s time to take the next step and start your application process. Good luck!
Cost of Visitor Visa Australia
Here is a breakdown of how much an Australia Visitor Visa costs, the available payment methods, and the importance of financial proof for your visit and stay in Australia.
Visitor Visa Costs
As of February 2024, the cost of an Australia Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) is AUD 190. This fee applies to all applicants worldwide.
Payment Methods for Visa Applications
Online payments are the safest and easiest way for online applicants worldwide. These payments are charged in Australian dollars, and your account statement is in Australian dollars as well. However, applicants can pay the visa fee in various ways to apply for their visitor visa based on the location and method they are using.
Note:
- Payments are accepted for citizenship visa applicants in Australian dollars only.
- For online applications, all payments are made through ImmiAccount.
Pay in ImmiAccount
When you lodge your visa application in ImmiAccount, you can pay your visa application fee in the following ways:
- Credit Card: Payments can be made using MasterCard, VISA, American Express, Diners Club, or JCB. Certain charges may apply to credit card payments, which range from 1.40% to 1.99%.
- PayPal: It is another convenient online payment method for online applications of subclass 600.
- UnionPay: It is an accepted online payment method for those who prefer it)
- BPAY: This online method is for those residents who have an Australian bank account.
Visitor Visa Subclass 600 Processing Time
Visitor visa processing time may range from 48 hours to 20 days, based on the type of stream and various factors, such as peak processing periods in a particular location.
However, here is the estimated processing time for various types of visitor visa applications such as:
Visa Type | Available Visa Stream | Processing Time of 75% of Applications | Processing Time of 90% of Applications |
eVisitor 651 | — | Less than 1 day | 10 days |
Visitor 600 | Tourist Stream | 22 days | 33 days |
Visitor 600 | Business Visitor Stream | 26 days | 4 months |
Visitor 600 | Sponsor Family Stream | 4 Months | 10 months |
Transit 771 | — | 14 days | 26 days |
Extension Options of Australia Visitor Visa
After your arrival at a visitor visa in Australia, if your visit visa is going to expire or has expired, then what do you do?
You need to apply for a new visa after the expiration of the current one.
If your specific visitor visa does not have condition 8503, “No Further Stay,” you can apply for the new visitor visa stream. This application process may involve the following steps:
- Lodge into your ImmiAccount.
- Fill out the import application forms.
- Provide supporting documents.
What are the Conditions and Limitations of Extending Your Visit Visa?
Although you can apply for the extension of your prior visitor stream, you must be familiar with and follow certain conditions and limitations before applying for an Australian visitor visa. For instance, if your visa has a ‘No Further Stay’ condition, you must leave Australia before your visa expires and apply for a new one from outside Australia.
Furthermore, you are restricted from staying in Australia for over 12 consecutive months on a Visitor Visa stream. If your visa has already expired during your stay in Australia, then you have limited options for applying. You must leave Australia unless you qualify for a Bridging Visa E (BVE) under exceptional circumstances.
Plan Your Trip to Visit Australia with The Migration
So, are you ready to feel Australia’s endless sunshine, beautiful beaches, and deserts?
Start applying for your prior visitor visa stream and enjoy the unforgettable holidays in Australia. If you are unsure where to start, get professional assistance from an expert migration and visa processing team.
So, what are you waiting for?
Book your appointment with our expert MARA agent “Nasir Nawaz” and start your visitor visa processing journey with ease.
FAQs
What is a Bridging Visa?
When you apply for a new visa before your current one expires, you have a chance to be granted a Bridging Visa A (BVA). This visa stream helps you to stay lawfully in Australia while your new visa application is being processed.
Is Visitor Visa a Substantive Visa?
Yes, a Visitor Visa 600 is a substantive visa. Any visa that is not a bridging, criminal justice, or enforcement visa would be considered a substantive visa.
How to Apply Visitor Visa for Parents in Australia?
Applicants for the family sponsored stream can apply online for this visa. You’ve to follow some steps to apply for a Visitor Visa for parents. They include:
- Create or login to your ImmiAccount.
- Provide complete documents in your application. It also includes the sponsorship form of your sponsor.
- Pay the visa application charges. The Department of Home Affairs will not process your visa if you don’t pay the fee.
How to Extend Visitor Visa 600 in Australia?
You can’t extend a visitor visa 600 in Australia. You can only stay for up to 12 months in Australia with a visa 600. If you want to stay longer in Australia, you will have to look for Australian visas that allow this.
You can apply for a new visa if your current visa doesn’t have a condition preventing further stay in Australia. As mentioned in Condition 8505 – No Further Stay, you cannot live in Australia if your visa has expired.
How can I waive the 8503 condition?
If you want to waive condition 8503, “No Further Stay,” you must submit a waiver request form before your current visitor visa expires. You must provide for significant unforeseen changes in your circumstances that are beyond your control. It may be any severe illness, the death of a close family member, natural disasters, or civil unrest in your home country.