How to Apply for an Australian Visitor Visa Subclass 600 Tourist Stream from Overseas
Apply from outside Australia for a Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream to visit family or friends, take a holiday or go on a cruise. Check the AUD 250 visa charge, genuine visitor evidence, financial documents, passport requirements, health and character checks, ImmiAccount steps and work restrictions.
AU Australia
Immigration & Travel ~ 13 min read
16 FAQ
Updated 2026-08-26
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If you are outside Australia and need a Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream, you can generally apply online through ImmiAccount. You must be outside Australia both when you apply and when Home Affairs decides the application, intend to visit temporarily, have enough money for your stay and meet health and character requirements. The visa costs from AUD 250 per applicant in 2026, although a lower charge applies to eligible passport holders from specified Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste. Each family member must apply separately. You cannot work on this visa, although you can generally study or train for up to 3 months. Home Affairs commonly grants a 3-month stay but can grant up to 12 months depending on the circumstances.
What you need
- Be outside Australia when you lodge the Tourist stream application and when Home Affairs makes its decision.
- Have a valid passport or other accepted travel document.
- Intend to visit Australia temporarily for tourism, a cruise or to visit family or friends.
- Have enough money, or access to enough money, to support yourself during your stay.
- Provide evidence supporting your genuine temporary visit, including your travel plans and reasons to return home where relevant.
- Meet Australia's health requirement.
- Meet Australia's character requirement.
- Pay or arrange to repay any debt you owe to the Australian Government where applicable.
- Provide identity documents and evidence of any name changes.
- Provide English translations of documents that are not in English.
- Provide additional documents for applicants under 18 where applicable.
- Submit a separate visa application for every family member travelling, including children.
Eligibility
The Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream for applicants outside Australia is for genuine temporary visitors who want to come to Australia for a holiday, cruise or visit with family or friends rather than to work or receive medical treatment. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the Department of Home Affairs decides the application. You must have enough funds for your visit, meet health and character requirements and satisfy Home Affairs that you intend to stay only temporarily and comply with the conditions and period of stay granted on the visa.
How to do it
- Check whether the Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream is the correct visa for your trip. Some passport holders may instead qualify for an Electronic Travel Authority subclass 601 or eVisitor subclass 651.
- Confirm that you are outside Australia and will remain outside Australia until Home Affairs decides the Tourist stream application.
- Check your passport. If you intend to obtain a new passport soon, Home Affairs recommends doing this before applying.
- Gather identity documents, including the personal details pages of your current passport and any national identity card you hold.
- Gather evidence showing that you are a genuine temporary visitor, including your travel plans, financial evidence and evidence of reasons to return to your home country.
- If visiting relatives or friends, include an invitation letter where useful. If another person will fund your trip, include evidence of that person's ability to provide the financial support.
- Prepare any health, character, child-consent or guardianship documents required for your circumstances.
- Have all non-English documents translated into English and include both the original document and the translation.
- Scan or photograph supporting documents in colour so they are clear and legible.
- Create or sign in to ImmiAccount and start a Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream application for an applicant outside Australia.
- Complete all questions accurately and attach the supporting evidence requested in ImmiAccount.
- If family members are travelling with you, lodge a separate application for each person. Home Affairs allows related applications to be submitted together in ImmiAccount.
- Pay the applicable visa application charge. Home Affairs will not process the application until the required charge is paid.
- Submit the application and monitor ImmiAccount for correspondence.
- Provide biometrics, health examinations, police certificates or further evidence if Home Affairs asks for them.
- Do not arrange travel to Australia on the assumption that the visa will be granted. Home Affairs instructs offshore applicants to wait until they receive the visa grant in writing.
- If the visa is granted, read the grant letter carefully for the permitted stay period, entry conditions and any additional visa conditions.
Who should apply for a subclass 600 Tourist visa from outside Australia?
The Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream is designed for people outside Australia who want to visit temporarily for tourism, a cruise or to spend time with family or friends.
You must be outside Australia both when you submit this Tourist stream application and when the Department of Home Affairs makes the decision.
This stream is not intended for employment in Australia. It is also different from the Business Visitor stream and visas intended for medical treatment.
Check whether you need a subclass 600 visa first
Before applying, check whether your passport makes you eligible for a different Australian visitor permission. Home Affairs notes that some travellers may qualify for an Electronic Travel Authority subclass 601 or an eVisitor subclass 651 instead.
If you are not eligible for those options, or the subclass 600 Tourist stream better fits your circumstances, you can proceed with the Visitor visa application through ImmiAccount.
What is the genuine visitor requirement?
You must satisfy Home Affairs that you genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily and will comply with the conditions and permitted stay period attached to your visa.
There is no single document that automatically proves genuine visitor status. Home Affairs assesses the circumstances of the application and recommends providing as much relevant evidence as possible.
Evidence of your reason for visiting
Provide information about what you plan to do in Australia. This can include an itinerary, travel plans, details of family or friends you will visit and information about accommodation.
If a relative or friend is inviting you, their invitation letter can explain your relationship, the purpose and expected length of the visit and whether you will stay with them.
Evidence that you intend to return home
Home Affairs specifically identifies evidence of reasons to return to your home country as useful genuine visitor evidence. Examples include a letter from your employer confirming that you will return to your job, evidence that you are studying, evidence of immediate family members at home and evidence that you own a house or other significant assets.
How much money do you need for a Visitor visa?
Home Affairs does not publish one fixed minimum bank balance for every subclass 600 Tourist stream applicant. Instead, you must have or have access to enough money to support yourself during your stay in Australia.
The amount needed depends on factors such as the length and purpose of the trip, accommodation arrangements, planned activities and whether another person will support you financially.
What financial documents can you provide?
Home Affairs lists several examples of financial evidence, including itemised personal bank statements covering a 3-month period, payslips, audited accounts, tax records, term deposits and credit card statements.
If a relative or friend in Australia will pay for your visit, provide evidence of their financial capacity as well as the invitation information.
What documents do you need for a subclass 600 Tourist visa?
The exact document checklist depends on your circumstances and the questions you answer in ImmiAccount. The core evidence normally focuses on identity, the purpose of the visit, financial capacity and genuine temporary stay.
Passport and identity documents
Provide the pages of your current passport showing your photograph, personal details, passport issue date and expiry date. If you have a national identity card, Home Affairs also asks you to provide it.
If your name has changed, provide supporting evidence such as a marriage certificate, divorce certificate or official change-of-name document.
Travel and invitation evidence
Include information about your planned activities in Australia. If you are visiting someone, an invitation letter can help explain the visit. Where appropriate, include evidence showing the inviter's Australian citizenship or permanent residence and their financial support if they are paying for the trip.
Character documents
You must meet the Australian character requirement. Home Affairs requires visa applicants to declare relevant criminal conduct truthfully and can request police certificates or additional character documents. If you have military service history, provide military service records or discharge papers where applicable.
Do you need a police certificate?
Not every Tourist stream applicant is required to obtain a police certificate before applying. Home Affairs may ask for one during the assessment depending on your circumstances and character history.
If Home Affairs requests a police certificate or other character information, provide it within the timeframe stated in the request.
Do you need a medical examination?
You must meet Australia's health requirement. Whether you need a health examination depends on factors such as your personal circumstances, intended activities and travel or residence history.
You may complete health examinations before applying in circumstances where Home Affairs permits this, or wait until the Department tells you that examinations are required.
Do Visitor visa documents need to be translated?
Yes. All documents that are not in English must be translated into English. Upload both the original document and the English translation.
Translators in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. Translators outside Australia do not have to hold Australian accreditation, but each translation must include the translator's full name, address, telephone number, qualifications and experience in the language translated.
Home Affairs states that documents do not need to be certified unless it specifically asks for certification.
What documents are required for a child under 18?
Applicants under 18 need additional evidence. Home Affairs asks for a birth certificate showing the names of both parents. Where that cannot be provided, specified alternative identity documents may be accepted.
If someone other than the biological parents has legal guardianship, provide evidence of that guardianship, such as adoption papers or court orders.
A person who has a legal right to decide where the child lives and who will not travel with the child must generally provide consent using Form 1229 or an appropriate statutory declaration. Evidence showing that person's signature and photograph, such as a passport or driver licence, must also be provided.
If a child will not stay with a relative or legal guardian in Australia, Home Affairs also requires Form 1257 Undertaking declaration to be completed by the person with whom the child will stay.
How much does the Australian Visitor visa subclass 600 cost in 2026?
As of 26 August 2026, the Tourist stream application made outside Australia costs from AUD 250 for each applicant.
Each family member must lodge a separate application and pay the applicable charge.
Other costs may arise if you need health examinations, police certificates or biometrics.
Lower fee for some Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders
From 1 July 2026, Home Affairs applies a lower Visitor visa application charge to eligible applicants who use a valid passport issued by the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu or Vanuatu.
ImmiAccount identifies eligible applicants using the passport provided in the application and applies the relevant lower charge.
Can family members be included in one Visitor visa application?
No. You cannot include family members as secondary applicants in a subclass 600 Tourist stream application. Every person, including a child listed on a parent's passport, must submit a separate visa application.
Home Affairs allows family applications to be submitted together through ImmiAccount, but they remain separate applications.
How to apply for the Tourist stream through ImmiAccount
The standard application method is online through ImmiAccount.
- Create or sign in to ImmiAccount.
- Start a Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream application.
- Answer the application questions accurately.
- Attach your passport, identity and genuine visitor evidence.
- Attach any financial, invitation, child-related, health or character documents required for your circumstances.
- Submit any family applications together if appropriate.
- Pay the application fee.
- Submit the application.
Home Affairs will not process the application until the required visa application charge has been paid.
How long can you stay on a subclass 600 Tourist visa?
The Tourist stream can allow a stay of up to 12 months, but you should not assume that you will receive the maximum period.
Home Affairs states that it generally grants a stay period of 3 months and may grant up to 12 months in certain circumstances. The Department can grant a shorter period than the one requested.
Your visa grant letter states exactly how long you can stay and whether you have single or multiple entry permission.
Can parents of Australian citizens get a longer Visitor visa?
Parents and step-parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents can request a longer visa. Home Affairs considers these applications individually.
If a visa valid for more than 12 months is granted under these arrangements, the holder may receive multiple-entry travel rights but cannot remain in Australia for more than 12 months in total during any 18-month period. Adequate health insurance arrangements may also be required.
Can you work on a subclass 600 Tourist visa?
No. You cannot work in Australia on a Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream.
Home Affairs distinguishes employment from some types of genuine volunteer work. If you intend to undertake volunteer activities, check the current Visitor visa rules carefully before starting because the activity must not amount to prohibited work.
Can you study on a Visitor visa?
You can generally study or undertake training for up to 3 months while holding a Visitor visa. If studying is the main reason for travelling to Australia, Home Affairs advises considering a Student visa instead.
Do you need health insurance?
Visitor visa holders are generally responsible for their own healthcare costs in Australia. Home Affairs strongly recommends adequate health insurance to protect against unexpected medical expenses.
Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia, but the scope of cover depends on the particular agreement.
In some cases, Home Affairs can grant the visa subject to condition 8501, which requires the holder to maintain adequate health insurance.
How long does a subclass 600 Tourist visa take?
Home Affairs does not publish one guaranteed processing time that applies to every Tourist stream applicant. Its Visa Processing Time Guide provides current figures based on recently decided applications.
The published figures are a guide only and do not predict exactly when your individual application will be decided.
You can reduce avoidable delays by submitting a complete application, attaching the relevant documents and responding promptly to requests for additional information.
What happens after you submit the application?
Home Affairs confirms receipt of your application and documents. Continue monitoring ImmiAccount because the Department may ask you to provide biometrics, complete health examinations or submit further information.
Home Affairs can decide an application using the information already provided without first asking you for missing evidence, so attaching a complete set of documents at lodgement is important.
Can you travel to Australia while the application is being processed?
If you applied through the Tourist stream for applicants outside Australia, you must remain outside Australia when the Department makes its decision.
Home Affairs instructs applicants not to arrange travel to Australia until they have received written confirmation that the visa has been granted.
How will you receive the visa decision?
Home Affairs provides the decision in writing. If the visa is granted, the notification states your visa grant number, the date the visa starts and the conditions attached to it.
The visa is digitally linked to your passport. You do not receive a physical visa label in your passport.
If the application is refused, Home Affairs provides a written decision explaining the refusal and whether review rights are available.
Is the Visitor visa single entry or multiple entry?
Home Affairs can grant either single-entry or multiple-entry travel rights. The result depends on the individual visa grant.
If you have multiple entry, you can leave and return to Australia while the visa remains valid. If you have single entry and leave Australia, you need another visa before returning.
Check your visa grant letter or VEVO to confirm your individual travel conditions.
Can you extend a subclass 600 Tourist visa?
You cannot extend the existing visa itself. If you are in Australia and want to stay longer, you need to apply for another visa before your current visa expires and must be eligible to do so.
A condition such as condition 8503 No Further Stay can prevent another onshore visa application unless the condition is waived in the limited circumstances allowed by law.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an Australian Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream in 2026?
As of 26 August 2026, the Tourist stream application made outside Australia costs from AUD 250 per applicant. Additional costs can apply for health examinations, police certificates or biometrics.
Do I have to be outside Australia to apply for the subclass 600 Tourist stream?
For the Tourist stream procedure covered here, yes. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when Home Affairs makes the decision.
How much money do I need in my bank account for an Australian Tourist visa?
Home Affairs does not publish one fixed minimum bank balance for every applicant. You must show that you have or can access enough money for your particular stay. Relevant evidence can include 3 months of itemised bank statements, payslips, tax records, term deposits and credit card statements.
What documents prove that I am a genuine visitor?
Useful evidence can include your travel plans, financial records, an invitation letter, employment evidence, proof of study, close family ties in your home country, property ownership and other documents showing reasons to return home.
Do I need an invitation letter for an Australian Visitor visa?
An invitation letter is useful if you are visiting a relative or friend, but it is one part of the evidence rather than a universal standalone requirement. It can explain your relationship, purpose of visit, intended stay and accommodation arrangements.
Do I need a police certificate for a subclass 600 Tourist visa?
Not every applicant needs to provide a police certificate when lodging. You must meet the character requirement, and Home Affairs can request a police certificate or other character documents if needed.
Do I need a medical examination for an Australian Tourist visa?
You must meet Australia's health requirement, but not every applicant needs the same health examinations. Home Affairs will tell you if medical examinations are required for your circumstances.
Can I apply for an Australian Tourist visa online?
Yes. The standard application route for the subclass 600 Tourist stream is through ImmiAccount, where you complete the application, attach supporting documents and pay the visa charge.
Can I include my spouse or children in my subclass 600 application?
No. Each person must lodge a separate Visitor visa application, including children. Related family applications can be submitted together in ImmiAccount.
How long can I stay in Australia with a subclass 600 Tourist visa?
The visa can allow a stay of up to 12 months. Home Affairs states that it generally grants a 3-month stay and may grant up to 12 months depending on the circumstances.
Can I work in Australia on a Visitor visa subclass 600?
No. The Tourist stream does not allow you to work in Australia.
Can I study on an Australian Visitor visa?
You can generally study or train for up to 3 months. If study is the main purpose of your trip, a Student visa may be more appropriate.
How long does an Australian Visitor visa subclass 600 take to process?
There is no guaranteed fixed processing period. Home Affairs publishes current processing information in its Visa Processing Time Guide using recently decided applications.
Should I book flights before my Australian Tourist visa is approved?
Home Affairs instructs applicants applying from outside Australia not to arrange travel until they receive written confirmation that the visa has been granted.
Is the subclass 600 Tourist visa single entry or multiple entry?
Home Affairs can grant either single or multiple entry. Your visa grant letter and VEVO show which travel permission applies to you.
Can I extend my subclass 600 Tourist visa after arriving in Australia?
You cannot extend the existing Visitor visa. To remain longer, you need to qualify for and apply for another visa before your current visa expires. Visa conditions such as 8503 No Further Stay can prevent another onshore application.
Official sources
Department of Home Affairs - Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream apply outside AustraliaDepartment of Home Affairs - Character requirements for visasDepartment of Home Affairs - Meeting the health requirementDepartment of Home Affairs - Visa processing timesRelated procedures
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