Are you planning to visit Australia for a holiday, to see family, or for a business meeting? The Australian Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) is your first essential step. Bombay Migrations takes the stress out of the visa process: we personally assess your situation to help you select the right stream and ensure your application meets the crucial ‘Genuine Visitor’ requirement—the leading cause of refusals. Protect your travel plans and let us expertly manage your application.
Key Visitor Visa Subclasses: 600, 601 (ETA), & 651 (eVisitor)
The Subclass 600 Visitor Visa is the primary option for most international visitors. It’s flexible, allowing stays up to three, six, or twelve months for tourism, family visits, or short business activities. If you need to apply for a Visitor Visa Australia but fall outside the ETA or eVisitor criteria, Subclass 600 is your pathway.
Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority – ETA)
This visa is available for eligible passport holders from certain countries. It permits multiple short visits (up to three months each) within 12 months for tourism or business purposes.
Subclass 651 (eVisitor)
Similar to the ETA, the eVisitor is available for eligible European passport holders, allowing multiple short stays within a year for non-work purposes.
Visitor Visa Australia Fees: Subclass 600 Cost (Current as of July 2025)
The cost is one of the first things applicants ask about. Please note that the following Visa Application Charges (VAC) were indexed in July 2025 and are subject to change.
Visa Stream (Subclass 600) | Application Location | Base Application Fee (VAC) |
Tourist Stream | Outside Australia (Offshore) | AUD $200 |
Tourist Stream | Inside Australia (Onshore) | AUD $500 |
Sponsored Family Stream | Outside Australia (Offshore) | AUD $200 |
Business Visitor Stream | Outside Australia (Offshore) | AUD $200 |
Frequent Traveller Stream | Outside Australia (Offshore) | AUD $1,020 |
Important Note on Total Cost: Don’t forget to budget for other expenses! The VAC doesn’t include costs for biometrics, medical examinations, or the potential security bond required for the Sponsored Family Stream.
Essential Steps to Apply for a Visitor Visa
We make it simple to apply for a Visitor Visa Australia:
- Personalised Assessment: We determine the best stream for you (be it a simple tourist visa Australia or the Sponsored Family stream) based on your specific travel purpose and financial standing.
- Document Preparation: We guide you through compiling your evidence, making sure every document reinforces your intention to return home, this is the secret to a successful application.
Expert Lodgement: We prepare and lodge your application with the Department of Home Affairs, handling all the technicalities to prevent errors and delays.
Visitor Visa Requirements: Detailed Checklist
The core criteria for any Visitor Visa Australia application include meeting health and character standards, demonstrating sufficient funds, and proving genuine intent to stay temporarily.
For a complete, up-to-date checklist of documentation and eligibility criteria, visit our dedicated guide: Visitor Visa Requirements Australia
“Don’t Risk Refusal on the ‘Genuine Visitor’ Test!
The most complex part of the Subclass 600 application is proving genuine intent to return home. Let our MARA Registered Agent (MARN: 2217784) handle your comprehensive GTE statement and evidence package today.”
Visitor Visa Processing Time: Latest Statistics
How long will you wait? Processing times vary significantly. Here are the latest official figures for the Subclass 600 streams:
Tourist Stream | 20 days | 33 days |
Business Visitor Stream | 9 days | 20 days |
Sponsored Family Stream | 50 days | 70 days |
For detailed commentary on these statistics and tips on how to speed up your application, check our comprehensive guide: Australia Visitor Visa Processing Time Guide.
Which Visitor Stream is Right for You?
Tourist Stream (Onshore & Offshore)
This is the classic tourist visa Australia pathway—perfect for holidays or visiting friends. The Onshore Stream allows you to extend your visit from within Australia. Crucially, this is only possible if your current visa was granted without the prohibitive ‘No Further Stay’ condition (Condition 8503).
Sponsored Family Stream: Visitor Visa for Parents & Family
This stream is most often used for a visitor visa for parents to Australia or other eligible family members. The process requires a sponsor (an Australian citizen or permanent resident) who accepts legal responsibility for the visitor’s conduct while in the country
Business Visitor Stream
This visa is strictly for business-related activities, such as attending meetings or training. Remember: you cannot receive pay for work in Australia or sell goods and services directly to the public under this visa.
Why Choose Our MARA Registered Agents?
Applying for a visitor visa to Australia is easier and more reliable with professional help. Bombay Migrations provides experienced MARA Registered Migration Agents (MARN: 2217784) ready to guide you.
- Conversion Focus: We specialise in overcoming the ‘Genuine Visitor’ test concerns, the single biggest reason for refusal in both tourist visa Australia and parent visa applications.
- Expertise Across Australia: As a specialist migration consultant in Australia, we handle complex cases and provide highly detailed, expert guidance, whether you are applying from overseas or seeking support from a migration agent near me in Sydney or Melbourne.
- Guaranteeing Quality: We don’t make promises on outcomes, but we do guarantee a technically flawless application that meets all Department of Home Affairs criteria.
Ready to start your stress-free application?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between a Visitor Visa and a Tourist Visa in Australia?
A Tourist Visa is the common, informal term used by the public, but the official name is the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600), which is the primary visa for tourism and visiting family. The term “Tourist Visa” officially refers to the Tourist Stream under the Subclass 600 category. The Visitor Visa also includes other streams, such as the Business Visitor Stream and the Sponsored Family Stream (often used for a visitor visa for parents to Australia). Whether you are applying for a 3-month visitor visa in Australia or a 12-month visitor visa, the process is largely the same, and Bombay Migrations ensures you choose the correct stream for your travel purpose.
What specific stay duration is typically granted for the Subclass 600 Australian Visitor Visa?
The stay period granted depends on the stream and your circumstances, but the most common grants are for three, six, or twelve months. The Australian Visitor Visa for the Tourist Stream is flexible, often granted as a 12-month visa with multiple entries, but each visit may be limited to a maximum of three months. If you are applying for a visitor visa for parents to Australia under the Sponsored Family stream, the stay is usually three, six, or twelve months. Our MARA Registered Migration Agents at Bombay Migrations can advise on the longest possible stay period based on your genuine visitor status.
Can I extend my stay in Australia on a Visitor Visa?
Why should I use a migration agent to apply for a Visitor Visa?
While you can lodge a Tourist Visa Australia application yourself, engaging Bombay Migrations significantly increases your chances of a smooth grant, especially if you have complex circumstances or previous refusals. Our MARA Registered Migration Agents ensure your documentation meets the stringent visitor visa requirements of Australia, correctly demonstrates the “Genuine Temporary Entrant” criteria, and avoid common errors that lead to delays or refusals. This professional support is especially valuable for the complex visitor visa for parents to Australia stream.
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