Visitor Visas – Explore Australia for Tourism, Family or Business
Discover Australia – Whether You're Visiting Family, Exploring the Country, or Attending Business Meetings
✅ Tourist | ✅ Sponsored Family Visit | ✅ Business Visitor | ✅ Frequent Traveller Options
🧭 Overview
Visitor visas allow people to enter Australia temporarily for tourism, family visits, or business-related activities. Whether you’re planning a holiday, visiting loved ones, or attending meetings and conferences, this visa offers flexible short-term stay options.
🎯 Quick Snapshot
| 🔖 Visa Subclass | 🧭 Purpose |
| Subclass 600 | Tourist, Sponsored Family, Business Visitor |
| Subclass 601 | Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) – eligible passport holders |
| Subclass 651 | eVisitor – eligible European passport holders |
💡 Key Benefits
• Flexible stay durations (up to 12 months in some cases)
• Multiple streams: Tourist, Family-Sponsored, Business
• Easy online application for ETA/eVisitor (if eligible)
• Option to include family members
• Possibility to extend stay onshore (under certain conditions)
🧾 Other Visas (Temporary & Special Purpose)
| Visa | Subclass | Use |
| Medical Treatment Visa | 602 | Travel/stay for treatment |
| Transit Visa | 771 | Short layover (up to 72 hrs) |
| Domestic Worker (Diplomatic) | 403 Stream | For consular or diplomatic households |
| Special Purpose Visa | N/A | Automatically granted to officials |
Streams Under Visitor Visas
Tourist Stream
• Travel for leisure or to visit friends
• Can apply from onshore or offshore
Sponsored Family Stream
• Visit family members in Australia
• Sponsor required (usually an Australian citizen or permanent resident)
Tourist Stream
• Travel for leisure or to visit friends
• Can apply from onshore or offshore
Sponsored Family Stream
• Visit family members in Australia
• Sponsor required (usually an Australian citizen or permanent resident)
📋 Eligibility Criteria
✅ Hold a valid passport
✅ Genuine visitor intent (not to work/study long-term)
✅ Meet health and character requirements
✅ Have sufficient funds for the stay
✅ Maintain health insurance (recommended)
🔒 For the Sponsored Family stream, an Australian sponsor is required who may need to provide a bond.
📑 Required Documents Checklist
• Valid passport bio page
• Recent passport-size photo
• Travel itinerary and accommodation details
• Proof of funds (bank statements)
• Evidence of ties to home country (job, family, commitments)
• Sponsor ID and invitation letter (for Family Stream)
• Business invitation or conference info (for Business Stream)
💵 Fees & Processing Time
| Visa Subclass | Government Fee (AUD) | Estimated Processing Time |
| Subclass 600 | From $190 | 20 – 40 days (varies by stream) |
| Subclass 601 (ETA) | Free (online) + service charge | Minutes to 1 day |
| Subclass 651 (eVisitor) | Free | 1 – 14 days |
ℹ️ Processing time may vary based on country, documentation, and volume.
🔁 Can I Extend or Stay Longer?
- Some subclass 600 visa holders may be eligible to apply for a new visa while onshore
- Must meet the “No Further Stay” waiver rules (if condition 8503 applies)
⚠️ Red Flags & Visa Tips
❗ Don’t use visitor visa to work
❗ Return before expiry – overstaying affects future visas
✔️ Buy travel insurance to avoid unexpected costs
✔️ Avoid suspicious or unverifiable documents – accuracy is key
✔️ Maintain strong proof of home country ties to prove intent to return
