The Visitor visa (subclass 600) is for people who want to travel to Australia as tourists, for business or to visit family. It is a temporary visa.
This visa has four streams:
Tourist stream: for people travelling to Australia for a holiday, recreation or to visit family and friends. If you apply for this visa in Australia, you must be in Australia when the visa is decided. If you apply for this visa outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is decided.
Business Visitor stream: for business people travelling to Australia for a short business visit. This includes going to a conference, negotiation or meeting. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided
Sponsored Family stream: for people travelling to Australia to visit their family. You must have a sponsor who might be asked to provide a bond. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided. You cannot apply for another visa after you have arrived in Australia.
Approved Destination Status stream: for people from the People’s Republic of China who are travelling in an organized tour group. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided.
You should have all the required documents ready when you lodge your application to reduce any delays in processing.This visa allows only temporary visits to Australia. If you are from a country with a high rate of Visitor visa non-compliance, it is in your interests to provide additional documentation that shows your intention to comply with the conditions of the visa.
The department uses the Modified Non-Return Rate (MNRR) as an indicator of likely compliance and the level of scrutiny to apply to your application. The MNRR is a statistic showing the proportion of people from various countries who arrive in Australia on a Visitor visa but fail to leave before their visa expires, other than people who are granted certain other visas while in Australia. If you are from a country with a high rate of Visitor visa non-compliance, it is in your interests to provide documentation as outlined in the visa application to establish your intention.
You must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.
Tourist stream
You must not work in Australia (you might be allowed to work as an unpaid volunteer).
You must not study or train in Australia for more than three months
If you are sponsored by your family: you will need to meet same the obligations as someone who is granted this visa in the Sponsored Family stream
Business Visitor stream
You must not work in Australia, other than to do your business visitor activities.
You must not study or train in Australia for more than three months.
Sponsored Family stream
You must not work in Australia.
You must not study or train in Australia for more than three months.
You must leave Australia before your visa ends. You cannot apply for another visa while you are in Australia.
Approved Destination stream
You must not work or study in Australia.
You must stay with your tour group.
You must leave Australia at the time listed in your itinerary.
No further stay
If you have a ‘No further stay’ condition on your visa, you cannot apply for a new visa while you are in Australia. You must leave Australia no later than the date on which your visa ends, except in extremely limited circumstances.
Requirements
In order to apply for this visa you will be required to provide a number of documents. These may include:
- Copy of current passport (valid for the duration of the visa)
- A current digital photograph
- Evidence of available funds (current bank statement showing AUD plus all transactions for the last 3 months)
- Evidence of obligation to return to your home country:
- A letter from your employer confirming your current position, length of employment, salary level (after tax) and approved leave
- A letter confirming enrolment at school, college or university
Your personal explanations on: - Your reason to visit Australia, including your intentions after departure from Australia (i.e. continuation of travel or return to employment in your home country)
- A description of the activities you plan to undertake over the period of your planned stay in Australia
- Your intention to lodge any visa applications during your visit in Australia
- A full Travel Itinerary covering your travel arrangements and plans within Australia
- A copy of a purchased return air ticket
- A letter of invitation (if you will be visiting close family in Australia)