Australia Tourist Visa Requirements: Subclass 600 Guide

The Australia Tourist visa is generally the Visitor visa subclass 600 Tourist stream. It allows eligible people to visit Australia temporarily for a holiday, cruise, or to visit family and friends. The central requirements are that you are a genuine temporary visitor, have sufficient funds for the proposed stay and departure, and satisfy the remaining health, character and visa-specific requirements.

What Is the Visitor Visa Subclass 600 Tourist Stream?

The subclass 600 Visitor visa contains several different streams.

The Tourist stream is designed for people visiting Australia for purposes such as:

• a holiday;
• tourism;
• a cruise;
• visiting family;
• visiting friends; or
• other genuine temporary visitor purposes that fit the Tourist stream.

It is different from:

• the Business Visitor stream;
• the Sponsored Family stream;
• the Frequent Traveller stream;
• the Electronic Travel Authority subclass 601; and
• the eVisitor subclass 651.

Some passport holders may be eligible for an ETA or eVisitor instead of a subclass 600 Visitor visa, so the correct visitor pathway should be checked before applying.

Basic Australia Tourist Visa Requirements

Home Affairs identifies two basic Visitor visa eligibility principles:

• you must be a genuine visitor; and
• you must have enough funds to support your stay and leave Australia.

Those are only the starting point.

A Tourist stream applicant may also need to satisfy requirements concerning:

• identity;
• purpose of visit;
• immigration history;
• financial capacity;
• health;
• character;
• family circumstances;
• previous visa compliance;
• where the application is lodged; and
• any other subclass-specific criteria.

1. You Must Be a Genuine Temporary Visitor

The Tourist stream is intended for a temporary visit.

The Department may consider whether your stated purpose, personal circumstances and supporting evidence are consistent with a genuine temporary stay.

Relevant factors can include:

• why you want to visit Australia;
• how long you propose to stay;
• your employment or business circumstances;
• family responsibilities;
• financial circumstances;
• previous international travel;
• previous Australian visas;
• previous visa refusals or cancellations;
• whether you complied with previous visas;
• your proposed accommodation;
• the person you intend to visit; and
• your reasons for returning after the visit.

2. Passport and Identity Evidence

A Tourist visa application ordinarily requires clear identity evidence.

This commonly includes:

• your current passport;
• passport biographical details;
• previous passports where relevant;
• birth or civil identity records where requested;
• evidence of name changes where relevant; and
• identity documents relevant to the particular application.

The details entered in the application should match the identity documents.

3. Evidence of the Purpose of Your Visit

The application should explain why you want to travel to Australia.

Depending on the circumstances, useful evidence may include:

• a proposed travel itinerary;
• details of family or friends you intend to visit;
• an invitation letter;
• accommodation arrangements;
• planned tourism activities;
• evidence of important family events;
• conference or event information where compatible with the visa stream; and
• other evidence explaining the proposed visit.

Applicants do not need to manufacture an excessively detailed itinerary simply to make an application look stronger.

The proposed trip should be realistic and consistent with the person’s finances, available leave and circumstances.

4. Financial Capacity

There is no universal Home Affairs formula requiring every Tourist visa applicant to hold a particular dollar amount per day.

The actual issue is whether the applicant has enough financial capacity to support the proposed visit and leave Australia.

That can depend on:

• length of stay;
• airfares;
• accommodation;
• who will pay for the trip;
• the applicant’s normal income;
• savings;
• family support;
• prepaid expenses; and
• the overall cost of the proposed trip.

Possible financial evidence can include:

• bank statements;
• payslips;
• employment evidence;
• taxation records;
• business records;
• pension income;
• savings;
• evidence of financial support from another person; or
• other evidence of available funds.

Unexplained Deposits Can Create Questions

A large recent deposit does not automatically cause a refusal.

But where the source of money is unclear, the Department may have difficulty understanding whether the funds are genuinely available to the applicant.

If a significant transaction needs explanation, provide evidence showing where the funds came from.

5. Employment and Business Evidence

Employment or business evidence can help explain both:

• how the trip will be funded; and
• the applicant’s circumstances outside Australia.

Depending on the applicant, evidence might include:

• employment letter;
• approved leave;
• recent payslips;
• employment contract;
• business registration;
• tax records;
• business financial statements; or
• evidence of continuing professional responsibilities.

Not every applicant is employed.

Retirees, students, homemakers and people supported by family members can also be genuine visitors.

6. Family and Personal Circumstances

Family circumstances may also help explain the proposed trip and the applicant’s ongoing life outside Australia.

Depending on the case, relevant evidence could include:

• marriage certificate;
• children’s birth certificates;
• family responsibilities;
• care obligations;
• evidence of family members remaining overseas; or
• other information relevant to the applicant’s personal circumstances.

Again, no single document guarantees approval.

7. Previous Travel and Immigration History

Previous travel history can be relevant, but a person does not need an extensive international travel history simply to be eligible for an Australian Visitor visa.

The application should accurately disclose:

• previous Australian visas;
• previous visa refusals;
• visa cancellations;
• overstays;
• immigration breaches;
• previous international travel; and
• other immigration history requested in the application.

A previous refusal does not automatically prevent a future Visitor visa grant.

But the reason for the previous refusal should be understood and addressed where it remains relevant.

8. Health Requirements

Visitor visa applicants must satisfy the applicable Australian health requirements.

Whether a particular applicant needs medical examinations depends on their individual circumstances and Home Affairs instructions.

Applicants should not arrange every possible medical examination simply because they are applying for a Tourist visa.

If examinations are required, Home Affairs will provide the relevant instructions and HAP ID process.

For more detail see:

Australia Visa Medical Check
.

9. Character Requirements

Applicants must answer character questions truthfully.

Depending on the circumstances, Home Affairs may request:

• police certificates;
• court records;
• military-service evidence;
• additional character forms; or
• other supporting documents.

A police certificate is not automatically required upfront from every Tourist visa applicant.

Applicants should follow the requirements applying to their particular case.

10. Biometrics

Biometrics may be required depending on the applicant’s circumstances, nationality and the Department’s collection arrangements.

If biometrics are required, the applicant will receive instructions about:

• what must be provided;
• where to attend;
• the relevant deadline; and
• the approved collection centre.

Applicants should not assume that every Visitor visa applicant from a particular country automatically follows exactly the same biometrics process.

11. Can You Work on an Australia Tourist Visa?

The Visitor visa does not provide general permission to work in Australia.

Someone intending to take employment in Australia should consider the appropriate work visa rather than using a Tourist visa as a substitute.

See:

Temporary Australian Visa Options
.

12. Can You Study on a Tourist Visa?

Visitor visas can permit limited study in appropriate circumstances, but the Tourist stream is not designed as a substitute for a Student visa.

If substantial study is the real purpose of travel, the Student visa requirements should be considered.

13. Applying From Outside Australia

For the Tourist stream application made outside Australia:

• the applicant must be outside Australia when applying; and
• the applicant must also be outside Australia when the visa is decided.

Home Affairs may grant a stay of:

• 3 months;
• 6 months; or
• 12 months,

depending on the application and circumstances.

14. Applying From Inside Australia

A separate Tourist stream arrangement applies to eligible applicants already in Australia.

For an onshore Tourist stream application:

• the applicant must be in Australia when applying; and
• must generally remain in Australia when the application is decided.

An onshore application may be relevant where a person holds another visa and wants to remain longer as a visitor.

But the ability to lodge another visa from inside Australia must be checked carefully.

Issues can include:

• No Further Stay conditions;
• the visa currently held;
• previous visa refusals;
• section 48 restrictions;
• current immigration status; and
• whether a valid application can be made.

15. How Much Does the Subclass 600 Tourist Visa Cost?

Visa application charges change over time and can depend on whether the application is lodged inside or outside Australia.

As at August 2026, Home Affairs currently lists the Tourist stream starting from:

• AUD 250 for an application made outside Australia; and
• AUD 630 for an application made in Australia.

Limited concessions apply in some circumstances, including new arrangements introduced from 1 July 2026 for eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste passport holders.

There may also be additional costs for:

• health examinations;
• police certificates;
• biometrics; and
• payment surcharges.

Always check the current Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodging because charges can change.

16. How Long Does an Australia Tourist Visa Take?

There is no reliable fixed processing period that applies to every Tourist visa application.

Home Affairs publishes processing-time information based on recently decided applications, but expressly describes those figures as a guide rather than a guarantee for an individual case.

Processing can be affected by:

• application volumes;
• nationality and location;
• health requirements;
• character assessment;
• biometrics;
• requests for further information;
• supporting evidence;
• complex immigration history; and
• other individual circumstances.

See:

Australia Visa Processing Times
.

17. Do You Need to Buy Flights Before Applying?

You should be able to explain your proposed travel plans.

However, applicants should be cautious about making expensive non-refundable travel commitments before a visa has been granted.

A visa application is never guaranteed simply because flights, hotels or tours have already been purchased.

18. Invitation Letter for Visiting Family or Friends

An invitation letter can be useful where the purpose of the trip is to visit family or friends.

A useful invitation may explain:

• who is inviting the applicant;
• the relationship between them;
• where the applicant will stay;
• the proposed dates;
• the purpose of the visit;
• whether accommodation will be provided; and
• whether the inviter will contribute financially.

An invitation does not replace the applicant’s need to satisfy the Visitor visa requirements.

19. Sponsored Family Stream vs Tourist Stream

The Visitor visa subclass 600 also has a separate Sponsored Family stream.

That stream is different from simply having a relative write an invitation letter for a Tourist stream application.

The Sponsored Family stream generally requires sponsorship by an eligible Australian citizen or permanent resident family member, and Home Affairs may request a security bond.

The appropriate stream should be considered before lodging.

20. ETA and eVisitor Alternatives

Not everyone needs a subclass 600 Tourist visa.

Depending on nationality, a traveller may instead qualify for:

• subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority; or
• subclass 651 eVisitor.

Those visas have different eligibility and application arrangements.

Applicants should identify the correct visitor visa before paying for a subclass 600 application unnecessarily.

Common Australia Tourist Visa Mistakes

• using an old fixed bank-balance formula;
• claiming there is a guaranteed daily financial amount;
• making expensive non-refundable travel bookings before grant;
• failing to explain the real purpose of the visit;
• providing financial evidence that does not make sense;
• failing to explain significant recent deposits;
• hiding previous visa refusals;
• assuming a previous refusal makes a new application impossible;
• assuming an invitation from an Australian relative guarantees approval;
• assuming every applicant needs police certificates upfront;
• arranging medicals without checking Home Affairs instructions;
• assuming biometrics arrangements are identical for every nationality;
• applying for a Tourist visa when the real intention is employment;
• using the wrong Visitor visa stream;
• ignoring a No Further Stay condition when applying onshore;
• relying on old visa fees;
• relying on old processing-time figures; and
• assuming a travel agent or migration agent can guarantee approval.

Australia Tourist Visa FAQs

How much money do I need for an Australia Tourist visa?

Home Affairs does not publish one universal daily bank-balance amount for every Tourist visa applicant. You need enough funds to support the proposed stay and leave Australia, assessed in the context of the actual trip.

Can someone in Australia sponsor my Tourist visa?

A family member or another person may provide financial or accommodation support, but that does not automatically make them a formal sponsor under the Tourist stream. The subclass 600 Sponsored Family stream is a separate visa stream.

Can I work on a subclass 600 Tourist visa?

No general work rights are provided by the Tourist stream.

Can I visit relatives in Australia on the Tourist stream?

Yes. Visiting family or friends is one of the purposes of the Tourist stream.

How long can I stay?

The period granted depends on the application. Offshore Tourist stream visas may be granted for stays of 3, 6 or 12 months, while the onshore Tourist stream can allow a stay of up to 12 months.

Do I need a return flight before I apply?

You should be able to show credible travel plans and the capacity to leave Australia, but applicants should be cautious about buying non-refundable flights before a visa decision.

Do I need a medical examination?

It depends on your circumstances and Home Affairs instructions. Not every Visitor visa applicant requires the same examinations.

Do I need a police certificate?

Not automatically in every case. Character evidence requirements depend on the applicant’s circumstances and any request from Home Affairs.

What if I previously had an Australian visa refused?

A previous refusal does not automatically prevent another application, but the previous decision should be disclosed and the reason for refusal should be understood and addressed where relevant.

Can I apply for a Tourist visa while already in Australia?

Potentially, but the onshore Tourist stream has separate requirements. Your current visa conditions and immigration history must be checked before assuming another valid application can be lodged.

Related Australian Visitor Visa Guides

• 
  Temporary Australian Visa Guide
  
• 
  Australia Visa Medical Check
  
• 
  Australia Visa Processing Times
  
• 
  How Long Does an Australian Visa Take?
  
• 
  Australia Immigration Criteria
  
• 
  Migration Agent Australia — Simon Mander
  

Official Visitor Visa Information

Visitor visa charges, processing information and application requirements can change.

Always check the current Department of Home Affairs information immediately before lodging.

Department of Home Affairs — Visitor Visa Subclass 600

This information is general in nature and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances. Australian visa requirements, charges and processing arrangements can change and should be checked against the requirements operating at the relevant time.