Australia Visitor Visa Guide

Home to the Great Barrier Reef and other natural wonders, Australia is on the travel bucket list of many people. If you are not a citizen of a country with a visa waiver agreement with Australia and want to travel to Australia as a tourist, you will need a Visitor visa (subclass 600).

In the following sections, we'll navigate through the visa types, eligibility criteria, application procedures, and essential tips for a seamless experience.

Australian flag - Australian Tourist Visa Guide

Contents:

Visitor visa (subclass 600) policy

A visitor's or tourist visa to Australia is suitable for recreational trips, guest visits, or short-term study visits. You cannot use it for employment. Australian visas are not pasted into the passport; they're obtained electronically before the trip.

There are several streams to apply for this visa:

A quiz on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website can help you select the proper type of visa.

Australia visitor visa validity

The Australian Department of Home Affairs determines the tourist visa duration. It can grant a visa for a 3, 6 or 12-month stay in the country, single or multiple entry. The Department evaluates the wishes of the applicant and the reasons for travel.

Visitor Visa for tourist and business travel is often issued for up to three months. The number of entries is determined on an individual basis.

How to get an Australia visitor visa?

To apply for a visa on your own, you must contact the Australian embassy or visa center in your country of residence. Beforehand you should study all types of visas, decide on the right option, and collect the required documents.

To apply for an Australian visa online, you must register with the ImmiAccount system on the Commonwealth Department of Immigration website. You must select the correct visa type and fill in the necessary sections of the online application form. The final steps of the process are attaching supporting documentation and paying the consular fee.

If you prefer to bring the papers in person, the embassy has a drop-off box where you can put a sealed envelope. There is no need to make an appointment or wait in line for that.

After you receive a letter from the embassy telling you to submit your biometric data, you need to make an appointment at one of the Australian biometric data collection centers within two weeks. The sooner they are submitted, the sooner the documents get processed. Failure to submit biometrics can result in visa rejection.

Documents required for Australia visitor visa application

The checklist for Australian tourist visa is as follows:

It's important to note that specific requirements may vary based on the type of visitor visa you're applying for, whether it's a tourist visa, business visitor visa, family-sponsored visa, or other categories. Always refer to the official Australian government website or the Australian embassy or consulate website in your country for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Australia visitor visa photo requirements

Make sure the photograph you use to apply fulfills these parameters:

Here is an example:

Australian tourist visa photo

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Source

Source photo example that you need to take in order to make a passport or visa photo at visafoto.com

Result

Result example: a correct visa or passport photo that you will receive

First, take a photo of yours under daylight like this one:

Оriginal photo example

You will have two types of photos: a digital one for electronic applications and another one suitable for printing.

Here they are:

Australian tourist visa photos for online application
Australian tourist visa photos for printing

Australian tourist visa processing time

The visa backlog that occurred due to the pandemic has tapered off for the time being. Currently, the Australian tourist visa processing time takes 28 days on average, equivalent to the pre-Covid rates.

Australia visitor visa fee

For almost all streams, the cost is AUD150, if applying outside Australia. The Frequent traveller stream is AUD1,120, while Tourist stream applications within Australia cost AUD380. For Sponsored family stream applications, the Immigration service may ask for a security bond from your sponsor.

If you want to speed up the procedure, you can pay an additional A$1000 for the visitor visa fast-track fee.

Australian tourist visa renewal

Foreigners can extend their Australian visas while already in the country. This is done online at ImmiAccount system, in the standard procedure. The applicant must state why they are being detained in the country. A 3-month tourist visa can usually be extended for another five months. Sometimes, a foreign national can obtain the right to enter Australia multiple times.

Note that not all tourist visa holders can renew their Australian visa once they run out. To renew, you must:

If you check all those points, you may apply for an extension. Make sure to apply on time, as not having a visa during your stay makes you an unlawful noncitizen, which may end in detention, deportation, or a ban from applying for an Australian visa in the future.

Australian tourist visa rejection reasons

To make a positive decision entry, the visa officer must ensure that your trip's purpose is real and that you have sufficient funds. The applicant will be rejected if there is any doubt on these points.

Among factors affecting the issuance of an Australian visa are:

The most common reasons for refusal are:

In case of rejection, the applicant receives a letter stating the reasons and providing information about the revision. After correcting the deficiencies, supplementing the package of papers with missing documents you can reapply.

Last update: August 2023

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