Visitor Visa Australia or the Subclass 600 is a visa program in the current migration scene of Australia which is high sought by individuals who are trying to visit Australia as a tourist. If you are planning a trip to visit Australia in 2026 then you need to know that this visa program requires you to have a strategic understanding of the current migration landscape of Australia. Whether you are travelling to Australia for a family visit, vacation, or attending a professional setting, the Visitor Visa Australia (Subclass 600) is the visa program meant for you if you don’t hold an ETA eligible passport.
This guide has been drafted with the latest data (As of March 2026) from Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to guarantee that you receive the accurate information that you need in order to have a successful outcome on your Visitor Visa Australia Application.
Visitor Visa Australia (Subclass 600)
An Australian Visitor Visa is also widely known as the Subclass 600 visa is an Australian visa program provided by the government of Australia under various streams that are available in the current migration landscape of Australia. It is a temporary entry visa program that enables you to travel to Australia as a tourist. It is a visa program that is specifically designed to target individuals who do not hold an ETA eligible passport.
Under the Visitor Visa Australia program, there are various key streams that are sought by and for different purposes.
- Tourist Stream
- Business Visitor Stream
- Sponsored Family Stream
- Frequent Traveler Stream
Difference between Visitor Visa & eVisitor Visa
While both the tourist visa programs provide you a pathway to visit the turf of Australia, choosing between both is one of the most important step you need to consider while planning your travel plan in Australia.
The table below shows the difference between both the visitor visa and eVisitor visa under the tourist visa streams provided by the government of Australia.
| Feature | Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) | eVisitor Visa (Subclass 651) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Open to all nationalities (e.g., India, Nepal, China). | Only for EU, EFTA, and UK passport holders. |
| Application Fee | $200 - $510 AUD | $0 (Free) |
| Maximum Stay | 3, 6, or 12 months per visit. | 3 months per visit. |
| Visa Validity | Usually, 1 to 3 years. | 12 months from date of grant. |
| Processing Time | 15 – 35 Days (requires document audit). | < 24 Hours (often instant). |
| Onshore Extension | Allowed (if no 8503 condition). | Not Allowed (must apply for 600). |
| Best For | Long stays, parents, and non-ETA countries. | Short holidays and European business trips. |
Requirement for Visitor Visa Australia
Are you looking to secure your Visitor Visa Australia Application? If you are then you need to understand that securing a visitor visa in the current landscape of Australia requires you to meet the scrutinized requirements set by the DHA to make sure that you are a genuine visitor under any streams that you have chosen.
Therefore, the primary requirements for the Visitor Visa Australia in 2026 are as follows:
GTE Requirement
One of the most critical requirements that needs to be fulfilled for the Visitor Visa Australia application in 2026 is the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement. In this pillar of requirement, you are required to provide evidence that you are in the turf of Australia only for the purpose of visiting as a tourist and are a genuine visitor. In this requirement, you need to provide reasons to return back to your home country instead of residing in Australia.
Under this requirement you are required to provide evidence of Home Ties and Travel History indicating that you are genuine visitor and in Australia for the purpose of visit and going back to Australia.
Financial Capacity Requirements
Another requirement that you need to fulfill for the visitor visa Australia is the financial criteria. In order to secure the Australian visa in 2026, you are required to show that you have enough money that is required to cover the costs of travel, accommodation and daily living costs without you needing to work in Australia.
The given table shows the costs that are required to be fulfilled in order to be eligible for the visitor visa Australia program:
| Expense Category | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Visa Application Fee | AUD $200 |
| Return Airfare | AUD $1,200 – $2,500 |
| Accommodation | AUD $100 – $250 / night |
| Daily Living Expenses | AUD $150 – $200 / day |
| Emergency Buffer | AUD $1,000+ |
| Total Recommended | AUD $5,500 – $8,500 |
Health and Character Standards
The last requirement that needs to be satisfied in order to secure a Visitor Visa Australia is that you are required to meet the PIC requirement that basically means that you need to satisfy the health and character standards set by the DHA for every entrant in Australia.
Health requirement: In this criterion, you are required to provide evidence that you are free from diseases that can be a threat to the citizenship of Australia.
Character requirement: You are required to provide evidence that you have a good character to be eligible. You need to disclose every criminal offense (if any) and may be required to provide police clearance certificates if you have spent 12months or more in a country over the past 10 years.
Tourist Visa Australia Cost
Before lodging a tourist visa application, it is crucial that you budget your cost. Similarly, before you lodge an application for the subclass 600, make sure to understand the Visitor Visa Australia cost so that you know how to manage your costs accordingly.
The following table contains the Visitor Visa Australia Cost that are required to be fulfilled under the current landscape of Australia as of March 2026.
| Visa Stream | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Tourist Stream (Offshore) | AUD $200 |
| Tourist Stream (Onshore) | AUD $510 |
| Sponsored Family Stream | AUD $200 |
| Business Visitor Stream | AUD $200 |
| Frequent Traveler Stream | AUD $1,450 |
Visit Visa Australia Processing Time
With major changes in the current migration scenes if Australia, the processing time for the Visitor Visa in 2026 has undergone a huge change. As the DHA current focuses on “decision-ready” documents as of March 2026, processing for the Australian visitor visa depends on the readiness of your application as well.
Here is a table that shows the current processing time for the visitor visa as of March 2026.
| Visa Stream | 50% of Applications | 90% of Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Stream (Offshore) | 15 Days | 35 Days |
| Business Visitor Stream | 7 Days | 20 Days |
| Sponsored Family Stream | 31 Days | 70 Days |
| Frequent Traveller | 5 Days | 21 Days |
| Approved Destination (ADS) | 2 Days | 10 Days |
Visitor Visa Australia Application Process
If you are looking to apply for the Visitor Visa Australia in 2026 then you need to understand that applying for this visa program in the current migration landscape of Australia requires you to lodge your application in the ImmiAccount portal provided by the DHA. As of March 2026, the visit visa Australia program process is more streamlined but at the same time it requires a higher level of “decision-ready” documents.
Here is the step-by-step process that you can use in order to have a positive outcome on your visitor visa Australia application.
Step 1: Document Preparation
The first step in the application process is to make sure that you have gathered all the required documents that are required for the visitor visa program. In 2026, the DHA flags low-quality documents so make sure that you submit all the required documents in a high-resolution color format. To apply for the visitor visa Australia program, make sure to gather the following documents:
- You need to provide your current passport with validity of more than 6 months and National ID in order to prove your identity.
- You are required to provide evidence of your financial capacity by providing 3-6 months of bank statements and tax returns.
- You need to provide a GTE Requirement which provides that you are a genuine visitor in Australia and not there to settle.
- If any documents that are required to be submitted are not in English, then you need to translate the document by a NAATI-certified translation.
Step 2: Create or Login to ImmiAccount
As in 2026, all the applications for the Visitor Visa are done digitally through the ImmiAccount portal, you are required to submit your application for the visa program your respective portal. In case you haven’t created an ImmiAccount then initially you are required to create an account and provide all the required information in the portal.
If you have already created an ImmiAccount then make sure to Login to the portal and navigate to the “New Application” section and choose the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600).
Step 3: Completing the Digital Form
After you have created and logged into your ImmiAccount, the next step in the Visitor Visa Australia application process is to fill out the digital form. In this form, you are required to provide all the data and information truthfully and declare anything and everything like criminal records, visa refusals etc.
Step 4: Paying the Application Fee and Submission
Once you have completed the digital form for the visitor visa, the next step in the process is to pay the required Visa Application Fee (VAC). In this step, you are required to pay the AUD $200 offshore application charge and can pay it via Credit Card, PayPal or UnionPay. Make sure that you successfully pay the required VAC because your application is also processed by a case officer after you have completed the payment.
After paying the application fee, submit the application and make sure that the email in your ImmiAccount is correct as you will be notified through it.
Step 5: Biometrics and Health Checks
After you have successfully paid the VAC cost for the Visitor Visa Australia Application form and submitted your application, the next step is checking your ImmiAccount and email regularly. After submission, you need to check the “View Requirements” section where you can be asked to submit the following documents:
You will probably receive a letter stating to provide your biometric for the application. In this case, you are required to book an appointment at an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC) within the 14 days of the application being sent.
In case you are above the age of 75 or you are staying in Australia for more than 6 months then you will be issued an HAP ID to book a medical examination with a DHA-approved clinic.
Step 6: Processing and Final Grant
The final step in the process in the visitor visa Australia application process after you have submitted your visa application and provided all biometric and health check information is to wait for the visa to be processed and securing the visa after the processing. After you have successfully secured this Australian visa program, you will now be able to visit Australia usually for 12 months.
Documents Checklist for Visitor Visa in 2026
As the DHA currently focuses on “decision-ready” documents to process application for the Tourist Visa in 2026, you need to make sure that your application has been complied with all the required documents in order to fulfill the requirement criteria for the visa program.
To make sure you secure your visitor Visa Application in 2026, make sure that you go through the following documents checklist and compile all the required documents respectively.
Identity & Travel Documents
- You are required to provide high-quality color scans of your valid passports with more than 6 months of validity.
- You are required to provide the DHA with a digital photo with a plain background which was taken within the last 6 months and is in dimensions of 45mm x 35mm.
- You are required to provide evidence of your travel history by providing scans of all your passports proving that you are a compliant traveler.
Proof of Financial Capacity
- You are required to provide personal bank statements from the last 6 months showing your financial capacity.
- You are required to provide evidence of income with recent pay slips of the last 3 months to verify that the source of income that you have is genuine and legitimate.
- In case a relative is sponsoring you for the Visitor Visa Australia then you are required to provide their bank statements and a signed Letter of Support.
Evidence of Genuine Visitor
- You are required to provide an employment letter with company letterhead stating that you are visiting Australia for a vacation and stating your position, salary, and confirming you are on a leave with specific return date mentioned.
- If you are a business owner then you are required to provide business registration documents, tax records and recent bank statements.
- You are required to provide evidence of your properties and assets.
- If you are a student, then you need to provide an enrollment certificate and letter from the educational provider for the absence during your visit to Australia.
Purpose of Visit & Itinerary
- You need to provide a cover letter that includes a brief, professional SOP which explains the reason for you to visit Australia with this Australian Visa.
- You need to provide the DHA with a detailed itinerary stating all your daily activities that is involved in your visit to Australia.
- You need to provide evidence of hotel room bookings or Invitation letter to show your accommodation for the Visitor Visa Australia.
FAQs
No, you cannot extend your Visitor Visa Australia. If your current visa has expired or has a condition 8503 then you are required to lodge a new visa application. While you apply for the visa condition you need to make sure that you provide a compelling reason for the extension and pay the cost of AUD $510 as of March 2026.
If you are looking to secure a visitor visa Australia under the sponsored Family stream, then your sponsor is required to satisfy certain requirements. The sponsor who is looking to sponsor you needs to be an Australian Citizen or a PR holder of Australia and is required to be a close relative to you.
If you are looking to secure the Australian Visitor visa in 2026 then as of the data from DHA till March 2026, you are required to provide evidence showing proofs that you have sufficient funds for your visit to Australia. For the visa application cost, you are required to pay AUD $510 and pay the cost according to the stream you are travelling with.
While it is not a requirement for needs to be fulfilled while applying for the visitor visa Australia, the OVHC is a common requirement if you are someone who is above the age of 75 or if you are staying in the turf of Australia for more than 6 months.
If you are planning to travel to Australia with the Visitor Visa Australia in 2026, you need to understand that navigating it in the current migration scenes of Australia requires a precision and attention to detail. Hence, you need a strategic partner to help you throughout the process.
Why BJay?
Proven Expertise: With 13 years of experience in Visa services in Australia, we here at BJay Education & Visa Services have been providing tailored services to help you navigate through the complex migration scenes of Australia.
Expertise Team: Led by Mr. Jay Oli (MARN: 1570827), we have an exceptional team that is there to solve any queries and help you with your application. The team is well trained to provide the services that you may require assistance with.
Global Presence & Local Support: With offices present in multiple locations throughout Nepal (Putalisadak and Birtamode) and a head office in Sydney, BJay provides you with seamless support you may require whether you are in your home country or already in the turf of Australia.
End-to-End Career Support: We here at BJay provide you with the service that ranges from the starting of your career as a Chef in Australia to your final Permanent Residency (PR) Grant making sure no obstacles cause your application to be rejected.
Your Visit to Australia doesn’t need to wait with the Visitor Visa Australia. Get expert help with BJay Education & Visa Services and enjoy your visit to Australia.
