Visitor Visa — Tourism, Family, and Business Visits to Australia
Subclass 600 Visa – Visitor Visa Australia
Visit Australia for Tourism, Family, or Business — The Most Widely Used Temporary Visa in the Australian Migration System
Australia attracts millions of visitors every year. Families reuniting across continents. Tourists experiencing the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, and world-class cities. Business professionals attending conferences, meetings, and industry events. People exploring the country before deciding whether to make it their permanent home.
For the vast majority of these visitors, the pathway into Australia is the same — the Subclass 600 Visitor Visa. It is the primary temporary visa for people who want to visit Australia for tourism, family visits, or short-term business activities, without the intention of working or studying full-time in the country.
The Subclass 600 has multiple streams, different financial and personal circumstance requirements depending on where you are applying from, and a genuine temporary entrant assessment that catches more applicants off guard than most people expect. At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered migration agents help individuals and families navigate the Subclass 600 correctly.
Book a Consultation
Tourist Stream typical timeline
3-month Tourist Stream
Per visit granted
Tourist, Business, Sponsored, ADS
Visa Overview
What is the Subclass 600 Visitor Visa?
The Subclass 600 Visitor Visa is Australia's main temporary visitor visa. It replaced several older visitor and tourist visa subclasses when it was introduced in 2013 and now covers the full range of visitor categories — tourists, family visitors, business visitors, and approved destination status visitors — under a single subclass with distinct streams.
The Subclass 600 allows holders to visit Australia temporarily for tourism, recreation, visiting family or friends, or short-term business visitor activities. It does not allow the holder to work in Australia or to study for more than three months in any course.
The visa can be granted for a single entry or multiple entries, and the stay period allowed in Australia is typically three or six months per visit. Applicants with strong ties to their home country and a compelling travel history may be granted longer stay periods or long-validity multiple entry visas of up to ten years.
Key Features of the Subclass 600 Visa
- Temporary visitor visa for tourism, family visits, and short-term business activities
- Multiple streams covering different visitor categories
- Single or multiple entry options depending on stream and individual circumstances
- Stay period typically three to six months per visit
- No work rights — visitors cannot undertake paid employment in Australia
- Study permitted for up to three months per visit
- Genuine temporary entrant assessment applies to all streams
- Can be applied for from outside or inside Australia depending on the stream
Visa Streams
Who Can Apply — The Four Streams of the Subclass 600
The Subclass 600 has four distinct streams, each designed for a different category of visitor. Understanding which stream applies to your situation is the first step in preparing a successful application.
Tourist Stream
The most commonly used stream. For people who want to visit Australia for tourism, recreation, or to visit family and friends. Applications can be lodged from outside Australia or, in some circumstances, from within Australia by people already here on another valid visa and wishing to extend their stay.
Business Visitor Stream
For people who need to visit Australia for short-term business activities — attending conferences, meetings, or negotiations, exploring business opportunities, or making initial contacts with Australian businesses. Business visitors cannot undertake paid work in Australia.
Sponsored Family Stream
For people sponsored by an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. The sponsor takes on certain obligations regarding the visitor's conduct and departure. Commonly used when the applicant's individual circumstances may not fully satisfy the genuine temporary entrant requirement without additional support.
Approved Destination Status Stream
Specifically for Chinese nationals travelling to Australia as part of an approved group tour through an accredited ADS travel agent. This stream operates under the China Approved Destination Status arrangement and has specific requirements related to group travel through accredited agents.
Visa Benefits
Key Benefits of the Subclass 600 Visa
Access to One of the World's Most Remarkable Countries
Australia offers experiences that genuinely cannot be replicated anywhere else — the Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, the Daintree Rainforest, world-class cities like Sydney and Melbourne, wildlife found nowhere else in the world, and some of the most dramatic and varied landscapes on the planet. The Subclass 600 is the gateway to all of it.
Flexible Stay Periods and Multiple Entry
The Subclass 600 can be granted for stays of three or six months per visit. For applicants with strong travel histories and clear ties to their home country, multiple entry visas with long validity periods — sometimes up to ten years — are possible. This makes the Subclass 600 practical for visitors who want to make multiple trips to Australia over an extended period.
Family Reunion Visits
For families spread across countries, the Subclass 600 provides a way to come together in Australia for extended periods. Parents visiting their children and grandchildren, siblings reuniting, extended family gathering for significant life events — the Subclass 600 makes these visits legally possible for extended stays.
Business Exploration
The Business Visitor Stream gives international business professionals the ability to explore opportunities in Australia, attend industry events, conduct meetings, and build relationships with Australian counterparts — all without the need for a formal work visa.
Sponsorship Support for Complex Cases
The Sponsored Family Stream provides a structured pathway for visitors whose individual circumstances might not fully satisfy the genuine temporary entrant assessment on their own. Having an Australian-based sponsor who formally takes on responsibility for the visit adds credibility and support to the application.
Eligibility and Requirements
Understanding the Subclass 600 Requirements in Detail
The Subclass 600 does not have a complex occupational or qualification framework like work visas do. But it does have a core requirement that is more nuanced than many applicants expect — the genuine temporary entrant requirement — and getting this right is what separates successful applications from refusals.
Genuine Temporary Entrant — Key Factors
- Strong ties to the home country are the most important positive factor — employment, family responsibilities, property ownership, business interests
- Applicants from countries with high rates of visa overstay face greater scrutiny and need stronger evidence
- Travel history is a significant positive — prior travel to countries with strict visa requirements demonstrates compliance
- A clear, genuine reason for the visit with appropriate supporting evidence
Financial and Other Requirements
- Access to sufficient funds to support themselves during the stay — through bank statements, employment income evidence, or sponsor financial support
- Bank statements that show a sudden large deposit immediately before application are viewed with scepticism by the Department
- Health examinations may be required for stays over three months or for applicants from certain countries
- Police clearance certificates may be required depending on age, country of origin, and intended length of stay
Sponsor Obligations — Sponsored Family Stream
If applying under the Sponsored Family Stream, the Australian sponsor must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen who has been living in Australia for at least two years and who meets income and other eligibility criteria. The sponsor formally takes on obligations regarding the visitor's welfare and departure from Australia.
Document Checklist
What Documents Do You Need for the Subclass 600?
The exact documents required depend on the stream, the applicant's country of nationality, and individual circumstances. A thorough application across most streams will include the following.
Identity and Purpose of Visit
- Valid passport with sufficient validity for the intended visit and any subsequent travel
- National identity card where applicable and previous passports if relevant to travel history
- Details of all previous Australian visas and any visa refusals or cancellations
- Clear explanation of the purpose of the visit — tourism itinerary, invitation from family or friends, conference registration, business meeting details
- For family visits: birth certificates, marriage certificates confirming the relationship
- For business visits: letter from overseas employer confirming the business purpose
Financial Evidence
- Recent bank statements covering the past three to six months showing genuine available funds
- Evidence of employment and income — employment letter, payslips, or business ownership documents
- Evidence of assets — property ownership, investment accounts, or other assets demonstrating financial stability
- If financially supported by a sponsor: the sponsor's financial evidence and a letter confirming support
Ties to Home Country
- Employment letter or business ownership evidence confirming your position and that you are expected to return
- Evidence of family responsibilities — spouse, children, dependent relatives
- Evidence of property ownership or long-term lease in your home country
- Any other evidence of compelling reasons to return — community involvement, professional registrations
- Evidence of prior international travel demonstrating a track record of complying with visa conditions
For Sponsored Family Stream
- Sponsorship application from the Australian sponsor
- Evidence of the sponsor's Australian citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible NZ citizen status
- Evidence of the sponsor's residency in Australia for the required period
- Evidence of the sponsor's financial capacity and income
- Statutory declaration from the sponsor confirming obligations
Costs and Processing Times
Subclass 600 Visa Cost and Processing Times
Visa Costs (2026)
- Base application charge — AUD $190 for a three-month stay, AUD $380 for a twelve-month option
- Sponsored Family Stream sponsorship fee — AUD $420
- Health examination — approximately AUD $300 to $450 where required
- Chest X-ray — approximately AUD $100 to $150 where required
- Police clearances — typically AUD $50 to $150 per country
- Migration agent professional fees — vary depending on stream and complexity
Processing Times (2026)
- 75% of Tourist Stream applications processed within 19 to 29 days
- 90% of Tourist Stream applications processed within 46 to 69 days
- Business Visitor Stream processing broadly similar to the Tourist Stream
- Sponsored Family Stream applications typically take 4 to 8 weeks due to the sponsorship stage
- Processing times vary considerably by country of nationality
- Lodging well in advance of planned travel dates is strongly recommended
How We Help
Our Visa Process
Initial Assessment and Stream Identification
We begin by understanding your specific situation — who you are, where you are from, why you want to visit Australia, your financial position, your travel history, and your ties to your home country. From this we identify the right stream for your application and give you an honest assessment of your chances and any factors that need to be addressed before the application is lodged.
Genuine Temporary Entrant Strategy
The genuine temporary entrant requirement is where most Subclass 600 applications succeed or fail. We work with you to identify the strongest available evidence of your ties to your home country, your genuine intent to return, and your financial capacity for the visit. For applicants where this assessment is more complex, we develop a deliberate strategy for how the evidence is presented and how the application is framed.
Document Preparation and Review
We prepare a complete personalised document checklist based on your stream, your country of nationality, and your individual circumstances. Every document is reviewed before the application is lodged — for completeness, quality, and relevance. A well-assembled document set is one of the most important factors in a fast, successful outcome.
Sponsor Coordination — Sponsored Family Stream
For Sponsored Family Stream applications, we work with the Australian sponsor to prepare and lodge the sponsorship application, confirm the sponsor's eligibility, and ensure the sponsor's obligations are clearly understood. We manage the coordination between the sponsorship and visa application stages to keep the overall process as efficient as possible.
Lodgement and Follow-Up
We prepare and lodge the Subclass 600 application with the Department of Home Affairs and handle all communication with the Department on your behalf. We monitor the application and respond promptly to any requests for additional information — keeping the process moving and keeping you informed throughout.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Migration Republic
Why Choose Migration Republic?
The Subclass 600 is the most widely applied-for visa in the Australian migration system — and it is also one of the most frequently refused for applicants from certain countries and circumstances. A refusal is not just a disappointment — it goes on your immigration record and must be disclosed in every future visa application to Australia and many other countries. Avoiding a refusal in the first place, by preparing a thorough and well-structured application, is always the better outcome.
Country-Specific Expertise
We know which countries face higher scrutiny, what evidence is most persuasive for each country of origin, and how to present complex financial circumstances clearly. Our approach is tailored to your specific background and nationality.
Genuine Temporary Entrant Strategy
We know how to present the strongest available evidence of ties to the home country and genuine intent to return. For applicants with previous refusals, we address the reasons for the prior refusal in a way that gives a new application the best possible chance.
Full Service from Assessment to Grant
Transparent process with regular updates. High success rate with personalised service. Dedicated support from eligibility assessment and stream identification through to visa grant — including sponsor coordination for the Sponsored Family Stream.
Ready to Apply for Your Subclass 600 Visitor Visa?
Australia is one of the world's great destinations — for tourists, for families, for business professionals, and for anyone who wants to experience a country unlike any other. The genuine temporary entrant requirement is real, the financial evidence standards are genuine, and the Department's assessment is thorough. Getting the application right — with the right stream, the right evidence, and the right presentation — makes the difference between a smooth approval and an unnecessary refusal. At Migration Republic, our MARA-registered agents are here to help.
Book a Consultation Today
