Visitor Visa Subclass 600 - Australian Migration Agency

VISITOR VISA SUBCLASS 600

Visitor Visa is for Foreigners that wish to visit Australia for short periods. The reasons should be tourism or sightseeing, visiting family members or friends, medical treatment or business activities (attending a conference or meeting(s)).

Four Streams of Visitor Visa Subclass 600

Visitor Visa (subclass 600) replaces the Tourist Visa (subclass 676) and lets you visit Australia for up to 3 (three), 6 (six), or 12 (twelve) months. Applicants need to choose from the four streams below depending on their intention of visit.

  1.     Tourist stream
  2.     Sponsored Family stream
  3.     Business Visitor stream
  4.     Frequent Traveller Stream

Visitor Visa Tourist Stream 

Tourist Stream is for foreigners who intend to visit Australia for tourism, go on a cruise, or visit family or friends.

Tourist Stream is further divided into two categories depending on the location of the Applicant.

  • Tourist Stream (Applying within Australia)
  • Tourist Stream (Applying Outside Australia)

 

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Tourist Stream (Applying within Australia)

It’s a temporary visa, and you can stay in Australia for a maximum of 12 months. This visa is granted either for 3, 6, or 12 months. Your intent should be to visit Australia only, and you should have enough money for your stay in Australia.
Hold any other visa that is expiring, and you need to stay longer in Australia? You might be eligible to apply for a subclass 600 visa tourist stream within Australia.

What can you do with Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Tourist Stream?

With Visitor Visa (tourist stream), you can visit your friend(s) or family member(s) or enjoy a Cruise. You cannot apply under this stream for medical treatment or business. Subclass 600 visa tourist stream allows you to train or study for up to 3 months but does not allow you to work (do the job) on the tourist stream.

Cruise: 

If your intent is a round trip cruise, the time you spend on the cruise is considered time spent in Australia (the Department of Home Affairs does not consider you have left Australia). Your round trip cruise will not extend your stay period on your visitor visa.

Note: You will need to ask your cruise operator or travel agent whether the department of Home Affairs has considered your Cruise as a round trip cruise or not.

 

How long can you Stay in Australia on Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Tourist Stream?

Since it’s a temporary visa, you can stay on this visa for the duration and dates specified on your visa grant letter. Your Case officer will grant you a stay period based on “How long you want to stay?” and “Why you want to stay in Australia?”.

 

Visitor Visa subclass 600 Multiple Entry or Single Entry:

While filling the online application, you will be asked whether you intend to enter multiple times in Australia or not? If you choose No, you will be granted a visa with a single entry only, while on selecting yes, the case officer will have to decide whether to grant you a visa with single entry or multiple entries. 

You can leave and enter Australia with multiple entries during the validity period mentioned on your visa grant letter.

 

Visitor Visa Extension (subclass 600)

You cannot extend this visa if you want to stay for a longer period than specified on your visa grant letter, and you will need to apply for a new visa. 

 

Including Family Member in Your Visa Application or Separate Application for Each Family Member: 

You cannot add your family members to your application, and you need to lodge a separate application for each of the accompanied members that wish to travel with you. Therefore, separate applications should be submitted for every applicant traveling with you. While filling your application, you will need to make a group, and this group should be selected in every family member’s visa application. That’s how the Case Officer will identify all applications as a group.

 

Australian Visitor Visa Fee (subclass 600) from Within Australia

Department of Home Affairs visa fee is AUD 370 for each applicant. You might also have to pay other costs for health checks, insurance, police certificates, biometrics, and a subsequent temporary application charge.

 

Applying for the Visa

You must be in Australia during the time of visa grant decision if you are applying for the visitor visa (subclass 600) within Australia. You must not hold a Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403), Domestic worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream while you are applying for a visitor visa.

 

Visitor Visa Australia Processing Time

Department of Home Affairs processes 75% of visitor visa applications in 18 days and 90% in 32 days. The application processing takes longer times if the application is filled incorrectly and all the required information or documents are not provided. 

 

Visitor Visa 600 Health Insurance: 

Department of Home Affairs Australia recommends purchasing health insurance to cover any unexpected medical treatments you might need in Australia. You are personally responsible for all your healthcare costs while you stay on a visitor visa (subclass 600) in Australia. Therefore, health insurance can limit your financial burden in case of any medical needs during your stay within Australia.

 

Eligibility requirements for Visitor Visa (subclass 600)

You must meet the following eligibility criteria to apply for Subclass 600 Tourist Stream.

Health Requirements

You do not need a health examination if you belong to a low-risk country and are aged below 75 years. But if you are from a high-risk country and intend to stay for six months or more, you will need to provide a medical examination report and Chest X-ray (if aged 11 or more).

Besides this, if you are pregnant and intend to have a baby in Australia, you will need a hepatitis B test.

All applicants above 75 years old must go through a medical examination.

Character Requirements

You can meet the character requirements if your answer is “No” for the following,

  • you have a substantial criminal record
  • you have been convicted of escaping from immigration detention or convicted for an offense that you committed:
    • while you were in immigration detention
    •  during an escape from immigration detention
    •  after an escape, but before you were taken into immigration detention again.
  • you are have been a member of a group or organization or had or have an association with a person, group, or organization that the Minister reasonably suspects of being involved in criminal conduct
  • the Minister reasonably suspects that you have been involved in people smuggling, people trafficking, genocide, a war crime, a crime against humanity, a crime involving torture or slavery, or a crime that is of serious international concern, whether or not you have been convicted of such an offense
  • your past and present criminal or general conduct shows that you are not of good character
  • there is a risk that while you are in Australia, you would:
    • engage in criminal conduct
    •  harass, molest, intimidate or stalk another person
    • vilify a segment of the Australian community
    • incite discord in the Australian community or in a part of it
    • be a danger to the Australian community or a part of it.
  • You have been convicted, found guilty, or had a charge proven for one or more sexually-based offenses involving a child.
  • You are subject to an adverse security assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organization
  • You are subject to an Interpol notice, from which it is reasonable to infer that you are a direct or indirect risk to the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community.
For evidence, you may be asked to provide:
  • Police Clearance Certificate
  • Complete Character Statutory Declaration
  • A letter of Good Conduct from the employer
  • Filled Form 80

 

Financial Requirements:

You should have Enough Money for Your Intended Period of Stay in Australia. That means you must have, or have access to the required funds to support yourself while you stay in Australia.

For evidence, you should provide
  • Your Bank Statement
  • Your Supporter Bank Statement

 

Convincing The Case Officer that You are a Genuine Visitor:

You will need to convince the case officer that you are a genuine visitor and intend to stay temporarily in Australia and will do the things that your visitor visa allows you to do in Australia.

For evidence, you may need to provide

  •  Leave a Letter from your employer.
  •  Leave Letter from Schools of Children
  • Invitation Letter from your supporter

 

How to apply for an Australian Visitor Visa

Things to Do Before You Apply

  1. Check your Passport. It should not be expired during your intended period of stay in Australia
  2. You can complete your health examination or you can wait until your case officer tells you to have them.
  3. Contact Brilliant Migration Club to streamline the application process for you.

 

Arranging the Required Documents

Identity Documents
  •  You should provide the pages of your current passport that show your photograph, personal details, and passport’s issue, and expiry dates.
  • National Identity Card (if you have one)
  • Proof of name change (if applicable) such as a marriage or divorce certificate, change of name documents from an Australian Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, or the relevant overseas authority and other documents that show other names you have been known by.

 

Genuine Visitor Documents:

The genuine visitor documents are required to show that you are visiting Australia temporarily and returning to your home country before your visa’s expiry. These include:

  • Your bank statements, payslips, audit accounts, tax records, or credit card limits.
  •  A letter of invitation from your relative or friend to visit Australia which should state their relationship to you, the purpose of your visit, your length of stay, whether you will be staying with them, their proof of funds if they intend to support your cost of staying in Australia.
  • Your plans while you stay in Australia
  • Proof of reasons that you will return to your home country such as
    • Leave a letter from your employer
    • Evidence that you study at a school, college, or university in your home country
    • Evidence that you have immediate family members in your home country
    • Evidence that you own a house or other major assets in your home country
    • Evidence that you can return home

 

Character Documents:

You will need to provide any military service record or discharge papers (if applicable).

Need Assistance from Migration Agent

Provide 956-Form, if you are seeking assistance from the migration agent. Sidra Shahab at Brilliant Migration Club (MARN # 1792643) can help you with your visa application process.

 

Additional Documents for the applicant under 18

  •  If the applicant is under 18 years and is travelling alone, then Form 1229 (A consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years) should be provided.
  • Identity document (passport or driver’s license) of a person who completed the form for the child.
  •  Adoption papers or other court documents if applicable.

 

Lodging the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) – Tourist Stream: 

You can apply online or on paper.

  1.     Apply Online

To apply online, you need to:

  1. Log in or create ImmiAccount
  2. Fill the application and attach documents
  3. Submit family applications together
  4. Pay your application fee

Note: Your application will not be processed until you pay the fee.

  1.     Apply as Paper Application: 

 To apply as a paper application, you need to:

 

  1. Complete Form 1419 Application for a Visitor Visa – Tourist stream
  2. Pre-pay your application in ImmiAccount
  • Login or Create ImmiAccount (if you don’t have one)
  •  Go to the Manage Payment Section.
  • Pay through credit card, Paypal, or UnionPay

Note: ImmiAccount will provide you a receipt number. Write that number on your application before you submit.

 

Things You Should Do After You Apply

Inform Department of Home Affairs About Your Traveling:

You should inform the Department of Home Affairs about traveling outside Australia if you have applied in Australia for a visitor visa (subclass 600). Your application is under process. You hold a Bridging visa A. 

Perform Biometrics

Department of Home Affairs may contact you for performing your biometrics while your application is under process.

Doing Health Examination

If you have not done a health examination before applying for a visa, your case officer may contact you to have it done.

Providing more Information

If you have not provided complete documents or information, your case officer may contact you to provide more documents or information. So check your email regularly and keep your phone with you in-office hours while your application is under process.

Stay Legally in Australia

You must apply for the visitor visa before your current visa expires, and you will get a Bridging Visa A while your application is under process. If you applied for the visa after your visa expiration, you would not get a bridging visa A and would be staying in Australia unlawfully.

 

Inform the Department About the Mistakes in Visa Application (if any): 

If you have identified any mistakes in your visa application, you should inform the Department of Home Affairs by filling and sending Form 1023 (Notification of Incorrect Answers).

 

The outcome of Your Visa Application

If the visa is granted, the department will inform you in writing, which will include your visa grant number, starting date of your visa and your visa conditions.

If your visa is refused, you will be provided with the reason for your visa refusal in writing, containing information on whether you have the right to review the decision.

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Tourist Stream (Applying From Outside Australia)

This is a temporary visa and allows you to visit Australia as a tourist, visit family and friends and go on a cruise. The maximum visa grant period in this stream is 12 months. Parents of Australian citizens and Permanent Residents may get a visa for a longer period.

What can you do with Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Tourist Stream?

You can visit a friend(s) or family member(s). You should be here as a tourist, for a cruise or any other purpose except medical treatment or business. This visa allows you to train or study for up to 3 months, but you do not have any work rights on this visa.

 

Visitor Visa Extension (subclass 600)

You cannot extend your visitor visa. You will need to apply for a new visa if your visa does not have a condition that prevents further stay in Australia. But you might be able to request a waiver of the no further stay condition in some circumstances. If condition 8558 is applied to your visa, then you can’t stay for more than 12 months in any 18 months.

Visitor Visa subclass 600 Multiple Entry or Single Entry:

While filling the online application, you will be asked whether you intend to enter multiple times in Australia or not? If you choose No, you will be granted a visa with a single entry only, while on choosing yes, the case officer will have to assess whether to grant you a visa with single entry or multiple entries.
With multiple entries, you can leave and enter Australia during the validity of your visa period.

Offshore Visitor Visa for Parents of Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents: 

The Parents of an Australian citizen and permanent resident can get a visa for longer than 12 months. They can get a visa for 18 months, 3 years, or 5 years.

Eighteen months’ visa is granted to the applicants who have not previously traveled to Australia and have not applied for parent visa or parent migrant visa subclass 103.

Three years visitor visa is granted to the applicants (parents) who have traveled to Australia before and have not breached the visa conditions. Besides this, either they have not applied for Parent Visa or have applied for Parent Migrant Visa subclass 103 and are not in the queue yet.

Five years visitor visa is granted to applicants (parents) who are outside Australia and have applied for Parent Migrant Visa subclass 103 and are in the queue.

There are some extra conditions for 18 months, 3 years, and 5 years’ visitor visas which are given below:

  • The visa holder cannot stay in Australia for more than 12 months.
  • The visa holder should have arrangements for proper health insurance during his/her stay in Australia.
  • Except for a protection visa, the visa holder can’t apply for another visa within Australia.

Note: With this visa, the visa holder can enter multiple times in Australia while the visa is valid.

  

Documents required from parents applying for 18 months, 3 years, or 5 years Visitor Visa.

You will need to provide a letter stating that you are the parent of an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or eligible New Zealand Citizen, and you need a longer visa.

You will also need to provide evidence that your child is an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident and you have proper health insurance coverage for the length of stay you are desiring in Australia.

 

Australian Visitor Visa Fee (subclass 600) from outside Australia:

The Department of Home Affairs charges AUD145 for each applicant. The visa charge does not include the expenses of health checks, police certificates, and biometrics that you might also have to pay in addition to the Visa fee. The passport holders of the People’s Republic of China, India, and UAE can request fast-tracking their visa applications which costs from AUD 1,000, and the visa application charge.

 

Visitor Visa Australia Processing Time:

75% of applications are processed in 18-days and 90% of applications are processed in 32 days. (explained before).

 

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Sponsored Family Visitor Visa Stream

The Sponsored Family stream is for foreigners who are sponsored by their family members in Australia for family-visit.

What can you do with Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Family Sponsored Stream?

With Visitor Visa (family sponsored stream), you can visit your family member(s) or enjoy a Cruise. You cannot apply under this stream for medical treatment or business. Subclass 600 visa family-sponsored stream allows you to train or study for up to 3 months but does not allow you to work (do the job) on the tourist stream.

How long can you Stay in Australia on Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Family Sponsored Stream?

Since it’s a temporary visa, you can stay on this visa for the duration and dates specified on your visa grant letter. Your Case officer will grant you a stay period based on “How long you want to stay?” and “Why you want to stay in Australia?”.

 

Sponsored Family Visitor Visa Extension

You can’t extend this visa and you might not be able to apply for the new visa due to 8503 condition (no further stay). In some circumstances, you might be able to request a waiver of the no further stay condition. You must not stay beyond the imposed period on your visa grant letter and must not breach condition 8503.

A separate application for Each Applicant is required

Sponsored Family Visitor Visa Charges:

From AUD 145 for each applicant. The cost of health checks, police certificates, and health checks are not included in this visa application cost.

When Applying for Sponsored Family Visitor Visa

You must be outside Australia while applying for this visa and while the Department decides on your visa application.

Sponsored Family Visitor Visa Processing Time

Department process 75 % of applications in 62 days and 90% of applications in 75 days. The department takes time to verify your information. Besides this, the application may take longer to process if you didn’t fill it incorrectly or you didn’t provide the required documents on time.

 

Sponsor for Family-Sponsored Stream

You are eligible for the family-sponsored stream only if you have a sponsor. Your sponsor can either be your family member or an Australian Government Official.

Complete Application Process of Sponsored Family Visitor Visa is Same as tourist stream except

Applying for Family-Sponsored Stream Online 

The applicant will need to get form 1149- filled from their sponsor in Australia. They will need to lodge it with your family-sponsored stream application.

Other processes are explained in the tourist stream above.

Applying for Family-Sponsored Stream on Paper

The Applicants will need to send their filled Form-1418 with all required documents to their sponsor in Australia. Their sponsor will then send the applicant’s form with the 1149 form.

 

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Business Visitor stream

Business Visitor Stream is for foreigners who intend to visit Australia for meetings, conferences or negotiations. This stream does not allow you to work in Australia. Up to 3 months of stay is allowed on this visa.

What can you do with this visa?

On a business visitor visa, you can make general business and employment inquiries. You can enter into business contracts or negotiate or review it. You can also take part in seminars and conferences.

But, you can’t work on this visa or provide services to a business based in Australia or sell goods and services directly to the public.

 

APEC Business Travel Card

What is ABTC?

If you hold an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card, then you might not require a separate business visitor visa to travel to Australia. When the Applicant applies for APEC Business Travel Card the department considers that the applicant applied for a visitor visa.

If you have been granted APEC Business Travel Card with ‘AUS’ printed on the back, then it means you can enter Australia for business visitor or tourism activities till your ABTC is valid. ABTC is valid for 5 years since the date of the issue.

If you apply for a separate visa and get a grant, your visa associated with ABTC will cease.

How long can you stay on this visa in Australia?

The maximum visa grant length is 12 months. The case officer decides on the length of the visa depending on your desired visa length marked in your application. 

You will be granted the visa with either a single entry or multiple entries (this information will be mentioned clearly on your visa grant letter). Suppose you have been granted a single entry visa. In that case, you can enter Australia only once on this visa (in case you leave Australia, you will have to apply for another visa to enter Australia).

But, if you have been granted a multiple entry visa, you can leave and re-enter Australia until your visa is valid.

 

Business Visitor Visa Extension

A business visitor visa can’t be extended. For further stay, you will have to apply for a new visa only if your visa does not have condition 8503 that prevents any further stay. However, you might be able to request a waiver for the no further stay condition in limited situations. If you have other reasons to stay longer in Australia, you might be eligible to apply for the visa that suits your circumstances.

Including Family Members in Business Visitor Stream Visa Application: 

Department does not allow you to include your family members in your business visitor visa application. If you want your family members to travel with you, then each family member will need to apply for the visitor visa (subclass 600) tourist stream on separate applications.

 

 

Charges of Business Visitor Visa

Department’s visa fee is AUD 145 for each application. You will have to pay for health checks, police certificates, and biometrics separately.

What Should be your location while applying for Business Visitor Visa? 

You should be outside Australia while applying for a visitor visa (subclass 600) business visitor stream and should remain outside while the department decides your application.

Processing Time: 

Department process 75% of visitor visa (subclass 600) business visitor visa applications in 12 days while 25% applications in 20 days. 

Business visitor Documents: 

You could provide the following documents with your application to prove that you are visiting Australia for business visitor activities only:

  • Invitation Letter from the host organization
  • Registration Details of Conference
  • A letter from your employer stating that you are visiting Australia for business visitor activities
  • Details of your Australian business contact and plans for your stay in Australia.
  • Documents of your educational qualifications and proof of your current employment
  • Annual report of your company or any other detail that proves that your company is an active business.
  • Proof of your prior contact with Australian businesses

 

Applying on paper:

If you want to make a paper application, fill Form 1415-Application for a visitor Visa – Business Stream.

 

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Frequent Traveller Stream

Frequent Traveller Stream is for citizens of the People’s Republic of China who often travel to Australia for business or personal reasons.

What can you do with this visa?

Holder of this visa can

  • visit family and friends in Australia,
  • perform tourist activities (can go on a cruise or holiday)
  • perform business visitor activities (sign or review a contract and negotiate and investigate the contract, take part in seminars and conferences in Australia, undertake an activity as part of official government visit)

 

Duration or Time-Period of Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Frequent Traveller Stream

This visa can be granted for up to 10 years and the visa holder can leave and enter Australia as often as they like till the visa is valid. But the visa holder can only stay for up to 3 months each time he/she enters Australia and can only stay for up to 12 months in any 24 months. The information regarding the stay period will be mentioned in the applicant’s visa grant letter.

 

Staying longer or extending the visa

This visa cannot be extended, but you can apply for a new visa if you do not have condition 8503, which prevents further stay.

The applicant should not break condition 8573 (no more than 12-month stay in any 24 months) or condition 8531 (must not remain in Australia beyond the imposed period of stay) if these are attached to your visa.

 

Separate or Single Application for Family Members

Separate applications will need to be submitted for all family members including those mentioned on your passport.

Visa Charges:

The department costs AUD 1065 for each application. The applicant might also need to pay for biometrics, police certificates, and health checks.

Your Location while Applying for a visitor visa (subclass 600) frequent Traveller Stream:

The applicant needs to be in the People Republic of China while applying in a frequent traveller stream. The applicant should remain outside Australia while the department decides on his/her application.

Processing Time of Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Frequent Traveller stream:

The department didn’t mention the processing time of Frequent Traveller Stream due to the low volume of applications but the application can take longer processing time if the required information or documents are not provided on time or the applicant filed the application incorrectly. The case officer needs time to verify the applicant’s information.

Biometrics Before Applying for Visa

The Applicant will need to provide biometrics through an Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) in China. The applicant will be provided a Visa Lodgement Number (VLN) which will be needed will apply for the visa.

 

Additional documents for dependent applicants 18 or old: 

If you are 18 years or older and you’re financially dependent on a family member. You will provide evidence of a relationship to the person, like a birth certificate or marriage certificate. You will need to prove that you are financially dependent on this person for at least 12 months immediately before applying for a visa. This includes evidence that you are living with them and evidence of your current studies and tax records. You can also provide adoption papers or parental court orders if possible.

Apply Online Only: 

You must apply for this visa online and from China, and you can’t apply in the Frequent Traveller stream on paper.

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/approved-destination-stream#About

Visitor visa (subclass 600) Approved Destination Status Stream:

Approved Destination Status stream visa is granted to a citizen of certain parts of the People Republic of China for visiting Australia on a tour organised by an approved travel agent.

What Can You Do with this visa?

With this visa, you can enter Australia with your approved tour group and leave with them before your visa expires. You can participate in the activities that are part of your tour in Australia.

Duration or Time-Period of the visa

The length of your visa will be mentioned in your visa grant letter. The department determines your length of stay by considering the length of your tour. You can either be granted a single entry visa or multiple entry visa?

Separate Application for all Family Members 

Separate applications should be submitted for all the family members travelling with you, including the ones listed on your passport.

Visa charges

The visa costs AUD 145 for each applicant. The applicant might also pay for health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.

Your Location While Applying in Approved Destination Status Stream

You must be in the People’s Republic of China while you apply and while the department decides on your visa application.

 

Additional documents for Applicants 75 years Old or Older: 

The applicant needs to provide evidence of health insurance cover for your stay in Australia and his/her yellow book.

Applying for the visa:

An Approved Destination Status Scheme travel agent will apply on your behalf. Your Application will have a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) which you will need to find information about your visa application.

The outcome of the Application: 

Department will inform your Travel agent about the decision they made on your visa application. They will be provided with the visa grant letter containing your visa conditions, starting date of your visa and visa grant number. The department will inform you by email if your application is refused. They will provide the reasons for refusal and will not refund the fee if they refuse.