The Visitor visa (subclass 600) is Australia's primary temporary visitor visa for people who are not eligible for an eVisitor (subclass 651) or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601). It permits tourism, visiting family and friends, and certain business activities, depending on the stream. The subclass 600 is used by applicants from countries not covered by the eVisitor or ETA programs, including China, India, and many others. It is also the visa used for onshore visitor visa applications (extensions within Australia) and for the Sponsored Family and Frequent Traveller streams.

The subclass 600 is a temporary visa — it does not lead to permanent residence and does not confer work rights in the Tourist or Sponsored Family streams. For current processing times, visa application charges, and eligibility by stream, refer to the DHA subclass 600 page.

• Migration Regulations 1994 — Subclass 600 (Visitor) — the visa criteria for all streams
• DHA: Visitor visa (subclass 600) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visitor-600
• DHA: Tourist stream (overseas) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visitor-600/tourist-stream-overseas
• DHA: Tourist stream (onshore) — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visitor-600/tourist-stream-onshore
• DHA: Business Visitor stream — immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visitor-600/business-visitor-stream

The five streams

Tourist stream

The Tourist stream is the most commonly used stream of the subclass 600. It allows the holder to stay in Australia as a tourist, visit family or friends, or go on a cruise — for up to 12 months per visit (though the actual period granted depends on individual circumstances). The Tourist stream can be applied for from outside Australia (offshore application) or from within Australia (onshore application — to extend an existing stay). The visa can be granted as a single-entry or multiple-entry visa. No work is permitted. For current stay periods and application requirements, refer to the DHA Tourist stream (overseas) page or onshore page.

Business Visitor stream

The Business Visitor stream is for people visiting Australia for short-term business activities that do not constitute working in Australia. Permitted activities include attending conferences, meetings, or trade fairs, conducting site inspections, and negotiating contracts. The holder cannot be employed in Australia and cannot receive remuneration from an Australian entity for work performed in Australia. For current permitted activities and stay periods, refer to the DHA Business Visitor stream page.

Sponsored Family stream

The Sponsored Family stream is for applicants who are sponsored by an approved sponsor (a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen) who is a relative or close personal associate. Sponsorship allows some applicants to obtain a subclass 600 who may not otherwise be granted one — the sponsor provides financial and moral support undertakings. Stay periods of up to 12 months are available. For current sponsor eligibility and requirements, refer to the DHA Sponsored Family stream page.

Frequent Traveller stream

The Frequent Traveller stream is available to frequent business travellers from certain Asian countries (including Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, among others). It grants a longer-validity multiple-entry visa for business-related visits. The stream requires evidence of frequent legitimate travel to Australia. For current eligible countries and requirements, refer to the DHA Frequent Traveller stream page.

Approved Destination Status (ADS) stream

The Approved Destination Status stream is specifically for Chinese nationals travelling in approved tour groups under the Australia-China ADS arrangement. Holders must travel with an approved tour group — the visa is group-linked. For current ADS tour operator requirements and eligibility, refer to the DHA ADS stream page.

Genuine visitor requirement

All subclass 600 stream applications require the applicant to demonstrate they are a genuine temporary entrant — that they genuinely intend to visit Australia temporarily, comply with visa conditions, and leave before their visa expires. A decision-maker considers factors including:

• The applicant's ties to their home country (family, employment, property, finances)
• The applicant's travel history and immigration compliance record
• The purpose and plausibility of the visit
• Whether there are incentives to overstay (e.g., family members in Australia with PR or citizenship)

The subclass 600 Tourist stream uses the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) test — not the Genuine Student (GS) requirement introduced in 2024 for student visas. See the Genuine Temporary Entrant test page for more detail.

No work rights in Tourist and Sponsored Family streams

Holder of a subclass 600 Tourist or Sponsored Family stream visa cannot work in Australia. Working without work rights is a visa condition breach and may lead to visa cancellation and future inadmissibility. The Business Visitor stream permits limited business activities but not employment.

No Further Stay condition

Some subclass 600 visas are granted with a No Further Stay (condition 8503) condition, which prevents the holder from applying for another substantive visa while in Australia. A waiver of condition 8503 can be requested in compelling and compassionate circumstances — see the No Further Stay waiver page.

Subclass 600 vs. eVisitor and ETA

Eligible passport holders from certain countries can visit Australia without applying for a subclass 600, using either the eVisitor (subclass 651) (free, online, for eligible EU and some other passport holders) or the ETA (subclass 601) (fee, online, for eligible Asian and some other passport holders). The subclass 600 is used when neither of those options is available — including for nationals of China, India, and many other countries, and for all onshore visitor visa applications. For current eligibility for eVisitor and ETA, refer to the DHA visitor visa page.

Visa application charge and processing times

For current visa application charges and processing times for the subclass 600, refer to the DHA subclass 600 page and the DHA processing times tool.

The subclass 600 is one of the highest-volume Australian visa subclasses. Decision-making is largely administrative and is heavily influenced by the genuine temporary entrant assessment — applicants with weak ties to their home country, significant family connections in Australia, or prior immigration non-compliance face higher refusal rates. The Sponsored Family stream provides a pathway for lower-risk assessment of family visitors by leveraging the sponsor's standing in Australia. For current requirements for each stream, processing times, and fees, refer to the DHA subclass 600 page.