Visto de visitante

What this visa is for#

The Australian Visitor visa (subclass 600) is a visitor visa in the Tourist / Business visitor stream. What it is: Visit Australia for tourism, family or business visitor activities.

This visa is used for short stays in Australia. The activities covered depend on the stream and the visa conditions attached to the grant.

Tourist activities can include holidays, visiting friends or relatives, or other short personal travel. Business visitor activities can include attending meetings, conferences or negotiations, as long as the activity fits the business visitor rules for this visa.

A Visitor visa is not the same as a work visa. It also does not function as a long-term stay visa, and the period of stay and conditions are set by the Department of Home Affairs when the visa is granted.

Who it is generally for#

This visa is for people who want to come to Australia as genuine visitors for a temporary stay. This includes people travelling for holidays, sightseeing, cruises, or to spend time with family and friends.

This visa is for people who need to come for business visitor activities such as attending meetings, trade events, conferences or exploratory business discussions. It covers visitor activity, not ongoing employment in Australia.

This visa is for people applying from outside Australia in many cases, and in some circumstances from within Australia, depending on the stream and the person’s current visa status. The place of lodgement, visa conditions and permitted stay can differ between applications.

This visa is also used by family groups travelling together. Each person needs their own application, even where travel plans and supporting documents overlap.

What it costs#

The government visa application charge listed for this page is:

• Main applicant: $250
• Additional applicant 18 or over: $250
• Additional applicant under 18: $250

These are the government charges for the application itself. The government charge is the same no matter who lodges it, whether the application is lodged by the applicant, a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner.

Professional fees are separate. A registered migration agent or lawyer may charge for services such as reviewing documents, preparing the application, explaining the process, corresponding with the Department and answering follow-up requests. Those professional fees are set by the agent or law practice, not by the government.

Other costs can also come up depending on the application, such as document translation, certified copies, health checks or police certificates where requested. Those are not part of the visa application charge.

Government charges are indexed and usually change on 1 July. The amount payable is normally the amount that applies on the day a valid application is lodged.

How long it takes#

Published processing guidance: Commonly 2-8 weeks; longer from some countries.

Processing times are not fixed. The Department’s published guidance is only a general indication and actual processing can be shorter or longer depending on the application, the stream, the country of lodgement, document checks and whether more information is requested.

Delays often happen where identity documents are unclear, supporting evidence is missing, or checks need to be completed with other agencies. Peak travel periods can also affect timeframes.

A visa should not be treated as granted until written notice of grant is issued. Travel bookings and event dates do not force the Department to decide an application by a particular day.

What the process involves#

The process usually starts by identifying the correct Visitor visa stream for the planned activity. The application is then prepared with identity documents, travel purpose evidence and any other documents required by the Department for that stream and country profile.

Applications are often lodged online through the Department’s ImmiAccount system. Each traveller generally needs a separate application, even where one family member is organising the trip.

After lodgement, the Department may ask for more information. This can include updated passport pages, evidence about the visit, family information, health examinations or other checks. Requests usually come with a deadline.

During processing, the Department communicates through ImmiAccount, email or both. It is important that contact details remain current and that messages are checked regularly so requests are not missed.

If the visa is granted, the grant notice sets out the visa grant number, the date of grant, the period of stay, travel validity and any conditions. The conditions matter. For example, the notice may limit how long each stay can last, even where the visa allows multiple entries.

If the visa is refused, the refusal notice explains the outcome and the reasons given by the Department. Review rights, if any, depend on the circumstances and the place of application, and are set out in the notice.

What commonly goes wrong#

A common problem is incomplete evidence. Applications are often delayed or refused when identity documents, passport pages, travel purpose documents or family information are missing, inconsistent or difficult to read. Poor scans and partial uploads create the same problem as missing documents.

Another issue is documents expiring during processing. Passports, identity cards, police certificates and other time-sensitive records can expire before a decision is made. When that happens, the Department may need updated documents, which can slow the application.

People also miss Department messages. If an email address changes, a spam filter blocks messages, or ImmiAccount is not checked, a request for more information can be missed. If a deadline passes without a response, the Department may decide the application on the information already on file.

A change of address or contact details is sometimes not reported. That can lead to missed correspondence and confusion about where notices were sent. The Department expects details to be kept up to date during processing.

Another practical problem is booking flights too early and then treating the travel date as guaranteed. Published processing guidance is not a promise. If the application is still being processed close to departure, cancellation costs can fall on the traveller.

Some people assume that holding another visa while waiting gives them the same rights as before. A bridging visa does not automatically carry the same conditions as the substantive visa it follows. Work rights, travel rights and study rights can be different, and the grant notice for the bridging visa sets those conditions out.

It is also common for people to misunderstand business visitor activities. Attending meetings and conferences can fit the visitor framework, but hands-on work, ongoing service delivery and ordinary employment are different activities with different visa pathways. The exact visa conditions on the grant notice still control what is permitted.

Family applications can go wrong where the documents do not match across the group. Different spellings of names, inconsistent dates of travel, missing birth certificates for children or conflicting relationship documents can all trigger requests for clarification.

Frequently asked questions#

How much is the Visitor visa 600 for Australia?#

The government charge listed on this page is $250 for the main applicant. It is also $250 for an additional applicant aged 18 or over, and $250 for an additional applicant under 18. Professional fees from a registered migration agent or lawyer are separate.

How long does a Visitor visa 600 take?#

The published processing guidance is commonly 2-8 weeks; longer from some countries. That is general guidance only, not a guaranteed service standard. Processing can take longer if more information is requested or checks are still underway.

Can a Visitor visa 600 be used for tourism and business meetings?#

This visa covers tourism, family or business visitor activities. Tourist travel and short business visitor activities can both fall within the subclass 600 framework, depending on the stream and visa conditions. The grant notice sets out the actual conditions that apply.

Can a family apply together for a Visitor visa 600?#

Family members can prepare and lodge applications together, but each person generally needs their own application. This includes children. Group travel documents may overlap, but identity and relationship documents still need to be clear for each applicant.

Is the government fee different if a migration agent lodges the application?#

No. The government visa application charge is the same no matter who lodges it. A registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner may charge a separate professional fee for their services, but that is not part of the government charge.

About this page. This is general information about how the Visitor visa (subclass 600) works. It is not immigration assistance and it is not advice about your situation. Under section 280 of the Migration Act 1958 only a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner can give you that. Charges are indexed and most change on 1 July, so check any figure against immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before you rely on it, and check any agent's registration on the registo OMARA (autoridade de registo dos agentes de migração).