Visitor Visa Australia — Perth Migration Advice

Visitor Visa Australia (Subclass 600) — Choose the Right Stream

The Visitor visa (subclass 600) covers tourism, family visits and short business visits to Australia. It is available for 3, 6 or 12 months depending on the stream and circumstances. Choosing the wrong stream or failing to demonstrate genuine temporary stay are the most common reasons applications fail. Pacific Visa Group provides structured visitor visa advice from Perth, Western Australia.

Tourist stream — offshoreTourist stream — onshoreSponsored Family streamBusiness Visitor streamFrequent Traveller streamGenuine temporary stay

Visitor Visa At A Glance

Who can apply?People who want to visit Australia for tourism, to see family, or for short business visitor activities. The right stream depends on the purpose of travel and personal circumstances.

Genuine temporary stayAll Visitor visa applicants must satisfy Home Affairs that they intend to stay temporarily. This is assessed against personal, financial, employment and family ties to home country.

Limited review rightsVisitor visa review rights depend on the stream, location, sponsor or family relationship, and the Department decision letter. Getting the application right before lodgement is critical.

Visitor Visa Streams — Subclass 600

Most common

Tourist Stream — Apply Outside Australia

This visa stream lets you visit Australia for up to 12 months as a tourist, to go on a cruise or to see family and friends.

For applicants outside Australia at time of lodgement
Tourism, sightseeing, visiting family or friends
Stay period determined by Home Affairs on a case-by-case basis
Must demonstrate genuine intention to stay temporarily

Government fee: AUD 200.00 (primary applicant)

Apply in Australia

Tourist Stream — Apply Inside Australia

This visa stream lets you be in Australia for up to 12 months as a tourist, to go on a cruise or to see family and friends.

For applicants already in Australia on a valid visa
Must hold a substantive visa at time of application
Higher application charge than offshore Tourist stream
Current visa conditions must be checked before lodging

Government fee: AUD 500.00 (primary applicant)

Family sponsorship

Business Visitor Stream

This visa stream lets you make a short business visit to Australia.

Permitted activities include making general business or employment enquiries, investigating, negotiating, entering into or reviewing a business contract, conducting activities as part of an official government visit, and taking part in a conference, trade fair or seminar (unpaid by organisers)
You cannot work for or provide services to an Australian business
You cannot sell goods or services directly to the public

Government fee: AUD 200.00 (primary applicant)

Frequent travellers

Frequent Traveller Stream

This visa stream is for citizens of the People’s Republic of China, Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam or Timor Leste who travel often to Australia for tourism or business visitor activities.

For eligible passport holders from the listed countries only
Designed for repeat visitors with a clean travel history
Multiple entry permitted within the validity period

Check Home Affairs for current fees

China group tours

Approved Destination Status Stream

This visa stream is for visitors from China coming to Australia on a tour organised by an approved travel agent.

Applies to Chinese passport holders travelling on approved group tours
Tour must be organised through an ADS-approved travel agent
Group travel only — individual applications are not permitted under this stream

Check Home Affairs for current fees

Primary applicant charges shown by the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator. Additional applicant charges, card surcharges, health checks, biometrics, translations and professional fees are separate.

Genuine Temporary Stay — The Critical Assessment

Why Most Visitor Visas Are Refused

Home Affairs assesses every Visitor visa application against the genuine temporary stay requirement. This is the single most common reason for refusal. According to Home Affairs decision records, applications are refused where the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence of ties to their home country that would ensure their return after the visit.

Financial ties

Evidence of financial assets, property ownership, bank accounts and financial responsibilities in the home country or usual country of residence.

Employment ties

Employment, business ownership or professional registrations that require the applicant to return. Letters from employers confirming approved leave are useful.

Family ties

Dependent family members remaining in the home country, including children, spouses or elderly parents who rely on the applicant’s presence.

Immigration history

Previous compliance with Australian and other countries’ visa conditions. Previous overstays, refusals or unlawful presence significantly increase refusal risk.

Source: Home Affairs decision records and Migration Regulations 1994, clause 600.211. Genuine temporary stay is assessed holistically — no single factor is determinative.

Visitor Visa Comparison Table

Stream	Who it is for	Apply from	Primary applicant fee	Max stay
Tourist — offshore	Tourism, cruises, visiting family/friends	Outside Australia	AUD 200.00	Up to 12 months
Tourist — onshore	Tourism, cruises, visiting family/friends	Inside Australia	AUD 500.00	Up to 12 months
Sponsored Family	Visiting an Australian family member sponsor	Outside Australia	AUD 200.00	Up to 12 months
Business Visitor	Short business visits — enquiries, contracts, conferences	Outside Australia	AUD 200.00	Up to 3 months
Frequent Traveller	Repeat visitors who meet Home Affairs eligible passport or country settings	Outside Australia	Check estimator	Multiple entry
ADS (China group)	Chinese passport holders on approved group tours	Outside Australia	Check estimator	Tour duration

Government fees are primary applicant charges from the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator. They do not include additional applicant charges, card surcharges, health checks, biometrics, translations or professional fees. Always verify current fees at the official Home Affairs estimator before lodging.

Eligibility Requirements

Genuine temporary stay: you must satisfy Home Affairs that you genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily and will depart before your visa expires.
Health requirements: you must meet relevant health requirements. Health examinations may be required depending on the country you are travelling from and the length of stay.
Character requirements: you must be of good character. This includes satisfying Home Affairs that you are not a risk to the Australian community.
No adverse immigration history: previous refusals, overstays or unlawful periods in Australia or other countries will be considered by Home Affairs in the assessment.
Sponsored Family stream — sponsor requirements: the sponsor must be an eligible Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen and must not have a relevant adverse history as a sponsor.
Business Visitor stream — permitted activities only: you must only intend to undertake the permitted business visitor activities. You cannot work for or provide services to an Australian business.

Visitor Visa Conditions

Condition 8101 — no work permitted (Tourist and Sponsored Family streams)
Condition 8201 — maximum period of study or training is 3 months
Condition 8503 — no further stay: some Visitor visas are granted with a no further stay condition preventing extension or change of status in Australia
The visa period granted is determined by Home Affairs on a case-by-case basis and may be less than the maximum period available for the stream

Evidence and Documents

Valid passport and travel document.
Evidence of the purpose of visit — travel itinerary, hotel bookings, invitation letters, event registrations.
Evidence of funds to support the stay — bank statements, payslips, employment letters.
Evidence of ties to home country — employment documents, property ownership, family relationships, business registrations.
Previous visa and travel history, including any refusals, cancellations or overstays.
For Sponsored Family stream — sponsor’s Form 1149, sponsor’s citizenship or permanent residence evidence, and evidence of the family relationship.
For Business Visitor stream — business registration documents, invitation from Australian business contact, conference or event registration.

Review Rights Are Limited — Why Getting It Right Matters

Visitor visa review rights are limited and depend on the stream, the applicant’s location, the sponsor or family relationship, and the Department decision letter. Many offshore Visitor visa refusals will not have a practical merits review pathway. Where ART review is not available, the usual next step is a stronger new application that directly addresses the refusal reasons, or in limited cases judicial review where there may be legal error. This makes thorough preparation before lodgement essential.

Strategic Issues To Consider Before Lodging

Stream selection: choose the stream that matches the genuine purpose of travel. A Tourist stream application for a person primarily visiting family may be assessed differently to a Sponsored Family stream application.
Condition 8503 risk: some Visitor visas are granted with a no further stay condition. If you may want to extend your stay or change to another visa in Australia, this needs careful consideration before lodging.
Previous refusals: a previous Visitor visa refusal is a significant factor in future assessments. The reasons for the prior refusal should be directly addressed in any new application.
Onshore lodgement timing: applying for a Tourist stream visa from inside Australia requires attention to current visa conditions, expiry dates and bridging visa implications.
Sponsored Family stream obligations: sponsors accept legal obligations for the visitor’s stay. Sponsorship refusal history and the sponsor’s ability to meet financial obligations should be checked before lodging.
Parent visa interaction: if the visitor may later consider a parent visa pathway, long-term intentions and any onshore lodgement decisions should be considered carefully.
Visitor-to-student visa hopping: Home Affairs warns Visitor visa holders about laws restricting visa hopping to the Student visa program, so study plans and future onshore visa intentions should be checked before lodging.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I stay in Australia on a Visitor visa?

According to Home Affairs, the Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream allows stays of up to 12 months. The actual stay period granted is determined by Home Affairs on a case-by-case basis and may be less than 12 months. The Business Visitor stream generally allows up to 3 months. The period of stay is shown on the visa grant notice.

Can I work in Australia on a Visitor visa?

No. The Tourist stream and Sponsored Family stream Visitor visa (subclass 600) carries Condition 8101 — no work is permitted. Business Visitor stream holders may undertake permitted business visitor activities but cannot work for or provide services to an Australian business or sell goods or services directly to the public.

Can I extend my Visitor visa in Australia?

You may be able to apply for a new Visitor visa from inside Australia if you hold a substantive visa and meet the Tourist stream onshore requirements. However, some Visitor visas are granted with Condition 8503 — no further stay — which prevents you from extending or changing status in Australia. You should check your visa grant notice before lodging any application from inside Australia.

Why was my Visitor visa refused?

The most common reason for Visitor visa refusal is failure to satisfy the genuine temporary stay requirement under clause 600.211 of the Migration Regulations 1994. Home Affairs assesses whether the applicant has sufficient financial, employment, family or other ties to their home country to ensure they will depart Australia before their visa expires. Insufficient evidence of these ties, previous immigration non-compliance, or inconsistencies in the application are common grounds for refusal.

Can I appeal a Visitor visa refusal?

Most Visitor visa refusals have no right of merits review to the Administrative Review Tribunal. The refusal decision is generally final. Options after a refusal include lodging a new application that directly addresses the refusal reasons, or in limited circumstances seeking judicial review in the Federal Court. Pacific Visa Group can advise on the best strategy after a refusal.

What is the difference between the Tourist stream and Sponsored Family stream?

The Tourist stream is for people travelling for tourism, cruises or to visit family and friends without formal sponsorship. The Sponsored Family stream involves a formal sponsor — usually an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen — who lodges a sponsorship form and accepts legal obligations for the visitor’s stay. The Sponsored Family stream may be appropriate where the visitor has limited financial means and the sponsor can demonstrate the ability to support the visit.

Why Pacific Visa Group

Stream selectionWe identify the right Visitor visa stream for your purpose of travel, family relationship and personal circumstances before lodgement.

Genuine temporary stay strategyWe map your financial, employment and family ties to build a clear picture of your genuine intention to return — the most scrutinised part of any Visitor visa application.

Refusal risk assessmentWe identify refusal risks before you lodge — including previous immigration history, Condition 8503 exposure, and sponsor eligibility issues — so there are no surprises after you pay the application charge.

Ready To Apply For A Visitor Visa?

Book a consultation to review the correct visitor visa stream, visit purpose, evidence of funds, ties to home country and refusal-risk issues before you apply.

Official fee and source links

Use these official Home Affairs links to verify current eligibility, fees and stream requirements before lodging any Visitor visa application.