Visitor visas
Australia warmly welcomes travellers from around the world who wish to explore its natural beauty and vibrant culture. From sun-soaked beaches and unique wildlife to friendly communities and a high standard of living, it's no surprise that millions of tourists are drawn to Australia each year.
While most visitors come for short stays, many fall in love with the country and later decide to migrate permanently or send their children here to pursue a more stable and promising future.
Unfortunately, not all individuals follow legal pathways. Some arrive on visitor visas with the hidden intention of overstaying, hoping to eventually obtain permanent residency. This type of visa misuse has contributed to broader issues of unlawful migration.
As a result, the Australian Government applies more stringent requirements for visitor visa applicants than many other countries. Applicants must demonstrate that they are genuine temporary visitors with a clear intention to return home after their stay.
To be considered a genuine temporary entrant, you must provide:
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Evidence of your intention to stay temporarily, such as a planned itinerary or proof of tourism-related bookings.
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Compelling reasons to return home, such as family ties, employment, property ownership, or study commitments (note: a return ticket alone is not sufficient).
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Proof of financial capacity, showing that you can afford your trip and support yourself while in Australia without working.
Visitor visas do not allow you to work in Australia. The only exception is the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program, which includes subclass 417 and subclass 462 visas. Still, all visitor visas allow you to enrol in a short course of up to 3 months (or 4 months for WHM visa holders).
Expert Advice
Refusals of visitor visa applications are, unfortunately, quite common. For this reason, we strongly advise against making non-refundable payments—such as hotel bookings, car rentals, or airline tickets—before your visa application has been assessed and a decision has been made.
In some cases, a visitor visa refusal can be appealed, but this process is often costly and time-consuming. In most situations, the more effective approach is to carefully review the refusal notice—which always includes the officer’s reasons for the decision—and prepare a new application that addresses the deficiencies of the previous one.
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Considering visiting Australia for tourism, to see family or friends, attend business meetings, or as a working holiday maker?
We can help you prepare a strong and well-supported application, ensuring it meets all requirements and is backed by comprehensive evidence.
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If your visitor visa application has been refused, we will analyse your previous application and the reasons for refusal, assess your eligibility to appeal the decision, help you strengthen and resubmit your application with the appropriate supporting documents.
Australian legislation offers several types of visitor visas. Let's look at the most popular options.
Visitor visa (subclass 600)
The Visitor visa (subclass 600) is a temporary visa that allows individuals to come to Australia for tourism, business purposes, or to visit family and friends. This visa cannot be extended, but in some cases, a new visitor visa can be applied for while the applicant is already in Australia, provided there is a compelling reason to remain longer. There are six different streams under this visa subclass. The Tourist stream (outside Australia) is for those applying from overseas who wish to travel for leisure, visit family or friends, or go on a cruise. This visa may be granted for 3, 6 or 12 months, and often allows multiple entries, with each individual stay typically limited to no more than three months. The Tourist stream (in Australia) is for people already in Australia who wish to extend their stay for tourism purposes, to spend more time with loved ones, or to go on a cruise. This visa can be granted for up to 12 months, depending on the individual’s circumstances. The Sponsored Family stream is for applicants who are visiting relatives in Australia and are sponsored by an eligible family member. The sponsor must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident aged 18 or over and must be closely related to the applicant. The sponsor is responsible for ensuring that the applicant complies with visa conditions and financial obligations. This stream often requires a financial bond (typically AU$5,000), which is refunded if the visa holder follows all conditions. If the visitor breaches the visa conditions, the sponsor may face penalties, including a five-year ban on sponsoring further family members. The Business Visitor stream is designed for people travelling to Australia for short business activities such as attending conferences, seminars, exhibitions, or meetings. This visa allows a stay of up to three months but does not permit the holder to work or sell goods or services in Australia. The Approved Destination Status stream is specifically for citizens of the People’s Republic of China who are visiting Australia as part of an organised tour group operated by an authorised travel agent. The Frequent Traveller stream is available to citizens of China, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam who travel frequently to Australia for tourism or business purposes. This visa can be granted for up to 10 years with multiple entries. Each stay must not exceed three months, and the total time spent in Australia must not exceed 12 months in any 24-month period.
Working Holiday Maker visas (subclass 462 and subclass 417)
Australia’s Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program is part of reciprocal agreements with over 40 partner countries and jurisdictions. The program aims to strengthen ties between young adults from Australia and around the world by offering them the opportunity to holiday in Australia while engaging in short-term work and study. There are two types of WHM visas: the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). These visas differ slightly in eligibility requirements and the list of participating countries. In general, applicants must be aged between 18 and 30. However, citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, and France may apply up to the age of 35. One of the major conditions of these visas is that a visa holders can not work for the same employer for more than six months. While the WHM visa cannot be extended, visa holders may be eligible to apply for a second or third WHM visa if they have completed at least three months of specified work in approved industries and areas. UK citizens are an exception—they are not required to complete the specified work to qualify for subsequent WHM visas. The total duration of stay under the WHM program is capped at three years. This program offers a great opportunity to explore Australia while gaining valuable international experience.
We are committed to helping you achieve a positive outcome on your visa application. Conducting a preliminary assessment of your circumstances against the Visitor visa criteria allows us to identify any potential issues in advance and help you avoid a refusal — along with unnecessary expenses such as the visa application fee and the time spent waiting for a decision.
Please complete our Tourist Visa Assessment Form. We only offer our services when we believe your chances of obtaining a visa are favourable.
If you are considering visiting Australia but would like to stay permanently in the long run, it is extremely useful to consult a professional migration agent who specializes in Australian visas. Your visitor visa may have specific conditions where you will have to leave Australia before you can apply for another visa. In this case, you will need to apply for a new "big" visa outside Australia and wait for its grant there. This is quite reasonable.
Visitors to Australia need to be aware that violating the terms of stay on a visa may lead to immigration detention and subsequent deportation, along with a ban on re-entering the country for at least three years. Additionally, it can damage a person's migration reputation, significantly reducing their chances of obtaining Australian visa in the future. If your visa expires and you cannot leave Australia for any reason, we advise you to immediately contact the Department of Home Affairs or reach out to us for assistance.
We strongly recommend against starting your migration journey to Australia by breaking the law! It is much wiser to develop a migration plan in advance by assessing your own resources (age, education, work experience, etc.), the costs and risks you are willing to bear for the resettlement program (your time, current job and position, financial resources, etc.), and deciding on the ultimate goal of the endeavor (such as obtaining an education or permanent resident status). With a clear plan in place you can implement it thoughtfully.
Consulting with an experienced migration agent before applying for a visitor visa on your own can significantly increase the chances of positive outcome of your application.
Visitor visa is suitable for:
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travel, recreation and spending time with relatives (friends)
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improving English skills (taking short-term courses)
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establishing business contacts and meeting business partners, attending seminars, conferences
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meeting a marriage partner (an important component of the visa for a proposed marriage)
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choosing an educational institution with the possibility of in-person consultation with the administration
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taking qualification exams
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finding an employer (including for the purpose of qualified labor migration)
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for other short-term purposes as a review visit to determine a further strategy for migration
Visitor visa doesn't allow:
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to stay in Australia for a long period or permanently
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to engage in labor activity, including short-term, with the exception of volunteering
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to access local government healthcare system or any other social benefits