Australia keeps climbing the wish list for Indian travellers. Some people go for the beaches and the food. Many go to see a brother, a daughter or a friend. That person has built a life in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth. Others fly in for a conference or a client meeting.
Whichever group you belong to, you will almost certainly need the same visa. Indian passport holders cannot use the quick online ETA or eVisitor options. That leaves the Australian Visitor visa (subclass 600).
The form is not hard. The decision can be. Between October and December 2025, 69.8% of Indian tourist applications were granted. Put another way, about three in every ten did not.
This guide covers who can apply, the different streams, documents, costs, timelines and the 2026 changes.
Quick facts: Visitor visa (subclass 600)
Best for: Holidays, family visits and short business trips
Stay: Usually 3, 6 or 12 months, set by the case officer
Work: Not allowed. Study: Up to 3 months
Base fee from 1 July 2026: AUD 250 from outside Australia, AUD 630 from inside (Tourist stream)
Processing: Median of 14 days for Indian tourist applications
What Is the Australian Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)?
The subclass 600 is a temporary visa for short visits to Australia. You can use it for tourism, to see family and friends, or for limited business activities. Which activities count depends on the stream you choose.
It is not a route to work, and it is not a route to settle. You must genuinely plan a short stay and then leave.
People often confuse it with two similar visas. The ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) are faster. But they are only open to passports on an eligible list, and India is not on either one.
| Visa | Who can apply | Stay | Cost | Open to Indian passports? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor (600) | Any passport holder | As granted, often 3, 6 or 12 months | From AUD 250 | Yes |
| ETA (601) | Eligible passports only | Up to 3 months per visit | Small service charge | No |
| eVisitor (651) | Eligible European passports | Up to 3 months per visit | Free | No |
Types of Subclass 600 Visa (Streams)
Home Affairs lists five streams under the subclass 600. Most Indian applicants will use one of the first three below.
| Stream | What it is for | Where you apply from | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist | Holidays, sightseeing, cruises and visiting family or friends | Inside or outside Australia | The stream most Indian applicants use. It is the only one you can lodge from inside Australia. |
| Sponsored Family | Visiting relatives in Australia | Outside Australia | Needs an eligible sponsor: an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible NZ citizen. |
| Business Visitor | Meetings, conferences, trade fairs and contract talks | Outside Australia | No paid work. Indian applicants had an 80.9% grant rate in the latest quarter. |
| Frequent Traveller | People who visit often, for tourism or business | Outside Australia, online only | Validity of up to 10 years. Only for eligible passport holders, so check first. Fee is AUD 1,845. |
| Approved Destination Status | Organised tour groups from China | Within China | Not relevant for Indian applicants. |
Who Can Apply for the Subclass 600 Visa?
You can apply if you want to visit Australia for a short time and you meet the visa rules. In practice, that includes:
- Holidaymakers and sightseers.
- Parents, siblings, children or friends visiting someone in Australia.
- Business people attending meetings, conferences, trade fairs or contract talks.
- Relatives of Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens, through the Sponsored Family stream.
This visa is not the right choice if you plan to work or take a long course. It is also wrong for settling in Australia or receiving medical treatment. Other visas exist for those purposes.
Subclass 600 Eligibility and Requirements for Indian Applicants
Home Affairs does not publish a magic checklist that guarantees a grant. Case officers look at your whole story. These are the points that carry the most weight.
A genuine temporary stay: You must show that you intend to stay temporarily and do only what the visa allows. Your explanation, documents and travel plan all need to agree with each other.
Enough money for the trip: There is no single amount that works for everyone. What matters is whether your funds match your plans. Count flights, accommodation, food, local travel and insurance. If a relative is paying, include their bank statements and a short letter explaining the support.
Health and character: You must meet health and character requirements. Depending on your circumstances, you may be asked for police certificates or a medical examination.
Health insurance: Visitors are generally not covered by Medicare. Some visas carry condition 8501, which requires adequate health insurance for your stay. Even without it, cover is a sensible idea. One hospital bill can cost more than the whole trip.
Strong ties to India: Ties are at the heart of most Indian applications. These are the reasons you will come back: a job, a business, studies, property or family responsibilities. Officers weigh them against any reason you might want to stay.
How often are Indian applications granted?
| Quarter | India (Tourist) | All countries (Tourist) |
|---|---|---|
| October to December 2024 | 73.2% | 78.2% |
| January to March 2025 | 73.6% | 79.9% |
| April to June 2025 | 73.4% | 79.4% |
| July to September 2025 | 73.1% | 78.8% |
| October to December 2025 | 69.8% | 78.6% |
Please do not read 69.8% as a verdict on you. Well-prepared files with a clear purpose do well. Thin or inconsistent files do not.
Common reasons for refusal
- Weak ties to India, or ties that are not backed by documents.
- Bank deposits that appear suddenly and are not explained.
- A travel plan that does not match the stated purpose of the visit.
- Little proof of the relationship in a family visit.
- Earlier visa problems, or answers that do not match across forms.
Documents Checklist for Indian Applicants
Requirements vary by stream and by person. Use this table as a starting point, not a promise of approval.
| Document | Why it matters | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Proves identity and nationality. Include old passports with Australian or other visas. | All |
| Recent bank statements | Shows you can fund the trip. Explain any large or unusual deposits. | All |
| Income tax returns and salary slips | Supports your income and work history. | All |
| Employment letter with approved leave | Shows a job to return to and the dates you may travel. | Employed applicants |
| Business registration and tax records | Shows an active business that needs you back. | Self-employed applicants |
| Property, family and study records | Backs up your ties to India. Marriage and birth certificates help for family links. | All |
| Travel itinerary and accommodation plan | Shows a realistic, genuine trip. Avoid non-refundable bookings before the grant. | All |
| Invitation letter and host documents | Explains the visit and proves the host lives in Australia. Add the host’s proof of status. | Family visits |
| Conference or meeting invitation | Confirms a real business purpose and dates. | Business Visitor |
| Health insurance | Required where condition 8501 applies. Sensible for everyone. | All |
| English translations | Needed for documents in Hindi, Punjabi or other languages. | As required |
Subclass 600 Visa Cost in 2026
Visa fees went up on 1 July 2026. Here are the main base charges for the Visitor visa.
| Application | Base charge from 1 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Tourist stream, applying from outside Australia | AUD 250 |
| Tourist stream, applying from inside Australia | AUD 630 |
| Business Visitor, Sponsored Family or Approved Destination Status | AUD 250 |
| Frequent Traveller stream | AUD 1,845 |
For the Tourist stream, that is up from AUD 200 outside Australia and AUD 500 inside. The charge is paid in Australian dollars, so your bank will convert it at the day’s rate. It is generally not refunded if your application is refused.
Other costs to plan for
- Health insurance for the whole stay.
- Police certificates or medical checks, if requested.
- Translations of documents.
- Flights, accommodation and daily expenses.
- Professional help, if you choose to use it. Fees vary.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Choose the right stream. Most Indian applicants use the Tourist stream. Use Sponsored Family only if an eligible sponsor agrees. Use Business Visitor for meetings and conferences.
Create an ImmiAccount. This is the Home Affairs online portal. Every traveller needs a separate application, including children.
Complete the form. Answer honestly and consistently. Names, dates and travel plans must match your documents.
Upload your documents. Scan them clearly. Add English translations where needed.
Pay the application charge. Pay online, using the right fee for your stream and location.
Respond to any request for more information. Home Affairs may ask for biometrics, a medical exam or police certificates. Reply before the deadline in the request.
Wait for the decision, then read your grant notice. Check the stay period, number of entries and conditions such as no work (8101) and health insurance (8501). You can confirm your details on VEVO
Timing tip
Lodge at least six weeks before you plan to fly. Hold off on non-refundable flights until your visa is granted.
Processing Time and Duration of Stay
The times are counted in calendar days, from lodgement to grant. Between October and December 2025, a quarter of Indian Tourist Visitor applications were decided within 7 days. Half were decided within 14 days, and three-quarters within 23 days.
Business Visitor applications moved a little faster, with the same three points at 6, 11 and 15 days.
How long can you stay?
The case officer decides. Stays of 3, 6 or 12 months are common, and the visa may allow one entry or many. Your grant notice shows the exact terms.
You cannot extend a Visitor visa. You may be able to apply for another Visitor visa in the Tourist stream before the first one ends. That option may disappear if your visa carries a No Further Stay condition.
What You Can and Cannot Do on a Visitor Visa
You can
- Holiday, sightsee and visit family and friends.
- Attend meetings, conferences and trade fairs (Business Visitor).
- Study or train for up to three months.
- Do genuine unpaid volunteering, where you are not filling a paid job.
You cannot
- Work, including informal or cash jobs. Breaching this can lead to visa cancellation and an exclusion period.
- Enrol in a long course. If study is your main reason for travel, you need a student visa.
- Stay beyond the period granted.
How 2026 Rules and Immigration Changes Affect the Subclass 600
Australia has been tightening its temporary visa settings. Some changes are already in force. Others are announced but not yet law. The table separates the two.
| Change | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Higher visa charges (1 July 2026) | In force | The Tourist stream costs AUD 250 from outside Australia and AUD 630 from inside. |
| No Further Stay condition on all future Visitor visas (announced 17 September 2026) | Announced, no start date yet | You could not generally apply for another visa while in Australia, apart from a protection visa. Visas already granted are not affected. |
| Limits on family joining Student and Temporary Graduate visa holders (announced 17 September 2026) | Announced, details pending | Families may find it harder to move with a student. Short visits on a Visitor visa are a separate matter. |
| No onshore student visa applications from Visitor visa holders (since 1 July 2024) | In force | If you want to study, plan to apply from outside Australia. |
| Stronger action against overstayers | Announced | Stay within your visa conditions and leave Australia on time. |
Can You Switch Visas After Entering on a Subclass 600?
Some visitors hope to land first and sort out a new visa later. That is getting harder, and it is risky.
- Work: You cannot convert a Visitor visa into a work visa by working. You would need a proper work route, such as employer sponsorship, and you should usually apply from outside Australia.
- Study: Courses of up to three months are allowed on a Visitor visa. For anything longer, you need a student visa (subclass 500). Onshore student visa applications from Visitor visa holders have not been possible since 1 July 2024.
- Other visas: Some Visitor visas already carry condition 8503, No Further Stay. Waivers are possible only in limited circumstances. With the 2026 announcement, this condition is expected to become far more common.
Dependents of a Student Visa (Subclass 500) Holder: How Can They Visit?
Students ask this a lot. The answer depends on who is travelling and for how long.
| Option | Who it suits | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor visa, Tourist stream | Parents, siblings or a spouse visiting for weeks or months | Each person applies separately. Attach an invitation letter from the student and show ties to India. |
| Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) | A parent or guardian of a student under 18 | Allows a longer stay as a guardian. Check the current conditions. |
| Secondary applicant on the student visa | A partner or child who will live in Australia | Rules are being tightened. Details of the September 2026 announcement are still to come. |
| Sponsored Family stream | Relatives of Australian citizens and permanent residents | A student cannot act as a sponsor, so this stream usually does not apply. |
Final Thoughts
The Australian Visitor visa (subclass 600) is a simple idea with a lot of detail underneath. Choose the right stream. Prove your purpose, your funds and your ties. Keep an eye on the 2026 changes, especially the planned No Further Stay condition.
Most refusals trace back to preventable gaps in the file. A careful review before you lodge can save you time, money and stress.
Planning a Trip to Australia? Get Expert Help with Your Subclass 600 Visa
Abroad Gateway offers Australian Visitor Visa Subclass 600 consultation from our Chandigarh and Mohali offices. Our team can help you:
- Check your eligibility and choose the right stream
- Prepare a clear document checklist and review your file
- Draft invitation letters and plan a realistic itinerary
- Understand the 2026 rule changes before you apply
Book your Subclass 600 consultation with Abroad Gateway today.
