Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
The Visitor visa (Subclass 600) is a temporary visa that allows a person to travel to Australia for tourism, visiting family, or limited business visitor activities. The visa does not allow employment in Australia, although holders may undertake short study or training for up to 3 months. This visa contains several streams, each designed for different purposes and applicant situations. While all streams fall under the same visa subclass, the eligibility requirements and application conditions differ depending on the stream.
The main streams are (only listed the main streams):
•Tourist Stream
•Business Visitor Stream
•Sponsored Family Stream
•Frequent Traveller Stream
All streams allow temporary visits to Australia, but they differ in purpose of travel, sponsorship requirements, visa validity, and eligible applicants.
Common Criteria for All Streams
•Regardless of the stream, applicants must generally meet the following requirements:
•Be a genuine visitor, intending to stay in Australia temporarily and comply with visa conditions.
•Not work in Australia while holding the visa.
•Have sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay.
•Meet the health requirement.
•Meet the character requirement.
•Have no outstanding debts to the Australian Government or have arranged to repay them.
•Comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws while in Australia.
•In addition, applicants are generally responsible for their healthcare costs in Australia and are recommended to obtain adequate health insurance.
Different Streams and Their Specific Criteria
1.Tourist Stream
The Tourist stream is the most common visitor visa stream. It is intended for individuals travelling to Australia for tourism, visiting family or friends, or leisure purposes.
•Stay usually up to 3 months, but can be granted up to 12 months depending on circumstances.
•Allows tourism, visiting relatives, or cruises.
•The applicant must intend to visit Australia only for tourism or visiting family/friends.
•Be outside Australia when applying and when the visa is decided (for the offshore tourist stream).
•Have sufficient funds for their stay.
•Not work in Australia.
2.Business Visitor Stream
The Business Visitor stream is designed for short-term visits related to business activities.
•Stay generally up to 3 months.
•Must apply outside Australia and be outside Australia when the visa is granted.
•Applicants may make general business or employment enquiries, negotiate or review business contracts, participate in conferences, trade fairs or seminars, conduct official government visits
•Applicants cannot work for an Australian business, provide services to an Australian organisation, Sell goods or services directly to the public
3.Sponsored Family Stream
The Sponsored Family stream allows a person to visit Australia when sponsored by an eligible family member.
•Stay usually up to 3 months but can be granted up to 12 months in limited cases.
•Requires a sponsor, typically a family member living in Australia.
•The Department may require the sponsor to pay a security bond.
•The applicant must have an approved sponsor in Australia, provide evidence of the relationship with the sponsor, intend to visit Australia temporarily as a visitor only. Applicants cannot work, but may study or train for up to 3 months.
4.Frequent Traveller Stream
The Frequent Traveller stream is designed for people who travel regularly to Australia, particularly for tourism or business visitor activities.
•Visa validity up to 10 years.
•Stay up to 3 months per visit.
•Total stay cannot exceed 12 months in any 24-month period.
•The applicant must hold a passport from specific eligible countries such as China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Laos, Brunei or Timor-Leste.
•Provide biometrics at an authorised biometric collection centre.
•Demonstrate they are a genuine visitor with sufficient funds.
•This stream is commonly used by Chinese frequent travellers due to the 10-year validity period.