Visitor Visa — Tourist Stream
Tourist Visa for Australia
The tourist stream of the visitor visa (subclass 600) allows temporary entry to Australia for holidays, leisure travel, and visiting family or friends. Stay periods of 3, 6, or 12 months are available depending on the applicant's circumstances and the evidence provided.
Tourist stream — permitted activities
The tourist stream permits holidays, sightseeing, recreation, and visits to family or friends in Australia. It does not permit paid work, engagement in business activities, or enrolment in long-term study courses. Study of up to three months on a registered course is permitted in some circumstances.
Applications may be lodged offshore or, in limited circumstances, onshore by applicants who hold a current substantive visa without a no further stay condition (condition 8503). Offshore and onshore applications are assessed differently and the evidence requirements are not identical.
The default stay period granted is typically three months. A grant of six or twelve months requires clear supporting evidence of the purpose of the extended visit, sufficient funds, and strong home country ties demonstrating genuine intent to depart.
Core requirements
Genuine temporary entrant (GTE)
The applicant must satisfy the Department that the visit is genuinely temporary. The assessment weighs home country ties, financial capacity, travel history, and the consistency of all documents submitted.
Financial capacity
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds to cover the cost of the visit, accommodation, and return travel. Bank statements showing a sustained balance are preferred over recent deposits.
Home country ties
Employment, property ownership, family obligations, and other commitments in the home country demonstrate an incentive to return. Weak ties are a primary refusal ground.
Health and character
Applicants must meet health and character requirements. A medical examination may be required depending on the applicant's country of residence and intended length of stay.
3, 6, 12
Stay periods (months)
~$200
Application fee (AUD)
20-33 days
Typical processing time
ART review
Available for onshore refusals
Common refusal grounds
Insufficient funds evidence
Bank statements that show recent large deposits, inconsistent balances, or funds that appear borrowed raise concerns about genuine financial capacity.
Weak home country ties
Applicants without employment, property, or family obligations in their home country present a higher overstay risk in the Department's assessment.
Inconsistent documents
Discrepancies between the application form, supporting documents, and any previous visa history trigger additional scrutiny and can result in refusal under PIC 4020.
Previous visa non-compliance
A history of overstaying a visa in Australia or any other country significantly and adversely affects GTE assessment.
No further stay condition
Applicants in Australia subject to condition 8503 cannot apply for any further substantive visa onshore, including a tourist stream visitor visa.
Suspected work or study intent
Where the Department suspects the genuine purpose of travel is employment or long-term study rather than tourism, refusal is the likely outcome.
Why instruct Visa Plan?
GTE evidence built for the applicant
A generic document checklist does not address GTE. We structure the evidentiary case around the specific circumstances of the applicant, not a standard template.
Refusal risk assessment before lodgement
We identify refusal risks before anything is submitted. Where the application is not viable, we advise accordingly rather than proceed with a high-risk application.
ART representation where needed
Where an onshore tourist visa has been refused and ART review is available, Visa Plan can represent the applicant before the Tribunal.
Tourist visa information is sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and is current as at 2 June 2026. Processing times, fees, and eligibility criteria are subject to change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.