Visitor Visa Australia
Tourism, Family Visits & Short Business Trips
Whether you’re planning a holiday, visiting family or attending short business meetings, you’ll usually need a Visitor Visa Australia.
Visa4you helps you choose the right option, understand requirements and avoid common mistakes that cause delays.
Main Visitor Visa Options
Most short-stay travellers use one of these:
- Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) – for tourists, family visits or short business trips, usually 3, 6 or 12 months.
- eVisitor (Subclass 651) – free online visa for certain European passports, multiple visits up to 3 months at a time within 12 months.
- Electronic Travel Authority (ETA – Subclass 601) – app-based authorisation for eligible passports, multiple visits for up to 3 months each within 12 months.
The right Visitor Visa option depends mainly on your passport, purpose of visit, trip length and where you apply from.
Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
Flexible Tourist & Family Visit Option
Commonly used streams:
- Tourist Stream (outside Australia): for holidays, cruises or visiting family/friends, typically for 3–12 months.
- Tourist Stream (in Australia): extend your stay as a visitor if you’re already onshore and eligible.
- Sponsored Family Stream: visit family in Australia with sponsorship from an eligible relative.
- Business Visitor Stream: attend conferences, meetings or explore business opportunities (no work allowed).
You must:
- Be a genuine visitor staying temporarily.
- Have enough funds for your stay and onward travel.
- Meet health and character requirements.
eVisitor (Subclass 651)
Free Short-Stay Visitor Visa
The eVisitor 651 is a visa for citizens of certain European countries. It allows:
- Multiple entries to Australia over 12 months
- Up to 3 months per visit
- Travel for tourism, visiting family/friends or short business visitor activities
- Limited study or training (usually up to 3 months)
You must:
- Apply from outside Australia
- Hold a passport from an eligible eVisitor country
- Intend to visit temporarily and obey visa conditions
For many EU/Schengen travellers, the eVisitor is the most convenient Visitor Visa.
ETA (Subclass 601)
App-Based Visitor Permission
The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA 601) is a digital visa linked to your passport and is eligible for specific nationalities.
Key features:
- Valid for 12 months
- Multiple entries, up to 3 months per visit
- For tourism, visiting family/friends or certain business visitor activities
You must:
- Apply from outside Australia
- Hold an eligible passport
- Use the official ETA app to submit your application
Visa4you helps you understand if you’re eligible for ETA or whether you should use a Visitor Visa 600 instead.
Who Can Apply For This Visa?
You might need one of these visas if you plan to:
- Tour Australia – holidays, road trips, cruises, sightseeing.
- Visit family or friends living in Australia.
- Attend short business meetings, conferences or trade fairs (without working in an Australian job).
- Undertake short courses or training (usually up to 3 months) where permitted.
General requirements across Visitor Visa include being a genuine temporary visitor, showing sufficient funds, and meeting health/character checks.
Application Process
The exact steps depend on the visa type, but a typical Visitor Visa 600 process looks like:
1
Check your visa options
We identify the most suitable visitor visa based on your situation and travel plans.
2
Prepare and submit application
We handle the application, required documents and ensure everything meets the requirements.
3
Visa outcome
We guide you through any additional steps and explain your visa conditions once granted.
Visa4you can guide you through each step, so your visa application is clear, consistent and complete.
Why Choose Visa4you?
- Australia focus – We monitor changes to visitor visa rules and processing times.
- Help choosing the right visa – We explain which subclass is best for your passport and plans.
- Clear document guidance – We help you show you’re a genuine visitor with strong ties home.
- Support for families and groups – Applications for couples, families and multi-country trips.
- Multilingual service – Advice in English, German and Dutch, online or at our offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
On a Visitor Visa 600, stays are typically 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on your grant. On eVisitor 651 and ETA 601, you can usually stay up to 3 months per visit within a 12-month validity period.
Some travellers need a visa even for transit; others may qualify for specific transit visa arrangements. Requirements depend on your passport and transit time. It’s important to check the latest transit visa rules before booking flights.
No. Visitor visas (600, 651, 601) do not allow you to work in the Australian labour market. You can usually attend business meetings or conferences, but not take up paid employment.
Visitor Visa holders can often undertake short courses (commonly up to 3 months). For longer study, a Student Visa (subclass 500) is usually required.
Because processing times for some Visitor Visas can be several months, especially where biometrics or health checks are required, travellers are generally advised to apply well in advance of their intended trip (often at least 3–6 months where possible).
Ready to Plan Your Visit to Australia?
If you’re planning a holiday, family visit or short business trip, share your passport, travel dates and purpose, and we’ll help you choose the right Visitor Visa and prepare a strong visa application.
