Visa subclass 600 · Visitor · temporary
Subclass 600 Visitor visa: 2026 eligibility, points and processing
The 600 Visitor visa is for tourism, family visits and short business activities. Four streams: Tourist, Sponsored Family, Business Visitor and Approved Destination Status. Other passport-holders may instead use the eVisitor (subclass 651) or ETA (subclass 601) which are streamlined alternatives.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Subclass 600 Visitor visa is a temporary visa for visitor applicants.
- ✓No points test – eligibility is sponsorship + skills assessment + work experience based.
- ✓Processing: 20 days median (source: Department of Home Affairs Global Visa Processing Times, January 2026).
- ✓Primary VAC1: $195.
- ✓Path to PR: No direct PR pathway from a 600.
At a glance
Stream
temporary, open for new applications
Age limit
No age limit but applicants over 75 may face additional health checks.
Work rights
No work rights. Limited unpaid activities only.
Path to PR
No direct PR pathway from a 600. Visitor visa-holders generally cannot apply for most onshore visas due to the 8503 (no further stay) condition that often attaches.
Eligibility
Eligibility checklist
Every box below must tick before lodgement. Missing any one of them either makes the visa impossible or pushes the applicant into a different subclass.
- Genuine temporary purpose (tourism, family visit, short business meetings or conferences)
- Sufficient funds to support the visit
- No intention to work (Tourist and Sponsored Family streams)
- No intention to study for more than 3 months
- Meet health and character requirements
Processing time
How long does it take?
Published by Home Affairs as 25th, 50th and 90th percentile times. Individual processing can be faster or slower depending on documentation, country of passport and decision-ready status.
| 25% of applications | 50% (median) | 90% of applications |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 20 days | 3 months |
Department of Home Affairs Global Visa Processing Times, January 2026. See current processing times across all subclasses.
Cost
Visa Application Charge
| Applicant | VAC1 (lodgement) |
|---|---|
| Primary applicant | $195 |
| Partner (secondary) | n/a |
| Child (secondary) | n/a |
Tourist stream VAC1 from 1 July 2025. Business Visitor stream is the same. Sponsored Family stream is higher. eVisitor (651) is free; ETA (601) costs A$20.
In depth
What you actually need to know
The 600 is the catch-all visitor visa, used by passport-holders who cannot access the streamlined eVisitor (subclass 651, free, for EU and selected European passports) or ETA (subclass 601, A$20, for US, Canadian, Japanese, Singapore and selected other passports). Most Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Indonesian and African passport-holders apply for a 600.
The 600 is granted for stays of up to 3, 6 or 12 months per visit, with multi-entry validity of up to 3 years (in some cases 5 or 10 years for frequent business visitors). The 8503 “no further stay” condition often attaches to a 600, which prevents the visa-holder from applying for most onshore visas (with limited exceptions like an onshore partner visa lodgement in compelling circumstances).
Genuine purpose is the main hurdle. The Department looks at the applicant’s ties to home (employment, property, family), travel history, financial capacity and the credibility of the proposed itinerary. First-time visitors from high-rate-of-refusal nationalities sometimes face longer processing and more documentary demands.
Visa conditions to know
- 8101: no work
- 8201: no more than 3 months of study
- 8503 (often): no further stay onshore
- 8531: must depart Australia before visa expiry
Occupations covered
n/a
Pathway to permanent residence
No direct PR pathway from a 600. Visitor visa-holders generally cannot apply for most onshore visas due to the 8503 (no further stay) condition that often attaches.
Common questions
Subclass 600 Visitor visa – common questions
Can I work on a 600?
No. Condition 8101 prohibits work. You can attend business meetings, conferences and seminars on the Business Visitor stream, but you cannot accept paid or unpaid employment in Australia.
What is the 8503 condition and can I get it waived?
8503 (“no further stay”) prevents you from applying for most onshore visas while in Australia. Waiver is possible in limited circumstances (compelling and compassionate reasons that the applicant could not have foreseen at the time of the original visa grant). Waiver applications are rarely successful.
Can I lodge a partner visa onshore while on a 600?
Only if 8503 is not on your visa, or if 8503 is waived. Most 600s have 8503 attached. If your relationship begins or develops after entry, you typically need to depart Australia and lodge an offshore 309 partner visa.
How long can I stay on a 600?
Each entry is up to 3, 6 or 12 months as granted. The multi-entry validity of the visa can be 1–10 years for frequent visitors (often parents and grandparents of Australian residents). Total stay within a 12-month period is generally capped at 12 months to avoid de facto residence.
Source
Primary source for this page
Information on this page is summarised from the Department of Home Affairs visa listing for subclass 600. Always confirm details against the primary source before lodging.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600 →