Each visa stream maintains unique eligibility requirements, application procedures, and permitted activities. Applications may be lodged from within Australia or overseas depending on chosen streams. Tourist stream applicants already in Australia must remain in the country during processing, while other stream applicants typically lodge applications from outside Australia and await decisions before traveling. Understanding stream-specific requirements ensures appropriate visa selection matching individual travel purposes and circumstances.
1 Available Visa Streams and Purposes
Tourist Stream: Accommodates leisure travel, cruise participation, and family or friend visits. Applications may be lodged from anywhere, either inside or outside Australia. Single or multiple entry options are available, with stay durations typically up to twelve months. Parents and step-parents of permanent residents or citizens may qualify for extended stays subject to specific requirements.
Sponsored Family Stream: Enables visits to close family members who are Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens. Applications must be lodged from outside Australia with required family member sponsorship. Sponsorship affects processing timeframes and entry permissions. Typically grants single entry with maximum twelve-month stay durations.
Business Visitor Stream: Suitable for short business trips including conference attendance, meeting participation, or negotiation activities. Single or multiple entry options permit business-related inquiries and activities but exclude product or service sales and paid employment. Duration varies based on business purposes and individual circumstances.
Frequent Traveller Stream: Exclusively available to Chinese passport holders meeting specific requirements. Permits leisure activities, business visits, and family or friend visits. Provides ten-year validity with maximum three-month stays per visit. Applications must be lodged from mainland China with additional eligibility criteria beyond standard business visitor requirements.
Approved Destination Status Stream: Designed for mainland Chinese citizens participating in pre-arranged group tours organized by authorized travel agencies. Single or multiple entry options available. Stay durations correspond to group tour itineraries. Applications must be lodged from mainland China as part of accredited tour arrangements.
2 Core Eligibility Requirements
Health Standards: Applicants may require medical examinations similar to student visa health assessments. Comprehensive overseas health insurance coverage is essential, protecting against medical treatment costs during Australian stays. Health requirements vary based on nationality, intended stay duration, and planned activities.
Character Assessment: Demonstrate good character history through Australian character assessments including police certificates and statutory declarations. Character evaluations consider conduct records both before and during intended stays, ensuring visitor compliance with Australian standards.
Financial Capacity: Prove sufficient funds supporting yourself and any dependents throughout visit durations. Financial evidence must demonstrate sustainable resources covering accommodation, living expenses, and emergency contingencies. No outstanding debts can be owed to the Australian government at application time.
Genuine Visitor Intent: Visits must be temporary with adherence to authorized visa durations. Demonstrate genuine intentions to depart Australia upon visa expiry. Evidence may include employment ties, property ownership, or family commitments in home countries establishing return incentives.
Study Limitations: Some visitor streams permit enrollment in Australian courses up to three months duration. Longer study programs require different visa categories obtained while in Australia. International students may enter on visitor visas and transition to student visas, or extend stays after student visa expiry if "No Further Stay" conditions are absent.
3 Application Process and Requirements
Stream Selection: Identify the most suitable stream aligning with travel purposes, whether tourism, family visits, business activities, or specialized categories. Stream selection determines eligibility requirements, application procedures, and permitted activities during Australian stays.
Documentation Preparation: Gather required documents based on chosen streams. Common requirements include valid passports, financial resource proof, travel itineraries, and health insurance coverage. Additional stream-specific documents may include invitation letters for Sponsored Family streams or business purpose documentation for Business Visitor streams.
Application Lodgement: Complete online application forms meticulously, ensuring all details are accurate and comprehensive. Submit applications with designated visa application fees of AUD $190.00. Incomplete or inaccurate applications may result in processing delays or refusals.
Biometrics and Health Checks: Depending on nationality and individual circumstances, applicants may need to provide biometric data including fingerprints and facial recognition. Medical examinations may be required based on health risk assessments and intended stay durations.
Processing Timeframes: Processing durations vary considerably based on stream selection, application complexity, and verification requirements. Tourist stream applications generally process faster than sponsored family streams requiring additional sponsorship assessments. Apply well in advance of intended travel dates to accommodate potential processing delays.
4 Visa Conditions and Extension Options
Visa Conditions: Terms and durations are determined by chosen streams. Typical stays range from three, six, or twelve months based on individual circumstances and stream categories. Visitors typically cannot work in Australia and must comply with all Australian laws and visa conditions throughout their stays.
Travel Permissions: Multiple entry visas enable international travel with Australian return privileges within validity periods. Single entry visas permit one Australian entry without return after departure. Some visa conditions may restrict international travel during visa validity, requiring careful review of granted conditions.
Family Member Applications: Family members cannot be included in visitor visa applications. Each family member requires individual applications with separate eligibility assessments. This ensures each applicant meets character, health, and financial requirements independently.
Extension Eligibility: Extensions are primarily available for tourism purposes with durations of three, six, or twelve months depending on situations. Required documents include valid passports with at least three months validity beyond desired extensions, completed application forms, and financial resource proof. Extensions are not guaranteed; applications should be lodged well before current visa expiry.
Reapplication Procedures: If extensions are unavailable or desired stays exceed extension limits, new visitor visa applications may be necessary. Ensure eligibility criteria are met for chosen streams at reapplication time. Consider alternative visa categories if visitor visa limitations prevent achieving intended Australian stay objectives.
Cruise Stopover Provisions: The visa accommodates cruise passengers wishing to disembark and explore Australia during scheduled stopovers. This provision enables short-term Australian exploration for international cruise travelers without separate tourist visa applications when coordinated with cruise itineraries.
Your Success Partner
AI Global provides comprehensive support for Visitor visa subclass 600 applicants across all streams, assisting with stream selection, documentation preparation, health insurance arrangement, and application lodgement. Our experienced consultants guide you through eligibility assessment, financial evidence compilation, health examination coordination, and condition interpretation, maximizing your prospects for successful visa approval and enjoyable Australian visits.
Contact us today to explore your options for the Visitor visa subclass 600 and begin planning your Australian tourism, business, or family visit experience.