Visitor (subclass 600) Visa
The Visitor (subclass 600) visa allows individuals to visit Australia for tourism, family visits, or business purposes. This visa is designed for people who wish to enter Australia for short-term stays, typically for the following reasons:
- Tourism: Holidays, recreational activities, or visiting friends and family.
- Business: Attending meetings, exploring business opportunities, negotiating contracts, or participating in conferences and seminars.
When assessing your eligibility for a Visitor visa, the Department of Home Affairs will consider various factors, including your circumstances in your home country, your connections to your home country, your ability to finance the trip, the purpose of your visit, and any ties you may have to Australia.
While holding a Visitor visa, you are not permitted to work in Australia. This means you cannot engage in employment, provide services to businesses or organisations, or sell goods or services to the public.
The Visitor visa is available in six different streams, depending on your circumstances:
- Tourist Stream (apply in Australia)
- Tourist Stream (apply outside Australia)
- Sponsored Family Stream
- Business Visitor Stream
- Approved Destination Status Stream
- Frequent Traveller Stream
All Visitor visa streams require the applicant to demonstrate a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia for the purpose for which the visa is granted. When assessing this, decision-makers consider various factors, including:
- whether an applicant has complied substantially with the conditions of their last substantive visa or any subsequent bridging visa
- whether an applicant intends to comply with the conditions to which the Subclass 600 visa would be subject
- ‘any other relevant matter’ which includes (this list is not exhaustive):
- an applicant’s employment and financial circumstances;
- the economic situation in an applicant’s home country or usual country of residence;
- social unrest or conflict in an applicant’s home country or usual country of residence;
- an applicant’s incentive to return to their home country or usual country of residence;
- an applicant’s international travel history, in particular, compliant travel to other developed countries;
- an applicant’s ties to Australia and incentives to remain in Australia;
- the credibility and consistency of the information provided by an applicant;
- offers of support provided by family and friends in Australia which may substantiate reasons for travel;
- whether there are any compelling or compassionate reasons to travel.
Applicants must also provide evidence that they have sufficient funds to support themselves while in Australia and to depart when the visa expires.
Typically, Visitor visas are granted for a period of up to 12 months, with a stay period of up to 3 months at a time.
We have extensive experience helping clients who have previously been refused a Visitor visa to reapply and successfully enter Australia. Contact Migration Affairs for advice.
Working Holiday Makers (subclass 417 and 462) Program
The Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program is designed for young adults who want to enjoy a holiday in Australia while undertaking short-term work and study. The WHM program now includes over 40 partner countries and jurisdictions and includes two visa subclasses:
- Working Holiday (subclass 417)
- Work and Holiday (subclass 462)
The program allows young adults to enjoy a 12-month holiday in Australia, during which they can engage in short-term work and study. Each program year is from 1 July to 30 June. There is a limit, or ‘cap’, on the number of first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas that can be granted to applicants from certain countries.
Working Holiday Makers in Australia must comply with the following mandatory conditions:
Those seeking to apply for a second or third WHM visa must also meet specified work requirements to be eligible for a further visa grant.
We know how important it is for you to understand the details and requirements for these visas. Our knowledgeable and experienced team at Migration Affairs is here to help you.
FAQs
The “genuine entrant” requirement means that you must prove to the Department of Home Affairs that you intend to stay in Australia temporarily and will comply with the conditions of your visa. In other words, you need to demonstrate that your visit is for a lawful and legitimate purpose.
You may need to provide documents that demonstrate your purpose of visit, financial capacity, ties to your home country, travel history, and more.
To increase your chances of meeting the genuine entrant requirement, it’s important to provide strong supporting documentation with your visa application.
For tailored assistance, reach out to us so we can help enhance your application and ensure you meet all the requirements for a successful Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) application.
Visa Condition 8547 applies to all Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa holders in Australia, including those on Bridging visas with this condition. It restricts employment with any single employer to a maximum of six months, regardless of the type of work (full-time, part-time, casual, shift, or voluntary).
There are certain exemptions and situations where you can apply for permission to extend your employment.
Starting 1 October 2024, passport holders from China, India, and Vietnam will need to participate in a visa pre-application process, known as a ballot, to be randomly selected to apply for a first Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa.
Instead of being subject to the application cap, visa applications for these countries will now be managed through the ballot process. However, this change does not affect the annual visa grant caps for countries participating in the ballot.
Yes, you may be able to apply for another visa while you’re in Australia on a Visitor visa, depending on your visa conditions. However, if your visa is subject to Condition 8503 – No Further Stay, you will not be allowed to apply for another visa while in Australia unless the condition is waived.
It’s important to check your visa grant letter for this condition and seek professional advice before making any plans to apply onshore.
Condition 8503 means you cannot apply for any other visa while you are in Australia, except in very limited circumstances where the condition may be waived.
If you’re planning to extend your stay or apply for another visa (e.g. Partner or Student visa), you must ensure this condition is not imposed—or apply for a waiver if it is.
Yes, you can reapply after a refusal, but it is essential to address the reasons for the previous refusal in your new application. Common reasons for refusal include:
- Insufficient financial evidence
- Weak ties to home country
- Unclear purpose of visit
- Poor travel history
We regularly assist clients with re-applications after a refusal by strengthening their supporting documentation and clarifying their intentions.
No, the Working Holiday visa (subclasses 417 and 462) is only available to individual applicants. You cannot include dependents (partners or children) in your application.
However, your partner or family member can apply for a different visa (e.g. Visitor visa) if they wish to travel with you. Keep in mind, each person’s visa will be assessed separately.
Working Holiday Makers can undertake short-term, casual, or seasonal work. While there is no industry restriction, common jobs include:
- Hospitality
- Tourism
- Farming & fruit-picking
- Construction
To qualify for a second or third WHM visa, you must complete specified work in eligible industries and locations. Always check the Department of Home Affairs website for up-to-date regional and occupational requirements.
If you apply for another visa while you are in Australia on a valid visa (and that visa does not have condition 8503), you may be granted a Bridging Visa to allow you to stay lawfully in Australia while your new visa is being processed.
The type of Bridging Visa and your work rights will depend on your individual circumstances and the visa you’re applying for.
