Tourist Visa

The Visitor visa (subclass 600) is for people who want to travel Australia as tourists, for business or to visit family. It is a temporary visa.

This visa has four streams:

• Tourist stream:for people travelling to Australia for a holiday, recreation or to visit family and friends. If you apply for this visa in Australia, you must be in Australia when the visa is decided. If you apply for this visa outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is decided.
• Business Visitor stream:for business people travelling to Australia for a short business visit. This includes going to a conference, negotiation or meeting. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided.
• Sponsored Family stream:for people travelling to Australia to visit their family. You must have a sponsor who might be requested to provide a bond. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided. You cannot apply for another visa while you are in Australia

General Reuirements:

• Applicants have to submit Notarised copy of all pages of current passport, including the bio data page, alterations page and back page of the passport (unless requested to send original passport). (Please note, VFS Global can certify a copy of your passport at their office at the time of Submission).
• Complete this section only if you are lodging a paper application:
  • If someone gives you advice or lodges your application for you: Form 956 Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance (the agent or exempt person completes the form and you must sign it)
  • If you would like someone to receive correspondence from the department on your behalf: Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (the recipient completes the form and you must sign it)
• Pay the visa application charge. Or provide the following documents to show that you do not need to pay the charge: to act as a representative of a foreign government: a Third Party Note from your ministry
• One recent passport sized photograph (45 mm x 35 mm) of each person attached to the front application form.
  • These photographs should be of the head and shoulders only against a plain background
  • Print the name of the person on the back of each photograph.
• Certified copies of birth certificates for you and any other person included in the application. The certificates must show the names of both parents of everyone included in the application.
• Health and Police Clearance Certificate can be asked by the High Commission.
• Children younger than 18 years of age: Children under 18 must provide a notarised ‘no objection certificate’ from any non-accompanying parent authorising their travel to Australia along with copies of the parents’ passports.
  • a statutory declaration giving their permission
  • Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years.
• If you are younger than 18 years of age and you will stay in Australia with someone other than a parent, legal guardian or relative: a declaration signed by the person who will be responsible for you Australia
  • Form 1257 Undertaking declaration.
• Evidence of enrolment at school, college or university.

Additional Requirements for Tourist Stream:

• Completed application forms (Form 1419) for a Visitor Visa- Tourist Visitor Stream.
• If you are visiting relatives or friends, a letter of invitation from your relative or friend in Australia. If your relative or friend is paying for your visit, evidence that they have the necessary funds.
• If you are going for your daughter/daughter-in-law’s pregnancy, then a letter from a medical doctor confirming the condition.
• If you are going for a medical emergency then a letter from the hospital/doctor stating the condition of the patient.
• If you are going for a student exchange then a letter stating the arrangements that have been made.
• Itinerary giving travel details, accommodation and activities within Australia.
• Proof of Funds:
  • Copies of bank statements (personal and business) over a period of time showing a consistent savings history.
  • Copies of documents which show any other funds or assets held.
  • Taxation documents for the last three years.
  • If a friend/relative in Australia is paying for your visit then a Statutory Declaration stating the relative or friend’s support and evidence of their financial capacity to do so – for example a letter of invitation, bank statements and tax documents.
  • It is important to provide evidence of your own financial status even if your trip is being funded by a friend or a relative. Your own financial status is a factor we consider in assessing whether your personal circumstances would encourage you to return to your home country.
• Employment Details:
  • If you are employed: Letter from your employer – stating your position and salary, length of employment, confirming your leave of absence and the name and contact details of the person providing the letter.
  • If you are self-employed and running your own business: Business registration.
  • If you are retired: Evidence of your retirement – for example a letter from your employer.
  • If you are a student: Evidence of your enrolment such as letter from your education institute.
• Applicants over 75 years of age and any applicant requesting a stay of 12 months must provide evidence of Overseas Health Insurance.
• AusAID student or recipient: A letter of support from the AusAID Minister.

Additional Requirements for Business Visitor Stream:

• Completed application forms (Form 1415) for a Visitor Visa- Business Visitor Stream.
• Proof of Funds:
  • You should provide evidence of sufficient funds (bank statements, letter from financial institution concerning your financial position etc).
• Evidence of the visit to Australia on business, such as:
  • A letter of invitation from the host organisation in Australia
  • Conference registration details.
  • A letter from your employer stating the reasons for your visit
  • Your itinerary, with contact details of the business parties involved
  • Your employment contract.
• Educational or professional qualifications Certificates.
• Provide the details of previous contacts with Australian businesspeople or organisations in Australia.
• Documents to show that the company you work for is an actively operating business, such as a business registration certificate or annual report.
• Employment Details
  • If you are employed: Letter from your employer – stating your position and salary, length of employment, confirming your leave of absence and the name and contact details of the person providing the letter.
  • If you are self-employed and running your own business: Business registration.
• AusAID student or recipient: A letter of support from the AusAID Minister.

Additional Requirements for Sponsored Family Stream:

• Completed application forms (Form 1418) for a Visitor Visa- Sponsored Family Stream and Sponsor completes: Form 1149 Application for sponsorship for Sponsored Family Visitors.
• If the Applicant is applying online complete: Form 1149 Application for sponsorship for sponsored family and scan and attach to the online application.
• Certified copies of marriage certificates or relationship registrations for you, your partner or anyone else included in your application, even if they are not joining you in Australia.
• If you are living in a de facto relationship: independent evidence that you have been in the relationship for at least 12 months (for example, joint bank account statements or billing accounts in joint names).
• If you or anyone included in the application has been widowed, divorced or permanently separated: a certified copy of the death certificate, divorce decree absolute, or statutory declaration/separation certificate.
• Evidence of dependency for all dependants aged 18 or older (such as evidence of current studies):
  • a certified copy of their birth certificate and proof of their relationship to you
  • proof that the relative lives in your household
  • proof that your relative has been dependent on you for at least the 12 months immediately before you lodge your application.
• Security bond:
  • The department decides on a case-by-case basis whether to ask for a security bond. The department will tell you in writing if you need to provide a bond.
  • Is usually between AUD5000 and AUD15 000 per person (but the department can ask for any amount).
  • must be paid in full before a final decision can be made on the visa application.
  • is refunded if your visitor leaves Australia before their visa expires and, if they have complied with all visa conditions.

 Note:- Applicants must provide certified copies of original documents. Do not include original documents unless specifically requested by the department. Documents not in English must be accompanied by accredited English translations.

Note: The Visa Application Charge will not be refunded if a decision is made to refuse to grant the visa because the applicant did not satisfy the criteria for grant of the visa

Business Visa

• This visa allows business people to make a short business visit to Australia for up to three (3) months during your visa validity period. Business activities may include a conference, negotiation or exploratory business visit.

This visa is available to all passport holders who want to visit Australia for business purposes. No sponsorship is required.

This visa has replaced the work entitlements of the earlier categories as below:

• Business (Short Stay) visa (subclass 456)
• Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) visa (subclass 459)
• Electronic Travel Authority (Business Entrant-Short Validity) (subclass 977)
• Electronic Travel Authority (Business Entrant-Long Validity) (subclass 956)
• eVisitor visa (subclass 651).

If you already hold one of the above visas, it will still be valid until the date you were given when it was granted.

• Applicants have to submit Notarised copy of all pages of current passport, including the bio data page, alterations page and back page of the passport (unless requested to send original passport). (Please note, VFS Global can certify a copy of your passport at their office at the time of Submission).
• A completed application form (Form 1400) for a Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visa.
• For anyone included in the application who is 18 years of age or older and is not your partner: Form 47A Details of child or other dependent family member aged 18 years or over.
• If you want to bring a child younger than 18 years of age with you to Australia, and that child’s other parent is not included in the application: documentary evidence that you have the legal right to include that child in your application, such as:
  • certified copies of official legal documents, such as a court-issued custody, access or guardianship order
  • a statutory declaration giving their permission.
  • Form 1229 Consent form to grant an Australian visa to a child under the age of 18 years. If you use this form, you will have to attach a certified copy of the other parent’s government issued identification document (such as a passport or driver’s licence) with their photograph and a signature. (You must also provide one of these documents if you are applying for this visa and you are younger than 18 years of age and you are travelling without one or both parents or guardians).
• If your partner is included in the application: a copy of your marriage certificate or independent evidence that you are in a de facto relationship (for example, joint bank account statements or billing accounts in joint names).
• Complete this section only if you are lodging a paper application:
  • If someone gives you advice or lodges your application for you: Form 956 Advice by a migration agent/exempt person of providing immigration assistance (the agent or exempt person completes the form and you must sign it)
  • If you would like someone to receive correspondence from the department on your behalf: Form 956A Appointment or withdrawal of an authorised recipient (the recipient completes the form and you must sign it)
• One recent passport sized photograph (45 mm x 35 mm) of each person attached to the front application form.
  • These photographs should be of the head and shoulders only against a plain background
  • Print the name of the person on the back of each photograph.
• Certified copies of birth certificates for you and any other person included in the application. The certificates must show the names of both parents of everyone included in the application.
• Participating in a cultural or social event
  • Letter of invitation from the inviting organisation in Australia that includes the event name, the dates of the event, your role or duties, and the role of the inviting organisation in the event.
  • If you are applying as an amateur sports participant or assisting an amateur participant or team: your invitation to the event including this information.
• Doing highly specialised work
  • You must show details of the position, the duration of the work, your role or duties and the reason you are required in Australia or
  • If you are doing freelance work: a copy of your proposed itinerary covering the above points.
  • If you are applying to work on an entertainment industry production: evidence that the production will not be shown in Australia, such as a distribution contract.
• AusAID student or recipient: A letter of support from the AusAID Minister.
• Health and Police Clearance Certificate can be asked by the High Commission.
• Proof of Funds:
  • You should provide evidence of sufficient funds (bank statements, letter from financial institution concerning your financial position etc).
• Educational or professional qualifications Certificates.
• Your current employment and your role during your visit to Australia.
• Provide the details of previous contacts with Australian businesspeople or organisations in Australia.
• Pay the visa application charge, or provide the following documents to show that you do not need to pay the charge:
  • For an amateur sports participant or assisting an amateur participant or team: your invitation to the event, stating this information
  • To act as a representative of a foreign government: a letter from your ministry or government.
  • If you are in a class of people participating in an activity specified in a legislative instrument: evidence from the inviting organisation that you are in that class of people.

Transit Visa

• Applicants will no longer require to submit the original passport along with the Visa application with the introduction of Label free Visa regime: If the Applicant is applying for any Australian visa through one of the VFS Global Australian Visa Application Centres across India or Nepal or lodging directly with the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, will no longer be required to submit their passport with their visa application. Instead they will be required to submit a notarised copy of each used page of their passport at the time of application.

The notarised copy of the passport must include the following pages:

• Good quality notarised photocopy of the biodata page of the current passport;
• Good quality notarised photocopy of any endorsement page or change of name page in the current passport; and
• For current Indian passports – good quality notarised photocopy of the back page with information on parents’ names and previous passports.

This request applies to all visa categories. Applicants who do not lodge the above documents with their visa application will experience delays in the processing of their visa application.

• One visa form (Sub Class 771) Form no. 876 and 956.
• One recent passport-size photograph.
• A covering letter from the Applicant / Company.
• Completed incoming passenger card (will be available on ship/aircraft prior to arrival).
• Travel itinerary and confirmed onward booking in a third country within 72 hours of arrival.
• Visa for entry to third country (if required).
• Processing time is 3 to 5 working days.
• Visa is issued Gratis (Free of charge).