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Visitor visas
Find the best way to get a visitor visa for your next holiday or business trip to Australia.
Unless you are an Australian citizen or a New Zealand passport holder, you will need to apply for a visa before visiting Australia for a holiday, business or short-term trip. Most visitors enter Australia on one of three visitor visas:
- Electronic Travel Authority
- Visitor visa (subclass 600)
- eVisitor visa (subclass 650)
This page will explain the various visa types for visitors and tell you how to apply for them.
Electronic Travel Authority visa (ETA)
An Electronic Travel Authority allows applicants living outside Australia to visit the country for tourism or business. Travellers on an ETA visa are permitted to stay in Australia for a maximum of three months. The following conditions apply:
- Applicants must apply online through the Australian government’s website.
- ETA visas cost $20. Applicants must pay by credit card.
- Yes. Every traveller must apply for their own ETA, including young children.
Visitor visa (subclass 600)
The visitor visa is a more flexible visa for visitors on short-term tourist and business trips. Eligible visitors can apply from inside and outside Australia, depending on the passport they hold. This visa:
- Costs between $135 and $1,000 depending on the trip length.
- Allows visitors to stay for between 3 and 12 months.
How is a visitor visa different from an ETA?
- The visitor visa has more flexible conditions for visitors, including length of trip and visa costs.
- Passport holders of some countries may be eligible for an ETA but not for a visitor visa, or vice versa.
- The visitor visa is also used by travellers from the People’s Republic of China on registered group tours.
eVisitor visa (subclass 651)
The eVisitor visa is similar to the ETA. Applicants must be outside Australia when they apply online. Like the ETA, the eVisitor visa allows for visits of up to three months. This visa, unlike the ETA, is free.
Who can apply for an eVisitor visa?
- Visitors from 36 European countries, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, can apply for eVisitor visas.
Visitor visas summary
| Visa | How to apply | Cost | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online here | $20 | 3 months |
| Online (account required) | $135 -$1,000 (depending on circumstances) | 3-12 months |
| Online here (account required) | Free | 3 months |
If you are unsure of what type of visitor visa you will require, you can visit the Australian immigration website for more details. Alternatively you can seek the advice of an authorised migration agent who will be able to advise you on the best visa for your situation.
What other visitor visas are available?
There are a few other visitor visa options available. Most of the options will depend on which passport you hold as well as the purpose of your visit.
| Visa | Conditions |
|---|---|
| This visa is for people receiving medical treatment, donating an organ or supporting someone who is having medical treatment who has this visa. |
| A visa for investors looking to spend their retirement in Australia. |
| This is for people who will be in Australia for a brief time before travelling onward to another country. |
| A visa for young people from eligible countries who want to work and holiday in Australia for up to one year (two years in some cases). |
You can read more about working holiday visas in our work visa guide.
What are the requirements for an Australian visitor visa?
The requirements for an Australian visitor visa will depend on why you are planning to visit and how long you wish to stay. In all cases you must have a valid passport or travel document from an eligible country.
You should also consider the following:
- If you are visiting for medical reasons, you will need documents from medical professionals regarding the reasons for your treatments.
- Any visitor to Australia must be able to prove they are of good character to enter the country.
- For all visa applications, any official documents you are required to provide (such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, proof of identity, etc.) will need to be certified by legal agencies of the country you live in and translated into English.
- In some cases you may need to prove your good character by providing a police clearance certificate or other evidence.
How long do visas take to process?
Visa processing times are dependent on the type of visitor visa you are applying for and your personal circumstances, such as your citizenship. Some visas may be processed on the same day; other visas will take up to two months. It is very important that you always ensure that you allow plenty of time for your visa to be processed before travelling.
Do I need a migration agent?
You don’t need a migration agent to make a visitor visa application but an agent may be helpful in navigating the application process. A migration agent can advise on the right type of visa for you as well as ensuring you provide the correct documentation, which allows for a much smoother application.
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Ask an Expert
Hello. I want to visitor visa for my family. only 15 days. My real younger brother family is a citizenship holder
I am 41 years old. Which documents are needed from my family to apply for Visitor Visa and fees?
Hi Sunil,
Thanks for your comment and I hope you are well.
As your family will only visit for 15 days, your family can get a Visitor visa (subclass 600). As it says above, this visa is good for short term trips. Their eligibility will depend on the passport they hold. The costs is between $135 and $1,000 depending on the trip length and will be determined upon the actual visa application.
I hope this helps and feel free to reach out to us again for further assistance.
Best,
Nikki
My father-in-law, mother-in-law and sister-in-law wish to visit us in Australia under family sponsored short term (3 months) visiting visa in January 2020. Do they need to lodge 3 separate 1418 forms? Will the visa fee be 3*$135?
Hi Gitanjali,
Thanks for your comment and I hope you are doing well. It’s great to know that you’re family is visiting!
They would need to lodge separate 1418 forms which means they would pay $135 each. Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to us again for further assistance.
Best,
Nikki
Hello,
My second cousin has recently been granted tourist visa 600 from October 2019 for 3 moths stay with multiple entries. She financially supports herself but staying at my place in Oz. Can my mum still apply for a visitor visa to visit me as well?
Thanks.
Hi Asel,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
Yes, your mum can still apply for the visitor visa to visit you in Australia.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
I’m a guarantor for a visitors visa
Can I cancel guarantee if I want too
Hi Steve,
Thanks for your message. I wish I could help you further however, the information on our page is limited regarding guarantor for a visitor visa. While we review visitor visas in our pages, it’s helpful to know that we don’t work with the Australian Embassy. It would be best to contact them directly for further assistance. You can find their contact details when you visit their website.
Hope this clarifies and we hope they find a quick resolution for you!
With care,
Nikki
How much would a visitor visa from India to Australia. I am getting married a citizen of Australia, I am visiting to Australia for the first time. Which one I can apply and how long I could stay there?
Hi Anusha,
Thanks for your question. Every visa application is different and unique and applying for one will give you details on the costs, visa type and time given to visit Australia. You can apply for either an Electronic Travel Authority where they allow applicants living outside Australia to visit the country for tourism or business. Travelers on an ETA visa are permitted to stay in Australia for a maximum of three months.
On the other hand, the visitor visa is a more flexible visa for visitors on short-term tourist and business trips. Eligible visitors can apply from inside and outside Australia, depending on the passport they hold. This visa costs between $135 and $1,000 depending on the trip length and allows visitors to stay for between 3 and 12 months.
You can read more information on how to apply for a visa on the information above.
Hope this helps and best of luck on your application!
Cheers,
Nikki
When applying for an Australian holiday visa, do you need to book your flight first or apply for the visa first?
Hi Janet,
Thanks for your question!
As a rule of thumb, it would always be best to book your flight after being approved a visa. As far as requirements go, that would depend on your purpose for visiting. Please read the ff: below:
1. If you are visiting for medical reasons, you will need documents from medical professionals regarding the reasons for your treatments.
2. Any visitor to Australia must be able to prove they are of good character to enter the country.
3. For all visa applications, any official documents you are required to provide (such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, proof of identity, etc.) will need to be certified by legal agencies of the country you live in and translated into English.
4. In some cases, you may need to prove your good character by providing a police clearance certificate or other evidence.
Hope this helps! For any further questions, feel free to reach out to us again, we’re here to help.
Best,
Nikki
How much would a visitor visa from South Africa to Australia be? Can I apply for my sister who is in South Africa? I am in Australia.
Hi Charly,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
Your sister must apply for the visitor visa. On this page you’re looking at, you may provide the Australian government’s website to your sister where she can start her online application. The cost for this is around $140 AUD.
I hope this helps.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni