Your sister in Melbourne has cleared the spare room, flights are on sale, and one form stands between you and a holiday in Australia. For most travellers, that form is the Australia visitor visa, subclass 600. A small mistake on it can cost you months and a non-refundable fee. Here is how the 600 visa works in 2026.

So, what exactly is the subclass 600 visa?

The Visitor visa (subclass 600) is Australia’s main temporary visa for tourism, visiting family and friends, or short business trips. It has several streams: Tourist, Sponsored Family, Business Visitor, Approved Destination Status and Frequent Traveller. Most people apply under the Tourist stream, which is generally granted for stays of 3, 6 or 12 months per entry. Your case officer picks the length, so plan around your grant letter, not around what you asked for. 

Check one thing first. Citizens of some countries can use the ETA (subclass 601) or eVisitor (subclass 651) instead, which are usually faster and simpler. If you don’t qualify for those, or you need to stay longer than three months, the 600 visa is your route. 

What the Australian visitor visa costs in 2026

Fees rose on 1 July 2026. Home Affairs lists AUD 250 for the Tourist stream applied for outside Australia, and for the Sponsored Family, Business Visitor and Approved Destination Status streams. The Tourist stream applied for in Australia is AUD 630, and the Frequent Traveller stream is AUD 1,845. 

The charge is not refunded if your application is refused, so a weak application is expensive. Biometrics, health checks and police certificates can add to the total. 

How long does 600 visa processing take?

According to Home Affairs global processing times published on 29 September 2026, half of Tourist stream applications were decided within 21 days and 90% within 33 days. Sponsored Family took 40 days for 50% and three months for 90%, while Business Visitor took 7 and 19 days. These are guides, not guarantees. Apply well before you plan to travel, and check the live processing-time tool on the Home Affairs website before lodging. 

What Home Affairs wants to see

The department’s test is simple: are you a genuine visitor? That means you plan a temporary stay, can pay for it, and have good reasons to go home. Strong evidence includes:

• Payslips, employment letters or business records
• Bank statements that match your travel budget
• Proof of family, property or study commitments at home
• A realistic itinerary, or an invitation if you are visiting relatives

You also can’t work on this visa. Conditions 8101 and 8201 must both be imposed on an unsponsored Tourist stream visa, meaning no work and study limited to three months.

Parents get special treatment. Home Affairs can grant longer validity and multiple entries in appropriate cases, including for some parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents. In the Sponsored Family stream, Home Affairs can require a security bond in some cases. 

How to apply, without the stress

Start by creating an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs website. Choose your stream, fill in the form, upload your documents and pay the fee. If you are asked for biometrics, do it promptly, as delays here slow everything down.

Two timing tips. Submit a complete, decision-ready file the first time, because updated digital processing rules in 2026 require applicants to submit complete applications to avoid delays or refusals. And if you are already in Australia and need longer, apply for the Tourist stream before your current visa expires. That can earn you a bridging visa. 

Mistakes that lead to refusals

Most refusals come from the same few problems:

• Thin evidence of ties to your home country
• Bank balances that appear suddenly
• A vague purpose of visit
• Details that don’t match across forms

None of these is hard to fix, but you need to fix them before you lodge, not after.

How Edvise Hub can help

A visitor visa looks easy until the evidence doesn’t add up. Edvise Hub’s migration team helps you:

• Pick the right stream
• Build a document checklist for your situation
• Present your ties and finances clearly
• Review everything before you submit

If you want a second pair of eyes on your 600 visa application, Edvise Hub can walk you through it from first document to lodgement. No agent can guarantee a visa, because the decision always rests with Home Affairs.

FAQS

1. How much is the 600 visa in 2026?
The Tourist stream costs AUD 250 if you apply from outside Australia and AUD 630 if you apply from inside Australia.

2. How long can I stay in Australia on a 600 visa?
Most grants are for 3, 6 or 12 months, as shown on your visa grant letter.

3. How long does a 600 visa take to process?
Home Affairs figures from September 2026 show 50% of Tourist applications decided within 21 days and 90% within 33 days.

4. Can I work in Australia on a visitor visa?
No, the subclass 600 visa does not allow you to work.

5. Can I apply for a 600 visa from inside Australia?
Yes, but only under the Tourist stream, and it should be lodged before your current visa expires.