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VisaAffairs

Subclass 600

Subclass 600 — Visitor

Short-term tourist, family-visit and business visa — Tourist, Business Visitor, Sponsored Family, Frequent Traveller streams.

Pathway

Temporary

Processing time

1–6 weeks (indicative, by stream)

Government fee

AUD 195+ (Tourist offshore)

Visa duration

3, 6 or 12 months per entry (Tourist) · 10-year multiple entry (Frequent Traveller)

Overview

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Detailed legal content below is being written. Contact Visa Affairs directly for an assessment of your specific circumstances.

Subclass 600 (Visitor) is a short-stay visa for tourism, family visits or short business activity. It is the most common visa for first-time visitors to Australia from Vietnam — tourism, visiting children/grandchildren studying or working in Australia, short business trips.

Main streams:

  • Tourist stream — general tourism or family visit, no sponsor required. Most common.
  • Business Visitor stream — short business (meetings, conferences, contract negotiation). NO paid work.
  • Sponsored Family stream — Australian family sponsor + (possibly) bond. Increases approval odds when self-lodgement would be weak.
  • Frequent Traveller stream — Chinese citizens only, 10-year multiple entry.
  • Approved Destination Status (ADS) stream — Chinese group tours.

Important notes:

  • No paid work permitted in any 600 stream.
  • Genuine intent is the most important factor — the Department assesses your likelihood to return home (financial ties, employment ties, family ties at origin).
  • Condition 8503 (No Further Stay) may apply — check the visa grant letter before planning any onshore visa transition.

Detailed legal content (Schedule 4 health requirements, character provisions, condition 8531 enforcement) needs verification against current rules. Book a consultation if you have previously been refused a 600 or 462.

Key eligibility

  • Valid reason to visit (tourism, family visit, short business) matching the stream
  • Sufficient funds for the trip
  • Genuine intent to leave Australia at the end of the visa
  • Meet health and character requirements
  • Some streams: require a sponsor (Sponsored Family) or a bond

Process

  1. 01

    Choose the right stream

    Tourist (general tourism / family visit, no sponsor), Business Visitor (short business activity), Sponsored Family (sponsor + possible bond), Frequent Traveller (Chinese citizens only, 10-year multiple entry), Approved Destination Status (Chinese group tours).

  2. 02

    Prepare the file

    Passport, itinerary, financial evidence, invitation letter (if applicable), employment/business letter showing you'll return.

  3. 03

    Lodge online via ImmiAccount

    Most applications are online. Some nationalities lodge via VFS Global or an Australian Visa Application Centre.

  4. 04

    Visa granted

    Usually single entry 3 months, or multiple entry 6/12 months depending on stream and applicant profile.

Estimated cost

Department of Home Affairs fee (per immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) AUD 195+ (Tourist offshore)
VisaAffairs service fee Quoted after initial consultation
Third-party costs (health, AFP check, translations, etc.) Varies by case
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All figures are indicative as of last update. Department of Home Affairs fees change periodically — verify on the official site before lodging. immi.homeaffairs.gov.au →

How VisaAffairs helps

Clear eligibility assessment

Our RMA reviews your full situation against current rules — no boilerplate templates.

Document set reviewed item-by-item

Every piece of evidence is checked before lodgement — minimising the risk of request for further information.

Case officer tracking

VisaAffairs monitors ImmiAccount and responds to case officer requests on time.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between the streams?
Tourist: tourism or family visit, no sponsor required — most common for Vietnamese applicants. Business Visitor: short business (meetings, conferences, negotiations), NO paid work permitted. Sponsored Family: Australian family member sponsors, possible bond — better odds when self-lodged would be weak. Frequent Traveller: Chinese citizens only, 10-year multiple entry.
Can I work on a Visitor 600?
No. Subclass 600 does NOT permit paid work in any stream. Breach can lead to visa cancellation + entry ban.
Can I switch from 600 to another visa onshore?
Sometimes — depends on conditions. Some 600 grants carry condition 8503 (No Further Stay) which BLOCKS onshore visa lodgement. Always check conditions on the visa grant letter before planning.
If my 600 is refused, can I reapply?
Yes. Offshore refusals have no AAT review right. Reapplying with a stronger file (financials, ties to home country, genuine intent) is the standard path. Analyse refusal reasons before reapplying.

Start your file

Free assessment in 2 business days.

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