WHAT IS A VISITOR VISA (SUBCLASS 600)?
The visitor visa Subclass 600 is a temporary visa type entitled to individuals with the core purpose to visit Australia as a tourist, or to visit a friend or family, to have a cruise and other temporary visit purposes.
There are 6 streams for a visitor visa, you can see where you belong and apply for that stream rather than not knowing and applying for something that doesn’t fit your certain situation.
Tourist Stream (Apply in Australia)
This stream is for those that are already in Australia, with this visa stream it will allow you to visit Australia as a tourist, to see family and friends or for purposes other than business or medical treatment.
With this visa you can:
1. Visit family or friends,
2. Be a tourist, for a cruise, or for any purpose except busienss or medical treatment,
3. You can study or train up to 3 months, but you cannot work on this visa.
When applying for this visa stream, you must:
1. Meet Australia’s immigration health requirement,
2. Meet immigration’s character requirement,
3. Have access to enough money or savings to cover expenses for the whole duration of your stay,
4. Be a genuine visitor,
5. Hold a susbstantive visa or substantive visa that ceased within the last 28 days.
Tourist Stream (Apply Outside Australia)
This stream is appropriate if you are outside Australia and would like to come and be a tourist in Australia.
Just like the tourist stream for those who applied in Australia, with this visa you can:
1. Visit family or friends,
2. Be a toursits, for a cruside, or for any purpose except business or medical treatment,
3. You can study or train for up to 3 months but cannot work.
When applying for this visa stream, you meet the following criteria:
1. Meet the immigration’s health requirements,
2. Meet the character requirement,
3. Pay back the Australian government if you have any debt with them,
4. Have access to money or saving that can cover the whole duration of your stay in Australia,
5. Be a genuine visitor.
Sponsored Family Stream
Do you have a family member that is willing to sponsor your stay? Then a visitor visa for a sponsored family stream is for you.
Just like the tourist streams, with this visa you can:
1. Visit family or friends,
2. Be in Australia as a tourist, for a cruise, or for any purpose except business or medical treatment,
3. You can study or train for up to 3 months, but still, you can’t work.
To be eligible for this stream, you would need to meet the following:
1. You and any of your family members who apply for this visa must meet the immigration’s health requirement,
2. You and other family members must meet the character requirement,
3. If you and any of your family members owe Australia’s government, you or they must settle it,
4. Have enough money for the whole duration of your stay,
5. Be a genuine visitor,
6. You must have a sponsor.
Business Visitor Stream
Now, you need to take care of some business in Australia. Maybe, you can look into this stream of the visitor visa.
With a business visitor visa, you can:
1. Make general business or employment enquiries
2. Investigate, negotiate, enter, or review a business contract,
3. Conduct activities that is part of an official government visit,
4. Be part of a conference, trade fair or seminar, but you cannot be paid by the organisers to take part,
5. Undertake tourist activities.
As a business visitor visa holder, you cannot:
1. Work for or provice services to a business or organidation based in Australia,
2. Sell goods or services directly to the public.
You need to meet the requirements of this stream:
1. Meet the health requirement,
2. Meet the character requirement,
3. Pay your debts to the Australian Government,
4. Have enough money for your whole stay,
5. Be a genuine visitor,
6. Perform the allowed business visitor activities.
Approved Destination Status Stream
This visa stream is for citizen from certain areas of China that wants to visit Australia on an organised tour by an approved travel agent.
With this visa you can:
1. Enter Australia with an approved tour group,
2. Participate in activities that is part of your tour,
3. Leave Australia with you tour group before the visa expires.
For you to be eligible for this visa, you need to:
Meet the health requirement,
Meet the character requirement,
Pay back the debt you owe the Australian government if you have any,
Be a genuine visitor.
Frequent Traveller Stream
This is for those who are citizens of the People’s Republic of China that travels to Australia often for business or personal reasons.
With this visa you can:
1. Visit family or friends,
2. Be a tourist, for a cruise, or a holiday,
3. Undertake business visitor activities.
You can be eligible for this stream when you:
1. Meet the health requirement,
2. Meet the character requirement,
3. Pay back the debt you owe the Australian government if you have any,
4. Be a genuine visitor.
Visitor Visa Australian Processing Time
Since the visa subclass 600 is sub-divided into various streams. The 600 visa Australia processing time will depend on the type of stream an applicant has applied for. Let’s see the different processing times for the various streams of subclass 600:
The above-mentioned processing time is determined by the department of home affairs for an average visitor visa subclass 600 processing time. However, the visa processing may be delayed in case where the applicant makes mistakes while filling the application form or provides late response to the authority in case where additional information is required.
1) Can I extend visitor Visa Subclass 600?
No, you cannot extend your visitor visa subclass 600. You would need to apply for a new one if you would like to extend your stay in Australia.
2) How long is a Visitor visa 600 Valid for?
A visitor visa 600 is valid for a maximum of 12 months in Australia where each staying period cannot exceed 3 months at a time in most streams. But it will depend on the type of stream and the immigration on how long it will be.
3) How many times can you visit Australia on a Visitor Visa (Tourist Stream) Subclass 600?
You can enter and exit multiple times on a visitor visa (Tourist Stream) but it will still depend on the visa grant letter permit.
4) Can I work on a visa 600?
No, you cannot work while on a visitor visa 600.
After this blog, you now know the different streams of a visitor visa, you have seen what you can do while on those types of streams, and then you know what you are required to be. You also have an idea now on what are the processing times for those streams, and we have also answered some of the frequently asked questions.
It’s time to visit Australia! Are you still not sure?
