Find the Right Visitor Visa for Your Trip.
Coming for a holiday, a business meeting, to see family, or for medical treatment? There's a visitor or short-stay visa for almost every reason, and picking the right one matters more than most people think. We help you choose correctly, apply cleanly, and avoid the conditions that catch travellers out.
Which visitor visa do you actually need?
Visitor visas are sorted by why you're coming and what passport you hold. Find your situation below.
| If you're coming for… | Start with | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A holiday or family visit | 600 Visitor, or 601 / 651 if eligible | Depends on your passport and country | About the 600 → |
| Business meetings or a conference | 600 Business Stream | No paid work in Australia | About the 600 → |
| Work and travel within the current age limit | 417 or 462 | Depends on your country and age rules | 417 / 462 visas → |
| Medical treatment or to support a patient | 602 Medical Treatment | Can be granted onshore | About the 602 → |
| Bringing your parents for a visit | Visitor Visa for Parents | For visits, not for living here | See the guide → |
| Long-term stay for parents (years, not weeks) | 870 Sponsored Parent | This is the right visa for that goal | About the 870 → |
Which visitor visa? Work through it.
Four short-stay options cover most visitors: the Subclass 600 Visitor visa, the Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority, the Subclass 651 eVisitor, and the Subclass 602 Medical Treatment visa. Your passport and your reason for coming decide which one is open to you. Read down from the top.
- Are you coming for medical treatment, to donate an organ, or to support a patient? If yes, the Subclass 602 Medical Treatment visa is built for this and can sometimes be granted onshore - useful when treatment runs longer than planned. If no, keep reading. About the 602 →
- Do you hold an eligible European passport? If yes, the Subclass 651 eVisitor is usually the cleanest route - applied online, multiple entries, and it carries no visa application charge. If no, keep reading. About the eVisitor →
- Do you hold a passport on the ETA list (for example the US, Japan, Singapore or South Korea)? If yes, the Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority is digital, applied through the official app, and carries no visa application charge. A service charge may apply only if you lodge through an agent. If no, keep reading. About the ETA →
- None of the above, or you want a longer or sponsored visit? The Subclass 600 Visitor visa is the main tourist and business visitor visa and is open to most nationalities, onshore or offshore. Where a standard application is high risk, the sponsored family stream lets an Australian relative sponsor the visit. About the 600 →
For parents who want to stay for years rather than weeks, none of these short-stay visas is the right tool - the Subclass 870 Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa is. See how the 870 works →
What each option costs to apply.
Government application charges below are a guide only and can change. We confirm the current charge with you before you apply, and any professional fee for our help is quoted to you in writing.
| Visa | Government application charge | Typical timing | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 600 Visitor | From around AUD 190, varying by stream and location | Offshore often around 2 to 4 weeks | Most nationalities; tourism, family, business visitors |
| Subclass 601 ETA | No visa application charge (a service charge applies only if lodged through an agent) | Often around 24 to 48 hours | Eligible passports such as the US, Japan, Singapore, South Korea |
| Subclass 651 eVisitor | No visa application charge | Often around 1 to 2 weeks | Eligible European passport holders |
| Subclass 602 Medical Treatment | A government application charge may apply; we confirm the current figure before you apply | Generally longer, often around 8 to 16 months | Treatment, organ donation, or supporting a patient |
Charges and timeframes are indicative and reviewed by the Department over time. We do not publish a fixed fee schedule; ask us for a written quote for your situation.
Every visitor and short-stay visa, covered.
Visitor Visa
The main tourist and business visitor visa. For holidays, seeing family, or business meetings when no other stream fits. Onshore or offshore.
About the 600 → 600 - Sponsored StreamSponsored Family Stream
Where an Australian relative formally sponsors the visit. Useful when a standard tourist application is high risk. A bond may be required.
About the family stream → Subclass 601Electronic Travel Authority
For eligible passports (US, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and more). Digital, no embassy visit, applied via official app. Multiple short stays.
About the ETA → Subclass 651eVisitor
For mostly European passport holders. No visa application charge. Applied online. Tourism or short business visits. Multiple entries.
About the eVisitor → Subclass 602Medical Treatment
For coming to Australia for treatment, to donate an organ, or to support a patient. Can be granted onshore - vital when treatment runs longer than planned.
About the 602 → GuideVisitor Visa for Parents
A wedding, a new baby, a graduation. When you want your parents here for a season of life, this guide walks you through which visitor option fits.
See the guide → After a RefusalVisitor Visa Refused?
Most refusals come down to the genuine visitor expectation or financial evidence - and both are fixable. We read the real reason and rebuild the case.
After a refusal → Subclass 417 / 462Working Holiday
Work and travel Australia for up to a year, with extensions available. Eligibility depends on your passport and age at the time you apply.
About working holidays →Visitor visa questions answered.
Written and reviewed by Brian Chan, Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217857)
Visa Store Australia, Perth · Last reviewed June 2026 · Verify on the MARA register · General information only, not personal migration advice.
Not sure which one fits?
Tell us why you're coming and what passport you hold - we'll point you to the right visa and flag anything that could catch you out.