Subclass 600
The Subclass 600 visa is Australia’s essential pathway for tourism, business engagements, and family reunions.
The 600 Visitor Visa
The Subclass 600 is a temporary visa that allows individuals to visit Australia for tourism, business visitor activities, or to see family. Unlike work or training visas, the Subclass 600 is strictly for non-employment purposes and is categorised by the specific intent of the visit.
At Immilex, we focus on the facts. We assess your travel history and financial standing to address the Department's primary concerns, ensuring that every visitor has a genuine intention to stay temporarily and has the means to support themselves.
Key Factors:
- Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) Requirement: This is the most critical factor. The Department assesses whether you genuinely intend to stay in Australia temporarily for the purpose for which the visa is granted.
- Financial Capacity: You must demonstrate genuine access to adequate funds to support your stay and your planned activities.
- Health and Character: Applicants must meet mandatory health and character standards.
- Previous Compliance: You must have substantially complied with the conditions of any previous Australian visas.
Tourist Category
What it is for: Holidays, cruises, or visiting friends and family.
What it allows: Visit Australia as a tourist, engage in recreational activities, or see family/friends.
Key Requirements:
- If applying onshore, you must hold a substantive visa that does not have a "No Further Stay" condition.
- Provide a clear itinerary or evidence of family connections in Australia.
- Satisfy the Department that you are visiting for non-business and non-medical purposes.
Length: Up to 3, 6, or 12 months.
Work Rights: No work allowed (Condition 8101).
Business Visitor Category
What it is for: Short-term business activities including meetings, negotiations, or attending conferences.
What it allows: Make general business or employment enquiries; negotiate contracts; participate in conferences, trade fairs, or seminars.
Key Requirements:
- You must not be paid by an Australian organisation for your activities.
- The visit must be for professional reasons that do not constitute "work" (e.g., you cannot provide services to a business or sell goods to the public).
Length: Up to 3 months.
Work Rights: No work allowed
Sponsored Family Category
What it is for: Visiting family members who are settled Australian citizens or permanent residents.
What it allows: Tourism, family visits, or study for less than 3 months.
Key Requirements:
- Must be formally sponsored by an eligible family member in Australia.
- The sponsor may be required to pay a Security Bond (typically between $5,000 and $15,000 AUD) to ensure the applicant complies with visa conditions.
Length: Usually up to 3 or 6 months (12 months in exceptional cases).
Work Rights: No work allowed
Frequent Traveller Category
What it is for: Eligible passport holders (primarily from China and select ASEAN nations) who travel to Australia frequently.
What it allows: Repeated entry for tourism or business visitor activities.
Key Requirements:
- Must hold a passport from an eligible country (e.g., China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia).
- Must provide biometrics at an official collection point.
- Must meet the same GTE and financial requirements as the standard tourist category.
Length: Up to 10 years validity (allows stays of up to 3 months on each entry).
Work Rights: No work allowed.
Maintaining compliance
- No Work: This is a mandatory condition. You must not engage in any work in Australia. Work is any activity that normally attracts remuneration.
- Maximum Study: You must not study or train in Australia for more than 3 months.
- No Further Stay: Many Visitor visas are granted with this condition, meaning you cannot apply for another substantive visa while you are in Australia.
The 600 Application Process
Category Selection
Choose between Tourist, Business Visitor, or Sponsored Family based on your primary intent.
Evidence Audit
Compile verified proof of funds and home-country ties. At Immilex we ensure your documentation meets strict GTE benchmarks.
Digital Lodgement
Submit via ImmiAccount.
Biometrics & Health
If required, attend a collection centre or undergo a medical exam by an approved physician.
Visa Notification
The decision on the visa is made by the Department.
For 600 Visa Applicants
The Subclass 600 is subject to Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) assessments. Applications that fail to demonstrate significant personal or economic ties are frequently refused. The Subclass 600 is a "high-scrutiny" visa because to prevent its misuse for unauthorised work.
At Immilex, we assess your financial evidence and employment ties to ensure your application demonstrates a strong incentive to return.
Frequently Asked Questions
You cannot "extend" a Visitor visa. You must apply for a new visa. If your current visa has a 8503 condition, you must depart Australia and apply from offshore unless you can secure a waiver for compelling and compassionate reasons.
For the Sponsored Family category, the Department may ask your sponsor to lodge a cash bond. This bond is refunded once you depart Australia, provided you have complied with all visa conditions.
Visitor visa holders are prohibited from applying for a Subclass 500 Student visa while onshore. This change is designed to ensure applicants are genuine students before they arrive.
Ensure Your Visit is Strategically Sound
The Visitor visa requires clear evidence of temporary intent and financial independence. Contact us at Immilex for a professional consultation to ensure your GTE profile meets Department standards.