Permanent Residency
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Explore PR OptionsIndian passport holders planning a holiday, cruise or visit to relatives or friends in Australia will generally need an appropriate visa before travelling. One common option is the Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream (apply outside Australia). The Australian Department of Home Affairs assesses each application on its individual circumstances; approval is not automatic.
This guide focuses on the offshore Tourist stream for applicants applying from India. Other subclass 600 streams, including the Business Visitor and Sponsored Family streams, have different purposes or requirements.
Australia Tourist Visa at a Glance
| Visa | Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream – apply outside Australia |
|---|---|
| Main purpose | Tourism, cruises and visiting family or friends |
| Government application charge | From AUD 250 per applicant; verify the exact amount before payment |
| Possible stay | Generally a grant of 3, 6 or 12 months, as determined by the Department |
| Work rights | No work permitted |
| Study | Generally up to 3 months, subject to visa conditions |
| Application | Usually online through ImmiAccount; applicant must be outside Australia at application and decision |
| Processing | Variable; check the official processing time guide |
Who Is Eligible for the Australia Tourist Visa?
To qualify, you must satisfy the Department of Home Affairs that you meet the applicable Visitor visa criteria. Key considerations include:
- Genuine temporary visit: Your travel purpose and intention to comply with the permitted stay must be credible.
- Funds: You should be able to pay for your visit, accommodation and return or onward travel, or provide credible evidence of appropriate support.
- Health and character: Meet applicable requirements and provide examinations or certificates if requested.
- Accurate information: Supply truthful, consistent information and genuine supporting documents.
- Offshore application: For this stream, be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa decision is made.
Important: There is no single published minimum bank balance that guarantees approval for every applicant. Your available funds should make sense for the length and cost of your proposed trip.
What You Can and Cannot Do
- Allowed: Holidays, sightseeing, cruises and visiting friends or family.
- Stay and entries: Your grant letter determines the permitted duration and whether you have single or multiple entries.
- Study: Short study or training, generally up to 3 months, subject to conditions.
- Not allowed: Working in Australia on the Tourist stream.
- Staying longer: The existing visa cannot simply be extended. A new visa application, where permitted, may be necessary; a No Further Stay condition can limit options.
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Documents for Australia Tourist Visa from India
The exact evidence depends on your circumstances and any checklist generated in ImmiAccount. The following are common supporting documents, not a universal mandatory checklist:
- Identity: Valid passport biodata page, relevant identity documents and details of any name changes.
- Financial evidence: Recent bank statements, income evidence, tax returns or other credible proof of funds, as relevant to your circumstances.
- Employment or business ties: Employment confirmation, approved leave, salary records, business registration or evidence of ongoing professional commitments, where applicable.
- Purpose of travel: A realistic itinerary, proposed travel dates and accommodation plans.
- Family or friend visits: Invitation letter, host details, relationship evidence and any support arrangements, if applicable.
- Personal circumstances: Relevant evidence of family, education, property or other commitments in India; no single document proves an intention to return.
- Previous travel: Relevant visa and travel history if available; first-time international travellers may also apply.
- Children: Birth certificates, parental consent or custody documents when relevant, particularly where a child travels without one or both parents.
- Additional requests: Biometrics, health examinations, police certificates or further documents if requested by the Department.
Documents not in English may require an English translation that meets Department requirements. Avoid altered or unverifiable documents, and explain unusual transactions or inconsistencies honestly.
How to Apply for Australia Tourist Visa Online
- Confirm the visa stream. Select the Tourist stream for holidays or family/friend visits, rather than a stream intended for other activities.
- Prepare your evidence. Collect identity, travel, financial and other documents relevant to your case.
- Sign in to ImmiAccount. Start the appropriate subclass 600 application on the Australian Government website.
- Complete the form accurately. Declare previous refusals, travel history and other requested information truthfully.
- Upload documents and pay. Review the application and pay the charge shown in ImmiAccount.
- Respond to requests. Provide biometrics, health examinations or additional evidence if instructed.
- Check the outcome. Monitor ImmiAccount and read the visa grant notice carefully before travelling.
Official application portal: ImmiAccount.
Australia Tourist Visa Fees and Processing Times (2026)
| Item | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Offshore Tourist stream visa charge | From AUD 250 per person, subject to the current official fee schedule |
| Other possible costs | Payment surcharge, biometrics, health checks, police certificates, translations or other supporting evidence, if applicable |
| Processing time | No guaranteed number of days. Use the official visa processing time guide for current indicative figures |
| Exchange rate | INR equivalent changes with exchange rates and payment arrangements; do not rely on a fixed rupee estimate |
Visa fees may change. Confirm the amount using the official Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before lodging. For indicative processing times, use the official processing time guide. Published processing times are historical indicators, not a guarantee for your case.
Common Reasons for Refusal and How to Prepare
Each decision is individual. Issues that can affect an application include an unclear or inconsistent travel purpose, unexplained finances, insufficient evidence of a genuine temporary visit, missing information, or concerns about the reliability of documents. Prior visa refusals should be disclosed when requested and addressed accurately.
A stronger application is a truthful, internally consistent application supported by relevant evidence—not an artificially high bank balance or a generic cover letter. Neither an invitation nor a travel history guarantees approval.
Tourist Stream vs Sponsored Family and Business Visitor Streams
The Tourist stream can be used for holidays and visits to friends or relatives without a formal sponsor under the Sponsored Family stream. The Sponsored Family stream is a separate option with sponsorship requirements and may involve a security bond. The Business Visitor stream covers specified short business visitor activities, not employment in Australia. Choosing the correct stream matters.
Travel Insurance and Visa Conditions
Visitors are generally responsible for their healthcare costs in Australia. The Department strongly recommends adequate health insurance, and some visas may carry a health-insurance condition. Review all conditions in your grant letter, including any No Further Stay condition, before travel.
Australia Tourist Visa FAQs (India - 2026)
The offshore Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream application charge starts from AUD 250 per applicant, as listed by the Department of Home Affairs. Payment surcharges and costs for biometrics, health examinations or other documents may apply. Confirm the payable amount in the official Visa Pricing Estimator before lodging.
There is no universal government-prescribed minimum bank balance such as INR 3 lakh, 6 lakh or 8 lakh for every tourist visa applicant. You must show that you can support yourself during your proposed stay and pay for travel. The evidence should be proportionate to your trip, accommodation and personal circumstances.
The Department may grant a stay of 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on your circumstances. The visa grant notice specifies the permitted stay, entry arrangements and conditions. A 12-month stay is not guaranteed.
Processing times vary and are not guaranteed. Check the Department of Home Affairs visa processing time guide for current indicative times, and apply well before your intended travel date. Additional information, health checks or biometrics can affect the timeframe.
Yes. The usual application route is through the official ImmiAccount service. For the Tourist stream applied for outside Australia, you must be outside Australia both when you apply and when the Department decides the application.
You cannot work in Australia on a Tourist stream visa. Study or training is generally permitted for up to 3 months, subject to the conditions on your visa. If your primary purpose is study or employment, check the appropriate visa category.
You cannot simply extend an existing visa. You may need to apply for another visa before your current stay ends, but eligibility depends on your circumstances and visa conditions. A No Further Stay condition may restrict applying for many visas while in Australia.
Yes. The Tourist stream can be used to visit relatives or friends without applying under the separate Sponsored Family stream. An invitation letter and evidence of the relationship may support the stated purpose of travel.
Each traveller generally needs their own Visitor visa application, including children. Family members can indicate that they are travelling together, but each application is assessed individually.
Adequate travel health insurance is strongly recommended because visitors are generally responsible for their own medical costs in Australia. Some visa grants may include a health insurance condition.
The Department may ask you to provide biometrics, undergo health examinations or submit other evidence. Follow the instructions issued for your particular application rather than assuming every applicant has identical requirements.
It is generally safer to avoid non-refundable travel commitments until you have a visa decision. A proposed itinerary and accommodation plans can explain the visit without guaranteeing a visa outcome.
A visa may be refused if the decision-maker is not satisfied that you are a genuine temporary visitor, have sufficient funds, meet applicable health or character requirements, or have provided reliable information. The exact reasons depend on the application and the written decision.
A previous refusal does not automatically prevent a new application, but it must be disclosed accurately when requested. Address the previous refusal reasons with genuine new or stronger evidence and do not submit false or misleading information.
Not in every case. An invitation letter may be relevant for a family or friend visit, while previous travel can be useful background. Applicants without international travel history may still apply if they meet the visa requirements.
The Tourist stream is for holidays, cruises and visits to family or friends. The Business Visitor stream is for permitted business visitor activities, such as meetings or conferences, and does not authorise employment in Australia. Choose the stream that matches the actual purpose of travel.
