Visitor Visa – Tourist Stream

This is the everyday visitor visa — for a holiday, sightseeing, or visiting family and friends without a sponsor. You can apply for it from inside or outside Australia, it generally allows a stay of up to 12 months, and it doesn't come with work rights.

Key Requirements

You'll generally need to show that:

• you're genuinely visiting temporarily and intend to leave again at the end of your stay;
• you can financially support yourself for the length of the visit — Visitor visa holders aren't covered by Medicare, so private health cover is worth arranging;
• you meet the relevant health and character requirements; and
• you can show evidence of your circumstances at home and the genuine purpose of your visit.

What You Can Do on a Tourist Stream Visa

A Tourist stream visa may allow you to:

• visit family and friends;
• enjoy a holiday or undertake tourism activities;
• take a cruise; and
• undertake study or training for up to 3 months, where permitted.

You cannot work in Australia on a Visitor visa, and each family member travelling needs their own separate application — a Visitor visa can't be granted to a group under one application.

Applying for a Tourist Stream Visa

The process generally comes down to three steps: gathering your supporting documents, getting anything not in English translated and everything scanned or photographed clearly, and lodging online. Some Visitor visa applications are decided very quickly, occasionally within a day, while others take longer depending on how complete the application is — I'd treat any specific processing estimate as a guide rather than a guarantee, since it shifts with the Department's workload.

Visa Cost

The visa application charge depends on where the application is lodged. The Tourist stream applied for outside Australia currently starts from AUD $250. Additional costs may apply for health examinations, biometrics, police certificates or other requirements.

How I Can Help

I can assist with:

• Tourist stream eligibility assessments;
• preparation of supporting statements and documentation;
• evidence of genuine temporary stay intentions;
• financial capacity documentation;
• preparation and lodgement of Visitor visa applications; and
• responding to Department of Home Affairs requests.

Important Information

The information on this page is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute migration advice for your individual circumstances.

Visitor visa requirements, streams, processing times and government fees can change. Meeting the general requirements described above does not guarantee that a visa will be granted.

Professional advice should be obtained based on your individual circumstances before lodging a Visitor visa application.