Visitor and other visas

Visits, working holidays, and everything in between.

Family visits are often the first step in a long journey. This page covers visitor visas, the new arrival rules, working holiday and ballot visas, health and character checks, and what happens after a refusal.

Princes Bridge over the Yarra near Flinders Street with city towers in daylight

Visitor visas (subclass 600)

For parents and relatives coming for a wedding, a birth, a graduation or a long-awaited stay. Depending on citizenship, some visitors use an electronic travel authority or eVisitor instead. A visitor application is assessed on the genuine purpose of the visit and the visitor's reasons to return home.

Purpose: explain the visit simply and honestly, with dates.
Ties: show work, family, property or study commitments at home.
Funds: show how the visit will be paid for, by the visitor or a sponsor in Australia.
Invitations: an invitation letter from family helps explain the visit, but it does not decide the application.
Conditions: visitors must follow their visa conditions, including limits on work and study.

Since 1 July 2024, visitor visa holders cannot apply for a Student visa while in Australia. From 2 October 2026 that bar covers most temporary visa holders. See student visas.

Passenger jet landing on a runway on a sunny day, telephoto

Arrivals

Check the travel rules before you fly.

A granted visa does not promise entry. Arrival control determinations can stop some temporary visa holders travelling for up to 6 months.

Other visas

Working holidays, ballots and training.

Each of these has fixed eligibility rules set by agreement between Australia and other countries. We tell you plainly whether you are eligible before you spend money.

Subclasses 417 and 462

Working Holiday Maker

Processing has returned to around three months. From 1 July 2026 nationals of Cyprus, Finland, Germany and the Republic of Korea are eligible up to age 35. The 2026-27 ballot for China, India and Vietnam (subclass 462) closed on 25 June 2026.

Subclass 403, India

MATES

The Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early professionals Scheme is by ballot only. You need an Indian passport, to be aged 18 to 30, and to be a recent graduate of an eligible institution in an eligible field. Stays are up to 2 years.

Subclass 192

Pacific Engagement Visa

A permanent visa by ballot for eligible Pacific and Timor-Leste nationals. The 2026-27 ballot ran from 1 to 29 July 2026, and selected people have 120 days to apply.

Subclass 407

Training visa

For occupational training or professional development. You now need an approved sponsor and nomination before you apply.

Closed

Business and investor visas

The Business Innovation and Investment Program, including the subclass 132 business visa, closed permanently to new applications on 31 July 2024.

Invitation only

National Innovation visa (858)

For people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement, invited through an expression of interest. Very selective.

Sources: Working Holiday Maker latest news; MATES; Pacific Engagement Visa; skilled migration recent changes. Checked 22 October 2026.

Visas in this group

Visitor, residence and review pages.

600Visitor visaTourism, family visits and business visits: Tourist, Sponsored Family, Business Visitor, Approved Destination Status and Frequent Traveller streams.In forceMain applicant charge: A$250

651eVisitorFree online visitor visa for eligible European passport holders.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

601Electronic Travel AuthorityApplied for through the Australian ETA app by eligible passport holders.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

771Transit visaPassing through Australia for up to 72 hours on the way to another country.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

602Medical Treatment visaMedical treatment, organ donation or supporting a patient.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

866Protection visaFor people in Australia who engage Australia's protection obligations. General information only.In forceMain applicant charge: A$50

200 to 204Refugee and humanitarian visas (offshore)Refugee and humanitarian visas, usually applied for outside Australia. General information only.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

010 to 051Bridging visas A, B, C and EKeep you lawful while an onshore application or review is decided. Travel needs a Bridging B.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

155 / 157Resident Return visaFor permanent residents whose travel facility has ended or is ending.In forceMain applicant charge: A$1,475

Australian citizenship by conferralFor permanent residents who meet the residence, character and test requirements.In forceMain applicant charge: Check every charge in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator

The health requirementWhat the health requirement means and when a health waiver may be available.In forceMain applicant charge: Check every charge in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator

Review at the Administrative Review TribunalReview of most onshore refusals and cancellations, and some sponsor-initiated reviews. Deadlines cannot be extended.In forceMain applicant charge: Check every charge in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator

s 351Ministerial interventionA request to the Minister after a Tribunal decision, under the current Ministerial Instructions.In forceMain applicant charge: Check every charge in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator

s 116 / s 501Visa cancellation and characterNotices of intention to cancel, character decisions and revocation requests. Respond within the time given.In forceMain applicant charge: Check every charge in the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator

444Special Category visaThe visa most New Zealand citizens receive on arrival, letting them live, work and study in Australia.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

151Former Resident visaPermanent visa for some former permanent residents who grew up in Australia, and for certain pre-1981 Australian Defence Force members.In forceMain applicant charge: A$6,005

159Provisional Resident Return visaReturn travel for some former holders of provisional visas. Home Affairs lists a charge for it but publishes no visa page.In forceMain applicant charge: A$245

942Crew Travel AuthorityElectronic record for international airline crew, registered by the airline under the Special Purpose visa framework.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

988Maritime Crew visaFree visa for foreign crew arriving by sea on an eligible ship on an international voyage.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

Special Purpose visaGranted automatically to people with a prescribed status, such as foreign armed forces members and airline crew. You do not apply.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

785Temporary Protection visaThree-year protection visa for people who arrived without a visa or were not immigration cleared. General information only.In forceMain applicant charge: A$50

790Safe Haven Enterprise visaFive-year protection visa with a commitment to work or study in regional Australia. General information only.In forceMain applicant charge: A$50

851Resolution of Status visaPermanent visa for eligible TPV and SHEV holders who arrived before 14 February 2023. General information only.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

773Border visaGranted at the border in limited circumstances. Home Affairs lists a charge for it but publishes no visa page.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

995Diplomatic (Temporary) visaFor accredited diplomatic and consular staff. Arranged through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.In forceMain applicant charge: Nil

998Australian Declaratory visaFor some Australian citizens who also hold another nationality. Home Affairs lists a charge for it but publishes no visa page.In forceMain applicant charge: A$240

Health and character checks

Most visa applicants must meet health and character requirements. Depending on the visa, your age, your country and how long you will stay, you may be asked to have a medical examination or chest x-ray with a panel physician approved by the Department, and to provide police certificates from countries where you have lived.

Only the Department's approved panel physicians can do visa medical examinations. The Department lists them on its website.
Health examinations are often requested after you lodge, and the results are sent directly to the Department.
Character checks can include police certificates and, for some people, extra forms about military service or past convictions.
Answer every health and character question truthfully. False or misleading information can lead to refusal or cancellation.

Source: Department of Home Affairs, health requirements; character requirements

If a visa is refused

A refusal letter tells you whether you can seek review, where, and by when. Many migration decisions can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), which replaced the earlier tribunals. Review deadlines are strict and short, and most migration review applications have a fee of A$3,727 from 1 July 2026.

We read the decision with you, explain it in plain words, and tell you honestly whether review, a fresh application or a different plan makes more sense.

Source: Administrative Review Tribunal

Planning a family visit?

Start early, especially for weddings and births. We will help you put the purpose and ties clearly.

Book a free 15-minute call Partner and family visas