How to use the subclass 600 visitor visa to come to Australia
If you want to visit Australia as a tourist, see family, or attend a short business trip, the Visitor visa (subclass 600) is the main pathway available to you. It covers several different streams depending on your purpose and where you are when you apply — and choosing the right one matters.
What the subclass 600 covers
The Department of Home Affairs lists four streams under this visa. Most Filipinos will be looking at one of the first two.
- Tourist stream (apply outside Australia) — for holidays, cruises, and visiting friends or family. You apply and must be outside Australia when the visa is decided. The department may grant you a stay of 3, 6, or 12 months.
- Tourist stream (apply in Australia) — same purposes, but you apply while already in Australia. This can suit you if you hold another visa that is expiring and you want to stay longer. A stay of up to 12 months may be granted.
- Business visitor stream — for short business visits of up to 3 months. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided. Important: this stream does not let you work or sell goods or services while in Australia.
- Approved Destination Status stream — for citizens from certain areas of China travelling on a tour organised by an approved travel agent. This stream does not apply to Filipino passport holders.
Basic eligibility for all streams
The Department of Home Affairs states two core requirements that apply across the board:
- You must be a genuine visitor.
- You must have enough funds to support your stay and to leave.
The “genuine visitor” requirement is where applications most often run into trouble. Officers assess whether you have strong ties to your home country and a clear intention to leave Australia when your visa expires. This gets tricky if you have close family already settled in Australia, or if your financial or employment situation at home is unclear — those factors can raise doubts about your intention to return.
How long you can stay
The tourist streams can give you up to 12 months in Australia, though the department decides the exact length — 3, 6, or 12 months — based on your application. The business visitor stream is capped at 3 months. The Approved Destination Status stream specifies the period in your grant letter.
Where to apply and processing times
You apply online through ImmiAccount. For the tourist stream (outside Australia) and the business visitor stream, you must be outside Australia both when you apply and when the department makes its decision. For the tourist stream (inside Australia), you must be in Australia at both points.
The Department of Home Affairs does not publish a fixed processing time on this page. Instead, it directs applicants to use its visa processing time guide tool, which shows times for recently decided applications. The department notes that this is a guide only and is not specific to your individual application.
What the business visitor stream does not allow
If you are applying under the business visitor stream, be clear on this: you cannot work or sell goods or services while in Australia on this stream. It is for business visitor activities only — think meetings, conferences, or negotiations — not employment. The department may grant you single or multiple entries while the visa is valid.
Before you apply
Check the specific stream page on the Department of Home Affairs website for the full list of documents and eligibility criteria — the source page for this article links to each stream’s detail page. Costs are listed on those individual pages; the source material does not specify the exact fee amounts at the time of writing.
First published by the Department of Home Affairs — Immigration and citizenship website. Read the full source at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600.
This is general information, not migration advice. For your specific case, consult a MARA-registered agent — find one in our directory.
