Australia Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) from India in 2026: Online Application Guide
By Ananya Singh (Ananya Singh writes step-by-step first-international-trip guides for Indians — passport rules, visa-cascade timing, immigration walkthroughs, and the unglamorous logistics that separate a smooth trip from a stranded one.) · Published · 13 min read
Australia's Visitor visa (subclass 600) for Indians is applied 100% online through ImmiAccount — there's no e-visa sticker, the visa is electronic and linked to your passport. Here's the Tourist-stream walkthrough: AUD 200 base fee, documents, processing and what gets refused.
Quick answer
Indian passport holders need a visa to visit Australia — and for tourism the usual option is the Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream. You apply entirely online through the Australian Government's ImmiAccount portal; there is no visa label or sticker — the visa is electronic and linked to your passport (you verify it via VEVO). As of 2026 the base application charge is AUD 200 when applying from outside Australia (raised from AUD 190 on 1 July 2025), paid online by card. Tourist-stream processing in early 2026 ran roughly 11 to 28 days, with most decisions inside ~20 days. Always confirm the current fee and times on the official site immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. See our Australia visa snapshot too.
Subclass 600 vs the alternatives — which Australia visa do Indians need?
Australia has several visitor pathways, but Indians can't use all of them:
- Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream — the standard tourist visa for Indian passport holders. Lets you holiday, see family/friends, or do limited unpaid recreational activity. Granted for 3, 6 or 12 months at the officer's discretion; most first-timers get 3 or 12 months with conditions. This is the one this guide covers.
- ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) — fast, cheap online travel authorities, but Indians are NOT eligible (these are limited to specific passport lists like the US, UK, EU, Japan, etc.). Don't let an agent sell you one — your nationality rules it out.
- Business stream of 600 — for short business visits (meetings, conferences), not paid work.
So for an Indian planning a Sydney–Melbourne–Gold Coast holiday or visiting children studying in Australia, the answer is almost always the subclass 600 Tourist stream. It's a full assessed visa (closer in effort to a tourist visa than to Nepal's open border), so plan your documents carefully.
The fee — AUD 200 base, and the rupee reality
The base Visa Application Charge (VAC) for subclass 600 is AUD 200 when you apply from outside Australia (Tourist, Business Visitor, Sponsored Family and Approved Destination streams all share this base, as of the 1 July 2025 fee schedule). It was AUD 190 before that date — Australia raises visa fees every 1 July, so check the live figure.
| Item | Amount (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base VAC (offshore) | AUD 200 | ~₹11,000–11,500 depending on the AUD/INR rate |
| Additional applicant (18+) | extra VAC per person | each family member pays their own charge |
| Card surcharge | ~1–1.4% | added by the payment gateway |
Two India-specific money notes:
- The fee is charged in AUD, so your Indian card converts at its forex rate plus a typical 3.5% markup. A zero-forex card (Niyo Global, Fi, IndusInd, HDFC Pixel) or a loaded forex card saves that markup.
- This is a forex spend under the LRS; in 2026, TCS generally applies only once your total foreign remittances cross the annual threshold, and a small visa fee on a card usually won't trigger it — but keep it in mind if you're also paying large tour/hotel bills abroad. See our forex-spend tips.
Confirm the exact current charge on the Department of Home Affairs pricing page before you pay — fees change.
Step 1 — Create your ImmiAccount and start the application
Everything happens at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. There is no paper lodgement and no VFS sticker collection for the visa itself (VFS Global in India handles biometrics only, if asked — see Step 3).
- Go to ImmiAccount and create an account with your email.
- Select "New application" → Visitor → Visitor visa (subclass 600), then the Tourist stream. The online form is the digital version of Form 1419.
- Fill your personal details exactly as on your passport, travel dates, purpose, accommodation, and who's funding the trip.
- Declare travel history and any prior visa refusals (from any country) honestly — concealment is a common refusal trigger.
One ImmiAccount can lodge for a whole family — add each traveller as an applicant. Save as you go; the form is long.
Step 2 — Documents Indians should upload
The 600 is assessed on whether you're a genuine temporary entrant with funds and strong reasons to return to India. Upload clear colour scans:
- Passport bio-page (valid well beyond your trip) and any old passports showing travel history.
- Recent passport photo (the portal specifies the format).
- Proof of funds — last 3–6 months' bank statements, with a healthy, explained balance; salary slips; ITRs/Form 16 for the last 2 years.
- Employment/business proof — employer letter with approved leave dates and your return-to-work date; for business owners, GST/registration and company papers.
- Ties to India — anything showing you'll return: property papers, family responsibilities, ongoing studies.
- Trip plan — flight reservation (a held booking, not necessarily paid; see below), hotel bookings/itinerary, and a cover letter explaining the trip.
- If visiting family/friends: an invitation letter from the host in Australia, their visa/PR/citizenship proof, and (for Sponsored Family stream) any sponsorship documents.
On flight tickets — be honest: Home Affairs advises you should not buy non-refundable flights before your visa is granted. A flight reservation/itinerary is enough to show intent; book the paid ticket after approval. Don't fabricate bookings. You can pull live fares and a clean itinerary for routes like Delhi to Sydney or Mumbai to Melbourne in the FlightGPT chat at flightgpt.in.
Step 3 — Biometrics, health and the wait
Biometrics: Indian applicants may be asked to provide fingerprints and a photo at a VFS Global Australia Biometric Collection Centre (in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jalandhar and more). If required, you'll get a letter after lodging; book the appointment and carry your passport. This is the only in-person step, and it's for biometrics — not for a visa sticker.
Health: Most short tourist trips don't need a medical, but the system may request a health examination (chest X-ray/medical) at a panel clinic depending on your length of stay and history. Follow the instruction if it appears in ImmiAccount.
Processing: As at early 2026, the Tourist stream ran about 11–28 days, with roughly 75% finalised within ~20 days and 90% within ~33 days. The Business stream was faster (~5–19 days). These are date-stamped and move with demand — check the official processing-times tool and apply at least 4–6 weeks before travel to be safe.
Step 4 — The grant: no sticker, all electronic
This surprises first-timers: Australia issues no visa label in your passport. When approved, you receive a visa grant notification by email containing your visa grant number, validity dates and conditions (e.g., maximum stay per entry, whether you can study short courses, the "no further stay" condition 8503 if imposed). The visa is electronically linked to the passport you applied with.
Practical implications for Indians:
- Travel on the same passport you used to apply. If you renew it, you must update the new passport details with Home Affairs.
- Carry a printout of the grant notice. Airlines and immigration verify your visa electronically via VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online), but having the grant letter avoids check-in friction at Delhi/Mumbai airports.
- Read your conditions. A 12-month visa often allows multiple entries but caps each stay (commonly 3 months at a time). Overstaying or breaching conditions risks cancellation and future bans.
Australia's electronic-visa system is similar to New Zealand's — if you're comparing the trans-Tasman pair, see our New Zealand visitor-visa guide and the NZeTA eligibility note for Indians.
Why subclass 600 applications get refused — and how to avoid it
- Weak "genuine temporary entrant" case — thin ties to India, no stable job/business, or a vague plan. Show strong reasons to return and a clear, funded itinerary.
- Insufficient or unexplained funds — a sudden large deposit just before applying raises flags. Maintain a genuine balance and explain large credits.
- Undisclosed refusals — hiding a prior visa rejection (any country) is a fast decline. Declare everything.
- Buying non-refundable flights early — not a refusal reason itself, but if refused you lose the money. Use a reservation until granted.
- Inconsistent information — employer letter, bank statements and the form must align. Mismatches invite scrutiny.
- Applying too late — leaving only days before travel. Allow 4–6 weeks given the 11–28 day Tourist-stream window.
If refused, the grant letter explains the reason; you can re-apply addressing the gaps, or seek review where eligible.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Australia subclass 600 visitor visa for Indians in 2026?
The base Visa Application Charge is AUD 200 when applying from outside Australia (raised from AUD 190 on 1 July 2025) — roughly ₹11,000–11,500 depending on the AUD/INR rate, plus a small card surcharge and any forex markup. Confirm the live fee on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
Can Indians get an Australian ETA or eVisitor instead?
No. The ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) are only for specific passport lists (US, UK, EU, Japan and others) and Indians are not eligible. Indian passport holders must apply for the Visitor visa subclass 600, usually the Tourist stream.
How long does the Australia visitor visa take to process?
As at early 2026, the Tourist stream ran about 11–28 days, with ~75% finalised within ~20 days and ~90% within ~33 days. The Business stream was faster (~5–19 days). Apply at least 4–6 weeks before travel and check the official processing-times tool.
Does Australia put a visa sticker in my passport?
No. Australia's visa is fully electronic — there is no label or sticker. You get a visa grant notification by email with your grant number, dates and conditions, linked to your passport. Carry a printout; airlines verify it via VEVO.
Do I need to book flights before applying for the subclass 600?
No — and you shouldn't buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is granted. A flight reservation/itinerary is enough to show intent. Book the paid ticket after approval. You can generate a clean itinerary and compare fares in the FlightGPT chat.
Do Indians need to give biometrics for the Australia visitor visa?
Often yes. Indian applicants may be asked to provide fingerprints and a photo at a VFS Global Australia Biometric Collection Centre (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and more) after lodging online. It's the only in-person step and is for biometrics, not a visa sticker.
How long can I stay in Australia on a subclass 600?
It's granted for 3, 6 or 12 months at the officer's discretion. A 12-month visa is usually multiple-entry but commonly caps each stay (often 3 months). Always read the conditions on your grant notice — overstaying risks cancellation and future bans.