Tourist and Work Holiday Visas

VISITOR VISA (sc 600)

Features

This visa lets you visit Australia:

  • to visit or for business visitor purposes
  • for up to three, six or 12 months.

The base application charge for this visa ranges from AUD135 to AUD1000.

The eVisitor (subclass 651) visa is free. You must be a passport holder of a certain country.

The Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) visa has an AUD20 service charge. You must be a passport holder of a certain country.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are travelling to Australia:

  • as a visitor
  • for business visitor activities
  • to visit family
  • on a tour with a registered travel agent from the People’s Republic of China.

If you are in Australia you can apply for the Tourist stream of the Visitor visa online provided you currently have a valid visa that does not have condition 8503 imposed.

If you are outside Australia only certain passport holders can apply for this visa online.

If you hold a passport from the People’s Republic of China and are applying from within China you might be able to apply for the Visitor Visa (subclass 600) Frequent Traveller stream visa.

Processing Times

Tourist

  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 20 days
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 30 days

Sponsored family

  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 41 days
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 58 days

Business visitor

  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 6 days
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 15 days

Approved Destination Status

  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 3 days
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 5 days

Frequent traveller

  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 5 days
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 12 days

WORKING HOLIDAY VISA (sc 417)

Features

This visa is for young people who want to holiday and work in Australia for up to a year. It is a temporary visa that encourages cultural exchange and closer ties between Australia and eligible countries.

First Working Holiday visa

You must be outside Australia when you apply for your first Working Holiday visa and when the visa is decided.

Second Working Holiday visa

If you apply in Australia, you must be in Australia when the visa is granted. If you apply outside Australia, you must be outside Australia when the visa is granted.

Working in Australia

Six months with one employer – You can generally only work six months with one employer.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

  • have not previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday (Temporary) visa (subclass 462)
  • hold a valid passport from a country involved in the Working Holiday Program with Australia
  • have turned 18 years of age but have not yet turned 31
  • are a genuine visitor who wants to have a holiday in Australia
  • have enough money to support yourself on a working holiday (about AUD 5000)
  • have enough money to buy a return or onward travel ticket at the end of your stay
  • will not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during your stay.

Countries involved in Working Holiday Program include Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders), Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Tainwan and United Kingdom.

Processing Times
  • 75 per cent of applications processed in 14 days
  • 90 per cent of applications processed in 34 days