Australia
Australia visa guide: every visa type, fee and application route
- 15 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Australia work
Australia has no visa-free entry for anyone except New Zealand citizens: every other traveller needs a visa or an electronic authority before boarding. Visas are issued by the Department of Home Affairs and are almost always applied for online, mostly in ImmiAccount. A granted visa is linked electronically to your passport; no label is put in it, and you can check its conditions at any time through VEVO.
Which product you use for a short visit depends on your passport. Citizens of ETA-eligible countries use the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) in the Australian ETA app, most EU passport holders use the free eVisitor (subclass 651), and everyone else applies for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). Longer stays run through a points-tested skilled migration system (SkillSelect), employer sponsorship (subclass 482 and 186), study visas tied to a Confirmation of Enrolment, and family visas sponsored by an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Most visa application charges are set in Australian dollars and indexed every 1 July; the amounts on this site come from the official visa pricing table. Health examinations, police certificates and biometrics are charged separately. If Home Affairs asks for biometrics, you give them at an Australian Biometric Collection Centre, following the instructions in the request letter. General visa questions go to the Home Affairs Global Service Centre.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday, visiting relatives or a short business trip: Visitor visa 600 (Tourist, Sponsored Family or Business Visitor stream), unless your passport qualifies for the ETA or eVisitor.
Changing planes: Transit visa 771, needed even airside unless your nationality may transit without a visa.
Full-time study at a CRICOS-registered institution: Student visa 500; after graduating in Australia, the Temporary Graduate visa 485.
A job offer from an approved Australian sponsor: Skills in Demand visa 482, with a later route to permanent residence through subclass 186.
Aged 18 to 30 (35 for some countries) with a partner-country passport: Working Holiday visa 417 or Work and Holiday visa 462; this guide details the 462 arrangement for Türkiye.
Permanent residence on your own skills: Skilled Independent 189, Skilled Nominated 190 or Skilled Work Regional 491 through SkillSelect; exceptional talent: National Innovation visa 858.
Joining a partner or children in Australia: Partner visas (309/100, 820/801, 300) and parent visas (103, 143, 870).
Visa types for Australia
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Visitor visa (subclass 600) – Tourist stream
The Tourist stream of the Visitor visa (subclass 600) covers holidays, cruises and visits to family or friends.
Maximum stay: The period on your grant letter: usually 3 months, up to 12 months in some cases - Family and friends visit visa Visitor visa (subclass 600) – Sponsored Family stream
The Sponsored Family stream lets a relative in Australia formally sponsor your visit.
Maximum stay: Standard 3 months; up to 12 months in limited circumstances - Transit visa Transit visa (subclass 771)
The Transit visa (subclass 771) is a free visa for passing through Australia on the way to another country within 72 hours.
Maximum stay: No longer than 72 hours (Maritime Crew visa holders: join the ship within 5 days) - Medical treatment visa Medical Treatment visa (subclass 602)
The Medical Treatment visa (subclass 602) covers treatment or a medical consultation in Australia, donating an organ, receiving an organ from a donor who travels with you, and supporting a patient or donor on this visa.
Maximum stay: Decided case by case, based on the treatment plan
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Visitor visa (subclass 600) – Business Visitor stream
The Business Visitor stream of the subclass 600 visa is for short business trips: enquiries, contract negotiations, official government visits and unpaid participation in conferences or trade fairs.
Maximum stay: Up to 3 months per the grant letter - Entrepreneur and start-up visa National Innovation visa (subclass 858) – successor to the closed Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 188)
Australia no longer has an open business investor or start-up visa: the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) closed to new applications on 31 July 2024.
Maximum stay: Permanent
Study and training
- Student visa Student visa (subclass 500)
The Student visa (subclass 500) lets you study full time in a CRICOS-registered course for up to 6 years in line with your enrolment.
Maximum stay: Up to 6 years, in line with your enrolment
Work
- Work visa Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) – Post-Higher Education Work stream
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets international students who have recently completed an Australian degree stay and work in any job for 2 to 3 years.
Maximum stay: Bachelor and coursework master's: 2 years; research master's and doctorate: 3 years (Hong Kong and BNO passports: 5 years) - Skilled worker visa Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482)
The Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) lets an approved Australian employer sponsor a skilled worker for up to 4 years.
Maximum stay: Up to 4 years (5 years for Hong Kong passport holders), as nominated by the employer - Working holiday visa Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) for Turkish citizens
This page covers only the arrangement for citizens of Türkiye, one of the partner countries of Australia's Work and Holiday program; other nationalities use the Working Holiday (417) or Work and Holiday (462) visa under their own country's conditions.
Maximum stay: 12 months per visa
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Partner visas: Partner (Provisional and Migrant) 309/100, Partner 820/801 and Prospective Marriage 300
The spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen applies for a temporary and a permanent partner visa in one application: subclass 309/100 from outside Australia or 820/801 inside Australia.
Maximum stay: Temporary visa until the permanent visa is decided; then permanent - Family reunification visa Parent visas: Parent (subclass 103), Contributory Parent (subclass 143) and Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870)
Parents of settled Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens can migrate permanently through the Parent visa (subclass 103, from AUD 8,665) or the far more expensive Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143, from AUD 49,900), both paid in two instalments and both subject to long queues.
Maximum stay: 103 and 143: permanent; 870: 3 or 5 years per visa, 10 years cumulative
Residence
- Permanent residence Skilled migration to permanent residence: Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190) and Skilled Work Regional (491) visas
Australia's points-tested skilled visas let you migrate on your own skills without an employer.
Maximum stay: 189 and 190: permanent; 491: 5 years
Online travel permits
- Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651)
The ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) are Australia's electronic visitor authorities for selected passports.
Maximum stay: Up to 3 months after each entry
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Protection visa (subclass 866) and offshore Humanitarian Program (subclasses 200 and 202)
People who arrived in Australia on a valid visa and were immigration cleared can apply in Australia for a permanent Protection visa (subclass 866) if they are refugees or meet the complementary protection criteria.
Maximum stay: Protection visa 866: permanent
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a visa for Australia?
Everyone except New Zealand citizens. Holders of ETA-eligible passports use the ETA (601), most EU passport holders the free eVisitor (651), and all other travellers apply online for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) or another visa that matches the purpose of the trip, before travelling.
Where do I apply for an Australian visa?
Online, through ImmiAccount on the Home Affairs website (the ETA through the Australian ETA app). If biometrics are requested, you book an appointment at an Australian Biometric Collection Centre as the request letter explains.
How much does an Australian tourist visa cost?
The Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream costs AUD 250 per applicant when you apply from outside Australia and AUD 630 when you apply from inside Australia, according to the current visa pricing table.
Can I work in Australia on a visitor visa?
No. Visitor visas carry a no-work condition. Working needs a visa with work rights, such as the Work and Holiday visa 462, the Skills in Demand visa 482 or a student visa with its fortnightly limit.
Is there an Australian golden visa or investor visa?
Not any more. The Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 188), including the investor streams, closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. The National Innovation visa (subclass 858) is the current permanent route for people with an internationally recognised record of exceptional achievement.
How long does an Australian visa take?
Home Affairs does not promise fixed times. Its online visa processing time guide shows how long recently decided applications took. Times differ widely between visas; parent visas in particular have queues that the department itself describes as long.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.