½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Types of visas for Australia

Unless you are an Australian citizen, you'll need a visa to enter the country and must apply for it before leaving home. The only exceptions are New Zealand passport holders who can apply for a visa on arrival.

There are different types of visas for entry into Australia, including tourist visas, working holiday visas, work and skilled visas, study visas, family and partner visas, and refugee and humanitarian visas. You use the to check which one is right for you.

The most popular visitor visas

The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) subclass 601

The is one of the most common tourist visas for visitors to Australia. The ETA allows visa holders to travel to Australia for stays of up to three months, during a 12-month period. This multiple-entry visa will allow you to leave and re-enter as many times as you like while it remains valid.

On the ETA, you can travel to Australia:

• as a tourist — for example, to cruise or have a holiday; 
• to visit family or friends;
• as a business visitor.

However, the ETA is not a work visa, so if you are visiting for business, it is important to note that you cannot sell goods or services directly to the public, and you are unable to work or provide services to an Australian business. You can, however, participate in conferences, trade fairs, and seminars, investigate and negotiate business contracts, and make general business enquiries.

You must be outside Australia when you apply for this visa, and applications must be made via the . If you are unable to use the app, you can apply online via  for another visa that suits your needs. The ETA is not a physical visa or label in your passport; instead, the visa is stored electronically and tied to your passport number. There is no cost for this visa; however, a fee of AUD 20 (USD 13) applies for using the ETA app. In most cases, ETA visas are processed immediately.

You can apply for an ETA if you are from one of the following countries:

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Canada
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong (SAR of China)
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Monaco
• Norway
• Portugal
• Republic of San Marino
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan (excluding official or diplomatic passports)
• The Netherlands
• United Kingdom—British Citizen
• United Kingdom—British National (Overseas)
• United States of America
• Vatican City

If you are not on the above list, visit the  for a variety of other visa options. You cannot apply for an ETA visa with a non-citizen passport, certificate of identity, or other travel document.

Important:

Be cautious of third-party providers that claim to be able to provide you with an ETA. There should be no costs for this visa category aside from the service fee. Always ensure you are using the official government website and app to avoid scams.

If you are traveling as a family, all members of the party, including children, must have their own ETA visa. If you have any criminal convictions in your home country, you are not eligible for this visa and should apply for the Ìý¾±²Ô²õ³Ù±ð²¹»å.

In addition, you must not have any debts to the Australian government when applying for this visa. Other visa conditions include  to maintain Australia's high health standards, and  (which tie in with any criminal offenses you may have). You must also intend to stay temporarily in Australia and comply with the conditions and duration specified on your visa.

While in Australia on an ETA Visa, you are not covered by Medicare, Australia's national health care system. Therefore, it is essential to have your own health and travel insurance for the duration of your visit.

The Department of Home Affairs has created a .

Read also Healthcare in Australia

eVisitor subclass 651

This visa is also a relatively straightforward online application that is completed from outside Australia. The is a free visa for those wishing to visit family and friends, take a holiday in Australia, participate in a cruise, or engage in business visitor activities, as per the ETA visa. In some cases, you can study for up to three months as well.

You would apply for this visa if your passport isn't included in the list of eligible countries on the ETA visa list. You can apply for an eVisitor (subclass 651) visa if you hold a valid passport from one of the following countries:

• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Republic of San Marino
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom – British Citizen
• Vatican City

You cannot apply for an eVisitor (subclass 651) visa with a non-citizen passport, certificate of identity, or other travel document, including a Titre de Voyage, or a British National Overseas, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person, or British Subject passport.

As with the ETA, the eVisitor (subclass 651) visa is also an electronically stored authority for travel to Australia, and you don't require a physical visa label or stamp in your passport. To be eligible for the eVisitor (subclass 651) visa, you must meet the health and character requirements and not have any money owing to the Australian Government. You must also have sufficient funds to support yourself while in the country. The eVisitor (subclass 651) is a temporary visa that permits multiple entries into Australia for three months at a time. The visa is valid for 12 months. Check out the for how to apply.

Visitor Visa subclass 600

This visa is open to more countries than the ETA and the eVisitor (subclass 651) and offers greater flexibility regarding the duration of stay. The is intended for individuals who wish to enter Australia to visit family and friends, for tourism, or a cruise, and for any purpose except business or medical treatment. You are also entitled to study for up to three months on this visa.

However, the application process is more complicated than applying for the ETA or the eVisitor (subclass 651). You must be outside Australia when applying for the Visitor Visa (subclass 600), which will be digitally linked to your passport. The length of stay will be determined on a case-by-case basis, allowing stays of three, six, or 12 months.

Those considering applying for a Visitor Visa (subclass 600) must have sufficient funds to support themselves in Australia and must not work during their stay in the country. To be successful, you must also meet health and character requirements, not owe money to the Australian Government, be a genuine visitor and not overstay your visa, and potentially have to pay for health checks, police certificates, and biometrics.

This visa is open to citizens of all countries. It costs AUD 200 (USD 130) and can be applied for online using an . Check out the .

In addition to the most popular visitor visas above, there are other categories of visitor visas, depending on the purpose of your stay in Australia.

These are:

• ;
• ;
• ;
• .

Extending visas

If you are on a visitor's visa, there is a possibility that you may be able to extend your stay while in the country. If your visa doesn't have a condition that prevents you from staying in Australia for longer, you can potentially apply for a new visa. However, your options for extending depend on your situation. If you want to extend your stay in Australia, it is essential to research your options before your current visa expires, as processing visa extensions can take time. For more information on the options available to you, visit the .

Other popular visas

In addition to visitor's visas, there are several other categories of visas for entry into Australia, including:

Working Holiday visa (subclass 417 or 462)

The allows young adults to spend 12 months in Australia, working to fund their travels. Those on the Working Holiday Visa are allowed multiple entries in the country during that time, and there is , depending on your situation. You are typically only allowed to work with the same employer for a maximum of six months.

The costs AUD 670 (USD 439) and is for the following passport holders and age groups:

• Belgium – 18 to 30 years
• Canada – 18 to 35 years
• Republic of Cyprus - 18 to 30 years
• Denmark - 18 to 35 years
• Estonia - 18 to 30 years
• Finland - 18 to 30 years
• France - 18 to 35 years
• Germany - 18 to 30 years
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China - 18 to 30 years
• Republic of Ireland - 18 to 35 years
• Italy - 18 to 35 years
• Japan - 18 to 30 years
• Republic of Korea - 18 to 30 years
• Malta - 18 to 30 years
• Netherlands - 18 to 30 years
• Norway - 18 to 30 years
• Sweden - 18 to 30 years
• Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport) - 18 to 30 years
• The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including British National Overseas passport holders) - 18 to 35 years

The costs AUD 670 (USD 439), is valid for 12 months, and is for the following passport holders who are between 18 and 30 years of age:

• Argentina
• Austria
• Brazil
• Chile
• China, People's Republic of
• Czech Republic
• Ecuador
• Greece
• Hungary
• India
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Mongolia
• Papua New Guinea (PNG)
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Slovak Republic
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• °Õü°ù°ì¾±²â±ð
• Uruguay
• United States of America
• Vietnam

Important:

Passport holders from Vietnam, China, and India must be randomly selected via a pre-application process (ballot).

Read also The Working Holiday Visa in Australia

Long-term visa categories in Australia

If you hope to be in Australia longer than the duration allowed by your visitor visa, there are other permanent options to explore. Some of these visa options include:

Skills-based visas in Australia

Australia has introduced skills-based visas to attract highly skilled workers to fill shortages in the Australian labor market. If you are lucky enough to have the skills and experience that are highly sought after in Australia, then these visa options could enable you to have a more permanent stay in the country.

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a permanent residency visa that does not require sponsorship from an employer, state or territory government, or family member. The way applicants are assessed is via points, which means that you must meet specific criteria and score a minimum number of points to be eligible. Applicants must be invited to apply and have a nominated occupation that is on the Ìý²ú±ð proficient in speaking English, and pass health and character checks. You must also be under 45. This visa costs AUD 4,910 (USD 3,216).

°Õ³ó±ðÌýSkilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) is also a permanent residency visa, but it requires nomination from a state or territory government in Australia. Similar to the Subclass 189 visa, this visa is also points-tested, and applicants must meet the same basic requirements. This visa also costs AUD 4,910 (USD 3,216).

Similar to the Skilled Nominated visa, the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) is a permanent residency visa that allows skilled workers to work in Australia while being sponsored by an employer rather than by a government body. This visa is also designed to address skill shortages in the labor market, and applicants must have at least three years of relevant work experience in their profession. This visa also costs AUD 4,910 (USD 3,216).

All three of these visas are highly competitive, which is understandable – they come with significant benefits, such as permanent residency in Australia, access to Medicare (Australia's public healthcare system), and other social services. Permanent residents can also sponsor eligible family members to join them in Australia.

Partner visas

What if you're an expat who has fallen for an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or an eligible Kiwi living in Oz? Well, you may be eligible for a partner visa. There are a few different options for those wanting to reside in Australia with their beloved, and although it can be a complex process, there are a few things you can do to give yourself a chance at the best possible outcome. It's crucial that you understand which type of visa you should be applying for. And you need to ensure that you submit all of the required documentation with your application to reduce processing delays.

If you are currently in Australia, you can apply for . This visa allows the partner or spouse of an Australian citizen, Australia resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia. Subclass 820 is a temporary visa and is the first step towards securing the permanent subclass 801 partner visa. With this temporary visa, you can work and study and attend free English classes while your permanent partner visa is being processed. You can also apply to access Medicare. The temporary partner visa (subclass 820) costs from AUD 9,365 (USD 6,075), and the fee covers both the temporary and the permanent partner visas.

The processing time for the starts two years from the date you applied for the temporary partner visa. With the permanent visa, you can apply for Australian citizenship if you meet the criteria, and you can sponsor eligible family members to come to Australia, as well. You become an Australian permanent resident as soon as this visa is granted.

If you are applying for a partner visa from overseas, then you need to choose . As with the previous partner visas, you apply and pay for both the Partner Visa (provisional) (subclass 309) and the Partner (Migrant) Visa (subclass 100) visas at the same time. The cost of the visas and the entitlements are the same. You will need to wait overseas while the temporary visa is processed, and then you can arrive in Australia after it's granted.

The onshore partner visas are for those already in the country on a temporary visa, such as a student visa or a visitor visa. For both the onshore and offshore visas, your spouse or de facto must sponsor you. You will also need to meet health and character requirements and provide . To apply for the partner visas, you do not have to be married, but you must be able to prove with documentation that your relationship is genuine.

Information required are the following:

Identity documents, including a birth certificate, the photo page of your passport, National identity card if you have one, proof of change of name if applicable, such as a marriage or divorce certificate.

Evidence of relationships: including relationship with your partner (financial, domestic and household, witness statements), any former (married, widowed, divorced) relationships, and any dependents.

You'll need to provide evidence of your relationship, history of your relationship, and relationship documents such as a marriage certificate or evidence of a de facto relationship.

You will apply for the visa online via , and it is important to update the immigration department if your details or your relationship change. The Department of Home Affairs has a detailed .

There is also a for those who want to visit Australia to marry their spouse and then apply for a Partner Visa. You need to apply for this visa from overseas, and if granted, you can stay in the country for 9 to 15 months. You will need to be sponsored by your spouse, who must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. If you are successful, you can work and study in Australia, but you must intend to marry before the visa expires. If you want to settle in the country with your spouse, you will then need to apply for the after you get married and before your visa ends. You can include family members (such as children) on your application, which costs AUD 9,365 (USD 6,042) for the main applicant.

Read also Getting married in Australia

Student visa for Australia

If you're a student and you're looking to study in Australia, you'll need to apply for a student visa. °Õ³ó±ðÌý allows international students to stay in Australia for the duration of their study program and costs from AUD 2,000 (USD 1,300).

To be eligible for a student visa, you'll need to provide confirmation of enrolment in a course of study at an Australian educational institution and have sufficient funds to support yourself while you're in Australia. You'll also need to meet English language, health, and character requirements, and have adequate health insurance coverage while you're in Australia.

The student visa application process can be pretty complex, and you'll need to provide a range of documentation to support your application. This might include your academic transcripts, proof of English language proficiency, and evidence of your financial capacity to support yourself while you're in Australia.

One of the great benefits of the Australian student visa is that it allows you to work part-time while studying. You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during the academic year and full-time during school breaks. This can be a great way to offset your living expenses and gain some valuable work experience in Australia.

Read also Study in Sydney

Recent changes to student visas

Australia's immigration laws are constantly evolving, and there have been several recent changes to the student visa program.

Since July 2024, you can no longer apply for a student visa while in Australia. Those with genuine intentions to pursue study will need to . This is in response to individuals extending their stay in the country via multiple visa applications despite not being eligible for permanent residency. The government has closed loopholes that allowed the trend of 'permanent temporariness'.

The specific visa subclasses that are affected are:

• Subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate); 
• Subclass 600 (Visitor);
• Subclass 601 (Electronic Travel Authority);
• Subclass 602 (Medical Treatment);
• Subclass 651 (eVisitor);
• Subclass 988 (Maritime Crew).

This is in addition to the following visas. It is already not possible to make a valid Student application from these visa types:  

• Subclass 403 (Temporary Work) International Relations) – Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream;
• Subclass 426 (Domestic Worker (Temporary) – Diplomatic or Consular)
• Subclass 771 (Transit);
• Subclass 995 (Diplomatic Temporary) – primary visa holders only.

Since July 2025, from AUD 1,600 (USD 1,048) to AUD 2,000 (USD 1,310).

Since March 22, 2025, eligible for Student and Student Guardian visa applications.

Since December 2024, changes came into effect for the study requirement for a . The visa has three streams, and the qualification you use to apply for the visa determines which stream applies to you. For more information, visit the Study Australia website.

Since May 2024, to be eligible for the Student and Student Guardian visa. It was previously AUD 24,505 (USD 16,054).

Since March 2024, changes have been made to the English language requirements for student visas. For more information on the new minimum test score requirements, visit .

As of January 1, 2025, both onshore and offshore applicants must now provide when they apply for their student visa. A Letter of Offer is no longer accepted. This demonstrates the applicant's stronger commitment to studying at the institution named in their application.

For more information on these changes and more, visit .