Visitor visa (subclass 600) allows the visa holder to travel to Australia for a short duration for the intended purpose such as recreation, visit an Australian resident family member, medical treatment, business activities.

• The duration of visit can be for up to 3, 6 or 12 months.
• The base application charge for this visa may vary depending upon the category and location of the applicant.
• The applicant can be in or outside Australia when the visa application is lodged.
• As per the conditions in the visa grant letter, the visa holder might be allowed travel to and from Australia on single or multiple occasions until the visa is valid.

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITOR VISA

 

1. Eligibility

• For a prospective visa applicant outside Australia, the application must be made outside Australia. If the visa has been applied inside Australia, the visa applicant must be inside Australia to be granted the visa.
• The visa applicant must meet health and character requirements. In general, visa medical will be requested if the duration of intended stay is more than 3 months.
• The visa applicant must have enough funds to support the stay in Australia.
• Bio-metrics may be required depending on the country of current residence.
• Meet the requirements of the stream for which the visa has been applied.

 

2. Visitors visas streams

Visitor visa (subclass 600) can be classified into four streams.

Tourist Stream

• This stream is for people travelling to Australia for a holiday, recreation or to visit family and friends and for other purposes not related to business or medical treatment.
• For the grant of the visa, the visa applicant must be able to show various aspects which substantiate being a genuine visitor.

Business Visitor Stream

• This stream is for people travelling to Australia for a short business visit. This includes making a general business or employment enquiry, negotiations or participating in a conference.
• For the grant of the visa, the visa applicant must be able to show various aspects which substantiate that the intention to do the business activities is genuine.

Sponsored Family Stream

• This stream requires applicants to be sponsored by a family member who is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. It has more restrictive visa condition than Tourist stream and in some case, a security bond may be requested.
• For the grant of the visa, the visa applicant must be able to show various aspects such as being a genuine visitor, sponsored by an eligible relative and intention to visit family.

Approved Destination Status Stream

• This stream is for people from the People’s Republic of China who are travelling in an organised tour group.
• For the grant of this visa, the visa applicant must be citizen of People’s Republic of China, be in the People’s Republic of China when the visa is applied and decided, and apply through an agent registered under the Approved Destination Status Scheme.

 

This temporary visa is for self-funded retirees who have no dependents and want to live in Australia during their retirement years.

The Investor Retirement visa (subclass 405) allows you to live in Australia if you:

• are 55 years or older
• have no dependents (other than a partner, if any)
• meet income requirements
• are able to make a significant long term financial investment in Australia.

 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RETIREMENT VISA 

 

1. Eligibility

You might be eligible for this visa if you meet:

• the age requirements
• sponsorship requirements
• family requirements
• income and investment requirements
• health and character requirements.

 

2. Assets

You must have assets (or if you have a partner, your combined assets) valued at least AUD750 000.

The assets must be:

• legally owned and lawfully acquired by you (or you and your partner)
• capable of and available for, transfer to Australia.
• Exception: If you intend to live in regional Australia you must have assets (or if you have a partner, your combined assets) valued at least AUD500 000.

 

3. Health Insurance

You must have evidence that you and your partner hold an adequate health insurance package for the period of your intended stay in Australia.

For health insurance to be considered adequate, it must:

• be fully comprehensive
• provide coverage that is at least equivalent to Medicare (including coverage of 85 per cent of costs for hospital, emergency, and general practitioner services)
• provide coverage for pharmaceuticals.

It is preferable that the policy is with an Australian insurer; however alternative arrangements that meet the above requirements can be accepted. Alternative arrangements, with an overseas insurer, will need individual detailed examination of the insurance policy and may result in processing delays.

If you do not maintain adequate health insurance it may result in the refusal of future visa applications.

 

4. Health requirements

• You must meet certain health requirements. The results of your health examinations are generally valid for 12 months.
• This applies to you and any dependent family members included in the application.
• You are able to organise your health examinations upfront before lodging a visa application.

 

5. Character requirements

You must meet certain character requirements. If you are 16 years of age or older, you must be prepared to provide a police certificate from each country you have lived in for 12 months or more, during the past 10 years, since you turned 16 years of age.