How long does the Australian visitor application usually take?

Most low-risk eVisitor and ETA cases clear within 1–5 days, and the paid Visitor visa subclass 600 follows a similar window for routine profiles. Cases referred for character or financial review can extend by several weeks, so it is sensible to apply at least four weeks before travel and to hold off on non-refundable bookings until the grant notice arrives.

What does the 200 AUD application fee cover?

The 200 AUD figure is the Department of Home Affairs charge for assessing the application and issuing the digital grant linked to the passport. It does not include biometric collection, courier returns, optional priority handling, medicals, or any third-party service charge applied by mirror portals or migration agents.

Can I apply for an Australian visa online?

Yes — the Department of Home Affairs runs all visitor streams through ImmiAccount, with eVisitor (subclass 651) and ETA (subclass 601) processed entirely online for eligible nationalities. Applicants outside those lists can lodge the broader Visitor visa subclass 600 in ImmiAccount as well, with biometrics handled at a Visa Application Centre afterwards.

What happens if my application is refused?

Refusals issued offshore for visitor streams generally have no merits-review right at the AAT, so the realistic options are to address the refusal grounds and re-lodge, or to seek judicial review on a procedural error. Either way, refusals must be declared on every future Australian application and on most other countries' forms, so apply with a complete and honest file the first time.

Can family members travel with me on the same application?

Each family member normally needs their own visitor visa lodged in ImmiAccount, but the records can be linked so the case officer assesses them together. Children under 18 require parental consent and identity evidence, and group applications still trigger individual fee payments and individual document uploads.

Is biometric collection required?

Visitor stream applicants from many countries are asked to give fingerprints and a facial photograph at a Visa Application Centre after lodging. Biometric collection is not always triggered automatically — the case officer requests it where the policy applies — so monitor the ImmiAccount inbox for the request and book promptly because the assessment clock effectively pauses until biometrics arrive.

Can I extend my visa from inside Australia?

Some visitor visas carry condition 8503 (no further stay), which bars an in-country extension or change of visa; check the grant notice carefully. Where 8503 is not imposed, an extension can be requested through ImmiAccount before the current visa expires, but a fresh financial and intent assessment applies to the new application.

Australia visa

By Get Visa Online Editorial Team

Editorial board, Get Visa Online

Australia handles short visits primarily through three digital streams — the eVisitor (subclass 651), the ETA (subclass 601), and the broader Visitor visa (subclass 600) — depending on the passport on hand. Decisions for clean low-risk profiles typically arrive in 1–5 days, with the paid Visitor stream charging 200 AUD through ImmiAccount. Different streams attach different conditions to the grant, including a maximum stay (often three months) and limits on work or study during the visit. Most documents are uploaded as scanned PDFs rather than physically lodged at an embassy, so the practical work happens inside ImmiAccount and at a Visa Application Centre when biometrics are required. Confirm the eligible stream for the passport on hand before paying, because the 200 AUD fee is non-refundable on most paid streams.

Eligibility summary
Visa required	Varies — verify on the official source
e-Visa available	Varies — verify on the official source

Visa types, requirements & fees

Visa type	Visa required	Processing	Fee
Student	Yes	34–210 days (source)	2,000 AUD (source)
Tourist	Yes	12–29 days (source)	200 AUD (source)
Work	Yes	90–180 days (source)	3,210 AUD (source)

Fees and processing times vary by visa type and can change — verify on the official source before applying.

Official resources

Official visa information page

Requirements

Eligibility

Hold a passport from a country eligible for one of Australia's three visitor streams — eVisitor (subclass 651), ETA (subclass 601), or the broader Visitor visa (subclass 600).
Show genuine intent to visit Australia for tourism, family visits, business meetings, or sponsored family activity, with a return or onward booking.
Demonstrate financial capacity to fund the trip without working — typically through bank statements covering three to six months.
Hold a passport with at least six months' validity beyond the planned departure from Australia.
Meet character requirements; declare any prior visa refusals, overstays, criminal history, or character concerns under PIC 4020.
Meet health requirements through Bupa Medical Visa Services where the country of residence, planned stay, or health declaration triggers it.
Provide biometrics (fingerprints and facial photograph) at a Visa Application Centre when requested by Home Affairs.
Comply with the visa conditions on the grant notice — including the maximum stay (often three months), no-paid-work restriction, and any 8503 no-further-stay condition.

Documents checklist

The Australian Visitor stream is processed through ImmiAccount, so most documents are uploaded as scanned PDFs rather than handed in physically — keep file sizes within the platform's per-document limit.

Passport bio page with at least six months' validity beyond the planned departure from Australia.
Recent digital photograph meeting the eVisitor / ETA size and background guidelines (used for biometric matching).
Evidence of sufficient funds — typically three to six months of bank statements showing stable balances.
Travel itinerary or booking record covering arrival, internal travel, and onward departure from Australia.
Accommodation evidence (hotel reservations, host-family invitation, or tenancy agreement).
Employment letter or business registration confirming ties to the home country.
Health insurance for the trip (recommended; required for some visitor sub-streams).
Health declaration covering pregnancy, prior tuberculosis exposure, and time spent in higher-risk countries.
Character documents (police clearance) where the application history or stay length triggers them.
Sponsorship documents and Assurance of Support if travelling on the Sponsored Family Visitor stream.

Application steps

Confirm which Australian visitor stream applies to the passport on hand — eVisitor (subclass 651), ETA (subclass 601), or the broader Visitor visa (subclass 600). Eligibility is set by nationality and is not interchangeable.
Create or sign in to ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs portal; the account stores all correspondence and supporting documents for the case.
Complete the online application form for the chosen subclass, providing personal details, travel plans, and supporting information honestly. Declare any prior refusals, overstays, or character issues — omissions are flagged under PIC 4020.
Pay the application fee through ImmiAccount when prompted (200 AUD on the paid Visitor stream). Card, BPay, UnionPay, and PayPal are accepted; refunds are not standard for refused cases.
Upload supporting documents: passport bio page, photograph meeting size and background guidelines, financial evidence, accommodation, and itinerary. Keep file sizes within the platform's per-document limit.
Attend a Visa Application Centre for biometric collection (fingerprints and facial photograph) where requested, which usually pauses the assessment until results arrive.
Complete a health examination through Bupa Medical Visa Services if triggered by the country of residence, planned stay, or health declaration.
Wait for the grant notice to arrive in the ImmiAccount inbox — typically inside 1–5 days for clean cases — and confirm the visa conditions before booking non-refundable flights.
On arrival in Australia, pass through SmartGate or the immigration counter using the passport linked to the digital grant; the visa does not require a stamp or sticker.

Processing time

Processing time depends on the visa type — see the breakdown above.

Visa cost

Fees depend on the visa type — see the breakdown above.

The 200 AUD fee charged for an Australian visitor stream covers the Department of Home Affairs assessment of the application — checking identity, character, and supporting documents — and the issuance of the electronic grant linked to the passport.

Biometrics at a Visa Application Centre, courier handling, optional priority lodgement, and any third-party portal service charge are billed separately and are not refundable if the application is refused. Payment is taken inside ImmiAccount by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, BPay, UnionPay, or PayPal.

The 200 AUD figure is updated periodically as part of the Home Affairs fee schedule, so the current amount on the official immigration site should always be the reference before paying.

Common mistakes to avoid

Australia's eVisitor and ETA streams typically clear within 1–5 days, but the most common reason an application stalls is selecting the wrong stream for the passport on hand.

Choosing the wrong subclass — eVisitor (subclass 651) is for European passport holders, ETA (subclass 601) covers a different list of nationalities, and the broader Visitor visa (subclass 600) is the fallback. Confirm your nationality's eligible stream before paying anything; the 200 AUD fee is non-refundable on most paid streams.
Treating the 1–5 day window as guaranteed. The window applies to clean, low-risk applications. If you have past refusals, prior overstays, or unclear funds, expect referral to an officer and several extra weeks; build slack into your travel dates.
Letting the passport expire before the visa does. Australian visas attach to the passport that was active at lodgement. Renew the passport before applying, or you will need to re-link the new document via ImmiAccount before boarding.
Booking non-refundable flights before grant. The 1–5 day estimate is a target, not a service-level guarantee; book refundable fares or wait for the grant notice email before locking in itineraries.
Forgetting the no-further-stay condition (8503) or the limited-work conditions on visitor streams. Read the grant notice carefully — some short visitor visas bar work and bar visa extensions from inside Australia.
Submitting an incomplete health declaration. Pregnancy, prior tuberculosis exposure, or a long stay in a higher-risk country can trigger a medical request; declare proactively to avoid a re-request that resets the queue.
Using third-party visa portals that mirror the official site and add their own service charge on top of the 200 AUD. Apply directly through ImmiAccount for the published fee.

Country context & recent trends

Australia issues most short-term visas digitally rather than as passport stickers, so consular nuances usually live inside ImmiAccount and the eVisitor / ETA streams rather than at a physical embassy. The 1–5 day target is typical for clean profiles; cases referred to an officer for character or financial review extend by several weeks.

Recent rule changes

Visitor and student streams have tightened in 2024–2025, with stronger emphasis on financial substance, the Genuine Student test for subclass 500, and capped working hours for student-visa holders. The 200 AUD visitor fee is reviewed periodically against the consumer price index, so older quotes online may understate the current charge.

Peak-season patterns

Lodgements peak around the December–February southern-hemisphere summer and the European summer; both windows pull processing toward the longer end of the published range. VAC slots for biometrics in regional capitals (Bali, Manila, Mumbai, Lagos) book out fastest in those months — schedule the appointment immediately after lodging the form.

How it compares to nearby destinations

Australia's tourist routing competes with several Asia-Pacific alternatives that operate on different timelines and fee structures, so it helps to scan the region before committing.

Destination	Visa required	Typical processing	Indicative fee
Australia	Often yes	1–5 days	200 AUD
New Zealand	NZeTA for many	10 minutes – 72 hours	~ 100 NZD (incl. IVL)
Singapore	Visa-free or eVisa	Hours – 3 days	~ 30 SGD
Japan	Visa-free or eVisa	Up to 5 working days	~ 3,000 JPY

Australia's online streams are competitive on speed, while travellers wanting visa-free entry may consider Singapore or Japan first if eligibility allows.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Australian visitor application usually take?

Most low-risk eVisitor and ETA cases clear within 1–5 days, and the paid Visitor visa subclass 600 follows a similar window for routine profiles. Cases referred for character or financial review can extend by several weeks, so it is sensible to apply at least four weeks before travel and to hold off on non-refundable bookings until the grant notice arrives.
What does the 200 AUD application fee cover?

The 200 AUD figure is the Department of Home Affairs charge for assessing the application and issuing the digital grant linked to the passport. It does not include biometric collection, courier returns, optional priority handling, medicals, or any third-party service charge applied by mirror portals or migration agents.
Can I apply for an Australian visa online?

Yes — the Department of Home Affairs runs all visitor streams through ImmiAccount, with eVisitor (subclass 651) and ETA (subclass 601) processed entirely online for eligible nationalities. Applicants outside those lists can lodge the broader Visitor visa subclass 600 in ImmiAccount as well, with biometrics handled at a Visa Application Centre afterwards.
What happens if my application is refused?

Refusals issued offshore for visitor streams generally have no merits-review right at the AAT, so the realistic options are to address the refusal grounds and re-lodge, or to seek judicial review on a procedural error. Either way, refusals must be declared on every future Australian application and on most other countries' forms, so apply with a complete and honest file the first time.
Can family members travel with me on the same application?

Each family member normally needs their own visitor visa lodged in ImmiAccount, but the records can be linked so the case officer assesses them together. Children under 18 require parental consent and identity evidence, and group applications still trigger individual fee payments and individual document uploads.
Is biometric collection required?

Visitor stream applicants from many countries are asked to give fingerprints and a facial photograph at a Visa Application Centre after lodging. Biometric collection is not always triggered automatically — the case officer requests it where the policy applies — so monitor the ImmiAccount inbox for the request and book promptly because the assessment clock effectively pauses until biometrics arrive.
Can I extend my visa from inside Australia?

Some visitor visas carry condition 8503 (no further stay), which bars an in-country extension or change of visa; check the grant notice carefully. Where 8503 is not imposed, an extension can be requested through ImmiAccount before the current visa expires, but a fresh financial and intent assessment applies to the new application.