Australia visa for India citizens
Indian passport holders travelling to Australia for tourism lodge through the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream on ImmiAccount — the ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) streams are not open to Indian passports. The 200 AUD lodgement fee is paid by international card inside ImmiAccount at the rupee equivalent shown at lodgement, with biometrics enrolled at a VFS Global centre in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or one of the smaller hubs. Decisions usually arrive in the 1-to-5-day band for fast-track cases, but lodgements during peak season — Diwali in October-November and the May-July school break — can stretch to several weeks. Strong financial evidence (six months of bank statements, employer letter, ITRs) and a clear genuine-temporary-entrant narrative are central to the decision. Many grants carry the 8503 'no further stay' condition, which blocks onshore extensions, so return travel needs to fit inside the granted stay period.
| Visa required | Yes (source) |
|---|---|
| e-Visa available | Yes (source) |
| Maximum stay | 90 days (source) |
| Processing time | Varies — verify on the official source |
| Visa fee | 200 AUD (source) |
Official resources
Requirements
Visitor 600 eligibility
- Hold an Indian passport with at least six months' remaining validity beyond the planned arrival in Australia — the ETA (601) and eVisitor (651) streams are not open to Indian passports.
- Open ImmiAccount on a desktop browser and start a Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream application.
- Upload a square-crop passport-style photograph meeting the portal's format rules.
- Pay the 200 AUD lodgement fee inside ImmiAccount in rupees at the system-displayed rate.
- Provide an employer letter, six months of bank statements with documented salary credits, and ITR copies for the most recent two financial years.
- Provide travel itinerary, accommodation bookings, and an invitation letter from any Australian host where applicable.
- Demonstrate ties to India — property, family commitments, study commitments — supporting intent to return.
- Enrol biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or one of the smaller hubs.
- Plan return travel within the granted stay period — many grants carry the 8503 'no further stay' condition that blocks onshore extensions.
- Disclose any prior visa refusals truthfully on the application — incorrect answers can lead to refusal or later cancellation for misrepresentation.
Documents checklist
- Indian passport with at least six months' remaining validity beyond the planned arrival date in Australia.
- Recent square-crop passport-style photograph meeting the ImmiAccount format rules — white background, full face, no glasses, sharp focus.
- Completed Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream application inside ImmiAccount — the ETA and eVisitor are not open to Indian passports.
- Working international payment card to pay the 200 AUD lodgement fee inside ImmiAccount at the system-displayed rate.
- Bank statements covering at least six months from an Indian bank, with explanations for unusual or large credits and clear evidence of regular salary or business income.
- Employer letter on letterhead confirming role, salary, length of service, and approved leave — or, for self-employed applicants, GST registration, ITR copies, and audited financials.
- Income Tax Returns for the most recent two financial years, evidencing the financial profile claimed in the application.
- Travel itinerary with flight bookings, accommodation reservations, and the planned stay length.
- Invitation letter from an Australian host where applicable, with the host's contact details and immigration status.
- Evidence of ties to India — property documents, family commitments, study commitments — supporting intent to return.
- VFS Global biometrics enrolment receipt from a centre in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or one of the smaller hubs.
- Travel insurance covering medical expenses during the stay.
- Where the applicant has a prior Australian visa refusal or any visa refusal anywhere, supporting documentary evidence and a clear explanation in the application.
Application steps
- Open ImmiAccount on a desktop browser and start a Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream application — neither the ETA (601) nor the eVisitor (651) is open to Indian passports.
- Complete the application form, entering passport details, travel dates, employment information, and prior-travel history exactly as on the supporting documents.
- Upload supporting documents — passport bio page, square-crop photo, employer letter, six months of bank statements with explained credits, ITR copies, accommodation bookings, and the planned itinerary.
- Pay the 200 AUD lodgement fee inside ImmiAccount in rupees at the system-displayed rate. Card payments occasionally fail on first attempt; retry once or use a different card before opening a fresh application.
- Book a biometrics enrolment appointment at a VFS Global centre in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or one of the smaller hubs. Pay the VFS service fee at lodgement.
- Attend the biometrics appointment with the passport and the printed application confirmation; fingerprints are captured at the counter.
- Wait for the decision. Fast-track cases sit in the 1-to-5-day band, but lodgements during peak season can stretch to several weeks. Respond to any document-request emails inside the window the case officer specifies.
- Receive the grant by email. Note any 8503 'no further stay' condition on the grant — return travel needs to fit inside the granted stay period.
- On arrival in Australia, present the passport at SmartGate or the immigration counter; the visa reads electronically against the passport number.
Processing time
Varies — verify on the official source
Visa cost
Fee (from our data): 200 AUD (source) . Fees are subject to change; check the official source before applying.
The 200 AUD figure shown matches the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream lodgement charge — the only stream open to Indian passport holders, since the ETA and eVisitor are not. The fee is paid in rupees through ImmiAccount at the system-displayed rate at lodgement.
Indian applicants enrol biometrics at a VFS Global centre in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or one of the smaller hubs as part of the lodgement. VFS charges a separate service fee for biometrics in addition to the consular charge, and a courier-return option for the passport adds a further amount. Each fee is shown on its own receipt.
Australian visa fees are reviewed twice a year, so verify the live figure on immi.homeaffairs.gov.au before paying. Card payments inside ImmiAccount occasionally fail on first attempt for Indian-issued cards; retry once or use a different card before opening a fresh application.
Common mistakes to avoid
Indian travellers applying for an Australian visitor visa most commonly file for the wrong subclass or under-prepare the financial-evidence package. The mistakes below recur in lodgements from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.
- Trying to lodge an ETA on an Indian passport. The ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (651) streams are not open to Indian passport holders. The route is the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream, lodged through ImmiAccount.
- Submitting a slim financial-evidence file. The 600 stream is decision-ready when the file shows clear funds for the trip — six months of bank statements with explained credits, salary slips, and ITR copies. A single statement or a recently-credited large amount triggers further requests.
- Skipping the genuine-temporary-entrant narrative. Officers assess intent to return based on employment, family, property, and study commitments. Bring documentary evidence rather than relying on a one-line cover letter.
- Confusing the VFS Global service fee with the visa charge. The 600 fee is paid into ImmiAccount; VFS Global charges a separate service fee for biometrics enrolment. Both receipts go into the application.
- Booking flights before the decision lands. Visitor 600 processing for India can run for several weeks during peak season. Hold non-refundable bookings until the grant notification is received.
- Misdeclaring family travel as a single application. Each traveller, including children, lodges an individual ImmiAccount application with its own evidence file. Group lodgements do not exist for the 600 stream.
- Underestimating the no-further-stay condition. Many Visitor 600 grants carry an 8503 'no further stay' condition, blocking onshore extensions. Plan return travel within the granted stay period and exit before expiry.
Country context & recent trends
Recent rule changes
Indian passports are not eligible for the ETA (subclass 601) or eVisitor (subclass 651) streams — the only route is the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream lodged through ImmiAccount, with biometrics enrolment at a VFS Global centre in India. Recent updates have tightened evidence requirements around financial means and genuine-temporary-entrant intent.
Peak-season patterns
Indian demand for Australian tourist visas peaks ahead of the Diwali break in October and November, and again in the May-July school-holiday window. VFS Global centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata fill biometrics slots weeks ahead during those peaks. Lodge ImmiAccount and book biometrics in parallel rather than sequentially.
Visitor 600 grants frequently carry the 8503 'no further stay' condition, blocking onshore extensions. Plan return travel within the granted stay period.
How it compares to nearby destinations
Indian travellers planning a South Pacific or Asia-Pacific itinerary often combine Australia with New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand. The summary below puts the entry rules for the four side by side.
| Destination | Visa required | Typical processing | Indicative fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (Visitor 600) | Yes (online consular) | 1–5 days fast-track / weeks in peak | 200 AUD |
| New Zealand (Visitor visa) | Yes | ~ 20 working days | ~ 211 NZD |
| Singapore (visa required for Indian passports) | Yes | ~ 1 week | ~ 30 SGD |
| Thailand (visa-on-arrival or e-visa, free for tourism) | Yes (visa-on-arrival) | On arrival or ~ 1 week e-visa | Free |
For Indian travellers, the ETA and eVisitor streams are not open in either Australia or New Zealand — both run consular-style online lodgements with biometrics. Plan timelines accordingly during the Diwali peak in October-November and the May-July school break.
Frequently asked questions
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Can Indian passport holders apply for the ETA or eVisitor for Australia?
No — neither the ETA (subclass 601) nor the eVisitor (subclass 651) is open to Indian passports. The route is the Visitor (subclass 600) Tourist stream, lodged through ImmiAccount.
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How is the 200 AUD fee paid?
Payment is made by international card inside ImmiAccount at the system-displayed rate at lodgement. Card payments occasionally fail on first attempt for Indian-issued cards; retry once or use a different card before opening a fresh application.
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What financial evidence does the Visitor 600 stream require?
Six months of bank statements with documented salary credits and explained large transactions, alongside ITR copies for the most recent two years and an employer letter, answer the genuine-traveller question more strongly than a single statement. A slim file triggers further requests.
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Where is biometrics enrolment done in India?
VFS Global runs biometrics centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and several smaller hubs. The service-centre fee is charged separately from the consular charge, and slots fill weeks ahead of major holidays.
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How long does the decision take?
The 1-to-5-day band reflects fast-track cases, but Visitor 600 processing for India can stretch to several weeks during peak season — Diwali in October-November and the May-July school break. Lodge ahead of any non-refundable flight purchase.
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What does the 8503 'no further stay' condition mean?
Many Visitor 600 grants from India carry the 8503 condition, blocking onshore extensions of the visa. Plan return travel within the granted stay period and exit before expiry — overstaying triggers re-entry bans.
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Can the application be made without an Australian host invitation?
Yes — invitation letters strengthen applications where the trip includes staying with friends or family, but they are not mandatory. Travellers visiting hotels and tourist destinations submit accommodation bookings and itineraries instead.