Australia’s visitor visa is document-heavy and widely misunderstood. Indian passport holders cannot use the ETA or eVisitor, there is no visa on arrival, and airlines refuse boarding without a visa already granted. The only short-stay route is the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600), applied for online through ImmiAccount. From 1 July 2026 the offshore fee for the Tourist, Business Visitor and Sponsored Family streams rose to AUD 250 per applicant, up from AUD 200, so older guides quoting AUD 190 or AUD 200 are out of date.
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Why Indians Need the Subclass 600 — and Cannot Use the ETA or eVisitor
The Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601, AUD 20) is available only to a small list of countries including the United States, Canada, Singapore, Japan and South Korea. The eVisitor (Subclass 651, free) is available only to European passport holders and a few others. India is on neither list, so any agent offering an “Australia ETA for Indians” is either filing a Subclass 600 under a confusing name or selling something false. The Subclass 600 is a full, document-assessed application with four streams: Tourist (holidays, family visits without sponsorship, short courses under three months, medical treatment), Business Visitor (meetings and conferences — not paid work), Sponsored Family (visiting close relatives who are citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens), and Frequent Traveller (long-validity multiple-entry). Each person, including each child, needs a separate application and fee.
The New Fee From 1 July 2026: AUD 250 and What It Does Not Cover
On 1 July 2026 Home Affairs raised most visa charges by roughly 25 percent. For the Subclass 600 lodged from outside Australia, the base charge for the Tourist, Business Visitor and Sponsored Family streams is now AUD 250 per applicant, up from AUD 200. The Frequent Traveller stream costs AUD 1,845, and the Tourist stream lodged from inside Australia costs AUD 630. The fee is paid online in ImmiAccount, a small card surcharge may apply, and it is non-refundable even on refusal. It does not include biometrics centre charges, health examinations, translation, insurance or agent fees — budget for those separately. Always confirm the live figure with the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator before paying.
Documents That Decide a Subclass 600 Application
Home Affairs decides mainly on whether you are a genuine temporary visitor who will leave before the visa ends, so ties to India matter as much as the trip plan. Prepare a passport valid for at least six months, recent ICAO-standard photographs, and a travel plan with tentative flights and hotel bookings or a host’s address. Financial evidence is essential: bank statements for three to six months, salary slips and tax returns for two to three years, plus business proof for business owners. Ties to India — an employment letter with approved leave, property papers, family commitments or ongoing study — help show you will return. For family visits, add an invitation letter and the host’s status proof; for Sponsored Family, the sponsor completes Form 1149 with their own financial documents. Non-English documents must be translated, and any health or character check requested should be attended promptly.
Australia Visitor Visa at a Glance
| Item | Rule for Indian Passport Holders |
|---|---|
| Visa required | Yes — Visitor Visa (Subclass 600); no visa on arrival |
| ETA (601) / eVisitor (651) for Indians | No — neither is available to Indian passport holders |
| Application route | Online only, through ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au |
| Offshore fee, Tourist / Business / Sponsored Family | AUD 250 per applicant from 1 July 2026 (was AUD 200) |
| Frequent Traveller stream fee | AUD 1,845 |
| Onshore Tourist stream fee (extension in Australia) | AUD 630 |
| Fee refund on refusal | No — the Visa Application Charge is non-refundable |
| Stay per visit | Usually up to 3 months per visit; longer stays of 6 or 12 months are possible in some cases, at the officer’s discretion |
| Validity | Set by the officer — commonly 3 to 12 months multiple-entry; Frequent Traveller up to 10 years |
| Work rights | No paid work in Australia on a visitor visa; Business Visitor stream covers meetings and conferences only |
| After approval | Electronic grant notice by email and in ImmiAccount — no stamp; linked to your passport |
| Biometrics | If requested, attend a VFS Global centre in India for fingerprints and photograph |
Step-by-Step: Apply for the Subclass 600 From India
- Create an ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, select Subclass 600, and choose the Tourist stream for most holidays and family visits.
- Complete the form carefully, declaring all previous visa refusals from any country — hiding one is itself grounds for refusal.
- Upload clear scans of your passport, finances, employment or business proof, travel plan and ties to India, with translations for non-English documents.
- Pay the AUD 250 charge per applicant online and keep the receipt.
- If biometrics are requested, attend a VFS Global centre promptly; if a health examination is requested, attend a panel doctor.
- Track the application in ImmiAccount and respond quickly to further-document requests. Processing times change with demand, so apply at least six to eight weeks before travel and never book non-refundable travel depending on a visa arriving on a particular day.
- When granted, check the grant notice — stay period, entry type and conditions — and carry a printed copy with your passport, since the visa is electronic.
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Common Mistakes Indian Travellers Should Avoid
First, do not pay for an “ETA for Indians” — it does not exist for Indian passports. Second, do not budget the old AUD 190 or AUD 200 fee; from 1 July 2026 it is AUD 250 per person. Third, do not submit a thin file — no bank statements, no employment proof and no reason to return is the most common refusal pattern. Fourth, do not hide a previous refusal or give inconsistent dates. Fifth, do not plan to work on a visitor visa, and do not overstay. For related reading on safe overseas applications, see https://sunlightholidays.in/singapore-tourist-visa-indians-documents-fees-process-guide/ and https://sunlightholidays.in/visa-guarantee-scam-alert-fake-agent-warning-signs/ — and for another document-heavy visa, compare with https://sunlightholidays.in/japan-visa-indians-500-fee-e-visa-application-guide/
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Do Indians need a visa for Australia?
Yes. Indian passport holders need a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) granted before travel. There is no visa on arrival, and the ETA and eVisitor are not available to Indians.
Q2: How much is the Australia visitor visa fee for Indians in 2026?
AUD 250 per applicant for the offshore Tourist, Business Visitor and Sponsored Family streams from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 200. The Frequent Traveller stream costs AUD 1,845. The fee is non-refundable.
Q3: How long can I stay in Australia on a visitor visa?
Usually up to 3 months per visit. The officer sets the stay period and validity on the grant notice; longer stays of 6 or 12 months are possible in some cases, and the Frequent Traveller stream allows stays of up to 3 months per visit over a validity of up to 10 years.
Q4: How long does a Subclass 600 visa take from India?
Times vary with demand and file completeness. Home Affairs publishes indicative times that change regularly, so check before lodging and apply at least six to eight weeks before travel.
Sources: Australian Department of Home Affairs — Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) information and Visa Pricing Estimator (offshore Tourist, Business Visitor and Sponsored Family streams AUD 250 from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 200; Frequent Traveller AUD 1,845; onshore Tourist stream AUD 630; fee non-refundable); Home Affairs guidance on ETA (Subclass 601) and eVisitor (Subclass 651) eligibility lists, which do not include India; ImmiAccount online lodgement and VFS Global biometrics collection in India, as published by Home Affairs.
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