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Visitor Visas for Australia

Your visa for holidays, family visits or short–term business stays.

Visitor and Tourist Visas

On this page:

Experience Australia – travel, visit family or attend business meetings.

  • What visitor visas exist for Australia?
  • The difference between an eVisitor and a Visitor Visa
  • Which business activities are permitted?

Staying in Australia on a Visitor Visa

Australia welcomes millions of visitors every year – whether for holidays, family visits or business appointments. With an eVisitor (Subclass 651) or a Visitor Visa (Subclass 600), you can visit Australia temporarily for leisure, family or business purposes.

Both visas allow you to travel legally within Australia, meet friends and family, or attend business meetings and conferences. Which visa suits you best depends on your nationality, your intended length of stay and the purpose of your visit.

Different Tourist Visas

An Australian visitor visa comes with clear conditions. These apply both to who is eligible and to the nature of the intended stay. The purpose of travel must clearly be tourism or business within the permitted scope of these visas. Work rights are not included in any visitor visa.

eVisitor (Subclass 651)

Overview

The eVisitor is the simplest visitor visa for travel to Australia.

It is available to citizens of selected European countries – including Germany, Austria and Switzerland – and is lodged entirely online.

What this visa allows:
  • Stay in Australia for up to 3 months per visit
  • Multiple entries within 12 months from grant
  • Tourism activities and family visits
  • Certain Business Visitor Activities (e.g. job interviews, contract negotiations)
Key requirements:
  • Passport from a country eligible for eVisitor visas
  • Stay must be for tourism, family visits or permitted business purposes only
  • No work rights
  • Courses or training of up to 3 months permitted
  • Must meet the character requirements

Visitor (Subclass 600)

Overview

The Visitor Visa offers more flexibility for longer stays or for applicants who are not eligible for the eVisitor.

It is suitable for family visits, extended holidays or business appointments.

What this visa allows:
  • Stay in Australia for up to 12 months at a time
  • Depending on the grant, multiple entries within the 12-month validity period
  • Tourism activities and family visits
  • Certain Business Visitor Activities (e.g. job interviews, contract negotiations)
Key requirements:
  • Proof of sufficient financial means
  • Valid passport and genuine visitor intent for tourism or business
  • No work rights
  • Courses or training of up to 3 months permitted
  • Must meet health and character requirements

Criteria and Important Considerations

Australian visitor visas require that certain conditions are clearly met. The purpose of your stay must be strictly tourism or business within the permitted scope, as work rights are not included in any visitor visa. In addition, the Department of Home Affairs checks character requirements for all applicants – particularly relevant where there are past convictions.

  • Business Visitor Activities

Both the eVisitor and the Visitor Visa allow certain business activities in Australia without requiring a work visa.

Permitted activities include:

  • General business activities: job interviews, exploring potential business opportunities
  • Contract negotiations: preparation and negotiation
  • Attendance at conferences, trade fairs or industry events: participation without receiving payment

Not permitted are any activities equivalent to paid work or activities that would create a local employment relationship. For short-term work projects, a Temporary Work or Short Stay Specialist Visa (Subclass 400) is required.

  • Visitor Visa despite a Criminal Record?

As with all Australian visas, applicants must not pose a security risk to the Australian community. There are clear rules regarding criminal records and previous convictions.

All relevant incidents must be disclosed in the visa application – including ongoing matters, convictions no longer shown on a police certificate and offences removed from public registers.

A criminal record does not automatically lead to a refusal. What matters are the nature of the offence, the time passed since the incident, the seriousness of the offence, whether it was isolated or repeated.

Professional Support with Visapath

Complex cases require clarity – whether regarding permitted Business Visitor Activities or assessing the impact of a criminal record.

Our experienced Migration Agents review your individual situation, assess risks realistically and develop a strategy to give your application the best possible chance of success.

Book a consultation

Which Australian Visa Suits Me?

Whether a short holiday, an extended family visit or a business trip – the choice of the right visitor visa depends on several factors.

Key questions:

  • Do you plan to visit Australia for only a few weeks or for longer than three months?
  • Are you a citizen of a country eligible for the eVisitor?
  • Will your stay include business appointments or meetings?
  • Do you intend to travel to Australia multiple times within a year?

Visapath outlines the most suitable visa pathway – clear, efficient and tailored to your travel plans.

Alternatives and Follow-On Options

Which Australian visitor visa is right for you depends on your travel goals.

If you wish to combine Australia with a trip to New Zealand, Indonesia or the Pacific Islands, the eVisitor visa – with multiple entries – is ideal, provided that each stay in Australia is no longer than three months.

If you plan to stay longer than three months at a time, the Visitor Visa with up to six or twelve months is better, as extending from within Australia is more complex and more expensive.

Travellers under 31 who want to experience Australia more extensively can apply for a Working Holiday Visa, which allows working and studying for up to four months – ideal for gaining first-hand insight into life and work in Australia.

If the visitor visa is intended as a bridge to another visa – for example a work or partner visa – an individual assessment is essential.

Visapath helps you choose the right strategy and visa combination – legally sound, structured and aligned with your goals.

Visitor Visa – FAQs

FAQS

01 What is the difference between a Visitor Visa and an eVisitor?

The eVisitor (651) is only available to certain nationalities and is limited to 3 months per stay.


The Visitor Visa (600) is open to all nationalities and allows stays of up to 12 months.

Citizens of selected countries – including Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

With an eVisitor: up to 3 months per entry

With a Visitor Visa: up to 6 or 12 months, depending on what you apply for and receive

No. Neither the eVisitor nor the Visitor Visa includes work rights. Only Business Visitor Activities are permitted.

Activities such as job interviews, contract negotiations and attending conferences or trade fairs – but without paid involvement.

Yes – but only some unpaid activities count as “volunteering”.
It must be work that Australians also typically perform unpaid – such as in charities, community projects or environmental conservation.

The eVisitor cannot be extended. You must depart Australia and re-enter.

The Visitor Visa can be extended onshore, but the process is more complex and significantly more expensive.

A criminal record is not an automatic refusal. Outcomes depend on the individual case, especially the nature and seriousness of the offence. Professional advice can help assess risks and chances realistically.

Usually no. Only certain applicants – such as those aged 75+ or with relevant health risks – may be required to undergo a medical check.

Yes – we support both private and business travellers and advise on the most suitable visa options.

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