Subclass 600 · Visitor visa

Every document you need for your Australian visitor visa, in one checklist

Whether you're visiting for tourism, joining family, attending business, or travelling frequently, this guide breaks down exactly what the Department of Home Affairs expects to see in your application.

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CHECK
LIST

Visa type

Visitor Visa — Subclass 600

Streams covered

Document groups

Applies to

Onshore & offshore applicants

01 — Core identity

Prove who you are

Every applicant, regardless of stream, needs to establish identity before anything else is assessed.

Current valid passport

A certified copy of your biodata page. Your passport must remain valid for travel to Australia for the length of your intended stay.

Include copies of all entry/departure stamps
Include copies of previous visas held

A clean travel history strengthens your case for compliance.

Biometrics

If requested, you must provide a digital photograph and fingerprints under Section 257A of the Migration Act.

Failure to comply when requested renders your application invalid.

National identity documents

Certified copies of your local national identity card and birth certificate.

02 — Ties to your home country

Show you have a reason to return

A case officer needs to see stable, verifiable reasons why you'll leave Australia at the end of your visit.

Professional & employment ties

Letter of approved leave

On official company letterhead, signed and dated, confirming:

Your job title, salary and length of employment
The exact dates of your approved leave
That your position is secure and you're expected back on a set date

Employment contract

A certified copy of your current, active employment contract.

Income evidence

Payslips covering the last 3 to 6 months, alongside official tax returns or assessments from your government.

If you're self-employed, add:

Business registration certificates or company incorporation deeds
Audited financial statements and corporate tax returns for the last fiscal year
Active business bank statements from the last 6 months
Proof of active operations — lease agreements, supplier contracts

Economic & financial ties

Real estate ownership

Certified property deeds, land registry titles, or municipal tax assessments showing ownership of residential, commercial or agricultural real estate — a strong capital anchor to your home country.

Substantial personal wealth

Documentation of other non-liquid assets: a registered business, stock portfolios, or gold and silver holdings.

03 — Financial capacity

Prove you can support yourself

Under Policy Direction No. 2 of 1996, the delegate must be satisfied you can cover travel, accommodation and living costs in Australia without working.

Personal bank statements

Certified statements for the last 6 months, showing a consistent pattern of savings and salary deposits that matches your payslips.

Health or travel insurance

Comprehensive Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) or an international travel insurance policy, showing you can cover any medical or hospital treatment during your stay.

NOTE

Large, unexplained deposits made shortly before you apply are treated with suspicion and may be disregarded by the case officer. Build a savings history well ahead of your application rather than transferring a lump sum in at the last minute.

04 — Choose your stream

Documents specific to your reason for travel

The Subclass 600 visa has several streams. Select the one that matches your visit — most applicants only need to satisfy one.

Onshore or offshore

Travel itineraryA detailed, written plan of your proposed activities while in Australia.
Flight bookingsA flexible, round-trip itinerary. The Department advises against buying non-refundable tickets before your visa is granted.
Accommodation detailsHotel or hostel confirmations, or a written statement from your Australian host confirming they're providing accommodation.

Offshore only

Sponsorship undertaking (Form 1418 / Form 40)Signed by an eligible Australian relative aged 18+: partner, child, parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or first cousin.
Sponsor's status evidenceCertified copy of the sponsor's Australian passport, citizenship certificate, or permanent resident visa.
Sponsor's financial standingBank statements and payslips proving your sponsor can support you.
Readiness to lodge a security bondTypically $5,000–$10,000 per person, if requested in writing by the delegate, to guarantee compliance with Condition 8531 (leaving before visa expiry).

Offshore only · unpaid activities

Letter of invitationFrom the host Australian organisation, detailing purpose, exact dates, itinerary, and confirming no work or sale of goods/services is involved.
Employer supporting letterFrom your overseas employer, confirming the trip, your role, and that they'll cover travel and accommodation costs.
Professional credentialsEvidence of employment status, business contracts, or company registration showing active dealings with the Australian entity.
Conference registrationProof of registration or ticketing, if attending a seminar, trade fair or professional conference.

Valid specified passportHeld from a specified country, such as the People's Republic of China.
Evidence of frequent travelA copy of your extensive international travel history, showing a consistent record of complying with foreign visa conditions.

Travelling with a child under 18?

The Department applies stringent child-safeguarding checks whenever a minor travels unaccompanied or with only one parent or legal guardian.

05 — Special requirements

Additional documents for minors

Form 1229Consent to grant an Australian visa to a child under 18, signed by both parents or legal guardians not travelling.
Identity of non-travelling parentsCertified copies of government-issued photo ID — passport or driver's licence — showing their signature.
Welfare arrangementsEvidence of the child's intended accommodation, support and general welfare while in Australia.

06 — Health, character & translations

The rules that apply to every applicant

PIC 4001

Character requirement

Declare all past criminal convictions truthfully on your application and incoming passenger card. Longer stays may require official police clearance certificates.

PIC 4005 / 4007

Health requirement

Declare any major medical conditions. A medical exam or chest X-ray may be requested for stays over 3 months, applicants over 75, or entry into a healthcare or school environment.

PIC 4019

Australian Values Statement

All applicants aged 18 or over must sign and acknowledge the Values Statement as part of their application.

Translation policy

Documents not in English

Any supporting document not in English must include an accurate English translation, ideally from a NAATI-accredited translator or an equivalent certified professional overseas.

Worked example

Sample checklist: visiting family for a graduation

A common scenario — a relative attending a family member's university graduation in Australia. Your own checklist will vary based on your relationship, sponsor, and purpose of visit.

From the student host

Letter confirming course/study completion
Invitation letter from the university
Confirmed graduation ceremony date

From the applicant

Family tree showing relationship to the student
Family tree showing relationship between the student's father and sponsoring relative
No-objection letter from employer
Recent payslips and employment contract
Bank statements / evidence of assets
Passport and national identity card
Tentative accommodation for the travel dates

TIP

Family relationship documents such as family trees and property papers must all be translated into English before submission.

This checklist is a general guide based on current Department of Home Affairs policy and does not constitute migration advice. Document requirements can change and vary case by case. Speak with a registered migration agent before lodging your application.

Not sure which documents apply to you?

Our registered migration agents review your situation and build a personalised document checklist before you apply — so nothing gets missed.

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