Scope of this guide
This guide covers the Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream, for applicants outside Australia. It is for tourism, cruises, and visiting family or friends. Other Visitor 600 streams have different purposes and rules.
Always confirm the current details on the Department of Home Affairs tourist-stream page before lodging an application. The Department decides each application on its own facts.
Basic points Home Affairs lists
For the Tourist stream from outside Australia, Home Affairs says that an applicant must:
- be a genuine visitor;
- have enough money to support the stay and leave Australia; and
- be outside Australia when applying and when the Department decides the application.
The Department may grant a stay of 3, 6, or 12 months. A grant is not automatic, and the actual stay period and conditions are shown on the visa grant notice.
Who should use this page
This page is relevant if you are in Malaysia or another country outside Australia and your intended visit is a holiday, cruise, or visit to family or friends. If you are travelling for business visitor activities, have a sponsor, or are already in Australia, check the relevant official Visitor 600 stream instead of applying from a generic checklist.
Each family member, including a person listed on your passport, must make a separate application. Tell the Department if you are travelling as a group where the official form asks for it.
Fees and processing times
At the time this page was checked, the official Tourist stream page listed the base application charge from AUD250 for an applicant outside Australia. Fees can change, and additional costs such as health checks, police certificates, biometrics, or payment surcharges may apply.
Use the Visa Pricing Estimator with your own details before paying. The Department describes the estimator as an estimate; it may not include every cost.
For timing, use Home Affairs' visa processing time guide. It is based on recently decided applications and is not a promise for an individual case.
Visitor 600 or ETA 601?
Malaysian passport holders may be eligible for ETA 601. Do not choose a route simply because someone calls it faster, safer, or easier. Check the official eligibility, the purpose of your visit, and any personal circumstances that the Department tells you require another pathway.
Read the ETA 601 guide and the 601 versus 600 comparison after reading the official pages.
Before you lodge
- Read the official stream page that matches where you are and why you are travelling.
- Use the Department's price and processing-time tools on the day you plan to apply.
- Answer the application truthfully and provide documents only through the official process or when requested.
- Read every condition on the grant notice if the visa is granted.
No consultant, website, or checklist can guarantee a visa outcome.
Official sources
- Department of Home Affairs: Visitor visa 600, Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)
- Department of Home Affairs: Visitor visa overview
- Department of Home Affairs: Visa Pricing Estimator
- Department of Home Affairs: processing-time guide
