Visitor Visa 600: Document Checklist 2026

The Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) isn't a single visa — it's six separate streams with different costs, durations, and eligibility, and picking the right one matters before you think about documents at all. All streams are assessed on whether the applicant is a genuine visitor — the key question is whether the evidence suggests you intend to return home, with your ties to your home country generally mattering more than any single trip-booking document.

Which stream applies to you

• Tourist stream, applied for outside Australia — for tourism, cruises, or visiting family and friends; grants a stay of 3, 6, or 12 months
• Tourist stream, applied for while in Australia — the same purpose, but for applicants already in the country; costs substantially more than applying from outside Australia
• Business visitor stream — for short business visits of up to 3 months; doesn't allow you to work or sell goods and services
• Approved Destination Status stream — for citizens of the People's Republic of China (excluding SARs) visiting on an organised tour with an approved travel agent
• Frequent traveller stream — for citizens of the People's Republic of China, Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, or Timor-Leste; grants up to 10 years' validity with stays of up to 3 months per visit
• Sponsored family stream — for visitors sponsored by an eligible family member, who may be asked to pay a security bond

This guide focuses on the Tourist and Business visitor streams, which cover most applicants — the documents below apply broadly across streams, with stream-specific evidence called out where it differs.

Identity documents

• Current passport — check the Department's current validity requirement for your intended stay before travelling
• Previous passports, if they show relevant travel history or visa compliance
• Change of name document, if applicable

Purpose of visit

What you need here depends heavily on which stream you're applying under — tourism, business, or a family member sponsoring your visit.

• Travel itinerary
• Return or onward flight booking
• Accommodation bookings
• If visiting family: an invitation letter from your Australian host, plus the host's proof of status (citizenship, permanent residency, or eligible visa)
• If a business visit: a business invitation or conference registration, and a letter from your overseas employer confirming your role and purpose of travel
• If sponsored under the Sponsored Family Visitor stream: Form 1149

Financial evidence

You need to show you can fund your stay without needing to work in Australia (the Visitor Visa doesn't generally permit work).

• Bank statements covering the last 3 months, showing a consistent balance rather than a recent large deposit
• Financial sponsor evidence, if someone else is funding your trip
• Travel insurance, which is recommended and sometimes specifically requested

Ties to your home country

This is often the most heavily weighted part of a Subclass 600 application — case officers are assessing whether you have compelling reasons to return home after your visit.

• Employment letter confirming your role, leave arrangement, and intention to return to work
• Business ownership documents, if applicable
• Property ownership or lease agreement in your home country
• Evidence of family ties — spouse, children, or other dependants remaining at home

Travel history

• Evidence of prior international travel and visa compliance, if relevant to your application
• A written explanation if you've previously had a visa refused, rather than leaving it unaddressed

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting flight and hotel bookings as the only evidence, with nothing addressing home-country ties
• A bank balance boosted by a large deposit shortly before applying, rather than a consistent history
• Missing Form 1149 when sponsored under the Family Visitor stream
• Not explaining a prior visa refusal when one exists on your travel history

Frequently asked questions

Can I work while on a Visitor Visa?

Generally no — the Visitor Visa doesn't permit work in most circumstances, and the Business visitor stream specifically doesn't allow you to work or sell goods and services. Check the specific conditions attached to your visa grant, since some subclasses or circumstances have limited exceptions.

Can I apply for the Tourist stream while already in Australia?

Only if you hold a substantive visa, or your substantive visa ceased within the last 28 days. You generally won't be granted this stream if doing so would result in more than 12 consecutive months in Australia across your Visitor, Work and Holiday, Working Holiday, or bridging visas, except in exceptional circumstances — and it costs substantially more than applying from outside Australia, so weigh that against simply departing and re-applying from outside the country where that's practical.

What's the strongest evidence for a genuine temporary stay?

A combination of employment continuity, family ties, and property or financial commitments in your home country is generally far more persuasive than travel documents alone. Address all of these where they apply to you rather than relying on just one.