Visiting family and friends in Australia during the holidays
/With international travel in full swing almost two years after Australia’s international borders reopened, many people are jumping on the bandwagon to travel outside of their home country. For many of these travellers, it is an opportunity to see family and friends that they have not seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic. For others, it is also a chance to take a vacation and unwind. If you’re looking to travel to Australia during the end of year holidays, then now is the time to apply for that visitor visa to ensure you don’t miss out on boarding your flights! We answer some of the main questions people ask when applying for a visa to visit Australia.
Which visa do I need to travel to Australia for a holiday?
The visa you apply for will depend on your country of passport, the purpose of your visit and the length of your intended stay. We have listed the various visas that are available for people wishing to travel to Australia for a holiday or to visit family and friends.
Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)
If you have a passport from a select group of eligible countries, and you wish to travel to Australia as a tourist or to visit family or friends, you can apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) through the Australian ETA app.
What are the eligible countries?
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (SAR of China), Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, Republic of San, Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (excluding official or diplomatic passports), The Netherlands, United Kingdom—British Citizen, United Kingdom - British National (Overseas), United States of America and Vatican City.
How long can I stay?
Maximum 3 months stay period per entry with multiple entries over a 12 month period.
How much does the visa cost?
$20 AUD
How long does it take to be processed?
In most cases immediately after lodgement.
Subclass 651 eVisitor Visa
If your passport is from an eligible country in Europe including the UK, Ireland and EU member countries and you intend to visit family or friends, or simply for a holiday, you can apply for this visa.
What are the eligible countries?
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Republic of San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (British Citizen) and Vatican City.
How long can I stay?
Maximum 3 months stay period per entry with multiple entries over a 12 month period.
How much does the visa cost?
Free
How long does it take to be processed?
Less than 1 day
Subclass 600 visitor visa
If your passport is not from an eligible country and you intend to visit family or friends, travel to Australia for a holiday or as a business visitor, you can apply for the Subclass 600 visitor visa. There are five different streams of this visa including the tourist stream, sponsored family, business visitor, approved destination status and frequent traveller stream. The stream most appropriate for you will depend on your circumstances and country of passport.
How long can I stay?
This will depend on the specific stay period granted (usually 3, 6 or 12 months).
How much does the visa cost?
$190 AUD
How long does it take to be processed?
Between 1 to 37 days
Subclass 417 Working holiday visa or Subclass 462 work and holiday visa
You can apply for one of these visas if you are between 18 to 30 years old (in some cases 35 years old), hold a passport from an eligible country and wish to work and have an extended holiday in Australia. The visa allows you to also study for up to 4 months and travel to and from Australia as many times as you want.
What are the eligible countries for the Subclass 417 visa?
Belgium, Canada,Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan (other than an official or diplomatic passport), The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including British National Overseas passport holders)
What are the eligible countries for the Subclass 462 visa?
Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, People's Republic of Czech Republic, Ecuador, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, Uruguay, United States of America, Vietnam
How long can I stay in Australia?
12 months with an option to extend if certain requirements are met.
How much does the visa cost?
$635 AUD
How long does it take to be processed?
Subclass 417 Working Holiday visa: Between 1 - 16 days
Subclass 462 Work and Holiday visa: Between 1 - 41 days
Is there a chance that the visa can be refused?
With any visa application, there is always a chance that a visa can be refused. The main reasons why one of the above visas would be refused are as follows:
Not a genuine temporary visitor - if an applicant does not have sufficient evidence to prove that they have strong incentives to return to their country of residence at the end of their visit to Australia
Inadequate funds to support their visit - when there is not enough evidence to show that the applicant has adequate means to support their visit from their own funds or funds provided by a third party
Unable to meet the character requirements - if there are concerns about an applicant’s criminal record or they pose a threat to community safety
Did not satisfy health requirements - if an applicant undertakes a health examination and it is determined that they pose a risk to the health of the Australian community
No biometrics provided when requested - if an applicant is asked to provide their biometrics data (fingerprint and facial scan) but they fail to do so
Engaging Titan Migration to assist with your visa application
At Titan Migration, our objective is to enhance your chances of being granted your desired visa to Australia. Our registered migration agent can assess and advise you on the most suitable visa option for you. We aim to provide you with advice that is valuable and is easy to understand. Book an appointment and speak with our registered migration agent today.
Planning a visit to Australia?
Book an appointment with our registered migration agent today
Peter Chang
Registered Migration Agent
Titan Migration
About Peter Chang
Peter Chang is a registered migration agent based in the Western Sydney hub of Parramatta, Australia. He is the co-founder of Titan Migration, a consultancy specialising in providing Australian immigration advice and visa assistance services.
