• Andorra
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brunei
• Canada
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, PRC
• Iceland
• Italy
• Japan
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Monaco
• The Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Republic of Ireland
• Republic of Korea
• Republic of San Marino
• Singapore
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan (if applying in Taiwan)
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Vatican City

Tourist Visas

A Tourist visa allows individuals to travel to Australia for a holiday of or to visit Australian family members for 3, 6, or in some circumstances, 12 months. A Tourist visa does not allow the holder to work in Australia.

You can apply for a Tourist visa whilst you are either in, or outside Australia. If you apply for a Tourist visa whilst outside Australia you will be allowed to stay in Australia for up to 12 months, depending on the purpose of your visit and whether you have sufficient funds for your support whilst in Australia. If in Australia at time of application and you lodge the application:

• electronically (via the internet) you will be entitled to a maximum stay of up to 6 months;
• by paper application at the Department of Immigration, you will be entitled to a maximum stay of up to 12 months.

Please note that as a Tourist visa holder you must show that you have adequate funds for the duration of your stay in Australia. You will also be required to complete a declaration regarding your good character and health in the visa application form.

Tourist visa applicant’s who declare on their application form that the purpose of their proposed stay in Australia is to visit a:

• parent;
• spouse; or
• sibling

will have review rights before the Migration Review Tribunal in instances of visa refusal.

Family Sponsored Visitor Visas

The Family Sponsored Visitor visa allows individuals to travel to Australia to visit family for 3, 6, or in some circumstances 12 months. In order to be eligible for a Family Sponsored Visitor visa an applicant must be sponsored by an Australian citizen/permanent resident family member.

Because the visa is one which involves sponsorship, the Department of Immigration has the discretion to request a security bond where deemed appropriate. The amount of the security bond is assessed on a case-by-case basis and may range from $5,000.00 (AUD) per person, up to $15,000.00 (AUD) per person. If a Family Sponsored Visitor visa-holder overstays on his/her visa, the security bond may be forfeited.

A decision to refuse a Family Sponsored Visitor visa can be reviewed before the Migration Review Tribunal.

Please note that all visitors must satisfy the health requirement by completing a health declaration on the visa application form, in some circumstances a medical examination from an approved doctor may be required.

Visitor / Tourist Visa Applicants Affected by a Risk Profile

Visitor and Tourist visa-holders must have a genuine intention to visit Australia, and agree not to breach any condition on their visa. The Department of Immigration has determined that individuals who meet a risk profile (based on sex, age, country of origin and/or whether a permanent visa has been applied for in the last 5 years) as a potential overstayer will generally be refused a Visitor or Tourist visa, unless they provide evidence outlining ties to their home country.

The list of risk profile affected individuals/countries can be found on the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs website.