Last Updated: 15 July 2026

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The Tourist Stream (Apply in Australia) is part of the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600). It allows eligible applicants who are already in Australia to apply for a further stay for tourism purposes.

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This stream is commonly used by visitors who wish to extend their holiday or continue visiting family and friends.

This page explains eligibility requirements, stay period, visa conditions and key considerations for onshore applicants.

 

Who Can Apply for the Tourist Stream (600) Onshore?

You can apply for the Tourist stream while in Australia if you're already in the country, hold a visa that permits an onshore application, and aren't subject to a No Further Stay condition (Condition 8503).

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To apply under this stream, you must meet all of the following:

• You are currently in Australia

• You hold a visa that allows you to apply onshore

• You are not subject to a No Further Stay condition (Condition 8503)

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You must be in Australia both when you lodge your application and when the Department makes its decision. Applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount.

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What Is a No Further Stay Condition?

Condition 8503 is a visa condition that prevents you from applying for most other visas while you remain in Australia. If your current visa carries this condition, you generally can't lodge an onshore Tourist stream application unless the condition is waived. Always check your visa grant notice to confirm whether Condition 8503 applies to you. For the official condition description, see the Department of Home Affairs' Visa conditions page.

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To lodge your application once you've confirmed eligibility, see How to Apply below.

 

What Can You Do on the Tourist Stream (600) Onshore Visa?

If granted, this visa lets you stay in Australia to visit family or friends, continue your holiday, go on a cruise, or travel for purposes other than business or medical treatment.

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This visa carries the following conditions:

• Condition 8101 (No work) — you cannot work in Australia on this visa

• Condition 8201 (Maximum 3 months study) — you may undertake short recreational study, generally up to 3 months

• Condition 8501 — you must maintain adequate health insurance for the length of your stay

• Condition 8503 (No further stay) — may apply, restricting further onshore applications (see Who Can Apply above)

• Condition 8531 — you must leave Australia before your visa expires

For the full official condition list, see the Department of Home Affairs' visa conditions checker.

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How Long Can You Stay?

The Department grants a stay of up to 12 months on the Tourist stream (600) onshore, though not every applicant receives the maximum period.

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The duration granted depends on:

• Your individual circumstances

• Your previous visa history

• Your purpose of continued stay

• Compliance with the conditions of your previous visa

Always check your visa grant notice to confirm the exact stay period and any conditions attached to your grant, including whether Condition 8503 (No further stay) applies.

 

Genuine Visitor Requirement

You must satisfy the genuine temporary entry criterion under clause 600.211 of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994. The Department must be satisfied that you genuinely intend to stay in Australia only temporarily, for the purpose the visa is granted.

In assessing this, the Department considers:

• Whether you complied substantially with the conditions of your last substantive visa, or any subsequent bridging visa

• Whether you intend to comply with the conditions of the Tourist stream (600) visa

• Any other relevant matter

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If you've spent extended periods in Australia on visitor visas, your application may face closer assessment. Under Ministerial Direction No. 106, Subclass 600 visa holders are among the applicant categories the Department treats as warranting greater scrutiny of genuine intent.

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Failing to satisfy clause 600.211 is the most common reason Tourist stream applications are refused. See How Long Can You Stay above — this same genuine-intent assessment also underpins clause 600.215, which caps most visitor visa stays at 12 consecutive months.

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Source: Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, Federal Register of Legislation.

 

Financial Requirements

You must show that you can financially support yourself during your extended stay.

Evidence may include:

• Bank statements
• Employment income from outside Australia
• Sponsor support (if applicable)
• Evidence of return travel plans

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There is no fixed public minimum amount.

 

Health and Character Requirements

Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to:

• Complete medical examinations
• Provide police certificates
• Declare any criminal history

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The Department will advise if additional checks are necessary.

 

Bridging Visa

If you apply while holding a valid visa, you may be granted a Bridging Visa to allow you to remain in Australia lawfully while your application is processed.

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The Bridging Visa will generally come into effect if your current visa expires before a decision is made.

You must comply with all bridging visa conditions.

 

Visa Conditions

Common conditions include:

• No work permitted
• Study limited to 3 months
• Must depart Australia before visa expiry
• Possible No Further Stay condition

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Failure to comply may affect future visa applications.

 

How Long Does the Tourist Stream (600) Onshore Take to Process?

The Department publishes one combined processing time figure for the Tourist stream, covering both onshore and offshore applications — there's no separate onshore-only timeframe.

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Based on the Department's current published processing times:

• 50% of applications are processed within 16 days

• 90% of applications are processed within 33 days

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These figures are a guide based on recently decided applications, not a guarantee for your specific case. Processing may take longer if your application is missing required information or documents.

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Check the status of your application, and confirm you've provided all necessary supporting documents, through ImmiAccount. The Department will contact you directly once a decision is made.

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For the most current figures, use the Department's visa processing time guide tool directly — select Visitor visa (subclass 600) and the Tourist stream.

 

Tourist Stream (600) Onshore — Visa Application Charge

The base application charge is AUD 630. A subsequent temporary application charge of AUD 700 may also apply if you've held another temporary visa in Australia.

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You may qualify for a nil visa application charge if you provide supporting evidence and are travelling:

• As a representative of a foreign government

• On a United Nations Laissez-Passer for official purposes

• As a member of an exempt group

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Additional applicants aren't eligible for this visa. Each person, including those listed on your passport, must lodge a separate application.

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Fees sourced from the Department of Home Affairs' Current Visa Pricing Estimator. Charges may change — always confirm with the official tool before applying.

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How to Apply

Step 1: Log in to ImmiAccount.
Step 2: Select Visitor Visa (Subclass 600).
Step 3: Choose Tourist Stream (Apply in Australia).
Step 4: Upload required documents.
Step 5: Pay the visa application charge.
Step 6: Await a decision.

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You must remain lawful in Australia while your application is being processed.

 

Important

You must be in Australia at the time of application and when a decision is made.

Always check your current visa conditions before lodging a new application.

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Visa rules and requirements may change. Refer to the official Department of Home Affairs website for the most up-to-date information.