Applicant identity and history
Passport, family composition, addresses, employment or study, travel history and complete Australian immigration history.
Visitor Visa Subclass 600
Choose the correct visitor stream and prepare a consistent account of the trip, funding and reasons the applicant will stay temporarily and comply with every visa condition.
MARN 2519006 Reviewed 21 July 2026 Home Affairs sources
Purpose first
Tourist vs Sponsored Family vs Business Visitor
The applicant should use the stream that matches the authorised activity and the role the Australian contact will play.
| Stream | Typical purpose | Australian contact | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist | Holiday or visit family and friends | No formal sponsor required; an invitation letter can support the trip | The applicant still proves genuine temporary stay, funding and personal circumstances |
| Sponsored Family | Visit eligible family in Australia | An eligible relative formally sponsors and proves the relationship | Home Affairs may request a security bond; sponsorship does not guarantee grant |
| Business Visitor | Meetings, enquiries, negotiations or conferences | Australian business or event evidence may support the purpose | Does not permit productive work or providing services to an Australian business |
Applicant location, passport, existing visa, intended activity and requested stay can change which stream and application process applies.
Proving a genuine temporary visit
Home Affairs considers the whole picture. A large bank balance or invitation letter cannot repair an inconsistent purpose or unexplained circumstances by itself.
- Clear travel dates, itinerary, accommodation and purpose.
- Realistic trip budget and reliable evidence showing who will pay.
- Employment, business, study or financial commitments outside Australia.
- Family circumstances, responsibilities and reasons to return.
- Previous travel, visa compliance, refusals or cancellations explained accurately.
Visitor application evidence
Build the file around the applicant and the proposed trip, then add invitation or sponsorship evidence where relevant.
Purpose and itinerary
Planned dates, activities, accommodation, event or family occasion, and a stay period proportionate to the circumstances.
Funds and support
Bank history, income, trip costs and evidence from any person providing accommodation or financial support.
Invitation or sponsorship
Inviter identity and status, relationship evidence, invitation letter, accommodation and—only for the Sponsored Family stream—the formal sponsorship documents.
Visitor visa for parents, siblings and relatives
Family relationship explains why the trip matters, but the applicant's own genuine visitor evidence remains essential.
Parents
Explain the family occasion, stay arrangements, funding, health-cover plans and the parent's continuing circumstances outside Australia.
Brother or sister
Choose between a Tourist stream invitation and formal Sponsored Family stream based on the eligible sponsor and case facts.
Read sibling sponsorship optionsPartner or friend
A partner or friend can provide an invitation and support evidence, but formal sponsor eligibility is stream-specific.
Children travelling
Prepare birth records, parental responsibility, consent and travel arrangements for applicants under 18.
Previous Visitor visa refusal
Start with the decision reasons. A fresh application should show what has changed or why the evidence now answers the original findings.
- Map every refusal finding to a document or clear explanation.
- Disclose the refusal accurately in later applications.
- Do not reuse the same unsupported invitation and financial documents.
- Check whether review rights exist and whether any deadline is still open.
Need a Visitor 600 evidence strategy?
Send the travel purpose, dates, applicant circumstances, inviter or sponsor details and any previous decisions.