Australia is a lucky country; the land of fortune, sunshine and stunning natural beauty. It’s an excellent place to visit and to live. With a vibrant, multicultural community, you may consider visiting Australia for an extended stay, to live and work, or just to get a feel for the place before making any longer-term commitments. 

In most cases, you’ll need a visa to enter Australia. And if you’re wondering which one is right for you and your purpose of travel, fear not, because this helpful article will cover the different types of visas available for foreign travellers coming to Australia. Read on to learn more.

Do I Need A Visa To Enter Australia?

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Unless you’re a New Zealand citizen, you will require a valid visa to enter Australia before you step foot on Australian soil. All other passport holders, regardless of their age, must apply for a visa before leaving home. You can apply for a range of Australian visa types, including tourist visas and working holiday visas, via the ETA app or on the Department of Home Affairs website. 

Preparing To Make Your Visa Application

When preparing the necessary identification and supporting documents to upload to your visa application portal such as scans of your passport, utility bills and nation-specific biometric information, you’ll often be required to upload them as a PDF. Use a PDF converter to quickly convert all your files, whether they’re in JPEG, HTML or .doc format. Incorrect formatting could delay your application, so it’s essential to get this right.

What Are The Different Types Of Tourist Visas?

There are several different Australian visa types available for those planning to come to Australia for primarily tourist purposes. Knowing which one to apply for depends on the length of your intended stay, the nationality of your passport and the purpose of your trip. You’ll also need to meet certain medical and financial requirements, be living outside of Australia when you apply, and maintain appropriate health insurance or be the recipient of a reciprocal agreement with your nation for the duration of your stay. 

Let’s take a look at the different types of visas for foreigners coming to Australia.

Electronic travel authority (ETA) visa (subclass 601)

An ETA is an electronic visa that allows you to visit the country as many times as you want, for up to a year, with stays of up to three months permitted for each individual visit. This visa is available to passport holders from a number of countries and regions. It’s designed to facilitate those visiting family and friends, going on a cruise, or simply exploring iconic destinations like the Great Barrier Reef – one of the world’s bucket list travel destinations – on an unforgettable holiday.

All ETA-eligible passport holders have to apply for an ETA using the Australian ETA app. The process is fairly straightforward and you will normally be notified immediately. Visa agents can assist you in the application process if needed, but you must be physically present at an appointment, as a live facial image taken via the app is required.

Visitor visa (subclass 600)

This visitor visa allows you to visit Australia, either for tourism or business reasons. It is open to all nationalities, provided you have a valid passport. Generally, a period of stay of up to three months is granted, but up to 12 months may be granted in certain circumstances. Applicants need to pay a fee to submit their application. 

There are different streams of this visa, whether you’re applying for tourist or business reasons, and whether you’re applying in or outside of Australia. If you’re coming on holiday, it will give you enough time to see the country’s many awe-inspiring sights. If your current tourist visa is expiring and you want to stay longer, this may be a suitable option. Make sure you check that you’re applying for the correct stream of this visa to avoid delaying the process.

Working holiday visa (subclass 417 and 462)

Australia has what is called “The Working Holiday Maker program,” featuring two types of visas: a Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417) and a Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462), depending on your country of residence. 

These visas allow you to live and work in Australia in most full-time, part-time, casual or shift work for up to 12 months to fund your travels. Voluntary work is also allowed, such as for a charity or non-profit organisation. You can study for a maximum of four months in Australia in addition to working during your extended holiday.

The Working Holiday Maker program is not the right fit for those seeking permanent employment or full-time study in Australia. If your primary reason for coming to Australia is not to travel, you should instead consider a business visa or student visa.

Business Visas

There are a range of business visa streams available to international visitors who wish to conduct business in Australia, although it’s worth noting that these are significantly more expensive and harder to acquire than tourist-related visas.

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (subclass 188)

This provisional visa offers different streams depending on the specific business intentions. For example, the Business Innovation stream lets you operate a new or existing business in Australia for up to five years. Keep in mind that it costs almost AUD $10,000 to apply for this visa, you must be nominated by an Australian government agency and score a certain number of points on a test, and have total net business and personal assets of at least AUD $1.25 million between you and your partner.

There are also a range of investment streams, which require significant investment in an Australian business ranging from 1.5 to 15 million Australian dollars, with the full intention to live in the state of your investment in order to develop it.

Note: The Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) is closed as of 31 July 2024. New applicants can no longer apply. 

Education Visas

Student visa (subclass 500)

The Australian student visa covers requirements for most individuals coming to Australia to undertake extended studies, such as at university, which is valid for up to five years. You must first be enrolled in a course in Australia before applying, and you are able to work for up to 48 hours a fortnight whilst your study or training is in session.

To be eligible, you must meet certain English language requirements, provide proof of being a student, and make welfare arrangements if you are less than 18 years old. This visa costs $1,600, although there are some exemptions.

Training visa (subclass 407)

This temporary visa costs $450 AUD and is valid for up to two years while you undertake workplace-based training to learn occupational skills for future work or develop your field of expertise. You must be sponsored, nominated and invited to apply, and the primary purpose of this visa is to learn, not to work.

Australian Visas In Summary

This informative article has briefly covered the Australian visas available to foreign travellers. However, it has only scratched the surface, and it is imperative you spend time looking at all the specific streams of each visa subclass to ensure you apply for the one most relevant to your situation.

It’s wise to be prepared on the off-chance that you’re required to visit the Australian embassy before you leave, or your nation’s embassy on arrival in Australia regarding your visa application, or to apply for a new or different visa. You’ll need to bring proof of your identity, such as your passport and Aadhaar number. Luckily, you can access some of this information online, therefore reducing the risk of losing these important personal documents. Better yet, use an e-Aadhaar Card password to control who has access to your sensitive information and make sure it stays secure.

Whether you’re coming to Australia for work, travel, education or a combination, hopefully you now have a better idea of where to direct further research. Prepare your visa application well in advance of your plans to fly, and make sure everything is sorted before you arrive to avoid potential issues at Australian border control. You’ll be sinking your toes in the glistening white sands in no time.

Alternatively, check out our list of holiday destinations with visa-on-arrival options for Indian travellers.

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