🇦🇺 Australia Visa Guide for Indian Passport Holders

At a glance

Indian passport holders travelling to Australia for tourism or short business activities need a Visitor visa (subclass 600) — the lighter-weight Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) options are restricted to specific eligible passports and are not available to Indian passport holders. All subclass 600 applications must be lodged online through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs' official portal — paper applications are no longer accepted except in exceptional, department-approved circumstances.

Choose your purpose of travel

Subclass 600 has multiple streams; the two relevant here are:

• Tourist stream: holidays, cruises, and visiting family or friends, for 3, 6, or 12 months.
• Business Visitor stream: short business activities such as meetings, negotiations, or conferences — this stream does not permit paid work in Australia.

Choose the stream that matches your actual purpose — applying under the wrong stream is a common cause of refusal.

Visa requirement for an Indian passport holder

A visa is required for every visit; there is no visa-free or visa-on-arrival option for Indian passport holders.

Where and how to apply

• Apply online via ImmiAccount — this is mandatory; the Department transitioned all overseas Visitor visa (subclass 600) applications to 100% online lodgement.
• The Australian High Commission in New Delhi's own visitor-visa guidance page directs applicants to lodge through ImmiAccount, with the option for a third party (family member or travel agent) to complete the form on your behalf with your permission.

iamravi.com is not affiliated with the Australian Department of Home Affairs or the Australian High Commission. All application, payment, and lodgement steps happen on the official ImmiAccount platform — never here.

Eligibility and passport conditions

The Department requires that you are a genuine visitor and have enough funds for your stay in Australia and departure. Your passport should be valid for your intended stay, with sufficient validity beyond your travel dates. There is no single published minimum bank balance — what matters is a credible, consistent financial picture supporting the length and nature of your proposed trip.

Application steps

1. Create an ImmiAccount if you don't already have one.
2. Select the correct stream (Tourist or Business Visitor) under subclass 600.
3. Complete the online application, including personal details, travel plans, and financial information.
4. Attach your supporting documents digitally within ImmiAccount.
5. Pay the visa application charge online, using the Visa Pricing Estimator beforehand to confirm the current amount.
6. Wait for a decision — track your application status through ImmiAccount; use the Department's visa processing time guide tool for an indicative timeframe (this is a guide only, not specific to your case).

Forms required

There is no separate paper form for the standard route — the entire subclass 600 application is completed within ImmiAccount online.

Document checklist

Typical supporting evidence includes: your passport (valid well beyond your planned departure), evidence of funds for your trip (bank statements), evidence of your ties to India (employment letter, business registration, family, property), a travel itinerary, and — for the Business Visitor stream — a letter from your employer or business describing the purpose of your visit and its connection to your role.

Photo and biometric requirements

Biometrics (fingerprints and/or a photo) may be requested at a visa application centre in some cases, depending on your circumstances and where you apply from — check your ImmiAccount instructions after lodging, since requirements can vary by applicant.

Fees

Visa application charges are set by the Department and are indexed, typically changing each 1 July. As of this review, the base Visitor visa (subclass 600) application charge for applications lodged from outside Australia was in the region of AUD 250 for the main applicant, with a higher charge if lodged from within Australia — but you should always confirm the exact current amount using the official Visa Pricing Estimator immediately before paying, entering your intended lodgement date, since the charge is determined by the date your application is actually received, not the date you started it. Each visitor lodges and pays individually — family members cannot be bundled into one subclass 600 application.

Appointment process

Most subclass 600 applicants do not require an in-person appointment beyond biometrics collection where requested — the process is largely conducted online through ImmiAccount from lodgement through to decision.

Processing information

The Department publishes a visa processing time guide tool showing recent processing times for decided applications in your stream — use it as an indicative guide only, since it reflects historical cases, not a guarantee for your specific application.

Common mistakes

• Choosing the wrong stream (Tourist vs Business Visitor) for your actual purpose, which is one of the most common reasons for refusal.
• Providing a lump-sum bank deposit shortly before applying rather than a consistent savings pattern — the Department's assessment looks at financial credibility, not just a headline number.
• Assuming the ETA or eVisitor applies to you — neither is available to Indian passport holders.
• Underestimating how long processing can take and booking non-refundable travel too early.

Official links

• Visitor visa (subclass 600) — Department of Home Affairs
• ImmiAccount — official application portal
• Visa Pricing Estimator
• Australian High Commission, New Delhi — Visiting Australia