Whether you are visiting family, attending a business meeting, or exploring Australia as a tourist, we assist with visitor visa (subclass 600) applications and provide expert advice on complex refusals and eligibility issues.
The Visitor Visa (subclass 600) is the primary visa for people who want to visit Australia temporarily for tourism, business, or family visits. At SDA Immigration Lawyers, we assist applicants with straightforward applications and, critically, with complex cases involving prior refusals, health issues, character concerns, or situations where the Department has questioned the applicant's genuine visitor intentions.
While many visitor visa applications are granted without difficulty, those involving prior immigration history, close family ties to Australia, prior overstays, or health or character issues require careful preparation. A well-documented application significantly reduces the risk of refusal.
The subclass 600 visa has several streams depending on the purpose of the visit:
Every visitor visa applicant must satisfy the genuine visitor requirement — demonstrating that they genuinely intend to visit temporarily and will depart Australia before their visa expires. The Department of Home Affairs assesses:
We help applicants identify potential concerns and address them proactively through a carefully prepared application and supporting documentation.
A prior visitor visa refusal does not permanently bar you from visiting Australia, but it must be disclosed and addressed in any future application. The reasons for the previous refusal and the changed circumstances must be clearly explained. We advise on how to approach fresh applications following a refusal and can identify whether an AAT review is available or appropriate.
We assess your personal circumstances, travel history, and the purpose of your visit to identify any potential issues before lodgement.
We guide you through preparing evidence of your genuine visitor intentions, financial capacity, and ties to your home country.
We prepare and lodge your complete application through ImmiAccount, with a covering statement addressing any specific concerns.
If your application is refused, we advise on AAT review options and represent you through the review process.
Visitor visas (subclass 600, tourist stream) are typically granted for up to 12 months with multiple entry rights. The maximum stay allowed per visit is usually 3 months per entry, though the Department may grant longer single-entry stays in some circumstances. The actual duration granted will be noted on your visa grant notice. You may not extend your stay beyond your visa conditions.
It is not generally possible to extend a visitor visa — you can apply for a new visitor visa from within Australia, but the Department of Home Affairs will carefully scrutinise your intention to remain temporarily, particularly if you have already spent significant time in Australia. We advise on the prospects of a successful in-country application based on your specific circumstances.
Yes. Any prior visa refusal must be disclosed in your new application — failure to disclose a refusal is a character issue that can result in further refusal or cancellation. A prior refusal increases the scrutiny applied to your new application, but it does not make approval impossible. We prepare applications that directly address the reasons for the previous refusal and demonstrate how your circumstances have changed.
The subclass 600 visa does not specifically authorise medical treatment, but it permits general activities consistent with a temporary visit. If your primary purpose is to receive medical treatment in Australia, the Medical Treatment Visitor visa (subclass 602) may be more appropriate. This visa is specifically for people who need medical treatment that is not available in their home country. We advise on which visa is most suitable for your circumstances.
Visitor visa holders may undertake up to 3 months of study during their stay without requiring a student visa. Courses longer than 3 months require a subclass 500 student visa. The study cannot be the primary purpose of the visit — if it is, a student visa is required. We advise on the correct visa type for your planned study activities and help you avoid inadvertent breaches of your visa conditions.
Speak with our migration lawyers today for straightforward advice on your visitor visa options.