Quick answer
Indians need a Visitor visa (subclass 600) for Australia, lodged online through ImmiAccount. From 1 July 2026 the fee is AUD 250 (about ₹14,500) per applicant applying from outside Australia. You may be asked for biometrics at a VFS Global centre or a health check. Stays are usually up to three, six or twelve months. Indians cannot use the ETA or eVisitor.
At a glance
- Visa type
- Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream, lodged online
- Stay allowed
- Up to 3, 6 or 12 months, as granted
- Fee
- AUD 250 (about ₹14,500) per applicant from 1 July 2026, applying from outside Australia; biometrics and medicals, if requested, cost extra
- Processing
- Often a few weeks; check the Home Affairs processing-time tool and allow longer for October–February
- Validity
- Usually 12 months; longer multiple-entry grants are at the officer's discretion
- Apply at
- Official portal
Documents checklist
- Passport bio-page scan, plus old passports showing travel history
- ImmiAccount application with every question answered, including past refusals
- Bank statements for the last 3–6 months, plus fixed deposits or investments
- ITR acknowledgements for the last 2–3 years
- Employer letter with approved leave and salary slips, or business registration and GST returns
- Cover letter: purpose, itinerary, who pays and ties to India
- Family visits: invitation from relatives in Australia with proof of their visa or citizenship status
- Sponsor's bank statements and ITRs if a relative is paying
- For a child travelling without both parents: Form 1229 consent and birth certificate
- Health insurance details, especially for older parents
- Biometrics and health examination results, only if requested
Common mistakes that get Indians refused
- Leaving a past refusal or overstay off the form; non-disclosure can lead to refusal and future bars.
- Funds that appear in the account just before applying.
- Assuming you can extend inside Australia when the grant carries condition 8503 (No further stay).
- Paying once for a family; each applicant pays the AUD 250 charge.
- Booking cheap non-refundable flights before the grant.
Which visa do Indians need for Australia?
The Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream, lodged online. Indians are not eligible for the ETA (subclass 601) or the eVisitor (subclass 651), which are for other passports. Applying from outside Australia, the base charge is AUD 250 (about ₹14,500) per applicant from 1 July 2026, up from AUD 200. Each family member pays separately.
How does the process work?
- Create an ImmiAccount and lodge the application online with scanned documents.
- Pay the fee by card.
- If asked, give biometrics at an Australian visa application centre, run by VFS Global in India.
- If asked, complete a health examination with an approved panel doctor. This is more common for older applicants and longer stays.
The visa is electronic and linked to your passport; there is no sticker. Home Affairs publishes processing times for recently decided applications. Many straightforward Indian tourist files are decided within a few weeks, but plan for at least a month, and longer before the October–February Australian summer or for any file that needs biometrics or medicals.
How long can you stay?
Grants usually allow stays of up to three, six or twelve months within a validity period set by the officer. Some grants carry condition 8503 (No further stay), which stops you applying for most other visas while in Australia. Read the grant notice before assuming you can extend.
What do officers look for?
The core test is a genuine temporary visit: a real reason to come, enough money, and incentives to go home. Document:
- financial capacity: bank statements, ITRs, fixed deposits;
- employment: a leave letter and salary slips, or business proof;
- your itinerary and, for family visits, an invitation from relatives with proof of their visa or citizenship status.
Parents visiting children in Australia often ask for longer stays. Evidence of ties in India, such as property, a pension or other children at home, helps, as does health insurance for the visit.
Common refusal triggers
Incomplete answers, unexplained funds, previous overstays anywhere and undeclared refusals are the usual reasons. Answer every question honestly, including refusals from any country.
Book flights only after the grant. Refunds on cheap fares to Australia are poor.
Our visa assistance team prepares ImmiAccount applications, and we arrange travel insurance, important given Australian hospital costs. See the Australia trip cost and best time to visit Australia guides; for a two-country trip, see the New Zealand visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Australia tourist visa fee for Indians?
Can Indians get an Australian ETA or eVisitor?
How long does an Australian visitor visa take for Indians?
What does condition 8503 (No further stay) mean?
How we checked this page
Last reviewed
Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
