Temporary visas

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Visitor visa (Tourist) (subclass 600)

The Tourist stream visa is for clients planning to visit Australia for holiday, sightseeing, social or recreational reasons, to visit relatives, friends or for other short-term non-work purposes. You can engage in any studies or training for a maximum of 12 weeks. You are not permitted to work while in Australia on a tourist visa. Limited volunteer work may be acceptable. You can not include family members as dependents

Tourist visas can be granted with single or multiple entries and for a stay of up to 3 months depending on the purpose of your visit. If you wish to stay longer than 3 months, you should provide sufficient information as to why you are requesting a longer stay. For stays of 6 months or more in Australia, you will be required to undergo health examination.

If you are intending to do short-term work in Australia, you should apply for the new Temporary work (short stay specialist) visa (subclass 400).

For information on documentation required for this visa, please click here.

Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)

The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is an electronic visa for people traveling to Australia for a period not exceeding three months on tourism, business meetings or attending a conference. The visa has a AUD20 service charge. Passports holders from certain counties are eligible to apply for an ETA. For further information please click here.

Please note that Brazilian passport holders are not eligible to apply for an ETA, unless they also hold a passport that is issued by an eligible country.

EVisitor (subclass 651)

The eVisitor visa is a free electronic visa for holders of a passport from one of the European Union countries, who intend to visit Australia on tourism, business meetings or attend a conference.

This visa allows you to visit Australia for three months at a time and travel to and enter Australia on multiple occasions within 12 months from the date the visa is granted.

Visitor Visa (Business) (subclass 600)

The Business stream visa is for clients planning to visit Australia for business purposes. This may include attending a conference or training session, conducting business with an Australia-based organisation, conducting business negotiations or for an exploratory business visit, activities performed by members of local government and/or official visits as a government representative. Business activities do not include acting, musical performances or commercial film making.

Applicants who are participating in an official event will be exempt from paying the visa application charge. An official letter (Note Verbale) issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be attached to the application.

The Business Visitor visa does not allow a stay of more than 12 weeks.

For information on documentation required for this visa, please click here.

New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa (subclass 461)

The New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa allows a non-New Zealand family member of a New Zealand citizen to live and work in Australia for up to five years.

You can be in or outside Australia when you apply for this visa. If you are resident of Brazil, you must lodge your New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship visa application at the DIBP office at the Australian Embassy in Brasilia.

Transit Visa (subclass 771)

The Transit visa is for travellers who intend to remain in Australia no longer than 72 hours and can demonstrate that the principal purpose of entering Australia is either to (i) pass through Australia in transit to another country, or (ii) pass through Australia to join a vessel as a crew member. If you intend to embark as a foreign see crew, you need to apply for a Maritimhttp://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/988-e Crew visa (subclass 998).

If you are resident of Brazil, you must lodge your transit visa application at the DIBP office at the Australian Embassy in Brasilia. Please ensure you submit a completed and signed application Form 876 and the following supporting documents:

Preferably coloured copy of the passport (page containing personal data);
Copy of the ticket confirming the transit period through Australia; and
A letter explaining the reasons for the trip.

Student Visa (subclass 500)

The Student visa is for clients who want to come to Australia to study at a registered education institution.

You can study a registered full-time course in Australia. Eligible family members can accompany you to Australia.

From 1 July 2016, a simplified student visa framework (SSVF) was introduced. This is designed to make the process of applying for a Student visa and Student Guardian visa simpler to navigate for genuine students. For more information about SSVF, please click here.

To make the application process easier for you when you lodge your application online, please click here for tips.

Student Guardian Visa (subclass 590)

This Student Guardian visa allows you to stay in Australia as the guardian of an international student younger than 18 years of age studying in Australia on a student visa.

For more information about the Student Guardian visa, please click here.

Temporary Work Visa (subclass 400)

The Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa is a temporary visa that lets you enter Australia to:

• do short-term, highly specialised, non-ongoing work
• in limited circumstances, participate in an activity or work relating to Australia's interest.

Generally the stay period allowed is up to three months.

Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403)

The Temporary Work (International Relations) visa allows you to come to Australia on a temporary basis:

• in relation to a bilateral agreement (Government Agreement stream),
• to represent a foreign government, who will not be given official status in Australia, or a person who is to be employed as a foreign language teacher by a foreign government in an Australian school (Foreign Government Agency stream),
• to do domestic work in the household of someone who holds a Diplomatic (Temporary) visa (Subclass 995) (Domestic Worker Stream), or
• as a person with statutory privileges and immunities (Privileges and Immunities stream).

Training visa (subclass 407)

The Training visa is for people who want to come to Australia on a temporary basis to participate in occupational training or professional development.

This visa allows people to:

• take part in workplace-based training to enhance your skills in your current occupation, area of tertiary study, field of expertise
• participate in a professional development training programme in Australia.

This visa is not appropriate for persons whose sole intention is to work.

Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)

The Temporary Activity visa allows you to come to Australia on a temporary basis to:

• work as a performer in the entertainment industry
• participate in activities at the invitation of an Australian organisation
• participate or observe in an Australian research project
• work in a skilled position under a staff exchange arrangement
• participate in high-level sports competitions or sport training programs
• participate in an approved special program
• do full-time religious work
• be employed as a superyacht crew member
• participate in a government endorsed event.

This visa requires sponsorship if:
• your stay in Australia is for more than three months
• you apply in Australia.

There is no nomination required for this visa.

If you apply from outside Australia and you intend to stay in Australia for three months or less, the organisation or individual in Australia who has responsibility for the events/activities you will be involved in must pass the support test.

If you apply from outside Australia and you intend to stay in Australia for more than three months you must be sponsored by an approved temporary activities sponsor or sponsor who passes the sponsorship test.

Temporary Work (Skilled) (Subclass 457)

The Temporary Work (Skilled) visa allows skilled workers to come to Australia and work for an approved business for up to four years. Employers may nominate a number of positions for different occupations.

You may apply under one of the following two streams:

• Labour Agreement
• Standard Business Sponsor

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Page Last Updated: 24 March 2017