Visitor Visa 600 Cost: $250 Offshore vs $630 Onshore (2026)

What the Australian subclass 600 visitor visa actually costs across all five streams, why applying onshore costs 380 dollars more, and where the cheaper ETA and eVisitor options fit. Plus the extra costs the base government fee doesn't cover. Figures as at September 2026.

Read the full guide, with official sources →

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Chapters

  1. 0:00 Visitor visa:
  2. 0:13 Five streams,
  3. 0:23 Onshore costs
  4. 0:36 $195 → $200 → $250
  5. 0:49 $1,845 —
  6. 1:01 Extra costs
  7. 1:12 No refund,
  8. 1:22 No family rate:
  9. 1:32 Cheaper options:
  10. 1:46 What the 600
  11. 1:58 Common gaps:
  12. 2:10 Where to read more

Transcript

A visitor visa to Australia costs 250 dollars if you apply from outside the country — and 630 if you apply from inside it.

The subclass 600 has five streams, each with its own base charge — from 250 dollars up to 1,845 for the Frequent Traveller stream.

Applying onshore costs 380 dollars more than applying offshore. The Department does extra checking — your visa history, your compliance record, and how long you've already been in the country.

That offshore Tourist charge has climbed steadily — 195 dollars, then 200 at the 1 July 2025 indexation, and 250 as at 1 July 2026.

The Frequent Traveller stream costs 1,845 dollars — a lot more upfront, but it grants multiple entries and a much longer visa validity than the standard Tourist stream.

Beyond the visa charge, budget for biometric collection around 80 dollars, a health exam if required, and certified translation of any non-English documents.

The visa application charge is never refunded once a decision is made — approved or refused — so a borderline application is worth thinking through carefully first.

There's no family rate. Each family member applying offshore pays 250 dollars separately, adding up to 1,000 dollars for four people.

If your passport qualifies, you may not need the 600 at all. The subclass 601 electronic authority carries a small 20-dollar service charge; the subclass 651 eVisitor is completely free.

The subclass 600 gives no right to work, no Medicare access, and no automatic extension — an onshore application can still be refused, and the charge is never returned.

A prior refusal on any Australian visa increases scrutiny on a new one — and travel insurance matters more than people expect, since visitor visa holders have no Medicare access at all.

The full guide, with the official sources, is on migratio.com.au. The link is in the description.

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