How to get an Australian visa: tourism, study and work

Updated October 2026.

Australia's visa system is fully digital: most applications are lodged online through ImmiAccount (or the Australian ETA app), and the decision arrives as an electronic grant letter linked to your passport — there is no visa sticker. You can usually apply from your country of citizenship or residence, or from a third country where you hold legal residence; for offshore streams you must be outside Australia. Below you will find which visa to choose, which documents to prepare, what it costs and what has changed in 2025–2026.

Important: the rules depend on your nationality, travel history, education provider, occupation, employer and the conditions of each visa. Before applying, always check the official visa page and your personalised document checklist in ImmiAccount.

Key points for 2026

• Your passport decides the tourist route. UK citizens and citizens of all EU countries (plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and a few other European states) can use the free eVisitor (subclass 651). Holders of ETA-eligible passports — for example the USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea, as well as British citizens — can use the ETA (subclass 601) through the app for an AUD 20 service charge. Latin American passports are not eligible for either, so most Latin American travellers need the Visitor visa (subclass 600).
• Fees went up on 1 July 2026 — most visa charges rose by roughly 25%. The Visitor 600 (Tourist stream, applying outside Australia) now starts at AUD 250, and the Student visa (subclass 500) starts at AUD 2,500 (lower charges apply in limited cases, e.g. some ELICOS and non-award courses).
• Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, and without that limit during official course breaks.
• Since 23 March 2024 students must meet the Genuine Student (GS) requirement, which replaced the old GTE statement: answers are written in English directly in the online form, up to 150 words per question.
• Student applications lodged outside Australia on or after 14 November 2025 are processed under Ministerial Direction 115, which sets processing priorities.
• The National Planning Level for 2026 is 295,000 new international student commencements. It is not a ban on applying but a system that prioritises processing.
• The old TSS 482 was replaced on 7 December 2024 by the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482).
• From 1 July 2026 the salary thresholds for the 482 are AUD 79,499 (Core Skills Income Threshold, CSIT) and AUD 146,717 (Specialist Skills Income Threshold, SSIT). They are indexed every 1 July.
• Since 7 August 2025 the list of accepted English tests has changed; fully online at-home tests are not accepted.

Choosing the right visa at a glance

• Tourism, visiting family or friends, cruises: eVisitor 651 (UK/EU), ETA 601 (ETA-eligible passports) or Visitor 600 (most other passports, including Latin American ones). No work allowed; the 600 is usually granted for 3, 6 or 12 months, the 651 and 601 allow up to 3 months per entry.
• Short study of up to 3 months: possible on a Visitor 600, eVisitor 651 or ETA 601, as long as study is not the main purpose of the trip.
• Study for more than 3 months: Student 500 — you need a CoE, OSHC health cover, a GS statement, proof of funds, English evidence if required, and welfare arrangements for minors.
• Parent or guardian of a student: Student Guardian 590 — to accompany a student under 18.
• Work with a job offer: Skills in Demand 482, ENS 186 or Regional 494 — you need a sponsoring employer, a nomination, an eligible occupation and salary, English and relevant experience.
• Points-tested skilled visas: 189, 190 and 491 — skills assessment, an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect, enough points and an invitation.
• Short-term highly specialised work: Temporary Work 400 — not for ordinary employment.
• Working holiday: 417 or 462 — only for citizens of partner countries, with age limits, usually for up to 12 months (UK citizens use the 417; Spain and several Latin American countries use the 462).

Tourist visas

For tourism, visiting friends and relatives, cruises and other short visits, Australia uses the Visitor 600, the eVisitor 651 and the ETA 601. There is no visa on arrival: you must hold an authorisation before you travel.

Visitor visa subclass 600 (Tourist stream, outside Australia)

• Who it is for: tourists, family and friends visiting, cruise passengers — mainly travellers whose passport is not eligible for the eVisitor or ETA (this includes most Latin Americans), or anyone wanting a longer stay.
• Length of stay: usually 3, 6 or 12 months; the stay period and number of entries are stated in the grant letter.
• Cost: from AUD 250 when applying outside Australia (since 1 July 2026); applying from within Australia costs considerably more.
• Requirements: be a genuine visitor, have enough money for the trip and your departure, do not work, and comply with the visa conditions.
• How to apply: online through ImmiAccount; you must be outside Australia both when you apply and when the decision is made.

Documents

• Passport and personal details: valid passport, previous names, nationalities, travel history.
• Finances: recent bank statements, income, savings and, if relevant, a sponsor's support.
• Purpose of the trip: itinerary, bookings, invitation, programme, tickets if you already have them.
• Ties to home: employment or business, studies, property, family and other commitments. If you live outside your country of citizenship, include proof of legal residence in your country of residence.
• For minors: birth certificate, parents' passports, consent on Form 1229 or a statutory declaration; if the child will not stay with a parent, Form 1257.
• Translations: if done in Australia, by a NAATI-accredited translator; if done abroad, with the translator's details and qualifications.

Remember: a tourist visa does not allow you to work. Processing times published by the Department of Home Affairs are only a guide. Check your grant letter for conditions such as 8503 (No Further Stay) and 8558 — they can restrict extensions and repeat stays.

eVisitor 651 and ETA 601

• eVisitor 651 — for passports of all EU member states, the United Kingdom (British citizens) and several other European countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican. Up to 3 months per entry over 12 months. Free of charge.
• ETA 601 — for ETA-eligible passports (for example the USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and British citizens), applied for through the Australian ETA app. Up to 3 months per entry over 12 months. AUD 20 service charge.

Eligibility for the eVisitor or ETA depends on the passport you hold, not on where you live. No Latin American passport is currently on these lists, so citizens of Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru and other Latin American countries normally apply for the Visitor 600 — even if they live in Spain or elsewhere in the EU.

Student visa subclass 500

The main visa for courses longer than 3 months: English language courses (ELICOS), school, vocational education (VET/TAFE), university, postgraduate research and packaged programmes — provided the course is registered on CRICOS and the student has received a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).

• Length: up to 6 years, in line with your enrolment.
• Cost: from AUD 2,500 for the main applicant (since 1 July 2026), plus charges for family members.
• Work: up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session; unlimited during official breaks.
• Where to apply: online, from outside Australia or from within Australia (in the latter case you need an eligible substantive visa).
• Mandatory: CoE, OSHC, Genuine Student requirement, minimum age of 6, welfare arrangements if under 18, health and character requirements.

Genuine Student: what to write

The answers are typed directly into the online form — up to 150 words per question, in English. The documents you upload to ImmiAccount must support your answers: statements without evidence carry less weight.

• Current circumstances: family, work, studies, economic situation and ties to your country of residence.
• Why Australia, this course and this provider: show that you understand the programme, its cost, the city and how it fits your career.
• Value of the course: link to your previous studies and work, career plan, expected position and income.
• Visa history: previous visas, refusals, cancellations and compliance with visa conditions.

Financial requirements (minimum)

• main student — AUD 29,710 per year;
• spouse or partner — AUD 10,394;
• dependent child — AUD 4,449;
• school costs per school-age child — AUD 13,502 per year;
• alternative — personal annual income of at least AUD 87,856 without family members, or AUD 102,500 with family members.

These figures come on top of the first year's tuition and travel costs. They are the visa minimum, not a realistic budget: accommodation, insurance and tuition often require more.

English language

Whether you need to provide evidence of English depends on your nationality and your education provider (check the Document Checklist Tool). If the checklist requires it, attach it before you lodge the application. As a guide: IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) for a Student visa, or IELTS 5.5 if your main course is packaged with an ELICOS course.

Only tests taken at a secure test centre are accepted: IELTS Academic/General Training, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT (with the Taking TOEFL for Australia registration), Cambridge C1 Advanced, CELPIP General, LANGUAGECERT Academic, MET and OET. Not accepted: IELTS Online, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, OET@Home, CELPIP Online, MET Digital at-home and similar formats.

Step by step

1. Choose a CRICOS-registered course and check the provider, cost, city and English requirements.
2. Receive your offer letter, pay the deposit and get your CoE — the application cannot proceed without it.
3. Buy OSHC health cover for the full length of your visa.
4. Run the Document Checklist Tool for your passport and provider.
5. Prepare your GS answers in English along with supporting evidence.
6. Lodge the application through ImmiAccount and check regularly for requests for information.
7. If the student is under 18, arrange welfare in advance (a CAAW letter from the provider, a guardian, etc.).
8. Once granted, check the conditions, visa expiry date, initial entry date and work-hour limits.

Family members and life after graduation

Your spouse or partner and children can be included in the application or join you later, if they meet the requirements. For a student under 18, a parent may consider the Student Guardian 590 (no work rights). Graduates of Australian programmes may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485): the Post-Higher Education Work stream usually allows 2–3 years depending on the qualification, applicants must generally be 35 or under, and the fee starts at AUD 5,750 since 1 July 2026.

Work visas

There is no single all-purpose work visa. The right option depends on whether you have a sponsor, whether your occupation is on the relevant list, whether you want temporary or permanent residence, how many points you score and whether your nationality qualifies for a working holiday.

Skills in Demand visa subclass 482

The main temporary employer-sponsored route for skilled work.

• Core Skills stream — occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List, salary at least the CSIT (AUD 79,499 from 1 July 2026) and the market rate. Up to 4 years; fee from AUD 4,015.
• Specialist Skills stream — highly paid roles with a salary of at least the SSIT (AUD 146,717 from 1 July 2026). Up to 4 years; fee from AUD 4,015.
• Labour Agreement stream — when the employer has a labour agreement with the Australian Government. Fee from AUD 4,015.

The employer must be an approved sponsor, the position must be nominated, and the applicant needs the required skills, experience, English, health and character. The salary also cannot be lower than the Annual Market Salary Rate. If your employment with the sponsor ends, you generally have up to 180 days to find a new sponsor, obtain another visa or leave Australia.

Permanent and regional skilled visas

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) 186 — permanent residence through an employer.
• Skilled Independent 189 — points-tested permanent visa without a sponsor: skills assessment, EOI and invitation.
• Skilled Nominated 190 — points-tested permanent visa with nomination by a state or territory.
• Skilled Work Regional 491 — provisional regional visa with a pathway to permanent residence.
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 494 — regional employer sponsorship with a pathway to permanent residence through subclass 191.

For points-tested visas: choose an occupation from the list, obtain a skills assessment, prove your English, score enough points, submit an EOI in SkillSelect and wait for an invitation. Having your occupation on the list does not by itself lead to an invitation.

Short-term work, training and working holidays

• Temporary Work 400 — short-term, highly specialised work.
• Training visa 407 — workplace-based occupational training with a sponsor.
• Working Holiday 417 — for citizens of partner countries such as the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries, Canada and Japan; aged 18–30 (up to 35 for some nationalities, including UK citizens), usually for 12 months. Since 1 July 2024 UK citizens can apply for a second and third 417 visa without completing specified work.
• Work and Holiday 462 — for another group of countries, including Spain, Portugal, Poland and several Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay. Usually aged 18–30, with extra requirements such as functional English, a minimum level of education and, for some countries, a letter of support from your government. Places are capped each year for most countries and some fill up quickly, so check whether places for your country are open in the current programme year (which starts on 1 July).

General application process

1. Define the purpose of your trip — choosing the wrong category is a frequent reason for refusal.
2. Check your eligibility by nationality using the Visa Finder on the Department of Home Affairs website.
3. Create an ImmiAccount and apply online.
4. Gather documents in English or with proper translations.
5. Upload your documents before submitting.
6. Pay the fee (charges are calculated on the date the application is received).
7. Respond to any requests in ImmiAccount; do not buy non-refundable tickets before you receive your grant letter.
8. Once granted, check the validity, number of entries and conditions.

Common mistakes

• confusing tourism with work: even remote work for an Australian company may require a work visa;
• showing only an account balance without transaction history or a source of income;
• writing the GS statement as a promotional essay without evidence;
• choosing a course that has no connection to your previous studies or career;
• ignoring the Document Checklist Tool;
• counting on student work as your main source of funds;
• assuming that a job offer alone is enough for a 482;
• applying around 1 July without checking the new fees and thresholds.

Frequently asked questions

• Can I study on a tourist visa? Yes, for up to 3 months, as long as study is not the main purpose of your trip. For longer courses you need a Student 500.
• Can I work on a tourist visa? No.
• I am a Latin American citizen living in Spain. Can I use the eVisitor? No. Eligibility depends on your passport, not your residence. With a Latin American passport you normally apply for the Visitor 600; a Spanish residence card is useful as proof of ties to Spain.
• Can I apply for a student visa from inside Australia? Yes, if you hold an eligible substantive visa and no condition prevents further stay.
• Do I need to show funds if I plan to work while studying? Yes: at least AUD 29,710 for living costs, plus tuition, OSHC, travel and amounts for any family members.
• Can I get a work visa without an employer? Not for the 482 or 494. Without an employer, the options are the points-tested 189, 190 and 491 — or a working holiday visa if your nationality is eligible.

How Via Globally can help

Via Globally is a private visa agency (not a government body) working online and from offices in Moscow and Barcelona. Every decision is made by the Australian authorities, but careful preparation makes a real difference.

• we help you choose the visa category that fits your goal and nationality;
• we prepare your document file and arrange translations;
• we help you with your GS answers and the financial evidence for a student visa;
• we complete your ImmiAccount application and support you until the decision.

Free consultation: WhatsApp +34 691 527 216 · viaglobally.com