VisaChief Visitor visa (subclass 600) document checklist
Every document a Visitor visa (subclass 600) application needs, what each one has to show, and the order to collect them in.
A visitor application is a short document set answering one question: will you leave at the end of your stay?
Tick items as you collect them - progress is saved in this browser only.
Identity and civil documents
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| Must be valid well beyond your intended travel. Scan the page flat, in colour, with all four corners visible. | |
| Recent, plain background. Only required for some applications, but cheap to have ready. | |
| Where your country issues one. Used to resolve name and date-of-birth differences. | |
| Marriage certificate, deed poll or equivalent, if any document uses a different name from your passport. | |
| Showing both parents' names. Needed for most family and permanent applications. |
Visit evidence
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| Bank statements covering the trip. | |
| Employment, study, property or family - the reason you will return. | |
| Not compulsory, but it answers the obvious question. | |
| Prior visas and entry stamps, which help establish a compliance record. |
Financial evidence
| Document | What it has to show |
|---|---|
| Usually 3 to 6 months, showing genuine held funds rather than a one-off deposit before lodging. | |
| Where the money came from. A large unexplained deposit is the single most common financial-evidence problem. | |
| Payslips, tax returns or business records. |
What this visa actually requires
- A genuine intention to visit temporarily
- Sufficient funds for your stay
- Health and character requirements
- Sometimes evidence of incentives to return home
Where these applications go wrong
- Not satisfying the 'genuine visitor' / genuine temporary entrant requirement
- A condition 8503 'no further stay' on grant
- Overstaying or applying for the wrong stream
Preparing the documents
- Scan in colour, at full page size. Photographs of documents on a desk are the most common cause of a request for a better copy, which restarts the clock on that piece of evidence.
- Translate anything not in English using a translator who is accredited, with the translator's details on the translation.
- Certify copies where required, and keep the originals - you may be asked for them.
- Name each file for what it is. A case officer working through 60 files named IMG_0421 finds fewer of your claims than one working through named files.
- Start the slow items first: police certificates, skills assessments and the health examination set the real timeline, not the form.
Fill the forms without the paperwork. VisaChief's free form filler completes the standard Home Affairs forms from one set of answers, so the same details are not retyped across Form 80, Form 1221 and the rest. Read the full Visitor visa (subclass 600) guide for eligibility, cost and processing time.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for a Visitor visa (subclass 600)?
Identity documents, health and character evidence, and the evidence specific to this visa: visit evidence, financial evidence.
Do documents need to be certified or translated?
Documents not in English need an accredited translation with the translator's details attached. Copies should be clear colour scans; certification is required for some documents and originals may be requested.
What should I start collecting first?
Police certificates and any skills assessment. They depend on other organisations and routinely take longer than everything else on this list combined.
How much does the Visitor visa (subclass 600) cost?
The indicative government charge is ~$250 (Tourist stream, applied for outside Australia) and indicative processing is ~2 weeks to several months. Confirm current figures before lodging.