Yes — Indian passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling to Australia. There is no visa-on-arrival facility and no exemption of any kind available for Indian nationals. Every Indian citizen — regardless of travel history, financial standing, profession, or purpose of visit — must apply for and be granted a visa through the Australian Department of Home Affairs before departing India.

The primary visa for Indian nationals is the Visitor Visa Subclass 600, applied online through ImmiAccount at the official Department of Home Affairs website (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au). Two simplified digital visa routes — the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, Subclass 601) and the eVisitor (Subclass 651) — exist for nationals of approximately 50 and 56 countries respectively, but India is not among those eligible countries. Indian nationals cannot access these faster routes under any circumstances when travelling on an Indian passport. The Subclass 600 is the only valid short-term visitor visa for Indians.

All three are streams within the same Visitor Visa Subclass 600 — but they serve different purposes and have different requirements and fees:

The Tourist Stream is appropriate for the vast majority of Indian travellers — even those visiting Australian-based relatives can apply under the Tourist Stream if no formal sponsorship arrangement is in place. The Sponsored Family Stream becomes relevant when an Australian relative is formally undertaking financial responsibility for your visit and is willing to lodge the security bond. The Business Visitor Stream requires evidence of a genuine business purpose — a recreational trip framed as "business" will be identified and refused.

The Subclass 600 Tourist Stream allows stays of 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months — the specific duration is determined by the Department of Home Affairs case officer based on your application, purpose of visit, financial capacity, and travel history. You do not choose the duration; the case officer determines what is appropriate for your circumstances. Most first-time applicants from India are granted 3-month stays, though 6-month and 12-month grants are possible with strong documentation and travel history.

Regarding extensions: You can apply to extend your stay from within Australia by applying for a new Subclass 600 visa (onshore application) before your current permission expires. However, onshore applications are more expensive and are not guaranteed to be granted. The Department of Home Affairs expects genuine temporary visitors — if you extend repeatedly or remain in Australia for long periods through successive visas, your applications will receive greater scrutiny. Visitors should not plan their trips around the assumption of extension approval.

If you realise you need more time in Australia, apply for the extension as soon as possible — at least before the day your current visa expires. Overstaying without an extension application results in your visa being cancelled and may lead to a 3-year entry ban.

Australia enforces strict photograph standards. For digital online applications (ImmiAccount):

• Format: JPEG only
• Minimum dimensions: 600 x 750 pixels (width x height)
• Minimum resolution: 300 dpi
• Maximum file size: 500 KB
• Taken within the last 6 months
• Natural skin tone — no digital filters, background replacement, or facial retouching

For physical submissions (paper applications or VFS centres):

• Size: 35–40 mm wide, 45–50 mm high
• Face from chin to crown: 32–36 mm
• 2 identical colour photographs required
• Printed on professional photographic paper using dye sublimation — not inkjet printed
• Taken within the last 6 months

For both formats — pose, expression, and background requirements:

• Background: plain white or light grey only — no patterns, objects, or shadows
• Face centred, looking directly at the camera, head straight (no tilt)
• Eyes open and clearly visible; mouth closed; neutral expression
• No glasses of any kind — remove all eyewear
• No hats, caps, or head coverings (except for documented religious reasons — must be plain, without patterns)
• Hair must not cover eyes, eyebrows, or face
• Uniform lighting — no harsh shadows, no flash reflection on face or background
• Do not use online background removal or editing apps

The Transit Visa Subclass 771 allows Indian nationals to transit through an Australian airport for up to 72 hours when travelling to a third country. It is free of charge and applied for online through ImmiAccount.

When you need the Transit Visa:

• Your journey involves an Australian airport stopover and you need to clear Australian immigration — for example, if you need to collect checked baggage and re-check it for a connecting flight, or if your connecting flight is in a different terminal requiring immigration clearance
• Your stopover exceeds the maximum time permitted in the transit area
• You wish to briefly leave the airport and enter Australia during your stopover

When you do NOT need the Transit Visa:

• You remain entirely within the airside international transit area between two international flights at the same airport
• You do not clear Australian immigration or collect checked baggage
• Your connecting flight is on the same ticket and does not require immigration clearance

If you are unsure whether your specific routing requires a Transit Visa, check with your airline or confirm with the Australian High Commission. Major Australian hubs for Indian stopovers include Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL). Even if you hold a valid Subclass 600 Visitor Visa, you should still verify whether your transit routing requires immigration clearance at the Australian airport.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs does not publish a fixed minimum bank balance figure. Instead, case officers assess whether you have "sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in Australia without working." What this means in practical terms depends on your specific circumstances — the length of your planned stay, whether you have a sponsor in Australia, and the cost of your planned activities.

Practical benchmarks widely cited among successful applicants:

• Approximately AUD 5,000 per month of planned stay is a commonly cited benchmark for a single traveller — this is a guideline, not a published requirement
• For a 2-week trip: approximately ₹3–5 lakh in consistently maintained savings is generally considered adequate
• For a 1-month trip: approximately ₹6–8 lakh in demonstrable savings
• The balance must be consistent over the preceding 6 months — a large deposit made immediately before application is a strong negative signal
• Fixed deposits, mutual fund holdings, and property ownership can supplement current account balances but should be clearly documented

If you have a sponsor in Australia covering your accommodation and some living costs, your own financial requirement is proportionally reduced — but the sponsor's financial evidence (their bank statements, income proof, and formal undertaking letter) becomes critical to your application.

Beyond raw balance amount, case officers also consider: consistency of income over time, whether the balance is genuinely yours or borrowed, how the balance relates to your stated monthly income, and your overall spending patterns shown in the statements.

Permitted activities on Subclass 600 Tourist Stream:

• Tourism, sightseeing, leisure travel across Australia's states and territories
• Visiting family members or friends residing in Australia
• Cruises departing from or arriving at Australian ports
• Short-term study or training — courses of up to 3 months (not formal enrolment in a degree or diploma programme)
• Attending cultural events, festivals, sports events as a spectator
• Participating in amateur or unpaid sports competition
• Medical consultations and treatment (private, not accessing Medicare)

Strictly NOT permitted on Subclass 600 Tourist Stream:

• Paid employment of any kind — you cannot accept salary, wages, or any form of payment from an Australian employer or individual
• Providing billable services to Australian clients — even remote or freelance services for Australian businesses are prohibited
• Formal enrolment in study longer than 3 months — requires a Student Visa
• Accessing Medicare or claiming any Australian government benefits
• Operating a business or earning income from any Australian source
• Conducting business activities that should be covered by the Business Visitor Stream

Violation of visa conditions results in immediate visa cancellation, possible detention, deportation at your own expense, and a potential 3-year ban from re-entering Australia. Australian immigration enforcement is thorough and visa conditions are taken seriously.

An ImmiAccount is a free, secure online account on the official Australian Department of Home Affairs website (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) through which you lodge, track, and manage your Australian visa application. It is the only authorised online platform for Australian visa applications — never use third-party websites that claim to submit on your behalf, as these are frequently fraudulent.

To create an ImmiAccount:

1. Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au (official Australian government website — the URL must end in .gov.au)
2. Click "Create account" and provide a valid email address and a strong password
3. Verify your email address through the confirmation link sent to your inbox
4. Complete your account profile with personal details
5. Log in to begin a new visa application: select "New Application" → "Visitor" → "Visitor Visa (600)" → choose your stream

Keep your ImmiAccount login credentials extremely secure — store them in a password manager or note them securely offline. You will need to return to this account to:

• Upload additional documents if requested by the case officer
• Check your application status using your Transaction Reference Number (TRN)
• Download your visa grant notice after approval
• Provide updated passport details if you renew your passport after lodging

After your visa is granted, use VEVO (vevo.homeaffairs.gov.au) — a separate free tool — to verify your visa status, conditions, and linked passport number at any time, including immediately before boarding your flight.

VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) is the Australian government's free online tool at vevo.homeaffairs.gov.au that allows you — and authorised third parties including airlines and employers — to check the conditions and current status of an Australian visa in real time.

Australian visas are entirely digital — there is no sticker placed in your passport, no physical visa card, and no paper document. The visa exists only as a digital record in the Australian immigration database, linked to your passport number. When you arrive at an Australian port of entry, Border Force officers scan your passport and retrieve your visa status electronically from this database.

Before every Australia-bound departure, verify on VEVO that:

• Your visa is current and valid (not expired or cancelled)
• The passport number linked to your visa exactly matches the passport you are travelling on
• Your visa conditions are as expected — permitted activities, maximum stay, and any special conditions
• The airline check-in will confirm your visa status digitally — if there is a mismatch in your passport number (such as after a renewal), you will be denied boarding even if you hold a valid visa

If you have renewed your Indian passport after your Australian visa was granted, you must notify the Department of Home Affairs of your new passport details and confirm the visa is re-linked to the new passport number before travel. Check VEVO after making this update to confirm the link is correct.

Yes. Indian nationals can apply for the Subclass 600 Business Visitor Stream to visit Australia for legitimate business activities. This visa stream is for short-term business purposes — it does not permit you to work for an Australian employer, receive payment from Australian sources, or conduct business operations in Australia. The activities it covers include:

• Attending meetings, negotiations, and discussions with Australian business partners
• Participating in conferences, seminars, trade fairs, and exhibitions
• Conducting business enquiries and investment investigations
• Attending formal government-to-government visits and diplomatic activities
• Familiarisation trips (famils) organised for travel agents and tourism professionals

Additional documents required for the Business Visitor Stream (beyond the standard set):

• Invitation letter from the Australian host organisation — on official letterhead, confirming the nature and dates of the business activities and that you will not receive payment from them
• Conference or trade fair registration confirmation and official programme
• Your Indian company's letter authorising your travel for business purposes
• Business correspondence demonstrating the commercial relationship between your company and the Australian entity
• Evidence of your professional role — business cards, LinkedIn profile, or professional registration where applicable

The fee is AUD 190, identical to the Tourist Stream. Processing time is similar — 20 to 33 working days for 90% of applications. Apply through ImmiAccount, selecting "Visitor Visa (600)" and then "Business Visitor Stream." All financial and personal documents from the standard checklist still apply.

Australia visa refusals from India most commonly occur for the following reasons, with practical solutions for each:

• Failure to demonstrate genuine temporary entrant (GTE) intent: The case officer is not convinced you will return to India after your visit. Solution: provide strong evidence of ties to India — stable employment letter with confirmed return date, property ownership documents, family dependency documents, and evidence of financial commitments in India.
• Insufficient or inconsistent financial evidence: Bank balance too low, sudden large unexplained deposits, or salary stated in the application not matching bank statement inflows. Solution: provide 6 months of clean, consistent bank statements with income that clearly explains the balance, along with ITRs and salary documents that corroborate.
• Incomplete or inconsistent application: Information in the online form contradicting supporting documents — dates, accommodation, employment details, or travel history. Solution: review every document against every field of your application before submission.
• Previous visa refusals not declared: Australia cross-checks international immigration databases. Undeclared refusals are treated as deliberate misrepresentation and result in automatic rejection and possible future bans. Always declare all previous refusals honestly.
• Health or character concerns: Undeclared medical conditions that trigger health checks, or criminal history not disclosed. Solution: always declare all relevant medical and character history honestly — attempting to conceal these is far more damaging than the condition itself in most cases.
• Weak or vague covering letter: A generic or template-style covering letter that does not address the specific purpose of the visit, itinerary, or funding sources. Solution: write a specific, honest, well-structured letter tailored to your individual circumstances.

Unlike some other countries, there is no formal appeal process for refused Subclass 600 Tourist Stream applications. However, you can reapply immediately with an improved documentation package addressing the specific stated reasons for refusal. Many successful applications are second attempts with stronger evidence.

Each family member — including children — must submit a separate visa application through their own ImmiAccount with their own supporting documents and application fee. There is no "family application" that covers multiple passports under a single submission.

However, the process can be coordinated efficiently:

• Submit all family members' applications around the same time so they are processed together
• In your application, reference the other family members' applications using their Transaction Reference Numbers under the "accompanying persons" field
• Each person pays the AUD 190 fee separately
• Children must have their own valid passport — they cannot travel on a parent's passport
• For children, the covering letter from the applying parent (or both parents if both are applying) should explain the purpose of the trip and confirm the child is travelling with their parents
• If only one parent is travelling with the child and the other parent is remaining in India, include a notarised No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the non-travelling parent — while not officially mandatory, this is strongly recommended and case officers may request it

Each application is assessed on its individual merits, but case officers do consider the coherence of a family group's applications — ensure all documents are consistent across the family members' submissions.

The Australian arrival process is efficient and technology-driven. Understanding what to expect will help you prepare correctly:

Before boarding (at check-in in India): Airlines perform automated checks against the Australian immigration database using your passport number and Advance Passenger Processing (APP) data. If your passport number does not match a valid visa in the system, you will be denied boarding. Verify your visa on VEVO before arriving at the airport to prevent this.

At Australian immigration (arrival):

• Most international airports use SmartGate kiosks for eligible travellers — biometric passport scanning and facial recognition
• Present your passport — the Border Force officer (or SmartGate kiosk) scans your passport and retrieves your visa status electronically. You do not show a visa sticker or paper document
• You will complete an Incoming Passenger Card on the aircraft — this card asks about items you are carrying (food, animal products, cash over AUD 10,000) and must be completed accurately and honestly
• Australia has extremely strict biosecurity laws — declare all food items and animal or plant products. Fines for undeclared biosecurity items can exceed AUD 2,000
• After immigration clearance, your checked baggage will pass through X-ray scanning and possibly sniffer dog biosecurity checks

Documents to carry (as a precaution, even though electronic checks are authoritative):

• Your valid passport (matching the one linked to your VEVO record)
• A VEVO printout or screenshot showing your visa status, validity, and conditions
• Return flight booking confirmation
• Hotel reservation confirmation
• Travel insurance documents
• Your covering letter and any relevant supporting documents for the stated purpose of visit

Some Australian visa applications trigger a requirement for a health examination — conducted by a Department of Home Affairs approved panel physician in India. You will be notified through your ImmiAccount if a health check is required for your specific application; it is not required for all Subclass 600 Tourist Stream applicants.

Health examinations are typically required when:

• Your intended stay is longer than 6 months
• You have a history of tuberculosis (TB) — India is a country with elevated TB prevalence, and the DHA screens for this
• Your occupation is in healthcare, childcare, or other fields where communicable disease risk is assessed
• Your application involves certain Australian states or territories with specific health screening requirements
• You have disclosed specific medical conditions in your application form

If required, the health examination is conducted by a DHA-approved panel physician at designated medical centres in Indian cities. The examination typically includes a physical examination, blood tests, a chest X-ray, and a general health assessment. The physician submits results directly to the DHA — you do not receive the medical report yourself. The examination fee is paid by the applicant.

Having a pre-existing medical condition does not automatically result in refusal — the DHA assesses whether the condition would result in significant costs to the Australian health system or present a risk to public health. Many applicants with managed chronic conditions are granted visas without issue.

There is no vaccination requirement for Indian nationals entering Australia for short-stay tourism (unless you are arriving from a yellow fever endemic country within 6 days of travel). However, ensuring your routine vaccinations are up to date is always a good travel practice.

Yes — RTH World Tour Packages provides comprehensive assistance to Indian travellers planning Australia-bound trips, covering both the visa documentation process and the complete holiday itinerary. While the actual visa application must be submitted by the individual applicant directly through their own ImmiAccount on the official DHA website, our team provides significant value throughout the process:

• Document checklist guidance: We advise on exactly which documents are needed for your specific employment and financial profile, helping you build the strongest possible application package
• Covering letter assistance: We guide you in structuring a clear, honest, effective covering letter that addresses the DHA case officer's assessment criteria directly
• Booking documents for the application: Confirmed hotel and itinerary documents are required for your visa application — having an Australia tour package in place with our team provides these confirmed documents, which materially strengthen your application
• ImmiAccount guidance: We walk you through the account creation, form completion, document upload, and payment process step by step
• VEVO and biometric appointment: We assist you in verifying your visa after grant and guide you through the VFS Global biometric appointment process if required
• Complete Australia itinerary planning: Sydney, Melbourne, the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback, Tasmania, Western Australia — building a comprehensive Australian itinerary requires specialist knowledge of the country's scale, seasonal conditions, and regional logistics

For travellers building a multi-destination Asia-Pacific itinerary, we can simultaneously advise on partner destinations such as Singapore, Japan, Sri Lanka, or New Zealand — all of which we have extensive experience arranging for Indian travellers. Contact our team on WhatsApp +91 91009 84920 or through our online enquiry form to begin planning your Australian journey. Explore our World Tour Packages for current Australia and multi-destination itinerary options.