Australian tourist visa costs can range from AUD $20 to AUD $1,435, based on your visa stream.
Your 2025 travel budget needs to account for tourist visa costs if you plan to holiday or visit family in Australia. The Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) fees will increase to AUD $490 for onshore applications from July 2024. Eligible travellers can opt for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) that requires just an AUD $20 service charge.
The visa application process comes with various costs you should know upfront. Your total expenses may include simple application fees plus other charges like biometrics and health examinations. Let’s explore all potential costs for your Australian tourist visa application.
Understanding Australia Visa 600 Fee Structure in 2025
The Australian Visa 600 has several fee components that could substantially affect your tourist visa cost in Australia. You should know these charges to budget well for your 2025 visit.
Base application fees for different visitor streams
The Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) comes with five different streams. Each stream has its own pricing:
- Tourist stream: AUD $195 for applications lodged outside Australia and AUD $490 for those applying onshore
- Business Visitor stream: AUD $195 for short business trips
- Sponsored Family stream: AUD $195 (you need an Australian relative’s sponsorship)
- Approved Destination Status stream: AUD $195 for group travel arrangements
- Frequent Traveller stream: AUD $1,435 (lets you enter multiple times over up to 10 years)
Your travel purpose determines which stream you should pick. Chinese passport holders who travel to Australia often for business or personal reasons usually choose the Frequent Traveller option.
Additional applicant charges for family applications
Family members travelling with you need extra fees for each person on your application. Age determines these charges:
- Additional applicants 18 years and over: The charge matches the base application fee for most streams
- Additional applicants under 18 years: Usually costs about 25% of the adult charge
Your tourist stream visa application with your spouse and child would need the base charge for you plus extra fees for your family members.
Second installment fees for successful applications
Some visas need payment in two parts. You pay the first part while submitting your application. The second payment comes before getting your visa. You won’t need to pay the second part if your application fails or you withdraw it.
Second installment fees rarely apply to Visitor Visa 600. DHA decides what specific cases where these might be needed.
Non-internet application charges
Paper applications cost an extra AUD $80 compared to online applications through ImmiAccount. This charge applies per application rather than per person.
Online applications process faster. Some people don’t need to pay this charge, like former Australian citizens and those with waived visa conditions.
Tourist Visa Australia Price Breakdown by Nationality
Your passport’s country of origin affects how much you’ll pay for an Australian tourist visa in 2025. Fees vary by a lot between different nationalities. This guide will help you plan your budget for your Australian trip.
Standard fees for most countries
Most countries follow the same fee structure for the Visitor Visa (Subclass 600). You’ll need to pay AUD $195 when applying from outside Australia. This base fee works for all four main streams: Tourist, Business Visitor, Sponsored Family, and Approved Destination Status. The fee jumps to AUD $749.21 if you apply while in Australia.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs adjusts these fees on July 1, 2024. They update the charges based on current administrative costs.
Special rates for ETA-eligible countries
People from certain developed nations pay much less through the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) system. ETA-eligible country citizens only pay a small AUD $20 service charge instead of the full visitor visa fee. This saves them a lot compared to the regular Subclass 600 visa cost.
European passport holders might qualify for an eVisitor (subclass 651) that costs nothing to apply for. These electronic visas are affordable options that work faster for eligible travellers.
Fee variations for developing nations
The fee structure takes special cases into account for some developing countries. Pakistani citizens used to pay AUD 160.54 (about Rs 8,600) for a visitor visa, whatever their stay length.
Indian citizens pay AUD 195 (about Rs 10,725) for their tourist visa. Other developing nations have fees close to this amount with small differences.
Visa costs for high-risk countries
High-risk country applicants face more challenges but not always higher fees. Countries like India, Nepal, and Pakistan moved to assessment level 3 in September 2019.
Additional documents might be required if you’re from these nations. But the base visa fee stays the same. Applicants from these countries can’t get the cheaper ETA (subclass 601) or eVisitor (subclass 651) visas.
Note that you won’t get your visa application fees back if your application fails or you withdraw it. Make sure you meet all requirements before applying to avoid wasting money.
Hidden Costs in Your Australia Tourist Visa Application
Your Australian tourist visa budget needs to account for several hidden costs beyond the base application fee. These extra expenses can substantially increase your total tourist visa cost in Australia in 2025.
Biometric collection fees
You might need to provide biometric data at Australian Biometric Collection Centres (ABCCs) with your visa application. These centres collect your fingerprints and facial photograph for a service fee. Each location charges different amounts on top of your visa application fee. Pakistani applicants pay PKR 9,270 for the primary applicant and PKR 6,490 for each secondary applicant.
Document translation and certification costs
NAATI-certified professionals must translate any non-English documents. The Department of Home Affairs accepts only these certified translations for official purposes. A standard document like a birth certificate costs about AUD 105.50 per page. The good news is that permanent residents and eligible visa holders can use the free translating service. This service covers up to 10 essential documents within two years of their visa grant.
Health examination expenses
Most visa applications require health examinations, and costs vary by country. A simple medical examination in Australia costs AUD 399.68, while one with a chest X-ray costs AUD 553.80. Extra pathology tests come with additional charges: HIV testing (AUD 86.08), Hepatitis B (AUD 99.54), and Hepatitis C (AUD 99.54). Private health rebates do not cover these expenses.
Currency conversion and payment processing fees
Your bank might charge currency conversion fees when you pay visa fees online in Australian dollars. The Department of Home Affairs also adds surcharges for different payment methods:
- Credit card and PayPal payments have a 1.01% surcharge
- UnionPay transactions cost an extra 1.90%
- Embassy credit card payments can reach up to 3%
Bank fees for foreign currency conversion usually range from 2-3% of the purchase amount. This could add AUD 45.87 to an AUD 1,528.99 transaction.
Comparing Online vs. In-Person Application Costs
Your choice of tourist visa application method affects the final cost. Online and in-person applications in 2025 come with different price tags that need careful review.
ImmiAccount application fees
The Department of Home Affairs’ ImmiAccount portal gives you the most affordable option. The basic Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) costs AUD 195 if you apply from outside Australia through this online platform. You can pay online using credit cards, PayPal, UnionPay, or BPAY. The online system will calculate all charges based on your situation, so you won’t have to guess the fees.
VFS Global service charges
VFS Global, Australia’s official visa service partner, provides application help if you need it – at an extra cost. They can assist with form completion and payment processing. Some countries require biometric data collection through VFS for an additional fee. Vietnamese applicants without appointments pay a service fee of 352,000 VND.
Embassy application costs
Paper applications at embassies or through Service Delivery Partners cost an extra AUD 80 per application. You’ll pay this fee if you choose paper instead of the available online option. The Australian authorities suggest paying online through ImmiAccount before submitting paper applications.
Time value considerations
The application method you choose affects more than just money. Online visitor visa applications in February 2025 took less than a day to process. Paper applications usually need more time. Your application’s completeness and response time to information requests can change processing times. The Australian government has made visitor visas a priority since February 2022 to boost economic growth.
The Home Affairs Department has added new team members and improved visa processing procedures. Online applications might seem daunting at first, but they save both time and money for most travellers.
Conclusion
Australian tourist visa costs play a key role in planning your 2025 travel budget. The base application fees start at AUD $195 for most visitors, but actual costs can change by a lot depending on your visa stream, nationality and how you apply.
You can cut down visa expenses with smart planning. Electronic options like ETA or eVisitor visas cost less when you’re eligible, and using ImmiAccount instead of paper forms helps avoid extra charges. Your budget should include other expenses like biometric collection, document translation, and health examinations.
The way you submit your application affects how quickly you get a response. Online applications usually get processed within a day, while paper submissions take longer. A well-prepared application with accurate documents makes the whole process smoother.