Subclass 600 Visitor Visa: What Changed in 2026

The Subclass 600 Visitor Visa changed on 1 July 2026, and the change people notice first is the price. The fee rose by about 25% in one step. Here is exactly what moved, what did not, and what it means if you are planning a trip to Australia.

The fee rose 25% on 1 July 2026

The base application charge for a Subclass 600 Visitor Visa increased under the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026:

• Applying from outside Australia (the usual case for a holiday): about AU$200 → AU$250 per applicant
• Applying from inside Australia for a new visitor visa: about AU$500 → AU$630 per applicant
• Citizens of eligible Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste now pay a lower charge: AU$205 offshore or AU$515 onshore

In absolute terms the offshore rise is AU$50. In proportional terms it is about 25% — far above the usual annual indexation of a few per cent. The charge applies to applications lodged on or after 1 July 2026. If you lodged before that date, you paid the old fee regardless of when the visa is decided.

What did not change

Almost everything else about the visa works as it did before. It is worth being clear about this, because fee changes tend to generate rumours about rule changes that did not happen.

• Stay periods: generally 3 months, and up to 12 months in some cases, at the Department's discretion (parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents may get a longer-validity visa).
• Work: still not permitted on any Subclass 600 stream. This has not changed and is not being relaxed.
• Purpose: still covers tourism, visiting family, and short business visitor activities such as meetings and conferences.
• Condition 8558: still applies to many grants — see below.

Condition 8558 still applies

Condition 8558 caps how long you can be physically inside Australia at 12 months in any 18-month period. It is measured across all your visits combined, not per trip, and it does not reset when you leave and re-enter.

This condition is unchanged by the 2026 fee increase, but it catches people out more often than any other part of the visa — particularly parents making repeat long visits to family in Australia. If 8558 appears on your grant notice, you need to track your cumulative days, not just your current stay.

We have a full guide to how the rolling window is calculated: Condition 8558 Explained.

Planning the real cost

The base charge is not the whole cost. Depending on your circumstances you may also face:

• Health examination fees, if the Department requests them
• Police certificate fees, for some applicants
• Biometrics collection fees in some countries
• Translation costs for supporting documents not in English
• The higher onshore charge (AU$630) if you apply from inside Australia, plus in some cases a Subsequent Temporary Application Charge (AU$700)

Budget above the headline AU$250 per person, and remember the charge is not refunded if your application is refused. That makes getting the application right the first time worth more now than it was at AU$200.

Applying with the new fee in mind

1. Check the current charge before you lodge. Fees are set by lodgement date and the official schedule is the only authority. Do not rely on a figure you read in a forum.
2. Apply offshore where you can. AU$250 against AU$630 is a substantial difference for the same visa.
3. Get the evidence right first time. A refusal costs you the full charge, and you start again.
4. Check your grant notice for condition 8558 once granted, and track your days if it appears.
5. Do not work on this visa. Breaching that condition risks cancellation and affects future applications.

Sources

• Department of Home Affairs — Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)
• Department of Home Affairs — Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream (apply in Australia)
• Department of Home Affairs — Visa fees and charges
• Federal Register of Legislation — Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026

Disclaimer