Visitor Visa 600 Refused? Reasons & Checklist

A Visitor visa (subclass 600) refusal is frustrating, especially when the trip is to see family. The good news is that most refusals come down to evidence, not eligibility. The decision-maker was not persuaded by what was in the application. This guide explains what Home Affairs looks for, the gaps that usually cause refusals, and what your options are next. It is written for people applying from outside Australia in the Tourist stream, the most common case. Rules and fees were checked on the Home Affairs website on 30 September 2026.

What Home Affairs must be satisfied of

For the Tourist stream (applying from outside Australia), Home Affairs lists these criteria. You must meet every one:

• Be a genuine visitor. You must intend only to stay temporarily and to obey any condition and stay period on your visa.
• Have enough money. You must have, or have access to, enough money to support yourself while in Australia.
• Meet the health requirement and the character requirement.
• Pay your debts to the Australian Government, or have arranged to pay them.
• For applicants under 18, the grant must be in the child's best interests.

Home Affairs also says it may decide your application without asking you for more information. Whatever you do not upload may never be considered. That single fact explains a large share of refusals.

Common reasons for refusal

Home Affairs does not publish statistics on refusal reasons. But refusal letters are written against the criteria above, so the weak points are predictable.

1. The "genuine temporary stay" was not shown

This is where most applications struggle. The decision-maker needs to believe you will go home on time. A vague purpose ("holiday"), a very long requested stay with no clear reason, or a trip that looks like a job hunt all raise doubt. Home Affairs suggests you explain your reason for travelling and include your plans while in Australia, such as an itinerary. If the trip is urgent or compassionate, it asks for evidence of that too.

2. Weak evidence of funds

There is no fixed dollar figure for the Visitor visa. What matters is whether the money is believable for the trip you describe. A single bank balance with a large deposit made just before applying, and no history behind it, proves little. Home Affairs lists itemised bank statements for a 3-month period, payslips, audited accounts, tax records, term deposits and credit card statements as examples. If a relative is paying, include proof of their funds as well.

3. Weak ties to home

"Ties" are your reasons to return. Home Affairs gives examples: a letter from your employer confirming your leave and your return to work, proof of study in your home country, immediate family at home, and ownership of a house or other major assets. An applicant with no job, no study and no property can still be approved, but needs to explain their situation more carefully.

4. Immigration history

Past overstays, visa cancellations, or breaches of visa conditions all go to whether you will obey the conditions this time. Home Affairs visa pages state that it considers your immigration history when it makes a decision.

5. Incomplete or inconsistent applications

Home Affairs' own "check twice, submit once" page names avoidable problems. Among them: names changed by phone autocorrect, missing passport pages, untranslated documents, and missing consent forms for children. It also says to submit every document requested even if you have held a visitor visa before.

Previous breaches and condition 8558

Many longer visitor visas carry condition 8558. It means you cannot stay in Australia for more than 12 months in total in any 18-month period. People who spend long stretches here on back-to-back visitor visas can breach it without noticing. A breach undermines the "genuine visitor" test on your next application, and it can also lead to cancellation. Our condition 8558 guide explains the rolling window. The 8558 Stay Calculator counts your days from your travel dates.

Also check whether your last visa had condition 8503 (No Further Stay). It prevents you applying for a further visa while you are in Australia, and Home Affairs can waive it only in limited circumstances.

Document checklist

Built from the Home Affairs Tourist stream page and its "check twice, submit once" advice. Upload everything that applies to you:

• Passport: the pages with your photo, personal details, and issue and expiry dates. Add a national identity card if you have one.
• Name change proof if relevant: a marriage or divorce certificate, or change-of-name documents.
• Purpose and plans: a short cover letter and itinerary explaining why you are going, where, and for how long.
• Invitation letter if visiting family or friends: their relationship to you, the purpose and length of your visit, and whether you will stay with them.
• Funds: 3 months of itemised bank statements, payslips, tax records or term deposits. Include your host's financial evidence if they are paying.
• Reasons to return: an employer leave letter, proof of enrolment, evidence of family at home, and property or asset records.
• Travel history, set out in as much detail as possible.
• Under 18s: a birth certificate showing both parents, copies of both parents' passports, and Form 1229 consent (or a statutory declaration) from any parent not travelling. Add Form 1257 if the child is staying with someone other than a relative or guardian.
• Translations of every non-English document, with the translator's details. Include the NAATI practitioner number if the translator is in Australia.
• Form 956 or 956A if someone is helping you or receiving letters for you.

Costs and timing

• Tourist stream, applying outside Australia: AUD250 per person.
• Tourist stream, applying in Australia: AUD630. A subsequent temporary application charge of AUD700 may also apply.
• Health checks, police certificates and biometrics can cost extra.
• A lower charge applies from 1 July 2026 to eligible citizens of several Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.

Home Affairs recommends applying at least 3 months before you plan to travel. It generally grants a 3-month stay, and up to 12 months in certain circumstances. It may give you less than you asked for. For the fee changes over the past year, see Subclass 600: what changed in 2026.

What to do after a refusal

Step 1: Read the refusal letter closely

The letter tells you why the visa was refused. It also says whether you have a right to review, who can apply for it, and the deadline. Everything else depends on those details, so do not skip them.

Step 2: Check whether review is available

Some visa refusals can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), and some cannot. The Tribunal says your decision letter will tell you whether it can review the decision. If it can:

• The Tribunal fee for migration decisions is $3,727. A 50% reduction may be available for financial hardship.
• Time limits are strict. The Tribunal cannot extend them for some decision types, so apply well inside the deadline in your letter.
• A registered migration agent, a lawyer, a close family member, or your sponsor can represent you.

Step 3: Or make a fresh application

For many people outside Australia, the practical route is a new application. You pay the fee again, and you are assessed again. It is only worth doing if you fix the specific gaps named in the letter:

• Refused on funds? Add a longer, itemised history and your sponsor's evidence.
• Refused on genuine stay? Tighten the purpose, shorten the requested stay if that suits, and strengthen your employer, study, family and asset evidence.
• Refused on history? Explain past issues honestly and show how your circumstances have changed.

You must be outside Australia when an outside-Australia application is decided, so do not book non-refundable travel until the grant arrives. If you were refused while in Australia, you may face limits on which visas you can apply for onshore. Read the letter and get advice before you lodge anything.

Common mistakes

• Reapplying the next day with the same documents. The same evidence tends to get the same outcome.
• Hiding a previous refusal or a conviction. Giving false or misleading information causes far bigger problems than the original refusal.
• Asking for the longest possible stay "just in case". The length you ask for should match your purpose.
• Choosing the wrong visa. If your passport qualifies for an ETA or eVisitor and you have no criminal or health issues, a Visitor 600 may be unnecessary. See ETA vs eVisitor vs Visitor 600.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common reason a Visitor 600 visa is refused?

Home Affairs does not publish a ranked list, but the criteria it must be satisfied of are public: that you are a genuine visitor who will stay temporarily and obey your visa conditions, that you have enough money, and that you meet health and character requirements. Refusal letters usually point to one of these not being shown by the evidence provided.

Can I reapply after a Visitor visa refusal?

You can lodge a new application and pay the fee again. It only helps if the new application fixes what the refusal letter said was missing, such as stronger evidence of funds or of your reasons to return home. If you applied from outside Australia, you must also be outside Australia when the new application is decided.

Can I appeal a Visitor visa refusal?

Only if your refusal letter says the decision can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal. The letter also says who can apply and the deadline. The Tribunal's fee for migration decisions is $3,727, and the time limits are strict.

How much money do I need for a Visitor 600 visa?

Home Affairs does not set a fixed amount for the Visitor visa. You must have, or have access to, enough money to support yourself for your stay. It suggests evidence such as three months of itemised bank statements, payslips, tax records or proof of a sponsor's funds.

Does a refusal affect future visa applications?

Home Affairs says it considers your immigration history, including refusals and cancellations, when it decides applications. That makes it important that any new application directly answers the reasons given in the refusal letter.

Sources

All checked 30 September 2026:

• Home Affairs: Visitor visa (600) Tourist stream, apply outside Australia
• Home Affairs: Applying for a visitor visa (check twice, submit once)
• Home Affairs: Current visa pricing
• Administrative Review Tribunal: Immigration and citizenship reviews
• Administrative Review Tribunal: Fees

Disclaimer