Your complete guide to an Australia visa for Indians
Australia remains a prime destination, with wildlife and exciting tourist attractions like the Great Barrier Reef and vibrant cities. Many Indians, especially students, have been heading to Australia for new opportunities. Here is a complete guide to an Australian visa for Indian passport holders.
Do Indians need a visa for Australia?
Yes. Indian citizens require a visa to visit Australia and a valid passport. Since Australia offers an exhaustive range of visas for Indians, selecting the correct visa is vital before applying for a visa. Check out the sections below to make sure you identify the right visa for your trip.¹
Types of Australian visas
Australia offers different types of visas, including visitor, student, work, humanitarian, and others, with each category having multiple subclasses depending on the purpose of the trip. Here are some of the popular types of visas for Indian passport holders.²
Australia tourist visa for Indian citizens
An Australian visitor visa is the same as a tourist visa, but it also includes other types of travel or sub-classes like:
- Visiting family and friends.
- Transit.
- Working holiday.
- Attending an event or conference.
- Volunteer work.
- Medical treatment.
- Cruise.
- Business visitor activities.
These all fall under the Visitor visa subclass 600 category and allow for a stay of 3, 6, or 12 months.³
Australia work visa for Indian citizens
The Australian work visa is available in 22 subclasses depending on the applicant’s skills, educational qualifications, type of industry, and profession. The Australian work visa is one of the popular visas that Indians apply for because it provides a stepping stone to acquiring permanent Australian residency.⁴
The working holiday visa in Australia is a unique offer where young adults from ages 18 to 30 years old can do short-term work in the country. Unfortunately, India is not one of the eligible countriesfor this particular visa.
Australian student visa for Indian citizens
Indian students seeking higher education in Australia must apply for a student visa. The Australian student visa is available in three subclasses: student, student guardian, and training visa.
The Australian student visa is a long-term visa valid for the entire course. This visa allows Indian students to work part-time to support their stay in Australia.⁵
Australia visit visa
The Australian visit visa for Indians is also known as the Visitor subclass 600 visa. This visa requires the applicant to be a genuine visitor and have sufficient funds to support their stay and leave Australia at the end of the visa period. Family members residing in Australia can sponsor the visitor’s expenses.⁶
How much does an Australian visa cost?
You will have to pay an application fee when applying for a visa.
| Visa subclass | Cost in Australian Dollars | Cost in Indian Rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Work Visa - Skilled Independent visa Subclass 189 or Skilled Nominated visa Subclass 190 | AUD 4,240. | INR 2,35,639. |
| Student Visa- Subclass 500 | AUD 650 | INR 36,124. |
| Visitor Visa - Subclass 600 | AUD 150. | INR 8,339. |
Visa fees and currency conversion verified on 9 June 2023.
The above amounts are the starting costs for a visa, and the government holds the right to additional fees. The Australian Department of Home Affairs has a visa pricing estimator to better understand what your visa may cost.
The visa fee is payable in Australian dollars with a credit card online, so make sure your credit card in India supports international transactions.
Australian visa requirements for Indian citizens
Before applying for a visa, make sure you meet all the requirements below:
- Hold a valid Indian passport.
- You must have sufficient funds to fund your entire roundtrip travel and staying costs in Australia. You can demonstrate your proof of funds through supporting documents such as employment proof, salary slips, and bank statements.
- You must be eligible for the visa subclass you are applying for and complete the Visa application form.
- You meet the health and character requirements.
- Two passport-size photos.
- A cover letter.
- Details of your accommodation in Australia
In addition to the above general documents, each visa category requires specific documents:
| Visa Category | Additional Documents |
|---|---|
| Visitor/Tourist visa |
|
| Work Visa |
|
| Student Visa |
|
Ensure all your documents are scanned and in digital form and can be uploaded to the application.
How to apply for an Australia visa
Indians can apply for an Australian visa online on the Australian Government's official website:⁷
- Head to the Department of Home Affairs website.
- Create your ImmiAccount.
- Login to your ImmiAccount.
- Select ‘New Application’ and complete the application form.
- Upload the required documents to the application.
- Pay the visa application fee.
- Submit the application.
Once you have applied, you can log into your immiAccount to check messages, update details, check application status, or withdraw your application. You will be notified if you are approved for a visa, and it will be digitally linked to your passport.
Indians can also apply for an Australian visa offline, although not all forms may be available for offline applications:⁸
- The process requires downloading the application form and completing it offline.
- Pay the application fee through ImmiAccount using credit cards or PayPal.
- Submit the application form and certified copies of all relevant documents to the address mentioned in the application form.
How long does it take to get an Australian visa?
The visa processing times depend on the visa subclass category and on the existing volume of applications. Here are the approximate processing times for a typical visitor and work visa. The times are organized by the percentage of applications processed in a set amount of time.
| Processing time | Visitor/Tourist Visa - Subclass 600 | Work Visa - Subclass 190 |
|---|---|---|
| 25% of applications | 5 days | 4 months. |
| 50% of applications | 10 days. | 5 months. |
| 75% of applications | 18 days. | 6 months. |
| 90% of applications | 28 days. | 14 months. |
Student visa processing times vary. Check out the Department of Home Affairs website for more information on processing times.
Validity of Australian Visa
Once approved for a visa, you can stay in the country up to the permissible time. Anything beyond this will require an extension.
| Type of visa | Validity from approval |
|---|---|
| Visitor Visa - Subclass 600 | 3, 6 or 12 months. |
| Work visa - Subclass 190 | Permanent stay |
| Student visa - Subclass 500 | Maximum of five years and in line with your study program |
Start your international journey with Wise
If you are heading to Australia for work, study or to visit family, you may need to make some payments ahead of time. So make those payments easier with Wise. Wise lets you send money directly to local bank accounts outside of India with a low-cost transfer fee and the mid-market exchange rate.
If you are already living in Australia, take a look at the Wise multi-currency account available for residents living in supported countries. Enjoy an account as worldly as you are and spend just like a local when you travel abroad with a linked debit card, while also paying less in fees.
Please see the Terms and Conditions for your region and visit our pricing page for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information on Wise products.
Sources used for this article:
- Australian visa for Indians - Do Indians need a visa to visit Australia
- Australian visa for Indians - Different types of Australian visas
- Australian visa for Indians - Tourist/Visitor Visa
- Australian visa for Indians - Work visa
- Australian visa for Indians - Student Visa
- Australian visa for Indians - Visit Visa Subclass 600
- Australian visa for Indians - apply for visa online
- Australian visa for Indians - apply for visa offline
Sources verified on 9 June 2023.
Photo by Photoholgic on Unsplash
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