# Which Australia Visa Should Indians Apply For? > Match your purpose to the right Australian visa: Visitor 600 streams, Student 500, post-study 485, sponsored work, India-only ballots and permanent residence routes. _Published: 2026-10-21 · Reading time: 6 min · Words: 1268_ ## TL;DR Indians cannot use the ETA or eVisitor, so every trip needs a visa applied for online in ImmiAccount. Visitors use subclass 600 (AUD 250), students subclass 500 (AUD 2,500), sponsored workers subclass 482, and young graduates can try the India-only MATES or Work and Holiday ballots. ## Key takeaways - Indian passports are not eligible for the ETA (subclass 601) or eVisitor (subclass 651); only New Zealanders get a visa on arrival. - Visitor visa (subclass 600): AUD 250 for the Tourist stream applied for outside Australia, the Business Visitor and the Sponsored family streams. - Student visa (subclass 500): AUD 2,500; from 2 October 2026 most applicants must apply outside Australia and cannot include family. - India-only options: MATES (subclass 403) for graduates of top-100 NIRF institutions and the Work and Holiday ballot (subclass 462). - Skilled PR routes (189, 190, 491) require at least 65 points and an invitation before age 45. **It depends on your purpose. According to Australia's Department of Home Affairs, Indians visiting for tourism, family or business apply online for the Visitor visa (subclass 600, AUD 250); students need the Student visa (subclass 500, AUD 2,500); sponsored workers use the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482). Indian passports cannot use the ETA or eVisitor.** ## Article Fees and rules below are from the Department of Home Affairs, as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. Home Affairs charges in AUD only and publishes no INR amounts. ### Can Indians use the ETA, eVisitor or a visa on arrival? No. India is not on the eligible-passport lists for the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) or the eVisitor (subclass 651), and Home Affairs says only New Zealand passport holders can get a visa on arrival. Every Indian traveller needs the right visa before travelling. The application itself is online. You apply through ImmiAccount, attach scanned documents and pay online, and a granted visa is digitally linked to your passport with no label. There is no VFS application centre for Australia in India. The Department tells you if you need to give biometrics. ### Which Australian visa fits your purpose? If you want toVisaMain applicant feeHome Affairs processing (50% / 90%)Holiday or visit friends and familyVisitor 600, Tourist stream (outside Australia)AUD 25021 days / 33 daysAttend meetings or a conferenceVisitor 600, Business Visitor streamAUD 2507 days / 19 daysVisit a relative who sponsors youVisitor 600, Sponsored family streamAUD 25040 days / 3 monthsStudy full timeStudent 500AUD 2,500Higher Education: 16 days / 4 monthsWork after an Australian degreeTemporary Graduate 485AUD 5,7505 days / 55 daysTake a sponsored jobSkills in Demand 482, Core SkillsAUD 4,0154 months / 9 monthsWork as an early-career graduate (ballot)MATES 403AUD 4704 months / 5 monthsHoliday and work, aged 18 to 30 (ballot)Work and Holiday 462AUD 8403 days / 44 daysSettle permanently without a sponsorSkilled Independent 189AUD 6,13561 days / 8 monthsThe processing columns come from Home Affairs' global guide, which covers all nationalities. For Indian citizens specifically, tourist visitor visas granted in October to December 2025 had a median of 14 days, with 75% within 23 days. ### Which Visitor 600 stream should you choose? - Tourist stream: for holidays and visiting family or friends. Stays can be up to 12 months but are generally 3 months, decided case by case, and up to 3 months of study or training is allowed. Parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents may get a visa valid for more than 12 months, but no more than 12 months' stay in any 18 months. - Business Visitor stream: for business enquiries, contract negotiations and conferences, usually up to 3 months. It does not allow you to work for an Australian business. - Sponsored family stream: your relative in Australia completes Form 1149 and may be asked to pay a security bond. The standard stay is 3 months, usually single entry. The Frequent traveller and Approved Destination Status streams are not open to Indians. Each person, including children, applies and pays separately. Home Affairs reported grant rates for Indian citizens in October to December 2025 of 69.8% for tourist visitor visas, 61.0% for sponsored tourist visas and 80.9% for business visitors. These figures describe past decisions, not your chances. ### What if you want to study, or stay on after studying? The Student visa (subclass 500) needs a Confirmation of Enrolment in a CRICOS-registered course, answers to the Genuine Student requirement, Overseas Student Health Cover and, if the Document Checklist Tool asks, proof of funds: AUD 29,710 for 12 months' living costs plus course fees and AUD 2,000 for travel, or a parents' or partner's income of at least AUD 87,856. From 2 October 2026, most Student visa applications must be lodged outside Australia and most applicants can no longer include family members. The grant rate for Indian citizens applying outside Australia was 59.5% in October to December 2025, down from 79.9% a year earlier. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) lets Indian nationals stay for 2 years after a Bachelor degree, 3 years after a Masters and 4 years after a PhD, under the Australia-India ECTA. You apply in Australia, aged 35 or under in most cases. ### Which routes let Indians work in Australia? - Skills in Demand (482), Core Skills stream: an approved employer nominates you for a job on the Core Skills Occupation List, paying at least AUD 79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. You need at least 1 year of relevant experience and IELTS 5.0 in each component unless exempt. Indians received 6,220 primary 482 visas in July to December 2025, the largest citizenship group. - Skills in Demand (482), Specialist Skills stream: for highly paid roles with a salary of at least AUD 146,576. - MATES (403): India-only, up to 2 years, up to 3,000 places a year by ballot. You must be aged 18 to 30, have graduated within 2 years from a Top 100 institution on the NIRF 2024 list in a field such as engineering, ICT, AI, fintech, mining, renewable energy or agritech, and pay a AUD 25 registration fee. - Work and Holiday (462): up to 12 months, for ages 18 to 30 with at least 2 years of post-secondary study, Functional English and about AUD 5,000. India has an annual cap of 1,000 first visas, a AUD 25 ballot fee, and a PAN card is required. ### Which visas lead to permanent residence? Skilled migrants usually start with an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect. The Skilled Independent visa (189, AUD 6,135) and Skilled Nominated visa (190, AUD 6,140) both need at least 65 points, an invitation before age 45, a skills assessment and Competent English; the 190 also needs a state or territory nomination. The Skilled Work Regional visa (491, AUD 6,140) is a 5-year provisional visa for regional Australia, with a pathway to permanent residence through subclass 191 after 3 years. The Employer Nomination Scheme (186, AUD 6,140) needs an employer nomination and at least 3 years of experience, and the National Innovation visa (858, AUD 6,235) is by invitation for internationally recognised achievement. After 4 years in Australia, including 12 months as a permanent resident, you can apply for citizenship for AUD 285. Compare the full fee table on our Australia visa page for Indians. For a Visitor 600 application, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel plans and cover letters that explain your trip. Packages range from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Can I include my family on my Australian visitor visa application? No. Home Affairs says family members cannot be included on a Visitor visa (subclass 600): each person, including children, applies and pays the AUD 250 charge separately. #### Can an Australian visitor visa be extended? No. Visitor visas cannot be extended; you must apply for a new visa, which is not possible if condition 8503 (No Further Stay) is attached unless it is waived. #### Is there a visa application centre for Australia in India? No. Applications are made online through ImmiAccount, and India is not on the Australian Biometrics Collection Centre list (March 2026). The Department of Home Affairs office at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi handles many visa services, and enquiries go to the helpline +61 2 6196 0196. #### Is health insurance compulsory for an Australian tourist visa? Not as a general rule, but you are liable for all your healthcare costs in Australia and Home Affairs strongly recommends adequate health insurance. In some cases the visa is granted with condition 8501, which requires you to maintain adequate health insurance. ## FAQ ### Can I include my family on my Australian visitor visa application? No. Home Affairs says family members cannot be included on a Visitor visa (subclass 600): each person, including children, applies and pays the AUD 250 charge separately. ### Can an Australian visitor visa be extended? No. Visitor visas cannot be extended; you must apply for a new visa, which is not possible if condition 8503 (No Further Stay) is attached unless it is waived. ### Is there a visa application centre for Australia in India? No. Applications are made online through ImmiAccount, and India is not on the Australian Biometrics Collection Centre list (March 2026). The Department of Home Affairs office at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi handles many visa services, and enquiries go to the helpline +61 2 6196 0196. ### Is health insurance compulsory for an Australian tourist visa? Not as a general rule, but you are liable for all your healthcare costs in Australia and Home Affairs strongly recommends adequate health insurance. In some cases the visa is granted with condition 8501, which requires you to maintain adequate health insurance. ## Sources 1. [Visitor visa (subclass 600)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 2. [Visa fees and charges (current visa pricing)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/fees-and-charges/current-visa-pricing) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 3. [Global visa processing times guide](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-processing-times/global-visa-processing-times) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia 4. [Visitor visa program report, 31 December 2025](https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/visitor-visa-december-2025.pdf) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia