Quick answer
Yes. Indian passport holders need a Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream, to visit Australia for tourism or to see family; India is not eligible for the ETA (601) or eVisitor (651). It costs AUD 250 when you apply from outside Australia. Apply online through ImmiAccount from Kerala; Home Affairs usually grants a 3-month stay (up to 12 months in some cases) and processed 90% of Tourist-stream applications within 38 days.
Australia visa for Indians at a glance
| Visa needed for tourism? | Yes — Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream1 |
|---|---|
| Visa fee (applying outside Australia) | AUD 250 per applicant2 |
| Length of stay | Usually 3 months; up to 12 months in some cases1 |
| Entries | Single or multiple — decided by Home Affairs1 |
| Processing time (Tourist stream, all countries) | 50% in 18 days; 90% in 38 days3 |
| How to apply | Online via ImmiAccount; visa is linked to your passport (no label)1 |
| ETA / eVisitor for Indians? | No — India is not on either list4 |
Visa options for Indian passport holders
Visitor visa (subclass 600) — Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)123
- Who can use it
- Indian passport holders visiting for tourism, a cruise, or to see family and friends
- Stay
- Generally 3 months; up to 12 months in certain circumstances. Parents of Australian citizens/PRs may get a longer visa but cannot stay more than 12 months in any 18-month period.
- Validity
- As set in the grant letter
- Entries
- Single or multiple
- Fee
- AUD 250 per applicant; other costs may apply for health checks, police certificates and biometrics
- Processing time
- Home Affairs guide (global, Tourist stream): 50% in 18 days, 90% in 38 days
- Where to apply
- ImmiAccount (online) — https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600/tourist-stream-overseas
- Good to know
- You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided. Each family member applies separately. You can study or train for up to 3 months but cannot work.
Documents to prepare
- Valid passport — pages showing your photo, personal details and issue and expiry dates. Get any new passport before you apply.1
- Proof you are a genuine visitor: for example 3 months of itemised bank statements, pay slips, tax records, and a letter from your employer saying you will return to your job.1
- If someone in Australia is inviting you: their relationship to you, visit purpose and length, whether you stay with them, and proof of their funds if they pay.1
- Proof of ties at home, such as immediate family, property or study in India.1
- English translations of any non-English documents. Scan all documents in colour.1
- Under 18: birth certificate naming both parents; Form 1229 consent from any parent not travelling; Form 1257 if not staying with a relative or guardian.1
Before you fly and on arrival
- Everyone arriving in Australia must complete an Incoming Passenger Card.1
- Check your visa conditions and stay date in VEVO or your grant letter. Taking adequate health insurance is strongly recommended.1
Applying from Kerala
- Apply fully online through ImmiAccount — upload documents and pay the fee. There is no visa label in the passport.1
- Home Affairs will tell you if you need to give biometrics. Its list of Australian Biometrics Collection Centres (correct as of March 2026) does not include any centre in India.5
- Have health examinations if Home Affairs asks you to.1
- No interview is part of the standard process.1
Extending your stay
- You cannot extend this visa. To stay longer you must apply for a new visa from inside Australia, if your visa has no 'No Further Stay' (8503) condition.1
- Applying for a Tourist stream visitor visa from inside Australia costs AUD 630.2
What changed recently
- 1 July 2026: The Tourist-stream page and the visa pricing table were updated on 1 July 2026 and show AUD 250 for applications made outside Australia.12
How Albah Holidays can help
- We handle Australia visa applications from our office in Kozhikode — we check your case, give you the exact document checklist, fill in the application and book any appointment.
- Where fingerprints or an interview are needed, you attend in person — we prepare you for it and follow up until the decision.
- Flights from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, hotels and travel insurance — booked together with us.
- Send your passport copy and travel dates on WhatsApp, or visit our office in Eranhipalam, Kozhikode.
- Flights to Australia from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, booked with your visa so the dates line up and the name on the ticket matches the passport.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Australia?
Yes. Indian citizens need a Visitor visa (subclass 600). India is not eligible for the ETA or eVisitor.14
How much is the Australia tourist visa fee for Indians?
AUD 250 when you apply from outside Australia. Health checks, police certificates or biometrics, if asked, cost extra.21
How long does an Australian visitor visa take?
Home Affairs' guide shows 50% of Tourist-stream applications decided in 18 days and 90% in 38 days. It is a guide, not a promise.3
Can I apply for the Australian visitor visa from Kerala without visiting a centre?
Yes. You apply online through ImmiAccount. Home Affairs will tell you if you need to give biometrics or do a health check.15
How long can I stay in Australia on a visitor visa?
Usually 3 months per the grant letter, and up to 12 months in some cases. You cannot extend it.1
Official sources
- Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream (apply outside Australia) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia. Page updated 2026-07-01; checked 24 September 2026.
- Visa fees and charges — Current pricing — Department of Home Affairs, Australia. Page updated 2026-07-01; checked 24 September 2026.
- Global visa processing times — processing times guide (Visitor 600, Tourist) — Department of Home Affairs, Australia. Page updated 2026-09-04; checked 24 September 2026.
- Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) — eligible passports — Department of Home Affairs, Australia. checked 24 September 2026.
- Biometrics — Department of Home Affairs, Australia. Page updated 2026-03-23; checked 24 September 2026.
Rules, fees and processing times can change without notice. Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources above on 24 September 2026. Confirm before you travel — we recheck the current rules for every application we handle.