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Quick Summary (TL;DR) : - "Tourist Visa" and "Visit Visa" for Australia aren't two separate visas you need to choose between. "Visit visa" generally refers to the Visitor visa (Subclass 600), and "tourist visa" usually refers to the Tourist stream inside that same visa — not a standalone category. Depending on your passport, you may not even need the Subclass 600 at all — eligible passport holders can instead use the free eVisitor (Subclass 651) or the low-fee Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601). Here's the longer version most people never get told clearly: immigration terminology used casually online rarely matches the official visa architecture, and that mismatch is exactly where people end up applying for the wrong thing. |
The Visa Everyone Means When They Say "Visit Visa"
When people say "visit visa" for Australia, they're almost always referring to the Visitor visa (Subclass 600) — the general temporary visa for tourism, visiting family, or short business trips, allowing stays of 3, 6, or 12 months depending on what's granted.
"Tourist Visa" Isn't a Separate Visa — It's a Stream Inside It
Here's the part that actually clears up the confusion: the Subclass 600 has multiple streams, and "Tourist" is just one of them, not a standalone visa category. The official streams are:
| Stream | Who It's For |
| Tourist stream | Visiting Australia as a tourist, for a cruise, or to see family and friends — for up to 12 months |
| Business Visitor stream | Short business visits, such as meetings or conferences |
| Sponsored Family stream | Visiting family members who sponsor your visit |
| Approved Destination Status stream | For visitors from China travelling on a tour organised by an approved travel agent |
| Frequent Traveller stream | For citizens of specific countries (including China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and several others) who travel to Australia often for tourism or business |
So when someone says "tourist visa," they usually mean the Tourist stream of the Subclass 600 Visitor visa — not a separate application process altogether.
The Twist Almost Nobody Explains: You Might Not Need a 600 at All
This is where it gets genuinely useful, and where most explanations stop short. Depending on your passport, you may not need the Subclass 600 for tourism purposes at all — two other official options exist specifically to skip it:
eVisitor (Subclass 651): A free, electronically linked authorisation available to eligible European passport holders, covering short stays for tourism or business.
Electronic Travel Authority — ETA (Subclass 601): Available to eligible passport holders (including countries such as the US, Canada, Japan, and Singapore, among others), allowing multiple visits within a 12-month period, with a short stay permitted each time you enter, for a small service fee.
If your passport qualifies for either of these, you don't apply for the Subclass 600 at all — you'd be applying for the wrong visa type entirely if you tried to.
So, Which One Do You Actually Need?
The honest, government-grounded way to work this out isn't guessing based on which term sounds right — it's checking your passport's eligibility category directly:
- Check if your passport qualifies for eVisitor or ETA first. These are typically faster and cheaper (eVisitor is free; ETA has a small service fee) than the Subclass 600.
- If your passport isn't eligible for either, you'll need the Subclass 600. At that point, confirm which stream matches your actual purpose — tourism, business, or visiting sponsoring family.
- Don't rely on how a travel agency or third-party site labels the visa. The only way to confirm your specific eligibility is through the Department of Home Affairs directly.
Final Word
The real confusion between "tourist visa" and "visit visa" isn't about two different visas competing for your attention — it's about casual language not matching Australia's actual visa structure. Once you know that "tourist" is a stream, not a separate visa, and that your passport might qualify for something simpler than the Subclass 600 altogether, choosing the right application becomes a matter of checking eligibility, not guessing terminology.
Not sure which visa option applies to your passport? Get a free visa-type check from LEAMSS's visa team before you apply.
About This Article
Reviewed by the LEAMSS Team — we help travellers identify the correct Australian visa category for their passport and travel purpose before they apply.
Have questions about your specific visa eligibility? Talk to our team directly.
Official Sources
Department of Home Affairs — Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
Department of Home Affairs — eVisitor (Subclass 651)
Department of Home Affairs — Electronic Travel Authority (Subclass 601)
