What is the difference between the Australian 600 and 601 visas, for people who are eligible for both?
I'm traveling to Australia in July and I've been looking into getting a visa.
I see two visa options, a 600 and a 601 that appear to be appropriate (I'm going for leisure and not for work).
The 600 costs 125 USD and the 601 costs 20 USD. Why would I opt for the more expensive option?
Will the 601 visa suffice?
Best Answer
Both 600 and 601 visas are solely for travellers wishing to enter Australia as a visitor for leisure or business purposes. The difference between a 600 and a 601 visa is that the 601 allows for a maximum stay of 3 months. Moreover, the 601 visa demands less, if not zero, paperwork. This is because the 601 is available only for a specific set of passport holders, without prior criminal convictions nor debts towards the Australian Government, can apply for a 601 visa. Presumably, the 601 visa is the result of a bilateral agreement between Australia and all the listed countries. All travellers not meeting these criteria must apply for a 600 visa.
To answer your specific query, you should apply for whichever visa you are eligible for. If you have the choice, pick the cheaper and simpler option. Note that this could even be the eVisitor (subclass 651) visa, depending on eligibility.
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What is the difference between a 601 and 651 visa?
This visa, subclass 651 is intended for citizens of countries in the European Union. All applicants should have a passport valid for at least 3 months from the entry date to Australia. Citizens from non-European countries can apply either for ETA (Subclass 601) or Visitor (Subclass 600) visa.What is a 601 visa?
The Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) is an electronic travel visa that is linked to an applicant's passport and designed only for tourism and business visitor purposes.What is a subclass 600 visa?
The Visitor Visa (Class FA) (Subclass 600) allows for the entry of genuine tourist, business and family visitors to Australia for the purposes of visiting the country on a temporary basis.How long is a subclass 600 valid for?
The visa can be granted for up to 10 years. Stay up to 3 months each time you enter. Visa processing times are based on the age of applications finalised in a given period.Visitor Visas Explained - Differences between Subclass 600 and 601
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