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Australia visitor visa · Kochi, Kerala
Australia Tourist Visa (Subclass 600) from Kerala
The Visitor visa subclass 600, Tourist stream, is the visa for holidays and family visits to Australia. It is applied for entirely online through ImmiAccount, and since 26 October 2026 most applicants from India give fingerprints and a photo at a VFS centre – Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram both have one. Visa Xpert, Kochi prepares the whole application with you.
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Australia tourist visa at a glance
- Government feeAUD 250 per person (about ₹16,800) from 1 July 2026, paid online by card. VFS biometrics fee ₹1,425 per person extra.
- Processing timeMany Indian applications are decided within a few weeks; first-time applicants and families can take longer. Check the Home Affairs processing-time page before you book flights.
- Stay and validityUsually 3 months per visit (sometimes 6 or 12). Validity often 1 year multiple entry; frequent travellers may get up to 3 years.
- Where you apply from KeralaOnline through ImmiAccount from anywhere. If asked, biometrics at VFS Global Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram within 14 days.
Quick answer
Yes – you can apply for an Australia tourist visa from Kerala without travelling anywhere except, if asked, a short biometrics visit to VFS Kochi. The application is online through ImmiAccount; the government fee is AUD 250 (about ₹16,800) plus a ₹1,425 VFS biometrics fee. Decisions often take a few weeks, longer for first-time applicants. Visa Xpert’s service charge is quoted per case – call or WhatsApp +91 89211 53604.
Australia tourist visa: key facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official visa | Visitor visa (subclass 600) – Tourist stream, applied for from outside Australia. |
| Who it is for | Holidays, visiting family and friends, cruises, and short non-work activities. Parents visiting children can also look at the Sponsored Family stream. |
| Government fee | AUD 250 per person (about ₹16,800; the rupee amount moves with the exchange rate). Paid online by card when you lodge. Not refundable if refused. |
| Centre / VFS fee | Biometrics (photo and fingerprints) at VFS Global: ₹1,425 per person, paid when booking. Only after the Department asks for it in ImmiAccount. |
| Visa Xpert service charge | Ask us for a quote – it depends on the number of applicants and the file. Call or WhatsApp +91 89211 53604. The government fee is paid separately. |
| Standard processing time | Home Affairs publishes live times; in 2026 many Indian tourist applications were decided within a few weeks, first-time and family applications sometimes 1–2 months. Apply 2–3 months before travel. |
| Stay / validity | Stay per visit is usually 3 months (the Department can grant 6 or 12). The visa is often valid for 12 months, multiple entry; travellers with a good record may receive up to 3 years. |
| Where you apply from Kerala | ✓ VFS Kochi · also Thiruvananthapuram Lodge online from home or our office. If Home Affairs sends a biometrics request, book VFS Global Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram within 14 days – a 15-minute visit. |
| Form / portal | ImmiAccount (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) – online form, document uploads and fee payment. No paper form, no passport submission; the visa is electronic and linked to your passport. |
| Checked on | 4 November 2026 |
Plain words: ImmiAccount is the Australian government’s online visa portal. Biometrics means a facial photo and fingerprints. Home Affairs is the Department that decides the visa.
Australia tourist visa documents checklist
Everything is uploaded as colour scans in ImmiAccount. We scan, name and upload the files for you.
Identity
- Passport – colour scan of the photo page (valid for your whole trip, ideally 6+ months)
- Recent passport-size photo (digital, white background)
- National identity document (Aadhaar or PAN) and birth certificate if the Department asks
- Form 1257 (statutory declaration) only if required for your case
Money
- Bank statements for the last 3–6 months with your name and address
- Income-tax returns (ITR) for the last 2 years or Form 16
- Fixed deposits, mutual funds or other savings proof
- If a relative in Australia pays: their invitation, bank statement and payslips
Work and ties to Kerala
- Employment letter with designation, salary and approved leave dates
- Business registration (GST/Udyam) and company bank statement for self-employed
- Pension statement for retired applicants
- Property documents, family details – reasons to return home
Trip
- Travel plan: dates, cities, where you stay
- Flight itinerary and hotel bookings (tentative; do not pay for non-refundable tickets)
- Invitation letter from friends or family in Australia with a copy of their passport or visa/citizenship
- Travel insurance (recommended; mandatory only for some streams)
Families and children
- Marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates
- Children travelling with one parent: Form 1229 consent from the other parent and their ID
- Each family member lodges a separate application in ImmiAccount (we link them)
Good to know
- Health check: usually not required for short tourist visits, but the Department can ask for a medical if you are over 75 or plan a long stay
- Biometrics: most applicants in India are asked since 26 October 2026 – see our appointment guide
- Visa label: there is none. Your visa is electronic; you check it in VEVO
Step by step: Australia tourist visa from Kochi
Five steps, mostly online.
- ConsultationWe check your purpose, dates, finances and previous travel, and tell you which stream fits (Tourist or Sponsored Family).
- ImmiAccount applicationWe create your ImmiAccount, complete the subclass 600 form with you, upload the scanned documents and pay AUD 250 by card.
- Biometrics if requestedHome Affairs sends a letter in ImmiAccount. We book VFS Global Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram within 14 days; you attend for about 15 minutes (fee ₹1,425).
- DecisionHome Affairs may email for extra documents or a health check; we respond on time. The grant notice arrives by email – no sticker in the passport.
- TravelCheck your visa in VEVO, keep the grant letter with you, and respect the stay period on it.
How Visa Xpert helps with your Australia visa
The Department of Home Affairs decides every visa, and we never promise an outcome. We make sure your online application is complete, consistent and lodged correctly the first time.
- Right stream and timingTourist, Sponsored Family or a different visa – and when to lodge so the decision comes before your dates.
- ImmiAccount done properlyThe online form has many detailed questions (travel history, character, health). We complete it accurately with you.
- Documents that answer the questionsFunds, ties to Kerala and purpose explained clearly, with scans named the way Home Affairs expects.
- Biometrics and follow-upVFS Kochi booking, replies to Department requests, and checking the grant in VEVO.
2026 notes for Australia visitors from Kerala
What changed and what to expect
- Fee up on 1 July 2026: the subclass 600 charge rose from AUD 200 to AUD 250. Fees are indexed every July.
- Biometrics from 26 October 2026: most new applications lodged in India now get a biometrics request. Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are among the 16 VFS centres; fee ₹1,425; generally 14 days to attend. Read our who-needs-them guide.
- Processing varies: repeat travellers often get decisions in days or weeks; first-time applicants and families take longer. Do not pay for non-refundable tickets before the grant.
- No passport submission: the visa is electronic. You never hand in your passport.
- Parents on long visits: ask about the Sponsored Family stream (sponsor in Australia, possible bond) or the longer-validity visitor visas for parents.
- Stay period matters: overstaying even a few days affects future Australian visas.
Australia tourist visa: frequently asked questions
Is there an Australia visa centre in Kochi?
The application itself is online, so there is no counter to visit. Biometrics, when requested, are taken at VFS Global Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram – both are official Australian Biometrics Collection Centres since 26 October 2026.
How much does an Australia tourist visa cost from Kerala?
The government fee is AUD 250 per person (about ₹16,800) since 1 July 2026, plus ₹1,425 per person for VFS biometrics if requested. Visa Xpert quotes its service charge per case – call or WhatsApp us. The government fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
How long does the Australia visitor visa take?
It varies. Many Indian tourist applications in 2026 were decided within a few weeks; first-time applicants, families and sponsored visits can take 1–2 months. Check the Home Affairs processing-time page and apply 2–3 months before you travel.
How much bank balance do I need?
There is no fixed figure. Home Affairs wants to see that you can fund the trip from your own or your sponsor’s money and that you have reasons to return – a job, business, family or property in Kerala. Statements for 3–6 months plus ITR usually suffice.
Will I get a 1-year or 3-year visa?
The Department decides. Most first-time visitors from India receive a 12-month multiple-entry visa with 3-month stays; travellers with previous Australian visas and a clean record sometimes get 3 years. You can state your preference in the application.
Do I need to give fingerprints for an Australian visa?
Since 26 October 2026, most people lodging in India are asked to, by a letter in ImmiAccount. Children under 5 give only a photo. If you gave biometrics for an earlier Australian visa, you may not be asked again. Do not book VFS until the letter arrives.
Can my parents visit my family in Australia for longer than 3 months?
Yes, with the right stream. The Sponsored Family stream (you sponsor them from Australia) or a tourist visa with a 6- or 12-month stay request can suit parents. We explain the options and the possible security bond.
Is Visa Xpert part of VFS Global or the Australian High Commission?
No. Visa Xpert is an independent consultancy in Kochi since 2015. Home Affairs decides your visa; VFS only collects biometrics. We prepare and lodge your application honestly – no guarantees.
Official sources
- Department of Home Affairs – Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream
- Department of Home Affairs – Visa processing times
- Department of Home Affairs – Visa pricing estimator
- ImmiAccount login
- VFS Global – Australia biometrics collection centres in India
Last checked: 4 November 2026. Government fees, exchange rates and processing times change; we confirm the latest before you pay anything.
Helpful visa guides
- Australia Biometrics Appointment in India: Step-by-Step Guide for Kochi and KeralaHow to book and attend your Australia visa biometrics appointment at the VFS centre in Kochi.
- Australia Visa Biometrics in India from 26 October 2026: Who Needs Them, Fees and Kerala CentresWho must give biometrics for an Australia visa, the fee, and where to do it in Kerala.
Ready to apply for your Australia tourist visa?
WhatsApp your travel dates and passport photo. We will send the checklist for your profile and a quote the same day.
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