Australia Tourist Visa Cost from India 2026: Subclass 600 Fees and Full Price Breakdown

How Much Does an Australia Tourist Visa Cost from India in 2026? (Quick Answer)

For most Indian passport holders applying for an Australian tourist visa from outside Australia, the government charge for the subclass 600 Tourist stream is AUD 250 per applicant. That is the amount the Department of Home Affairs shows for this stream, and it applies to applications lodged from 1 July 2026, when the charge rose from AUD 200. At the ECB reference rate on 21 October 2026 (1 AUD = 66.45 INR), AUD 250 is roughly INR 16,600. Your bank will convert at its own rate on the day you pay.

That AUD 250 is the starting point, not the total. Home Affairs warns that health checks, police certificates and biometrics can cost extra, though you pay for them only if you are asked. Translations, travel insurance and your bank's currency markup add more. Card surcharges are gone: Home Affairs stopped charging them on 1 October 2026. Families pay the charge once for every member. This guide breaks down each cost so you can plan your budget before lodging.

Subclass 600 Visa Application Charge by Stream

The subclass 600 Visitor visa has several streams. Indian applicants most often use the Tourist stream from outside Australia, but the other streams matter if a relative sponsors your visit or you travel for business. These are the base charges per applicant that Home Affairs shows for applications lodged from 1 July 2026:

• Tourist stream, applied for from outside Australia (for example, from India): AUD 250
• Tourist stream, applied for while you are already in Australia: AUD 630
• Sponsored Family stream: AUD 250, and Home Affairs may ask your sponsor to pay a security bond
• Business Visitor stream: AUD 250, applied for from outside Australia
• Frequent Traveller stream: AUD 1,845

The Frequent Traveller stream is open only to citizens of China, Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste. India is not on that list, so the AUD 250 Tourist stream charge is the figure that matters for most readers of this guide.

If you apply for the Tourist stream from inside Australia, Home Affairs notes that a subsequent temporary application charge may be added to the AUD 630 (its pricing data shows AUD 700). Each family member, including anyone listed on your passport, must lodge a separate application and pay separately. Check the Visa Pricing Estimator on the Home Affairs site on the day you lodge.

What the Government Fee Includes and What It Does Not

The visa application charge is the amount in Australian dollars that Home Affairs requires for the application itself. Home Affairs will not process your application until it is paid, and a case officer then assesses whether you meet the subclass 600 criteria. Home Affairs lists health checks, police certificates and biometrics as possible costs on top of it.

The government fee does not cover any of the following:

• Health examinations or chest X-rays, where Home Affairs asks for them
• Police certificates, if a case officer requests one
• Biometrics collection, if you are asked to give fingerprints and a photo at a collection centre
• Professional translation of non-English documents
• Migration agent or visa consultant fees
• Travel insurance premiums
• Your bank's foreign currency markup on the AUD payment

Each of these can add meaningfully to the total. That's why the government application charge alone understates what many Indian applicants will actually spend.

Biometrics, Health Checks and Other Mandatory Costs

Biometrics at VFS Global

Home Affairs says it will tell you if you need to provide biometrics, meaning fingerprints and a facial photo. If it does, you book an appointment at a collection centre run by VFS Global, and these centres charge a service fee. The Australian High Commission in New Delhi lists only Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal as the countries in its region that are part of the biometrics program. So most people applying from India should not budget for a biometrics fee unless Home Affairs asks for one.

You may also see an "ICAC service fee" on VFS Global pages. That fee belongs to the Indian Consular Application Centres in Australia, which handle Indian visas, OCI cards and Indian passports. It is not part of an Australian visitor visa application.

Health Examinations

Most short-stay tourists from India do not need a health examination. Home Affairs treats India as a higher-risk country for tuberculosis, and under its rules for temporary visas, applicants from such countries staying less than 6 months need no examinations unless special circumstances apply. If you plan to stay 6 months or more, expect a medical examination, a chest X-ray (from age 11) and a serum creatinine/eGFR blood test (from age 15).

Anyone aged 75 or older applying for a Visitor visa (subclass 600) needs a medical examination and a serum creatinine/eGFR test, whatever the length of stay. Examinations take place at an approved panel clinic, and you pay the clinic. Costs vary by clinic and city and are not fixed by the government.

Police Clearance Certificate

For the Tourist stream, Home Affairs says it may ask you for a police certificate, so this is not an automatic cost. If you are asked, it will usually be because you are over 17 and lived in a country for at least 12 months in the past 10 years, and the certificate must cover the time from your 16th birthday. For most Indian applicants this means an Indian PCC through the Passport Seva portal or a regional passport office. Confirm the current fee with those authorities, as we could not verify an official INR figure at the time of writing.

Optional and Hidden Costs to Budget For

Document Translation

The Department of Home Affairs requires that non-English supporting documents, such as birth certificates, bank statements and employment letters, be translated by an accredited professional. This typically costs AUD 40 to AUD 80 per document, and prices vary by provider and document type. For a standard application with three or four documents requiring translation, this could add AUD 120 to AUD 320 to the overall cost.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for the Australia subclass 600 Tourist stream. Home Affairs says you are liable for all your healthcare costs in Australia and strongly recommends adequate health insurance. Medical costs there can be extremely high. A migration agent guide notes that travel insurance is sometimes expected by case officers reviewing Tourist stream applications. Premium amounts vary by duration of stay, age and coverage level. Compare quotes from Indian insurers such as Bajaj Allianz, ICICI Lombard or Tata AIG before departing.

Card Payment Surcharge

From 1 October 2026, Home Affairs has stopped applying surcharges on card, PayPal and UnionPay payments, following the Reserve Bank of Australia review of card surcharging. The publicly available fee overview may still say a surcharge can apply, but the department's dedicated surcharges page, updated on 12 October 2026, confirms the change. Your Indian bank can still add its own foreign currency markup, so check that with your card issuer.

Migration Agent Fees

Engaging a Registered Migration Agent is optional but can be useful if your application involves complex circumstances, a previous refusal or gaps in documentation. Typical agent fees for a subclass 600 Tourist visa for an Indian applicant were not confirmed from a reliable source at the time of writing. Rates vary significantly by agent and case complexity, so request itemised quotes from several RMAs before deciding.

VFS Add-On Services

VFS Global India offers optional services such as passport courier return. The exact fee for this service in India was not confirmed at the time of writing. The current VFS Global India portal for Australian visas carries the latest pricing for all optional services.

Total Cost Scenarios for Indian Applicants

The scenarios below use the Home Affairs charges in force since 1 July 2026. Rupee figures are approximate, at the ECB reference rate on 21 October 2026 (1 AUD = 66.45 INR). Your bank will convert at its own rate on the day of payment, so treat the INR amounts as a guide only.

Scenario 1 — Single applicant, short stay, straightforward application

• Government application charge: AUD 250 (about INR 16,600)
• Biometrics: usually not requested for applications from India, paid only if Home Affairs asks
• No health examination required (applicant under 75, staying less than six months)
• Travel insurance: obtain a quote from an Indian insurer
• Total government charge: AUD 250, or about INR 16,600, before insurance and bank charges

Scenario 2 — Family of four (two adults, two children), short stay

• Government application charge: AUD 250 per person, as every family member lodges a separate application
• Four applications at AUD 250 each: AUD 1,000 (about INR 66,500)
• Biometrics: only if Home Affairs asks a family member to provide them
• Document translation if any supporting documents are not in English: AUD 40 to AUD 80 per document, typically
• Total government charges: about INR 66,500 before translation, insurance and bank charges

Scenario 3 — Single applicant, sponsored by an Australian-based family member

• Sponsored Family stream charge: AUD 250 (about INR 16,600), the same as the Tourist stream
• Home Affairs may ask the sponsor to pay a security bond, which is separate from the application charge

How to Pay from India

The subclass 600 application is lodged online through ImmiAccount, the Department of Home Affairs' application portal. The government application charge is paid at the time of lodgement by credit card, debit card or PayPal. Since 1 October 2026, Home Affairs no longer adds a surcharge to card, PayPal or UnionPay payments.

There is no option to pay the government application charge in Indian rupees. Home Affairs sets the charge in Australian dollars, and your bank will apply its own exchange rate along with any foreign currency transaction fee it levies. Using a card with low or no foreign exchange fees, a feature of some Indian travel credit cards and multi-currency prepaid cards, can reduce this secondary cost.

If Home Affairs asks you for biometrics, the collection centre's service fee is paid separately to VFS Global when you book the appointment. Keep your payment receipts from ImmiAccount and from any other provider, as they form part of your application record.

Refunds, Rejections and Reapplication Costs

Home Affairs says it does not usually refund the visa application charge, even if the application is refused or withdrawn. That applies to the subclass 600 like any other visa. Refunds are the exception, not the rule. This is one of the most consequential financial facts for Indian applicants to understand before submitting.

If a subclass 600 visa is refused after being validly lodged, the application charge is generally not refundable simply because the application was unsuccessful. Refunds are available only in limited circumstances. According to migration agent guidance, eligible applicants request them via Form 1424 or online through ImmiAccount. Confirm the exact form and process with the Department of Home Affairs before submitting a request.

A refused application does not prevent reapplication, but each new lodgement requires paying the full application charge again. With the charge at AUD 250 since 1 July 2026, a second attempt after refusal adds another AUD 250 (about INR 16,600 at the 21 October 2026 reference rate). You pay it twice. Addressing the documented reasons for refusal before paying for a second lodgement, ideally with input from a Registered Migration Agent, reduces the risk of a repeated outcome.

If Home Affairs asked for your biometrics on an earlier application, it may not need them again, depending on how recently they were taken. Wait for its instructions before booking and paying for a new biometrics appointment.

Recent Changes (2025-2026 Updates)

1 October 2026: Home Affairs stopped applying surcharges on card, PayPal and UnionPay payments, so the amount you pay in ImmiAccount is now the charge itself.

1 July 2026: the subclass 600 Tourist stream charge for applications lodged outside Australia rose from AUD 200 to AUD 250. The charge for applying inside Australia went from AUD 500 to AUD 630, and the Frequent Traveller stream from AUD 1,480 to AUD 1,845. The new amounts were set by the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 (F2026L00874), and the Home Affairs pricing data showed the same figures on 22 October 2026.

The explanatory statement for those regulations describes the change as a system-wide 25 per cent increase to most visa application charges, a 2026-27 Budget measure. That is a much larger rise than the usual CPI-linked indexation.

1 July 2025: the offshore subclass 600 charge moved from AUD 195 to AUD 200 in the regular annual indexation, according to the Migration Regulations as compiled before and after that date. The charge has therefore risen in two consecutive financial years.

The explanatory statement describes annual CPI indexation of visa charges as government policy, and changes usually take effect on 1 July. If you plan to lodge in mid-2027 or later, check the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator close to your lodgement date. No subclass 600 rule changes aimed only at Indian applicants were identified at the time of writing.

FAQ

What is the Australia tourist visa fee from India in 2026?

The government charge for the subclass 600 Tourist stream, applied for from outside Australia, is AUD 250 per applicant for applications lodged from 1 July 2026. Home Affairs shows this amount on its Tourist stream page and in its pricing data. At the ECB reference rate on 21 October 2026 (1 AUD = 66.45 INR), that is about INR 16,600. Translations, insurance and any extra checks Home Affairs asks for are paid separately.

Is the AUD 250 fee per person or per family?

The application charge is per person. Home Affairs says each family member, including anyone listed on your passport, must submit a separate application, and the charge applies to each applicant. For a family of four, the government charges alone come to AUD 1,000, or about INR 66,500 at the 21 October 2026 reference rate.

Can I get a refund if my Australia tourist visa is refused?

Generally no. Home Affairs says it does not usually refund the visa application charge, even if the application is refused or withdrawn. In limited eligible circumstances a refund may be possible, and migration agents point to Form 1424 or ImmiAccount for the request. Confirm the exact process and eligibility criteria with the Department of Home Affairs before assuming a refund applies to your situation.

Do I need to pay for biometrics separately from the visa application charge?

Only if Home Affairs asks you to provide biometrics. In that case you book an appointment at a collection centre run by VFS Global and pay its service fee separately, outside ImmiAccount. The Australian High Commission in New Delhi lists Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, not India, as the biometrics program countries in its region, so most applicants lodging from India should not expect this cost.

Do I need a medical examination for an Australia tourist visa?

Not for a typical short trip. Home Affairs treats India as a higher-risk country for tuberculosis, and under its rules applicants from such countries staying less than 6 months need no health examinations unless special circumstances apply. A stay of 6 months or more means a medical examination, a chest X-ray from age 11 and a serum creatinine/eGFR test from age 15. Applicants aged 75 or older need a medical examination and a serum creatinine/eGFR test whatever the length of stay. Check the Home Affairs website for the health requirement relevant to your circumstances.

Is travel insurance compulsory for the Australia subclass 600 visa?

Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for the subclass 600 Tourist stream. Home Affairs does say you are liable for all your healthcare costs in Australia and strongly recommends adequate health insurance. Medical costs there can be very high. A migration agent guide notes it is sometimes expected by case officers, so including evidence of coverage in your application can support a positive outcome.

What payment methods are accepted for the Australia visa fee?

The government application charge is paid online through ImmiAccount using a credit card, debit card or PayPal. Since 1 October 2026, Home Affairs no longer adds a surcharge to card, PayPal or UnionPay payments. Your Indian bank may still charge a foreign currency transaction fee, since the charge is billed in Australian dollars.

Did Australia increase visa fees in 2025 and 2026?

Yes, increases occurred in both years. On 1 July 2025 the offshore subclass 600 charge rose from AUD 195 to AUD 200 through annual indexation. On 1 July 2026 it rose again, from AUD 200 to AUD 250, under the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026. The explanatory statement calls this a system-wide 25 per cent increase to most visa charges. Fees are reviewed annually and usually change on 1 July, so check the Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator right before lodging.

Do I need a police clearance certificate for an Australia tourist visa?

Only if Home Affairs asks. For the Tourist stream it says it may request a police certificate. When it does, the request usually covers applicants over 17 who lived in a country for at least 12 months in the past 10 years, and the certificate must cover the time from age 16. For most Indian applicants, this means obtaining a PCC from Indian authorities through the Passport Seva portal or a regional passport office. The exact processing fee should be confirmed directly with those authorities.

Where can I find the exact, up-to-date Australia visa application charge before I apply?

The most reliable source is the Visa Pricing Estimator on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, and each stream page there also shows the current charge. Fees change annually and usually increase on 1 July each financial year. Any figure quoted by a third-party aggregator or visa platform, including the amounts in this guide, should be verified against the official estimator on the day of lodgement, since consultancy websites and migration agent reports can lag behind official updates.