Australian Tourist Visa for Chinese Citizens: 2026 Guide
Updated: 25 June 2026
Chinese passport holders cannot use the ETA or eVisitor. To visit Australia for tourism or to see family, citizens of the People's Republic of China apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600), usually in the Tourist stream. It is lodged online, decided by a case officer, and supported by documents showing you'll return home.
Quick Facts: Tourist Visa for Chinese Citizens
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Correct visa | Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream |
| ETA (subclass 601)? | No — China is not an ETA-eligible passport |
| eVisitor (subclass 651)? | No — eVisitor is for European passports only |
| Stay length | Commonly 3, 6, or 12 months per the case officer's grant |
| Entries | Single or multiple entry, depending on the grant |
| Where to apply | ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs portal |
| Biometrics | Often required for PRC applicants |
| Cost | See the current fee schedule |
Why Chinese Citizens Use the Subclass 600
Australia runs three visitor pathways, and which one applies to you depends entirely on the passport you hold:
| Visa | Who it's for | Available to Chinese citizens? |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (subclass 601) | A short list of passports (e.g. USA, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR) | No |
| eVisitor (subclass 651) | European Union and selected European passports | No |
| Visitor visa (subclass 600) | Everyone else, including PRC passport holders | Yes |
The ETA and eVisitor are fast, low-document electronic authorities reserved for passports the Department treats as very low risk. Mainland Chinese passports sit outside both lists, so the Visitor visa subclass 600 is the route. It is a full application: a case officer reads your file, weighs your reasons for travelling, and decides whether to grant. That sounds heavier than it is — hundreds of thousands of Chinese visitors are approved each year — but it does mean the application rewards good preparation.
If you're unsure why the electronic options don't apply to you, our explainer on ETA vs eVisitor: which visa applies maps out exactly which passports each authority covers.
What the Tourist Stream Lets You Do
The subclass 600 has several streams. Chinese leisure and family travellers almost always use the Tourist stream. On it you can:
- Travel and sightsee anywhere in Australia
- Visit friends, family, or a partner
- Take an informal short course or training of limited duration
- Attend a cruise that begins or ends in Australia
What the Tourist stream does not allow:
- Paid work for an Australian employer
- Running or operating a business from Australia
- Enrolling in formal long-term study (that's a Student visa)
- Selling goods or services to the Australian public
Business activities such as conferences, meetings, and contract negotiations belong in the Business Visitor stream of the same subclass 600, not the Tourist stream. If your trip mixes a holiday with genuine business meetings, choose the stream that matches your main purpose.
How Long Can Chinese Visitors Stay?
The subclass 600 doesn't have one fixed stay length. The case officer decides, and grants of 3, 6, or 12 months are all common. The length you receive depends on your stated plans, your documents, and your travel history. A first-time applicant requesting a two-week holiday is unlikely to be handed a twelve-month multiple-entry grant; a parent visiting an adult child settled in Australia, with a clean travel record, often is.
Your stay is governed by conditions printed on the grant, most often:
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| 8101 | No work — you cannot be employed in Australia |
| 8201 | Study limited to a short period (commonly no more than three months) |
| 8503 | No further stay — you cannot apply for most other visas while onshore |
| 8531 | You must leave Australia before the visa ends |
Condition 8503 (the "no further stay" condition) matters most. If it's attached, you generally cannot switch to another visa from inside Australia — you'd have to leave and apply again. Always read which conditions appear on your own grant notice. For a fuller breakdown of how long visitor grants run and how to extend, see how long you can stay on an Australian tourist visa.
Can Chinese Visitors Work or Study?
No to work. The Tourist stream carries a no-work condition (8101). That includes informal or cash work, helping in a relative's restaurant, or doing paid remote tasks for an Australian client while you're in the country. Continuing your existing job in China remotely, with no Australian employer and no Australian customers, is the only grey-area exception travellers raise — keep it genuinely incidental to a short holiday.
Study is limited. You may do short, informal training, but condition 8201 typically caps study at three months. Anything longer or formal — a university semester, a vocational qualification, an English course beyond the cap — requires a Student visa instead.
Documents Chinese Applicants Usually Provide
Because the subclass 600 is assessed by a case officer rather than auto-approved, your evidence does the persuading. PRC applicants are commonly asked to demonstrate genuine temporary stay — that you intend to visit and return home. A typical file includes:
- A current Chinese passport with adequate validity
- Evidence of funds: bank statements, salary records, or a sponsor's support
- Proof of ties to China: employment, property, business, or family
- A travel itinerary or explanation of your plans in Australia
- If visiting family, an invitation letter and the relative's status in Australia
- For minors, parental consent and birth documentation
You may also be asked to provide biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) at an Australian Visa Application Centre, and supporting documents are usually requested in English or with a certified translation. None of this is about catching applicants out — it's the evidence a case officer needs to grant with confidence.
How to Apply for the Subclass 600
- Create or sign in to an ImmiAccount on the Department of Home Affairs portal (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au). Our ImmiAccount walkthrough covers first-time setup.
- Start a Visitor visa (subclass 600) application and select the Tourist stream.
- Complete the form with your passport, travel, financial, and character details. Answer the health and character declarations honestly.
- Upload your supporting documents — funds, ties to China, itinerary, and any invitation letter.
- Pay the visa application charge. Check the current amount on the visa fees schedule rather than relying on an old figure.
- Provide biometrics if you're directed to, and wait for the decision. You'll receive a grant notice by email setting out your stay length, entries, and conditions.
Apply well before you intend to fly. Subclass 600 applications are case-assessed, so they take longer than an electronic authority — current ranges are published on the visa processing times guide, which updates regularly.
Common Pitfalls for Chinese Applicants
Assuming you can use the ETA. Many travellers see "Electronic Travel Authority" advertised and try to apply. The ETA (subclass 601) is not open to mainland Chinese passports. Lodging the wrong product wastes time and money.
Thin financial evidence. "Genuine temporary entrant" is the heart of the assessment. Vague funds or no proof of ties to China is the most common reason a tourist application stalls. Show the case officer a clear reason you'll go home.
Booking flights before grant. A subclass 600 is never guaranteed. Don't buy non-refundable tickets until the grant notice lands in your inbox.
Missing biometrics. If you're asked to attend a Visa Application Centre and don't, the application can't progress. Book the appointment promptly.
Misreading condition 8503. If "no further stay" is on your grant, you usually can't switch visas onshore. Plan your trip around the visa you hold, not one you hope to apply for later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Chinese citizens get an Australian ETA or eVisitor?
No. The ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) are restricted to specific passport lists — mainly selected high-income and European passports. Mainland Chinese passport holders are on neither list, so the correct tourist pathway is the Visitor visa (subclass 600).
Which visa do Chinese tourists need for Australia?
The Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream. It's lodged online through ImmiAccount, assessed by a case officer, and supported by documents showing your funds, your plans, and your ties to China.
How long can a Chinese visitor stay in Australia?
There's no single fixed length. Case officers commonly grant stays of 3, 6, or 12 months on the subclass 600, with single or multiple entry. The length you receive depends on your stated plans, your evidence, and your travel history.
Can I work on an Australian tourist visa as a Chinese citizen?
No. The Tourist stream carries a no-work condition (8101). You can't take paid work for an Australian employer or run a business from Australia. You may do short informal study, usually capped at three months under condition 8201.
Do Chinese applicants need to give biometrics?
Often, yes. PRC applicants are frequently asked to provide fingerprints and a photo at an Australian Visa Application Centre as part of a subclass 600 application. Follow the instructions in your application correspondence and book the appointment promptly.
How much does the visa cost and how long does it take?
The visa application charge changes with each fee update — check the current fees schedule rather than an old number. Because the 600 is case-assessed, processing is slower than an electronic authority; see the processing times guide for current ranges.
