Visitor visas look simple, and that's the risk. They come in high numbers, often at short notice, and the details that cause trouble later (a no further stay condition, a stay period shorter than the client expected, a work restriction) sit in the grant notice that nobody rereads. This guide sets out a workflow your practice can use for every Visitor (subclass 600) matter, and the dates worth recording.
It's written for registered migration agents and their teams. It's general information, not legal advice. Rules change, so check the Department of Home Affairs website before you rely on any detail.
Stage 1. Enquiry: confirm the purpose and the right stream
Start by writing down why the client wants to come to Australia, in their words. Purpose decides the stream:
| Stream | Typical purpose |
|---|---|
| Tourist | Holiday, visiting family or friends, short study |
| Business Visitor | Business enquiries, conferences, negotiations |
| Sponsored Family | A family member in Australia sponsors the visit |
| Approved Destination Status | Organised tour groups from eligible countries |
| Frequent Traveller | Longer validity for eligible frequent visitors |
Check the client's passport at intake too. Some passport holders can use an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) or eVisitor (subclass 651) instead, which changes the whole matter.
Record at intake:
- purpose of the visit, planned dates and length of stay
- passport details and expiry date
- whether the client is in or outside Australia, and their current visa if onshore
- travel history, including any previous Australian visas, refusals or breaches
- employment, study and family ties at home
- who is paying for the trip
- the sponsor's details, for the Sponsored Family stream
Write a short file note of the advice you gave, and send your client service agreement before paid work starts.
Stage 2. Build the document list
Visitor applications are decided on evidence. The case officer needs to be satisfied the client is a genuine visitor, can support themselves, and will leave on time.
A typical list covers:
- identity: passport bio page, national ID, and change of name documents if relevant
- purpose: invitation letter, conference registration, or itinerary
- funds: bank statements, pay slips, or a sponsor's evidence of support
- ties to home: employment letter and approved leave, enrolment, property, family
- travel history: previous visas and passport stamps
- for Sponsored Family: the sponsor's status in Australia and the relationship evidence
Use the same document checklist for each stream, so every client gets the same request and nothing depends on who took the call. Record the date each document was requested and received.
Stage 3. Lodge and track
- Record the lodgement date and the transaction reference number.
- For onshore applicants, record any bridging visa granted and its conditions.
- Log every request from the Department, with the date received and the due date. Set a reminder before each due date.
- For Sponsored Family applications, note whether a security bond is requested, and the date it was paid.
Stage 4. The grant: read the conditions, record the dates
This is where most later problems start. When the visa is granted:
- Record the grant date, the visa expiry date and the length of each stay. A visitor visa can allow several entries but limit each stay. Those are two different dates.
- Record every condition on the grant notice. Common ones include no work, a limit on study, and in some cases a no further stay condition (8503), which generally stops the holder applying for most other visas while in Australia.
- Send the client a plain summary: when they can travel, how long each stay can last, what they can and can't do, and the date they must leave.
A note on change. On 17 September 2026 the Minister announced that a No Further Stay condition will be added to visitor visas. As at the end of September 2026, no start date had been published. When it starts, review open visitor matters and update your advice templates.
Stage 5. During the stay: reminders before the client must leave
- Set reminders before the end of each permitted stay, not just the visa expiry.
- If the client's plans change, record the new facts and advise them before the stay ends. An overstay can affect future applications.
- Keep notes of any request to waive a no further stay condition, with dates and outcomes.
Stage 6. Close the matter, and keep the history
- Record the date the client left Australia, if they tell you, and close the matter.
- Keep the history. Visitors often come back for a partner, student or skilled visa, and a clean record of past grants and conditions saves time on the next matter.
The dates to record for every visitor matter
| Date | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Passport expiry | Must stay valid for travel and the stay |
| Lodgement date and transaction reference number | Tracking and follow-up |
| Department request due dates | Missed deadlines can lead to refusal |
| Bridging visa grant and conditions (onshore) | Keeps the client lawful while waiting |
| Visa grant date and expiry | When the client can travel |
| Length of each permitted stay | When the client must leave each time |
| Conditions on the grant (e.g. 8101, 8503) | What the client can and can't do |
| Security bond payment (Sponsored Family) | Release follows the client's compliance |
How AgentDS fits this workflow
AgentDS is a CRM for migration agents. For visitor matters it helps with:
- Visa and stay reminders. Record the visa expiry and the end of each stay once, and AgentDS sends reminder emails at 90, 60, 30 and 7 days before each date.
- Document checklists. One reusable checklist per stream, with files stored privately in Sydney and checked for malware.
- Application stages. Enquiry, documents, lodged, request, decision, all visible to the team.
- File notes and tasks on every client, so the next matter starts with the full history.
If you track visitor matters in a spreadsheet today, the free visa expiry planner is a quick way to see which dates are coming up.
Frequently asked questions
Which visitor visa stream should a client apply for?
It depends on the purpose of the visit. Tourism and family visits usually fit the Tourist stream, business enquiries and conferences fit the Business Visitor stream, and a visit sponsored by an Australian family member fits the Sponsored Family stream.
What is a no further stay condition?
Condition 8503 generally stops the visa holder applying for most other visas while they're in Australia. A No Further Stay condition for visitor visas was announced on 17 September 2026; as at the end of September 2026, no start date had been published.
Is the visa expiry date the date the client must leave?
Not always. Many visitor visas allow several entries but limit how long each stay can last. Record both dates and remind the client before each stay ends.
Can visitors work in Australia?
Most visitor visas carry a no work condition. Check the conditions on the grant notice and explain them to the client in writing.
What documents does a visitor visa application need?
Usually identity documents, evidence of the purpose of the visit, evidence of funds, and evidence of ties to the client's home country. Sponsored Family applications also need the sponsor's details.
This guide is general information, not legal or migration advice. Check current requirements on the Department of Home Affairs website.