When granted Visitor Visa (subclass 600) to travel, visit relatives or carry out permitted activities in Australia, applicants not only need to pay attention to the Visa duration but also check the conditions written on the Visa Grant Letter or VEVO. Depending on each application, one or more different conditions may apply to the Visa. The Australian Department of Home Affairs currently lists the conditions that can be attached to the Visitor Visa (subclass 600), including 8101, 8201, 8501, 8503, 8531 and 8558.
1. Condition 8101 – Not allowed to work in Australia
8101 – No work means the Visa holder is not allowed to work in Australia. Visitor Visa is a Visa for the purpose of sightseeing, tourism, visiting family/friends or activities consistent with the Visa conditions, not a work visa. The Australian Department of Home Affairs also confirmed that Visitor Visa holders are not allowed to work in Australia.
Therefore, if you are granted a Visa 600 with Condition 8101, you need to be especially careful not to work to receive income in Australia.
2. Condition 8201 – Study for a maximum of 3 months
8201 – Maximum 3 months study limits the amount of study or training a visa holder can undertake. With a Visitor Visa, the Australian Department of Home Affairs allows study or training for up to 3 months. However, if the main purpose of your trip is to study, a Visitor Visa may not be the right visa and you should consider a Student Visa.
This means: Travel + study a short-term course ≤ 3 months: may be suitable if visa conditions are met.
The main purpose is long-term study: need to consider a more suitable Visa type.
3. Condition 8501 – Must maintain adequate health insurance
8501 – Maintain adequate health insurance requires Visa holders to maintain adequate health insurance during their stay in Australia. This is an issue that tourists should pay special attention to because foreigners in Australia may have to bear their own medical care costs. The Australian Department of Home Affairs recommends that travelers purchase appropriate health insurance to limit risks if health problems arise.
If your Visa Grant Letter says Condition 8501, you need to carefully check the insurance requirements before coming to Australia and throughout the required visa period.
4. Condition 8503 – No Further Stay
This is one of the conditions that Visitor Visa applicants need to pay special attention to. 8503 – No Further Stay means that the Visa holder cannot simply apply for a new Visa in Australia to continue to stay when the current Visa expires. The Australian Department of Home Affairs says that in limited circumstances, condition 8503 may be considered a waiver. However, waiving this condition is not a given. Therefore, if your Visa Grant Letter has 8503, you should not assume that you can stay in Australia and then switch to another Visa.
5. Condition 8531 – Must leave Australia before Visa expires
8531 – Must leave before Visa expiration requires the Visa holder to leave Australia before the authorized period of stay ends. The important point is to distinguish: Visa validity – the validity period of the Visa and Stay period – the period of time you are allowed to stay in Australia. These two concepts are not necessarily the same.
Therefore, visitors should check the exact date of permission to stay on the Visa Grant Letter or VEVO, instead of just looking at the Visa expiration date. The Australian Department of Home Affairs requires Visitor Visa holders to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant.
6. Condition 8558 – Non Resident
8558 – Non Resident stipulates that Visa holders must not stay in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18 month period. This condition is especially noteworthy for those who frequently travel between Australia and Vietnam or use the Visitor Visa multiple times. For example, the fact that a Visa has a long term or allows multiple entries does not mean that you can live continuously in Australia for a long time. 12 months in any 18 months
The above conditions do not necessarily apply to all Visitor Visas. Each person’s specific conditions need to be checked on the Visa Grant Letter or VEVO. The Australian Department of Home Affairs also guides Visa holders to accurately check their conditions through VEVO.
| Don’t just look at “How long is a visa issued?” | One of the common mistakes when having a Visitor Australian Visa is to only care about: “Is my visa issued for 1 year, 3 years or 10 years?” While equally important is: |
|---|---|
| 8101 | How long can you stay in Australia each time you enter the country? |
| 8201 | Study for a maximum of 3 months |
| 8501 | Maintain adequate health insurance |
| 8503 | No further stay in Australia under normal circumstances |
| 8531 | Must leave Australia before the authorised stay expires |
| 8558 | Must not stay in Australia for more than 12 months in any 18-month period |
These conditions do not necessarily apply to every Visitor Visa holder. The specific conditions for each applicant should be checked in their Visa Grant Letter or through VEVO. The Australian Department of Home Affairs also advises visa holders to check their exact visa conditions through VEVO.
Don’t Just Look at How Long Your Visa Is Valid
One common misconception about an Australian Visitor Visa is to focus only on “Is my visa valid for 1 year, 3 years or 10 years?” However, it is equally important to understand:
- How long can you stay in Australia each time you enter?
- Does the visa allow multiple entries?
- Are there any study limitations?
- Can you work?
- Does your visa have Condition 8503 or 8531?
- Is there a total stay limit in Australia, such as Condition 8558?
The Australian Department of Home Affairs regulates the length of stay, number of entries and specific conditions depending on the Visa issued; Therefore, Visa Grant Letter and VEVO are the places to check the conditions applicable to each case.
If you have just received an Australian Visa 600, don’t just look at the “Visa Granted” line and ignore the conditions. Please check the Visa Conditions carefully to know exactly what you can do, what you cannot do and when you need to leave Australia. An overlooked Visa condition could result in you unintentionally breaching the Visa condition. If you are not sure how to read a Visa Grant Letter or want help checking your Visitor Visa eligibility, you can contact Team De1 for advice.
