# Australia Visit & Tourist Visa from Dubai & Abu Dhabi (Subclass 600) Source: https://visadoctor.ae/australia-visa-from-dubai/ Last updated: 2026-09-23 Publisher: Visa Doctor FZC, licensed visa documentation agency in Dubai (SPC Free Zone licence 4417571.01) ★ Trusted UAE Visa Specialists · 4.9 on Google · Licensed (SPC Free Zone 4417571.01) · 40+ destinations **Quick answer:** Almost every UAE resident, including **Emirati nationals**, needs a **Visitor visa (subclass 600)** for Australia. There is no visa-on-arrival. The good news: it is lodged **entirely online** through ImmiAccount. The catch: **processing times are long and unpredictable**, though the official Home Affairs guide on 23 September 2026 showed 90% of tourist stream applications decided in 38 days, so start early. If you are looking for an **Australia visit visa or tourist visa from Dubai or Abu Dhabi**, this is the visa you need. For UAE residents, short trips to Australia for tourism, holidays or visiting family and friends are covered by the Visitor visa (Subclass 600). Visa Doctor prepares and lodges the complete application for applicants across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. ## Do UAE residents need a visa for Australia, and how do you apply from Dubai or Abu Dhabi? **Yes. Most UAE residents need a Visitor visa (subclass 600) in the Tourist stream to visit Australia for a holiday or to see family and friends, and you apply for it online through ImmiAccount, not at an embassy.** The visa application charge has been AUD 250 per applicant since 1 July 2026 when you apply from outside Australia. The Australian Department of Home Affairs decides every application. An “Australia tourist visa” and an “Australia visit visa” are the same visa. Both phrases describe the Visitor visa (subclass 600). “Tourist” is the stream you choose inside that visa, and it covers holidays, cruises and visits to family or friends. Business trips use a different stream of the same visa, the Business Visitor stream. ### Australia tourist visa from Dubai: the key facts Question | What the Department of Home Affairs says | Which visa | Visitor visa (subclass 600), Tourist stream (apply outside Australia) | Where you apply | Online in ImmiAccount. You must be outside Australia when you apply and when the decision is made. | Official fee | AUD 250 per applicant, the base application charge since 1 July 2026. A surcharge may apply if you pay by credit card or PayPal. | Family members | You cannot include family in one application. Each person, including children, makes and pays for a separate application. | Processing time | The official guide, last updated 4 September 2026, shows 50% of recently decided tourist stream applications processed in 18 days and 90% in 38 days. This is a guide based on past cases, not a promise for yours. | Biometrics | Only if Home Affairs asks you after you apply. In the UAE they are collected at the Australian Biometric Collection Centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, run by VFS Global, or through the Australian Immi App if you are told you can use it. | Length of stay | Generally 3 months. Home Affairs may grant up to 12 months in certain circumstances, with single or multiple entry, decided case by case. | Visa label | None. The visa is linked digitally to your passport and the grant arrives in writing. | ### How to apply for an Australian visa from Dubai, step by step - **Check you need subclass 600.** Holders of some passports can use the cheaper Electronic Travel Authority or the free eVisitor instead (see the comparison below). Everyone else, including UAE citizens, applies for the Visitor visa (subclass 600). - **Prepare your documents.** Scan in colour the passport pages showing your photo, personal details and issue and expiry dates. Add proof that you are a genuine visitor, for example itemised personal bank statements for a 3 month period, a letter from your employer stating you plan to return to your job, and proof of family or assets that tie you to home. If you are visiting family or friends, include a letter from them explaining your relationship, the purpose and length of your visit, and whether you will stay with them. We also recommend adding your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID. Documents not in English need an English translation. - **Lodge and pay in ImmiAccount.** Create or log in to your ImmiAccount, complete the Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream form, attach your documents and pay the charge. Home Affairs will not process the application until the fee is paid. - **Give biometrics or have health checks only if asked.** Home Affairs tells you if you need to provide fingerprints and a facial image, and whether you must attend a centre in person. Book the appointment through VFS Global and bring the passport linked to your application. - **Wait for the written decision.** Do not travel until Home Affairs confirms in writing that the visa is granted. If it is refused, the letter gives the reasons and says whether you have a right to a review. For the full checklist for your situation, use our [visa document checklist generator](https://visadoctor.ae/visa-document-checklist-generator/), and read [what your bank statements need to show](https://visadoctor.ae/visa-bank-statements-balance-dubai/). The fee change is explained in [what UAE residents pay since 1 July 2026](https://visadoctor.ae/australia-visitor-visa-fee-increase-2026-uae/). ### Biometrics for an Australian visa in Dubai If Home Affairs asks for biometrics, the Australian Biometric Collection Centre in Dubai is at WAFI Mall, Level 1, Phase 5, Umm Hurair 2. It opens Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 16:00, with a Friday prayer break from 12:30 to 14:00. You need an appointment, and VFS Global charges a biometric collection service fee of AED 119, paid at the centre. Staff take a photo of your face and scan all 10 fingertips. ### Health, character and genuine visitor requirements You must meet Australia’s health and character requirements, have enough money to support yourself during your stay, and intend only to visit. You can have health examinations before you apply or wait until Home Affairs asks for them, and Home Affairs may ask you for a police certificate. It strongly recommends health insurance, and in some cases grants the visa with condition 8501, which requires you to keep adequate health insurance while in Australia. ### How long can you stay on an Australian tourist visa? Home Affairs generally grants a stay of 3 months and may grant up to 12 months in certain circumstances. The stay period and whether you get single or multiple entry are shown on your grant letter, and you cannot extend the visa once you are in Australia. Parents and step-parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents may be granted a visa valid for more than 12 months, but cannot stay more than 12 months in total in any 18 month period. ### Do UAE citizens need a visa for Australia? Yes. The UAE is not on the Home Affairs lists of passports eligible for the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) or the eVisitor (subclass 651), so Emirati passport holders apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) in the same way as other UAE residents. ### Visitor visa 600 vs ETA 601 vs eVisitor 651 | Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream | Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) | eVisitor (subclass 651) | Who can apply | Passport holders who are not eligible for an ETA or eVisitor, including UAE, Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and Egyptian passports | Holders of listed passports only, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom (British Citizen and British National Overseas), Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong and some European countries | Citizens of European countries only, including all EU member states, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and the United Kingdom (British Citizen) | How you apply | Online in ImmiAccount | Only through the Australian ETA app on your phone | Online in ImmiAccount | Official cost | AUD 250 per applicant | No visa application charge, but an AUD 20 service charge to use the app | Free | Stay | Generally 3 months, up to 12 months in certain circumstances | Up to 3 months each visit, multiple entry for 12 months or until your passport expires, whichever is shorter | Up to 3 months each visit, multiple entry for 12 months | Official processing guide | 50% in 18 days, 90% in 38 days (guide updated 4 September 2026) | Result in most cases immediately | 90% of applications in less than 1 day | Business meetings | No, use the Business Visitor stream | Yes, business visitor activities allowed | Yes, business visitor activities allowed | All three are applied for from outside Australia, and none of them allows paid work. If you have a criminal conviction, Home Affairs asks ETA and eVisitor passport holders to apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600) instead. ### Applying for an Australia visit visa from Abu Dhabi **An Australia visit visa from Abu Dhabi uses exactly the same online process as from Dubai: you apply in ImmiAccount, and there is no separate Abu Dhabi application route.** The fee, documents and processing guide are the same for every emirate. If Home Affairs asks for biometrics, Abu Dhabi residents can attend the Australian Biometric Collection Centre in Abu Dhabi, at Level B2 (Lower Ground), The Mall, World Trade Centre, Khalifa Bin Zayed The 1st Street (Airport Road). It keeps the same hours as the Dubai centre, Monday to Friday 09:00 to 16:00 with a Friday prayer break from 12:30 to 14:00, and charges the same AED 119 service fee. Book your appointment through VFS Global before you go. ## The visa you need: Subclass 600 The **Visitor visa (subclass 600)** is the standard route for tourism, visiting family, or short business trips. Australia does not extend its ETA or eVisitor schemes to UAE residents or to most nationalities living here, so subclass 600 is almost always the answer. Stream | For | Typical stay | Tourist stream | Holidays, visiting family and friends | 3, 6 or 12 months | Business visitor stream | Meetings, conferences, negotiations | Up to 3 months | Sponsored family stream | Where an Australian relative sponsors you | Varies | ## Applying from the UAE - Create an **ImmiAccount** and complete the subclass 600 application online. - Upload your documents and pay the visa application charge by card. - Provide **biometrics** at the Australian Biometric Collection Centre in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, run by VFS Global, only if Home Affairs asks you to. - Wait for the decision, which arrives by email. The visa is **electronic**, so nothing is stamped in your passport. ## Processing time: plan generously Australia is one of the **least predictable** visas we handle. Published processing times move constantly, and on 23 September 2026 the official guide showed 50% of recently decided tourist stream applications processed in 18 days and 90% in 38 days. Applications that need more information, biometrics or health checks can take **longer**. There is **no official priority or fast-track service**. Start at least **2 to 3 months** before travel and do not book non-refundable flights. ## Documents you will typically need - Passport with good validity, plus previous passports. - **UAE residence visa and Emirates ID.** - **Bank statements** (itemised personal statements for a 3 month period) showing you can fund the trip. - Employment letter / NOC with salary and approved leave, or trade licence. - Flight and accommodation plans and a day-by-day itinerary. - A [cover letter](/visa-cover-letter-generator/) explaining the purpose of your visit. - If visiting family: an [invitation letter](/visa-invitation-letter-generator/) and the host’s Australian status. - Health insurance, which Home Affairs strongly recommends and requires if your visa carries condition 8501, and a medical examination if Home Affairs asks for one. Build your list with the [document checklist generator](/visa-document-checklist-generator/) and estimate the cost with the [visa cost calculator](/uae-visa-cost-calculator/). ## What decides an Australian visa Australian case officers apply the **genuine temporary entrant** test: are you a real visitor who will leave? They look hard at your **ties** (a stable UAE job, salary history, tenancy and family) and at whether your **finances** genuinely support the trip. Unexplained deposits shortly before applying are a common cause of refusal. Test your case with the [approval-chance estimator](/visa-approval-chance-calculator/), and if you have been refused before, declare it and read our [refusal decoder](/visa-refusal-reason-decoder/). If you have been refused an Australian visa before, read [what to do after an Australia visa refusal from Dubai](https://visadoctor.ae/australia-visitor-visa-refused-dubai/) before you apply again. ## How Visa Doctor helps We prepare Australian visitor visa applications for UAE residents: document review before submission, correct ImmiAccount lodgement, a cover letter that addresses the genuine-visitor test directly, and biometrics booking where required. See all [our services](/visa-services-dubai/), or check where else you can travel with our [passport index tool](/passport-travel-index/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Do Emiratis need a visa for Australia? Yes. Australia does not extend its ETA or eVisitor schemes to UAE passport holders, so a Visitor visa (subclass 600) is required. ### What is the Australia visit visa fee from Dubai? The Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream costs AUD 250 per applicant when you apply from outside Australia, the charge in force since 1 July 2026. Each family member, including children, pays for a separate application. If Home Affairs asks for biometrics, the VFS Global centre in Dubai or Abu Dhabi adds a service fee of AED 119. ### What is the Australian tourist visa processing time in Dubai? Applications from Dubai are decided by Home Affairs online, so the global processing time guide applies. On 23 September 2026 the guide, last updated 4 September 2026, showed 50% of recently decided tourist stream applications processed in 18 days and 90% in 38 days. It is not a promise, and a request for more information, biometrics or health checks can add time, so apply well before you book non-refundable travel. ### Do I need to attend an interview? Usually not. The application is lodged online, and Home Affairs tells you if you need to give biometrics at the Australian Biometric Collection Centre in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. ### What are the Australia visit visa requirements for UAE residents? You need a valid passport, proof that you are a genuine visitor who will return to the UAE, and enough money for your stay. Home Affairs suggests evidence such as 3 months of itemised bank statements, a letter from your employer and proof of family or assets at home. You must also meet the health and character requirements, and give biometrics if you are asked. ## Talk to us about your Australia trip Tell us your nationality and travel dates and we will tell you what is realistic. Call us [WhatsApp us](https://wa.me/971585095268?text=Hello%20Visa%20Doctor%2C%20I%20would%20like%20to%20enquire%20about%20a%20visa.) [Contact form](/contact-us/) Australian visa rules, charges and processing times change frequently. This page is general information. Always confirm current requirements with the Australian Department of Home Affairs, or contact our agents. Visa Doctor is a licensed private service provider and is not a government authority; we do not issue visas. ## Related guides - [What Actually Goes Into a Visa Application File From Dubai](https://visadoctor.ae/visa-document-preparation-dubai/) - [How to Write a Sponsor Letter for a Visa Application from Dubai](https://visadoctor.ae/sponsor-letter-visa-application-dubai/) - [Refused Before? How to Rebuild a Visa Application From the UAE](https://visadoctor.ae/refused-visa-reapply-uae/) ## Sources and official references Checked on 23 September 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you apply. - [Australian Department of Home Affairs: Visitor visa (subclass 600)](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/visitor-600) - [Australian Department of Home Affairs: Biometrics](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/meeting-our-requirements/biometrics) - [Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi: Visas and migration](https://uae.embassy.gov.au/abud/visas_and_migration.html) - [Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi: Travelling to Australia](https://uae.embassy.gov.au/abud/visiting_australia.html)