Australia is a dream destination for South Africans — and home to one of the world's largest South African diaspora communities. The Visitor Visa (subclass 600) costs AUD 190 visa fee (~ZAR 2,170; ZAR 2,535 total with service fee) and allows up to 12 months. Unlike EU passport holders who get a free eVisitor visa, South Africans must apply and pay — but the process is fully online.
Key Warnings
Insider Tips
Go to immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. Create an ImmiAccount (free). Select 'Visitor Visa (subclass 600)' — do NOT select eVisitor 651, which is not available to South Africans.
Fill in all sections of the online form — personal details, travel history, purpose of visit, character and health declarations. This takes 30–60 minutes.
Upload bank statements (3–6 months), employment letter, travel itinerary, accommodation bookings, and ties-to-SA evidence. PDF format preferred.
Pay the non-refundable AUD 190 visa fee (~ZAR 2,170; ZAR 2,535 total with service fee) application fee online by credit card. Approval is not guaranteed.
You may receive a request to provide biometrics at VFS Global in Johannesburg or Cape Town. Book and attend the appointment promptly — the 28-day processing clock starts only after biometrics are received.
75% of applications are processed within 29 days. Some take up to 8 weeks during peak season (November–February). You will receive an email with a visa grant or refusal.
The subclass 600 turns on whether the department accepts you intend a genuine temporary stay. It is the criterion most refusals cite, and it is assessed on the whole file rather than any one document.
Fix: Show what you are returning to — employment with approved leave, property, dependants, study — and keep the stated purpose and the itinerary consistent.
Applicants must show they can support themselves without working. Australia reads bank statements over months rather than a balance on the day of application.
Fix: Provide several months of statements plus proof of income. If a sponsor is funding the trip, document who they are and their capacity.
ImmiAccount will accept a lodgement that is missing supporting documents, and the department may decide on what it has rather than asking for more.
Fix: Attach everything at lodgement rather than waiting to be asked — there is no guarantee of a request.
No published rejection rate. Australian Home Affairs publishes visitor visa grant totals but no refusal rate by nationality, so no figure exists for South African applicants. Checked August 2026.
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