2026 Australian Visitor Visa for Parents Attending Graduation | ETA, eVisitor or Subclass 600

Short answer: which visa your parents need for your Australian graduation depends on their passport. Citizens of a small group of countries (for example the USA, Canada, Japan, Singapore and the UK) can use the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601) for an AUD20 app service fee, and most European passport holders can apply for a free eVisitor (subclass 651). Everyone else, including families from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, India and most of Asia and Africa, needs a Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream, which costs AUD250 when lodged outside Australia.

December is graduation season at many Australian universities. UNSW's December 2026 ceremonies, for example, run from 30 November to 5 December 2026, while Adelaide University holds its main ceremonies from 21 January to 12 February 2027. Home Affairs data updated on 2 November 2026 shows 90% of Tourist stream applications decided within 31 days, so families on a 600 should apply as soon as the ceremony date is confirmed. All information below is from official sources, accessed 12 November 2026.

Contents

• 1. Which visa do your parents need? Check by passport
• 2. ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651)
• 3. Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream
• 4. Can a student sponsor their parents?
• 5. Costs, processing times and when to apply
• 6. Invitation letter and graduation documents
• 7. How to apply in ImmiAccount
• 8. Visa conditions: no work, 8503, insurance and health checks
• 9. Visa refused? Common reasons and next steps
• 10. Bringing food into Australia: declare it
• FAQ

1. Which visa do your parents need? Check by passport

As at 12 November 2026, South Africa, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico do not appear on either the ETA or the eVisitor list on the Home Affairs website. The lists can change, so always check the official ETA eligible passports and eVisitor eligible passports before applying. Each parent must lodge their own application under all three options.

2. ETA (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651)

ETA (subclass 601)

• Cost: no visa application charge, but an AUD20 service charge to use the Australian ETA app.
• Validity: 12 months from grant or until the passport expires, whichever is shorter; multiple entry; up to 3 months per visit. It cannot be extended.
• Apply from: outside Australia, and you must be outside Australia when it is granted. Most results are given immediately.
• Linked to the passport: a new passport means a new ETA.
• Use a 600 instead if: you have a criminal conviction in any country, have previously failed the health requirement, will enter a hospital or healthcare setting, or want to stay longer than 3 months at a time.

eVisitor (subclass 651)

• Cost: free.
• Validity: 12 months from grant; up to 3 months per visit.
• Who can apply: citizens of the listed European countries (UK British Citizens, but not British National (Overseas) or other British passport types). Applicants with a criminal conviction should apply for a 600 instead.

Neither visa allows work. The ETA allows study or training for up to 3 months in total; the eVisitor allows study or training for up to 3 months in some circumstances.

3. Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream

• Purpose: holidays and visiting family or friends; no work.
• Apply from: outside Australia, and stay outside Australia until a decision is made. Don't travel until you have the written grant.
• Length of stay: decided case by case. Home Affairs generally grants 3 months and may grant up to 12 months in certain circumstances. If your parents want to stay for the summer after the ceremony, they should say so and explain why in the application.
• Entry: single or multiple entry. With a single-entry visa, leaving Australia ends the visa.
• Extensions: not possible; a new visa is needed to stay longer.

The longer-validity option for parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents does not apply when the child holds a Student visa.

Frequent traveller stream: Asia only

The 600 Frequent traveller stream (up to 10 years, AUD1,845, 3 months per entry) is open only to citizens of China, Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste. Latin American and South African passport holders are not eligible.

4. Can a student sponsor their parents?

Generally no. The 600 Sponsored Family stream needs a sponsor who is a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, usually after living lawfully in Australia for at least 2 years. A Student visa holder does not meet this. Home Affairs suggests that relatives who want to support a visitor without becoming a sponsor provide an invitation letter for a Tourist stream application. The Sponsored Family stream also carries mandatory condition 8503, may require a security bond (usually AUD5,000 to AUD15,000 per person) and currently takes longer (90% within 89 days).

5. Costs, processing times and when to apply

Health checks, police certificates and biometrics collection fees are extra.

Processing times (Home Affairs global visa processing times, updated 2 November 2026, based on recently decided applications): ETA and eVisitor less than 1 day at every percentile; 600 Tourist stream 25% in 8 days, 50% in 21 days, 75% in 27 days and 90% in 31 days; Sponsored Family stream 90% in 89 days. These are historical figures, not a promise for any individual case.

When to apply: as soon as your university confirms the ceremony. For a 600, we suggest allowing at least five to six weeks plus any time needed for biometrics. If the ceremony is in early December and the application has not been lodged yet, lodge now with complete documents and book flexible flights.

6. Invitation letter and graduation documents

ETA and eVisitor applicants usually just answer questions online, but carrying copies of these documents helps if border officers ask about the trip. For a 600, upload them with the application. Documents not in English need English translations (translators outside Australia do not need NAATI accreditation but must add their name, contact details and qualifications in English). The invitation letter, funds evidence and reasons to return home are examples listed by Home Affairs; the graduation, student status and relationship documents are our suggestions, not an official checklist.

• Invitation letter from the student: Home Affairs suggests it state your relationship, the purpose and length of the visit, whether your parents will stay with you, your plans during the visit, and, if you are paying, proof of your funds.
• Graduation evidence: the ceremony invitation or registration confirmation, date and venue, or a course completion letter. Practices vary, so ask your university.
• Student status: your Student visa grant letter or VEVO record and proof of enrolment.
• Relationship: your birth certificate showing your parents' names, or an equivalent civil record.
• Parents' funds: for example 3 months of itemised bank statements, pay slips, tax records, term deposits or credit card statements.
• Reasons to return home: an employer letter confirming leave and return to work, proof of immediate family at home, or proof of property or other major assets. Retired parents may also add pension or retirement documents (our suggestion).

7. How to apply in ImmiAccount

1. Check the passport is valid; renew it first if you plan to.
2. Create or log in to ImmiAccount and choose Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream (apply outside Australia). ETA applicants use the Australian ETA app instead; eVisitor applicants use ImmiAccount.
3. Complete the form truthfully and request a longer stay if needed, with reasons.
4. Attach colour scans of the documents in section 6.
5. Pay the fee; processing starts only after payment.
6. Provide biometrics or complete health examinations if Home Affairs asks.
7. Stay outside Australia until you receive the written outcome.

Biometrics: Home Affairs will tell you if you need to give biometrics and whether to attend an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC) or use the Australian Immi App. ABCCs (October 2026 list) include Bogota, Cali (pop-up) and Medellin in Colombia; Mexico City, Guadalajara (pop-up) and Monterrey in Mexico; Lima in Peru; and Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Pop-up locations have reduced opening hours. Appointments are required and a service fee applies.

8. Visa conditions: no work, 8503, insurance and health checks

• No work: the 600 Tourist stream carries condition 8101 (no work); the ETA and eVisitor carry condition 8115 (business visitor activities only).
• 8503 No Further Stay: mandatory on the Sponsored Family stream and on a Tourist stream visa where sponsorship was required; it can also be attached to other 600 grants, so check the grant letter or VEVO. With 8503 you generally cannot apply for another substantive visa in Australia. A waiver is possible only for a major change after grant that is beyond your control, such as serious illness or a death in the family.
• 8531: leave before your stay period ends. 8558: no more than 12 months in any 18-month period.
• Insurance: visitors pay their own medical costs in Australia. Home Affairs strongly recommends adequate health insurance, and some 600 visas carry condition 8501 (maintain adequate health insurance). Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia; check Services Australia.
• Health checks: stays under 6 months usually need no examination unless special circumstances apply. For stays of 6 months or more, applicants from countries that are not on the Home Affairs low TB risk list need a medical examination, a chest x-ray (aged 11 or over) and a serum creatinine/eGFR test (aged 15 or over). As at 12 November 2026, South Africa, Brazil, Colombia and Peru are not on the low-risk list, while Mexico, Chile and Argentina are. Applicants aged 75 or over applying for a 600 need a medical examination and a serum creatinine/eGFR test.

9. Visa refused? Common reasons and next steps

Home Affairs gives refusal reasons in writing and says whether review rights exist. Based on the official criteria, common problems are:

• not showing you are a genuine visitor (weak ties to home, or a stay that doesn't match the stated purpose);
• not enough funds for the stay and the trip home;
• unclear or untranslated documents, or details that don't match the passport;
• not meeting health or character requirements.

Read the refusal letter, fix the specific issues and reapply with stronger evidence. Home Affairs may decide an application without asking for more information, so lodge a complete application the first time. No one can guarantee a visa grant.

10. Bringing food into Australia: declare it

The Australian Border Force says all food brought into Australia must be declared on the Incoming Passenger Card, even small amounts or cooking ingredients, and biosecurity officers may inspect it. Examples from the ABF common items list: raw rice is not permitted and will be destroyed; whole eggs are not allowed without an import permit; meat has strict conditions that can change quickly; biscuits, bread and cakes must be fully cooked, shelf stable and meat-free (up to 10kg per passenger). For anything not on the list, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, check the Department of Agriculture's BICON database. Prescription medicines: the ABF allows up to 3 months' supply in accompanied baggage, in original packaging, with an English prescription or doctor's letter, declared on arrival. If in doubt, declare it.

FAQ

Q1: What visa do my parents need to attend my graduation in Australia?

It depends on their passport. ETA-eligible passports can use the ETA (subclass 601) for an AUD20 app service charge, listed European passports can use the free eVisitor (subclass 651), and all other passports, including Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and South Africa, need a Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream, which costs AUD250 when lodged outside Australia.

Q2: Are South African, Brazilian, Colombian or Mexican passports eligible for the ETA or eVisitor?

As at 12 November 2026, none of these countries appears on the Home Affairs ETA or eVisitor eligible passport lists, so parents from these countries generally apply for a Visitor visa (subclass 600). Check the official lists before applying, as they can change.

Q3: How long does a Visitor visa (subclass 600) take?

Home Affairs data updated on 2 November 2026 shows 50% of Tourist stream applications decided within 21 days and 90% within 31 days. These are historical figures, so apply as soon as the ceremony date is confirmed.

Q4: Can I sponsor my parents while I am on a Student visa?

Generally no. Sponsored Family stream sponsors must be settled Australian citizens, permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens, usually after 2 years living in Australia. Students can instead write an invitation letter for a Tourist stream application.

Q5: Can my parents work or extend their stay in Australia?

No. Visitor visas do not allow work, and none of the ETA, eVisitor or 600 can be extended. A 600 may also carry condition 8503 No Further Stay, which generally stops them applying for another visa while in Australia.

Q6: Can my parents bring food from home?

All food must be declared on the Incoming Passenger Card. On the Australian Border Force common items list, raw rice and whole eggs without an import permit are not allowed, meat has strict conditions, and baked goods must be fully cooked, shelf stable and meat-free. Prescription medicines (up to 3 months' supply with an English prescription) must be declared.

Related Articles

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• 2026 Australian Student Visa Changes: Rules from 2 October
• Australia November 2026 Events Guide: 7 Cities for Students

Sources (official pages, accessed 12 November 2026):

• Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)
• eVisitor (subclass 651)
• Visitor visa (subclass 600) Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)
• Visitor visa (subclass 600) Sponsored Family stream
• Visitor visa (subclass 600) Frequent traveller stream
• Current visa pricing
• Global visa processing times
• Visa conditions: Visitor 600 Tourist stream
• No Further Stay waiver
• What health examinations you need
• Biometrics
• Adequate health insurance
• Australian Border Force: What food can you bring in?
• Australian Border Force: Incoming Passenger Card
• Australian Border Force: Medicines and substances
• UNSW: Graduation ceremony schedule
• Adelaide University: Graduations

Disclaimer: This article is based on information from the Department of Home Affairs, the Australian Border Force and university websites. It is general information only and does not constitute migration legal advice. Always refer to official announcements; lodging an application does not guarantee a visa grant. Information updated: 12 November 2026.