Australia Visa Guide for Chinese Citizens: Types, Documents and Process

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Australia? Yes. Whether you are going as a tourist, to visit family, on business, to study or to work, PRC ordinary passport holders must have an Australian visa before departure. The good news is that almost all visas can be lodged online, and grants are electronic, with nothing stuck in your passport.

Australia’s visa system has changed a lot since 2024: the Temporary Skill Shortage visa became the Skills in Demand visa, business and investor migration closed, student visa charges kept rising, and from 1 July 2026 most government charges rose by about another 25%. This guide covers what Chinese citizens most want to know: visa types, documents, steps, fees, where to apply in China, and the path from a visa to permanent residence and citizenship. Fees are base charges for the main applicant; check the Department of Home Affairs before lodging.

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Australia?

Yes. The Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) and eVisitor that Australia offers to some nationalities are not available to PRC ordinary passports. Chinese citizens visiting for tourism, family or business usually apply for the Visitor visa (subclass 600); if you are transiting Australia, check first whether you need a transit visa.

Changes in 2025–2026 worth knowing:

• From 1 July 2026 the offshore Visitor visa fee rose from A$200 to A$250, the Student visa from A$2,000 to A$2,500, and skilled and partner visas by about 25% (under the Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026).
• The Temporary Graduate visa (485) went from A$2,300 to A$4,600 in March 2026, then to A$5,750 in July.
• Since 3 November 2025 New Zealand has been trialling recognition of Australian visas: Chinese citizens with a valid Australian visitor, student, work or family visa travelling from Australia can visit New Zealand for up to three months on an NZeTA instead of a visa.

Visa types at a glance

How to apply for a short-stay visa

1. Choose the streamTourist stream for holidays and family, Business Visitor for business trips, Frequent Traveller if you visit often
2. Create an ImmiAccountOpen an account on the Home Affairs website; all documents are uploaded online
3. Prepare and translate documentsNon-English documents need English translations; scans must be clear and complete
4. Fill in the form and payPay by card; the system issues a transaction reference
5. Biometrics and health checks if askedGive fingerprints and a photo at a designated Australian Biometric Collection Centre (ABCC); have a medical at a panel clinic if required
6. Wait for the decisionYou receive an electronic grant notice; check your visa conditions in VEVO

Document checklist

For the 600 Tourist stream, Chinese citizens usually prepare:

• Passport bio page (validity should comfortably cover the trip) and national ID card; in some cases the household register (hukou).
• Proof of funds: recent bank statements and deposit certificates, with property or car ownership as supporting evidence.
• Employment letter (position, income, approved leave) or business licence; students provide an enrolment letter, retirees a retirement certificate.
• Itinerary, flight and accommodation bookings (usually no need to pay in advance).
• Family visits: invitation letter, proof of relationship, and the host’s visa or identity documents.
• Minors travelling alone or with one parent: parental consent and birth certificate.

Long-stay visas also require police certificates, notarised degrees, marriage certificates and so on. For how to get these in China and whether you need an apostille, see Police clearance certificate and Apostille. If your passport is close to expiry, renew it first: see Passport.

Fees and processing times

Australian visa charges are set by the date Home Affairs receives your application and usually change on 1 July each year. Main changes from 1 July 2026 (AUD, main applicant):

On top of the visa charge you may pay biometrics service fees, medical fees and translation costs. Processing times vary widely by visa and case; Home Affairs has a global processing-times tool by visa type. Lodge a tourist visa at least one to two months ahead, and earlier before holiday seasons.

Work and long-stay visas

Since December 2024 the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa has been replaced by the Skills in Demand visa (482), which has three streams:

• Specialist Skills: high-paid roles at or above the Specialist Skills Income Threshold (A$146,576 from 1 July 2026), with a broad range of occupations.
• Core Skills: occupations on the Core Skills Occupation List, paid at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (A$79,423 from 1 July 2026, indexed every July to average full-time earnings).
• Labour Agreement: specific cases where the employer has an agreement with the government.

The 482 lasts up to four years and can lead to permanent residence through employer nomination (186). If you don’t want to depend on an employer, there is points-tested skilled migration: the 189 (independent), 190 (state-nominated) and 491 (regional). These generally require you to be under 45 when invited, have an eligible occupation, a positive skills assessment, competent English and at least 65 points, and you wait for an invitation through the EOI system. In practice invitation scores are often well above 65.

For top talent, the National Innovation Visa (858) replaced the Global Talent visa in December 2024. It is by invitation and suits people with internationally recognised achievements in research, entrepreneurship, sport or the arts.

Student visas

From July 2026 the Student visa (500) costs A$2,500 (A$2,050 for ELICOS and non-award courses). According to the Australian Government’s Study Australia site, the visa matches your course length up to five years; you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight during term and unlimited hours in breaks, and research master’s and PhD students have no limit once their course starts.

• You need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your institution first.
• You must show you are a genuine student, explaining why you chose the course and your study plans.
• Evidence of funds and English depends on your course and institution; use the Home Affairs document checklist tool.
• Keep Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the whole visa; see Insurance in Australia.

Family visas

Spouses and de facto partners of Australian citizens and permanent residents can apply for a partner visa: 309/100 from outside Australia or 820/801 inside. You first get a temporary visa and are assessed for the permanent one about two years later. From July 2026 the main applicant fee is A$11,710; you need evidence of a genuine, continuing relationship, and processing is slow.

Parent visas come in contributory and non-contributory categories: contributory visas are expensive but faster, while the non-contributory queue is very long. There is also the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (870), which lets parents stay for three or five years at a time but does not lead to permanent residence. Charges for these visas are high and change often, so check with Home Affairs before applying.

Investor, digital nomad and retirement visas

This is where things have changed most:

People who want to do business in Australia now usually arrive through the National Innovation Visa (by invitation), employer sponsorship or skilled migration, and start a business once there.

Where to apply in China

Almost all Australian visas are lodged online through ImmiAccount, and Australian missions do not accept visa applications in person. Applicants who must give biometrics are told to book an Australian Biometric Collection Centre (ABCC). According to an Australian Embassy notice updated in February 2025, Frequent Traveller applicants living in China can currently give biometrics only in Hong Kong SAR within China, or at a collection point in another country; check the current list on the Home Affairs website before booking. Australia has an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu (plus Hong Kong); visa enquiries normally go through the Home Affairs website and online forms.

Common refusal reasons and tips

• Weak funds or ties to China: short statement history, income that does not match savings, or no clear reason you will return. Provide continuous, genuine statements and stable employment evidence.
• Unclear purpose: a family visit with no host details, or a business trip with no invitation. Documents must be consistent.
• False or contradictory information: false information can lead to refusal and a period during which you cannot be granted a visa, a far worse outcome than an ordinary refusal.
• Past breaches: overstaying or breaching visa conditions in Australia or elsewhere.
• Health or character: missing a required medical, or not declaring a criminal record.

After a refusal you can generally apply again with better evidence, but first make sure you understand the reasons in the refusal letter and address them directly.

From visa to permanent residence and citizenship

A 189, 190, 186 or permanent partner visa makes you an Australian permanent resident, with Medicare and, after meeting residence requirements, the right to apply for citizenship. You generally need four years of lawful residence, including at least one year as a permanent resident, and must pass the citizenship test. A permanent visa carries five years of travel rights; people who later spend long periods overseas need a Resident Return visa (155). For a comparison of PR routes see Permanent residence in Australia.

Note that China does not recognise dual nationality: taking Australian citizenship means automatically losing Chinese nationality, which affects your hukou, social insurance in China and property matters; see Dual nationality. For life in Australia more broadly, go back to Moving to Australia.

FAQ

Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Australia?

Yes. PRC ordinary passports cannot use the ETA or eVisitor; tourists and family visitors apply for a subclass 600 Visitor visa, usually online, with biometrics if requested.

Can I work on an Australian tourist visa?

No. Visitor visas usually carry a no-work condition, and breaching it can lead to cancellation. Chinese citizens aged 18–30 who want to travel and work can look at the Work and Holiday visa (462).

Who is the 10-year visa for?

The Frequent Traveller stream is for frequent visitors from China and other listed countries: up to 10 years of multiple entries, up to three months per visit, for about A$1,845. It suits people who visit family or travel on business often.

Can I visit New Zealand with an Australian visa?

During New Zealand’s trial, Chinese citizens with a valid Australian visitor, student, work or family visa travelling from Australia can get an NZeTA and stay up to three months. The trial runs to around November 2026; in June 2026 New Zealand’s immigration and tourism ministers said next steps would be decided after a full evaluation at the end of the 12 months, and no decision had been announced as of 19 October 2026, so follow Immigration New Zealand’s announcements. See the New Zealand visa guide.

Sources

1. Department of Home Affairs – Visitor visa (subclass 600) (accessed October 2026)
2. Department of Home Affairs – Visitor visa (600): Tourist stream (apply outside Australia) (accessed October 2026)
3. Study Australia (Australian Government) – Student visa (subclass 500) (accessed October 2026)
4. Australian Migration Lawyers – Australian visa fee increases from 1 July 2026 (law firm, secondary source) (accessed October 2026)
5. This is Australia – Visa fee increases 1 July 2026 (secondary source) (accessed October 2026)
6. Migratio – Australia visitor visa (subclass 600): cost breakdown for 2026 (secondary source) (accessed October 2026)
7. Immigration New Zealand – NZeTA background and Australian visa recognition trial for Chinese visitors (accessed October 2026)
8. 中华人民共和国驻澳大利亚联邦大使馆 (accessed October 2026)
9. Federal Register of Legislation – Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 (F2026L00874, commenced 1 Jul 2026) (accessed October 2026)
10. Federal Register of Legislation – Migration Amendment (2024 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2024 (F2024L01585, Skills in Demand visa from 7 Dec 2024) (accessed October 2026)
11. Erickson Immigration Group – Australia skilled visa income thresholds rise July 2026 (law firm, cites Home Affairs announcement) (accessed October 2026)
12. Lavan – Migration changes from 1 July 2026: higher income thresholds and visa fee hikes (law firm) (accessed October 2026)
13. DFAT – China country page (Australian Embassy Beijing; Consulates-General Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Hong Kong) (accessed October 2026)
14. 澳大利亚驻华大使馆 – 居住在中国的常旅客细类申请人生物识别采集信息（2025年2月更新） (accessed October 2026)
15. NZ Ministers Erica Stanford & Louise Upston – “$215 million boost from new travel option” (25 Jun 2026; release as published on national.org.nz) (accessed October 2026)