Australia is a popular family destination for Indians — often driven by visiting relatives who have settled there, or for milestone trips (anniversary, graduation). The Subclass 600 visa process requires individual applications for every family member, but the financial proof can be centralized on the primary earner. Key for families: Australia's financial requirements are higher than most visa destinations — budget for the bank balance requirements when planning.
Common Challenges for Families
Individual applications for each family member (including infants)
Every family member — including infants — needs their own Subclass 600 application, their own ImmiAccount (parents create and manage children's accounts), and their own visa grant. The same application fee (AUD 200) applies per person. For a family of 4: AUD 800 in visa fees alone (~₹44,000). Submit all applications simultaneously through linked ImmiAccounts.
High bank balance requirements for the whole family
Australia recommends AUD 5,000-10,000 per month per person (or per family). For a 3-week family trip (4 people), you'd ideally show AUD 40,000-60,000 (~₹22-33 lakh) in consistent savings across 6 months. The primary earner's account carries this — the family can be covered under one financial profile, but the balance must genuinely reflect the capacity to fund a multi-person international trip.
Children's documentation
For each child's application: birth certificate (to establish parent-child relationship), school bonafide letter (shows enrollment in India — ties-to-India for the child), parent's financial documents (sponsoring the child), and the child's own passport and photo.
Traveling with one parent only
Australian Border Force requires a notarized consent letter from the absent parent if a child is traveling without both parents. Include: absent parent's name, passport number, travel dates, and explicit consent. Attach a copy of the absent parent's passport. Notarize at a Notary Public or court in India.
Alternative Documents (when standard ones don’t apply)
Birth certificates (for each child)
Establishes parent-child relationship for children's visa applications. Certified copy accepted.
School bonafide letter for each child
Confirms enrollment in Indian school. Include semester dates.
Notarized parental consent letter (if only one parent travels)
Required at Australian border. Must include absent parent's passport details and notarization.
Primary earner's ITR (3 years), bank statements (6 months)
Central financial proof for the family. All 3 years must be filed ITRs with acknowledgement receipts.
⚠ Edge Cases
Family visiting Australian relatives (children or siblings settled in Australia)
Visiting family is a valid tourist purpose — disclose it in the application and include the Australian relative's visa or citizenship details. Don't try to obscure the visit reason. Your ties to India (property, employment, other family members in India) must still be clearly demonstrated alongside the family visit purpose.
Infant under 1 year
Infants need their own Subclass 600 visa. The parent creates an ImmiAccount on the infant's behalf. A very recent passport photo of the infant is required — getting one that meets the spec (white background, face forward) for a young infant can be challenging; a professional photographer is the easiest solution.
Large joint family trip (8+ people)
For large extended family groups, submit all applications at the same time through linked ImmiAccounts. Link all applications as a 'family group.' Each adult still needs their own financial documents — the primary earner sponsorship works best for nuclear family units, not 8-person joint families.
💡 Expert Tips
01Create ImmiAccounts for all family members and link them before starting applications — the system allows family group applications, which simplifies review.
02Book accommodation with kitchen facilities (Airbnb houses, serviced apartments) for families — eating out every meal in Australia is expensive at Indian restaurant conversion rates.
03Australian wildlife experiences (zoos, sanctuaries, koala encounters) are excellent for families with children. Taronga Zoo Sydney, Melbourne Zoo, and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Brisbane are classics.
04For school-age children, Australian school holidays roughly align with Indian summer holidays (June-July) — though Australian seasons are reversed (June-August is Australian winter, coldest in the south).
05The visa is electronic. Carry printed grant letters for every family member at the airport — checkin staff at Indian airports sometimes ask for these as proof of electronic visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does each child need their own Australian visa?+
Yes. Every family member, including infants, needs their own Subclass 600 Tourist Visa and their own ImmiAccount. There are no family group visas — each application is individual.
Can one parent's income cover the whole family for an Australian visa?+
Yes — the primary earner can financially sponsor the whole family. Include their 3-year ITR, 6-month bank statements, employment proof, and a cover letter explaining you're sponsoring your family's trip. The financial profile must reflect the capacity to fund the whole family.
What is the Australian visa fee for a family of 4?+
AUD 200 per person = AUD 800 for a family of 4 (~₹44,000). Non-refundable. No age-based reduction for children on the tourist visa.
How family-friendly is Australia for Indian visitors?+
Very — Australia has excellent family infrastructure: theme parks (Gold Coast's Sea World, Movie World, Dreamworld), wildlife experiences, beaches, and major city attractions all cater to families. The country is safe, English-speaking, and Indian communities are substantial in Sydney and Melbourne with good Indian food options.
What's the best Australian city for an Indian family's first trip?+
Sydney is the classic first choice — Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, and easy day trips to the Blue Mountains. Melbourne is second — better food scene, more arts and culture. For families with young children, the Gold Coast (theme parks, beaches) is the most activity-dense option in a compact area.
Verified Sources
Always confirm at source before applying. Visa rules change frequently.
