Australia's Subclass 600 has four streams, but 95% of applicants use either Tourist Stream or Sponsored Family Stream. Picking the wrong one is the single biggest avoidable mistake we see.
Use Tourist Stream if you are funding your own trip and visiting Australia for leisure, even if you happen to stay with a relative. The processing is faster (2 to 6 weeks), no sponsor obligations, and you can apply online from your home country.
Use Sponsored Family Stream only if an Australian relative is formally inviting and funding the visit and you have a borderline financial profile. The sponsor lodges a bond (typically AUD 5,000 to 15,000) and signs an undertaking. Processing takes longer (3 to 6 months) but approval rates are higher for weak-finance files.
Common error: applicants apply under Sponsored Family because a relative is hosting, not realising it triggers bond requirements, a longer wait, and stricter sponsor scrutiny. If you can fund the trip yourself, Tourist Stream is faster and lighter.
Documentation for Tourist Stream: 3 months of bank statements showing AUD 5,000 to 10,000 in liquid funds, employer leave letter, return tickets, accommodation proof (hotel or relative's address), and a brief itinerary. Cover letter optional but recommended.
Approval rates in our practice: Tourist Stream 94%, Sponsored Family Stream 88%. Choose Tourist Stream by default unless finances genuinely require sponsorship.