Australia visitor visa: Do You Need a Flight Reservation?
Australia's Visitor visa (subclass 600) does not require a paid return ticket. You are expected to show a believable plan to leave Australia within your stay. A flight reservation is commonly used to demonstrate that — and airlines may separately check onward travel at check-in.
Last updated: May 2026
Australia visitor visa flight reservation — quick facts
- Flight reservation needed?
- Recommended — show a believable exit plan
- Required by
- The Department of Home Affairs — not a mandatory upload, but you must show a credible plan to leave Australia within your permitted stay.
- What it must show
- A believable travel plan — a flight reservation or itinerary showing your intended departure from Australia within your allowed stay.
- Buy the real ticket?
- No — you are not required to upload a paid return ticket, and booking flights before the visa is granted is not recommended.
- Must be consistent with
- Your departure plan should fall within the stay your visa allows and match the rest of your application.
- If it's missing or off
- Without a credible exit plan your application is weaker; and separately, airlines may ask for proof of onward travel at check-in.
What counts as a valid flight reservation for a Australia visitor visa
- ✓A flight reservation or itinerary showing departure within your stay
- ✓A verifiable booking reference (a dummy ticket / placeholder reservation)
- ✓Details consistent with your stated plans in Australia
Do you need a flight booking for an Australia visitor visa?
No — a confirmed, paid return ticket is not mandatory for the subclass 600 Visitor visa. You are not required to upload a paid ticket. What you do need is credible evidence of a believable plan to leave Australia within the stay you are granted.
Why a reservation still helps
Although not a formal requirement, many applicants use a flight reservation — a placeholder booking with a verifiable reference — to demonstrate their departure plans. It shows the Department of Home Affairs a concrete, credible intention to leave on time, without the cost of a paid ticket before approval.
Airlines check at the airport too
There is a second, separate point: even after your visa is granted, airlines may ask to see a return or onward plan at check-in before they let you board, particularly on routes from South Asia. So a verifiable onward reservation is useful both for the application and at the airport.
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Get your flight reservationAustralia visitor visa flight reservation — frequently asked questions
Is a flight booking required for an Australia visitor visa?
No. A paid return ticket is not mandatory for the subclass 600 Visitor visa. You are expected to show a believable plan to leave Australia within your stay.
Should I book flights before my Australia visa is granted?
It is not recommended. Booking flights before approval risks losing money. Use a verifiable reservation to show your plans, and buy the real ticket after the grant.
What is a dummy ticket for an Australia visa?
A placeholder flight reservation with a verifiable booking reference, used to demonstrate your intended departure from Australia without buying a paid ticket.
Do airlines check onward travel for Australia?
Yes — separately from the visa, airlines may ask for proof of a return or onward plan at check-in, especially on routes from South Asia.
Official source: Australian Department of Home Affairs — Visitor visa (600)
Visa rules can change at short notice. Always confirm current requirements with the official embassy, consulate or visa authority before you apply.