Last updated: 13 November 2026
From 28 November 2026, every Visitor visa, ETA and eVisitor will carry condition 8503 “No Further Stay”. Anyone who enters Australia as a visitor on a visa applied for from that date will, in general, no longer be able to apply for another visa, such as a partner, student or work visa, from inside Australia.
The change is made by the Migration Amendment (Preventing Further Stay for Visitor Visas) Regulations 2026. It closes one of the most common pathways: arriving as a tourist and then applying for a longer-term visa onshore.
Key points at a glance
- Start date: applies to visitor visa applications made on or after 28 November 2026.
- Visas affected: Visitor visa (subclass 600, all streams), Electronic Travel Authority (ETA, subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651).
- What it means: holders cannot make a valid application for a substantive visa in Australia, except a protection visa.
- Waiver: the condition can be waived only in limited circumstances, such as compelling and compassionate circumstances that arise after the visa is granted.
- Not retrospective: visitor visas applied for before 28 November 2026 are not affected.
What Is Condition 8503 “No Further Stay”?
Condition 8503 is a visa condition in Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations. A person who holds, or has held since last entering Australia, a visa with this condition cannot make a valid application for a substantive visa while in Australia, other than a protection visa, unless the condition is waived.
In practice, it means you must leave Australia and apply from overseas if you want a different visa.
What Changes on 28 November 2026?
Until now, condition 8503 was mandatory only for some visitor visas. For many visitors it was optional, and the ETA and eVisitor could not carry it at all. From 28 November 2026 it becomes mandatory on all of them.
| Visa | Before 28 November 2026 | From 28 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 600 – Tourist stream | Discretionary for most applicants (mandatory if sponsored by a family member) | Mandatory |
| 600 – Business Visitor stream | Discretionary | Mandatory |
| 600 – Sponsored Family, Approved Destination Status, Frequent Traveller | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| 601 – Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) | Could not be imposed | Mandatory |
| 651 – eVisitor | Could not be imposed | Mandatory |
Important for Europeans: the eVisitor (subclass 651) is the visa most European passport holders, including Italians, use to visit Australia. Until now it could not carry condition 8503. From 28 November 2026 it will.
Why Is the Government Making This Change?
According to the explanatory statement, the aim is to keep visitor visas for genuine short-term visits and to limit “visa hopping”: entering as a visitor and then applying for successive temporary visas to stay in Australia. The change is part of a series of measures to put downward pressure on net overseas migration, alongside the recent Student visa reforms and the 485 visa family changes.
Who Is Affected?
Anyone who plans to come to Australia as a visitor and then stay on another visa. Common examples:
1
Partners
A partner who visits on an eVisitor or ETA and then wants to apply for an onshore partner visa (subclass 820/801).
2
Future students
A visitor who wants to apply for a Student visa in Australia (already restricted for 600 visa holders since 2 October 2026).
3
Job seekers
A visitor who finds an employer and wants to apply for a sponsored work visa, such as the 482, from inside Australia.
4
Working holiday makers
A former working holiday maker, back on an eVisitor or ETA, who wants to apply for a second or third Working Holiday visa in Australia.
In all these cases, the visa application will generally need to be made from outside Australia, for example an offshore partner visa (subclass 309/100) instead of an onshore 820/801.
Can Condition 8503 Be Waived?
Yes, but only in limited circumstances. The Minister can waive the condition under regulation 2.05 of the Migration Regulations, for example where, since the visa was granted, compelling and compassionate circumstances have developed that were beyond your control and resulted in a major change to your circumstances.
A waiver request costs nothing and there is no limit on the number of requests. However, a waiver is not automatic: circumstances you knew about before you travelled, such as a relationship you planned to formalise in Australia, will generally not qualify.
What Should You Do Now?
- Plan your visa from the start. If your goal is to live, study or work in Australia, look at applying for the right visa from overseas instead of arriving as a visitor.
- Check your dates. The new rule applies to visitor visa applications made on or after 28 November 2026. Visitor visas applied for before that date are not affected.
- Check your grant notice. Even before 28 November, some visitor visas already carry condition 8503. Look for it before making plans.
- Be a genuine visitor. A visitor visa is for a short-term visit. Using it as a step to stay longer can lead to refusals and future visa problems.
- Get advice before you travel if you are thinking about a partner, student or work visa.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Visitor Visa No Further Stay Condition
When does condition 8503 become mandatory on visitor visas?
For visitor visa applications made on or after 28 November 2026. The regulations were made on 12 November 2026.
Which visas are affected?
The Visitor visa (subclass 600) in all streams, the Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) and the eVisitor (subclass 651).
I already hold an eVisitor. Am I affected?
No, if your eVisitor was applied for before 28 November 2026. The change is not retrospective. Check your grant notice for the conditions on your visa.
Can I still apply for a partner visa if I came to Australia on a visitor visa?
If your visitor visa has condition 8503, you generally cannot apply for an onshore partner visa (820/801) unless the condition is waived. You can apply for an offshore partner visa (309/100) from outside Australia.
Can I apply for a protection visa?
Yes. Condition 8503 does not prevent a protection visa application.
How do I ask for a waiver of condition 8503?
You make a written request to the Department, explaining the compelling and compassionate circumstances that developed after your visa was granted, with supporting evidence. There is no fee.
Planning to visit Australia and stay longer?
From 28 November 2026, the visa you arrive on matters more than ever. Giro Migration helps you choose the right pathway from the start, whether that is a partner, student, working holiday or sponsored work visa.
This article is general information about Australian migration law as at the date above. It is not legal advice. Check your own situation with a Registered Migration Agent before you apply.