[2022] AUSTRALIAN VISA GUIDE for Filipinos (100% Online)

Australia is both a country and a continent which makes it the smallest continent, but one of the biggest and strongest countries in the world! A trip to Australia will introduce you to breathtaking coastlines, incredibly diverse wild species, livable cities, and some of the most spectacular sights packed with activities suited to visitors from all walks of life. You will be hard-pressed to find a person who doesn’t instantly fall in love with Australia. In fact, many consider OZ a beautiful corner of the planet, a wonderful place not just to visit, but also to live, and retire!

So if you are ready to discover that for yourself with your Philippine passport, then you must apply and obtain a Visa before you go. Don’t worry, the process is very easy as it can be done 100% online, so let these 7 simple steps be the start of your adventures below the equator in the Land Down Under!

FUN FACT: In case you didn’t know, surprisingly, Canberra is the Capital of Australia and not Sydney nor Melbourne. WOAH!

I. HOW TO APPLY FOR AN AUSTRALIAN VISA ONLINE (STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE)

STEP 1: Determine the type of Visa you need to apply for.

Depending on your intention or purpose, there are different types of Australian Visas you can apply for (such as business visa, student visa, etc.).

This guide is limited for those applying for an Australian Visitor Visa – Tourist & Business Stream (subclass 600) online as follows;

• Tourist Stream: For people visiting Australia temporarily for a holiday, to visit family or friends or other short-term non-work purposes, (including study for less than three months).
• Business stream: For people visiting Australia temporarily for business related activities (such as attending business/work conferences, etc.) for less than three months.

If you have a different situation or intention/s, it’s best to directly contact the Australian Embassy in the Philippines or VFS Global for more information.

STEP 2: Prepare and complete the Australian Visa Requirements.

Australian Tourist Visa Requirements List for Filipinos;

1. Passport-size Photo (REQUIRED)

• Scanned passport-size photo sample here.

2. Passport Bio Page (REQUIRED)

• Scanned copy of passport bio page (on page 2) with signature (on page 3 in new 10-year passports).

3. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS (RECOMMENDED)

The “recommended” supporting documents may differ depending on your status and/or purpose of visit. Submit ANY or ALL that are applicable to you;

A) Evidence of Financial Status and Funding for Visits.

• Payslips
• Passbook (scanned pages)
• Personal Bank statements
• Credit Card Statement (with credit limit)
• Bank Certificate
• Income Tax Return (ITR) or (Form 2316)

B) Evidence of Applicant’s Previous Travel.

• Scanned copy of the pages of your OLD and NEW passports with stamps (including visa/s if applicable).

C) Evidence of Current Employment, Self-Employment or Enrollment.

Submit ONE or ALL of the following (applicable to you);

• For Employees: Certificate of employment and it must indicate your position and approved Leave of Absence.
• For Business Owners: Business Registration Certificate and/or other Proofs of Income.
• For Self-Employed: Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) and/or other Proofs of Income.
• For Students: submit your School Enrollment Form/Certificate only if you’re currently enrolled.

D) Family Register and Composition (Form 54).

• Fill out the Family Composition (Form 54).
• PSA Birth Certificate (and PSA Marriage Certificate, if applicable).

E) FOR TOURIST STREAM: Evidence of Planned Tourism Activities in Australia.

This is your daily itinerary and activities in Australia.

• If traveling as a family or a group, submit a group itinerary and individuals list.
  • If traveling on an arranged tour from travel agencies/organizations, (you may also submit a letter from the tour organizer).

F) FOR BUSINESS STREAM: Evidence of Business-Related Reason for Travel.

• Invitation Letter from employer/company/organization explaining the reason for traveling.
• Business conference certificate/registration.
• Copy of contact/s with Australian company or organization (if applicable). And;
  • Any relevant documents that support your reason for traveling.

STEP 3: Create your IMMIAccount.

On this link. Once done, you’ll receive a confirmation link via email to confirm your email.

TIP! This confirmation link is only valid for 28 days. If the link has expired, you can confirm your email, through the ‘Manage account’ menu on your ImmiAccount.

STEP 4: Fill out the application form on your ImmiAccount.

• Click the “New application”;
  • Click “Visitor”, then “Visitor Visa (subclass 600)” and start to;
  • Fill out the form thoroughly and do NOT leave anything blank (write N/A if not applicable).

TIP! If you decide not to complete the form just yet, you can click “SAVE” to record your remarks. That way you can continue where you left off and make changes before submitting your application form by clicking “SUBMIT”.

STEP 5: Attach ALL the documents listed above that are applicable to you.

• Attached each document to its designated label.
  • Make sure to review your application details thoroughly, before submitting.
  • Once submitted, check your email if you get an “IMMI Acknowledgement of Application Received”, (if you do, then proceed to the next step).

TIP! On this page, you will notice that the only required document is your passport (the scanned bio page, the pages with stamps and visas whichever is applicable). All other documents are labelled as ‘Recommended‘. But since this is an online application, meaning the Visa officer is going to make a decision based on the information and documents you provided. I encourage you to submit as many relevant documents as possible, to prove your reason for traveling and to establish your financial capability, as well as your intention to return. You can also submit a cover letter explaining your purpose of visit attached with your daily itinerary. Again, the key here is to convince the Visa Officer to give you an Australian Visa!

STEP 6: Pay the Visa application fee.

• Base Visa Application fee is 145 (AUD) (as of writing).
  • This can be paid using Credit Card, PayPal or UnionPay.

STEP 7: Wait for Visa results.

• Definitely the most nerve-wracking part! Haha. At this point there’s nothing left for you to do, but patiently wait for your Visa application results via email (this is also where they will send your actual Visa Grant Letter, if approved).

In my experience, the entire Visa application process was very easy and straightforward. I got my Australian Visa approved after 9 days (via Email). Yay!

TIP! If approved, it’s always best practice to check and make sure all information on your Visa is correct to avoid complications in your travels. GOOD LUCK!

I hope you find this helpful in getting your Visa. If you have other tips, suggestions or you have gone through a different Visa procedure, please share your experience in the comment section to help out others. Let’s make this place be the source of useful information and a start of meaningful conversations that gives value to others! 🙂

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II. AUSTRALIAN VISA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

1. Is Travel Insurance required to apply for a Australian Tourist Visa?

NO. It’s not part of Australian Visa Requirements. However once your Visa is approved, I strongly recommend getting one because while Australia is a very safe destination, remember that you can’t really eliminate the risk when traveling, but you can always add protection! That said, here’s my recommendations;

• For the best “budget-friendly travel insurance”: SafetyWings
• For the best “travel insurance coverage”: World’s Nomads

2. How much is Australian Visa fee?

145 AUD or 4,900 PHP (as of writing) for an Australia Visitor Visa (subclass 600).

3. Is Australian Visa fee refundable?

Unfortunately, it’s Non-Refundable regardless of the outcome (Approved/Denied/Withdrew).

4. Do I really need to apply online for an Australian Visa?

Online application is the easiest way to apply for an Australian Visa since Australian Embassy in Manila does not accept direct applications from individuals in their physical office. Alternatively, if you require assistance, you can submit your application with VFS Global as they are accredited partners of the Australian Embassy in Manila.

5. How long is the processing time for an Australian Visa?

15 to 30 days from the time of application (according to VFS Global).

In my case, I applied in 2018 and it took 9 days to be granted a Single-Entry Visa valid for 6 months (with stay up to 90 days). A friend of mine only took hers 2 DAYS and she was granted a Multiple-Entry Visa valid for 1 year (with stay up to 90 days each visit).

6. How early can I apply for an Australian Visa?

3 to 6 months before your intended travel, (but keep in mind that it might be very close to the expiry date).

7. When is the best time to apply for an Australian Visa?

At least two months before your intended travel to Australia is the ideal time to apply for a visa. Why? Because sometimes, Australian Visa processing time takes longer than usual (some cases take even more than a month). Also, it’s always a best practice to allow ample time to avoid complications in your travels.

8. How long is the validity of an Australian Visa?

Usually, 6 to 12 months from the time your Visa is granted.

9. Is ‘show money’ required to apply for an Australian Visa?

This is a bit tricky, but the answer is YES! As mentioned above, other documents aside from passport/s including “Evidence of the Financial Status and Funding for Visit” are labelled as ‘Recommended‘, but not required. If you look closely, it wouldn’t be recommended that very specifically if it wouldn’t make an impact in reviewing your visa application. Besides, this is the only way you can prove and establish your financial capability, as well as your intention to return.

TIP! Make sure to submit as many relevant financial documents as possible!

10. How much is the ‘show money’ to apply for an Australian Visa?

This is not specified anywhere. Nobody knows the ‘exact amount’ you should have in your bank account. But trust me, your financial documents don’t need to have millions, it just has to be realistic!  So, if you intend to travel for a duration of 15 days with ONLY P30,000 in the bank, well that will raise a lot of red flags. In this case you may want to consider applying with a Sponsor/Guarantor.

The amount in your bank account should suffice to all your projected expenses while in Australia, plus some extra funds for miscellaneous expenses. Also, you don’t necessarily have to spend all of them on that trip (which is why others refer to this as ‘Show Money’).

11. Do I need to book flights and hotel/s before applying for aa Australian Visa?

No. You are not required to submit nor book flight tickets and hotel/s before applying for a Visa. Applicants are encouraged to secure a visa first before booking their flights and hotel/s. But, if you already have confirmed flight tickets and hotel/s, you can submit them (this is what I did when I applied in 2018). Alternatively, you can submit a reservation instead as part of your ‘Evidence of Planned Tourism Activities in Australia’ documents.

• FOR FLIGHT/S: Flight Reservations may be a more practical option for you as it is refundable. So, in the event you were refused a visa, at least you can save yourself from wasting your hard-earned money!

• FOR HOTEL/S: you can reserve it online (for FREE) through Agoda.com with a REFUNDABLE option if you cancel it a day before your intended stay. That way, you can also fill up the exact address and contact information needed on the application form.