I am not a visa officer, nor am I migration agent. I am in no way affiliated with the Australian Embassy Manila nor with the Australian government. This post comes from my experience with preparing and submitting visa applications for family members and for myself. Also note that this entry pertains to my experience in applying for an Australian tourist visa in October 2006. The Australian immigration update their forms every 3 months. I will try to answer your questions the best way that I can, but bear in mind that a lot has changed since 2006. If you ask a question I’ve already answered in the post, I will ignore you.
I’ve been getting quite a lot of inquiries about how to apply for an Australian visa so after a year of this post being in the draft, I’m finally writing it (with hopes of finishing it within 2 hours).
1. Download and read the necessary forms and documents for your visa class.
Everything you need to know about Australian visas are in the official Australian Immigration website at www.immi.gov.au. If you’re just going to visit Australia as a tourist, you fall under Tourist Visa (Subclass 676). The corresponding documents for this visa subclass are:
All files are in PDF format and would require Adobe Reader to open.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship of Australia regularly review and update their visa-related documents and requirements. It’s important that you have the latest edition for your reference, as well as the forms you will fill in.
2. Collect the documents needed and make copies of each.
The documents needed for every tourist visa application are listed in the forms. Once you have completed the documents, start filling in the forms. When filling out the form, carefully read the instructions and questions.
The Australian visa application requires you to pay a visa application fee of AU$100. There is an online conversion tool in the immigration website that shows the rate in your currency. The fee must be paid with a manager’s or cashier’s check issued by your bank for the Australian Embassy. Once you have completed your documents, filled in the form and acquired the manager’s check, make copies of everything. Seperate the originals and the copies.
3. Call the Australian Embassy hotline.
The hotline numbers to call for visa application pick up in the Philippines are as follows:
For PLDT/Smart/Touchcard Subscribers 1 (909) 362 – 2779
For Globe/Innove/Touchmobile Subscribers 1 (900) 362 – 2779
For Bayantel Subscribers 1 (903) 362 – 2779
This is considered a long-distance call, so brace yourself for the ginormous phone bill (Php 32 per minute). The hotline is available Mondays to Fridays, 6am – 8pm, and Saturdays, 8am to 6pm. If you are just calling to inquire about the visa application process, you can call the free hotline at (02) 845-9200.
Schedule for a visa pick up. The agent will ask you questions about your application, so better have your documents with you for reference. After the question and answer portion, the agent will then give you instructions regarding the pick-up and return of your documents. You are encouraged to be there when the FedEx guy picks up the documents. By the way, the courier fee is not included in the Australian visa application fee, so be ready to fork out around Php 300 for Mr. FedEx. This fee covers both the pick up and return delivery.
UPDATE (July 5, 2011): The process has changed since this post’s writing. Here’s the new process for submitting your application, according to the VIA website:
1. Phone-in / Book for a roundtrip Courier Service.
This service is a phone-in option that includes the pick up of the completed Application Form and supporting documents from the applicant’s given address and delivery after processing at the Embassy. This service is available nationwide and involves a flat rate; roundtrip courier fee.2. Walk-in / Direct Lodgment at the VIA Centre
This is a walk-in option where an applicant or an authorized representative can directly submit the completed Application Form and supporting documents at the Embassy’s Visa Information and Application (VIA) Centre. This option involves a lodgment service & handling fee which includes the one-way delivery by courier after processing.Source: VIA.ph
4. Start the agonizing wait for denial or approval.
Visa processing can take from three days to one month. The shortest visa processing we had was three days, I think, and the longest was one month. That one month was due to the high influx of visa applications, as my sister applied on the last week of November. Apparently, a lot of Filipinos are applying for visas during this time (probably hoping to spend Christmas in Australia with their families).
So there you have it! I hope this is helpful in someways. If you have any questions, just post them in the comments area, and I’ll try to answer as best as I can 
Hi Nina!
How much is the fare… more or less?
Can you give me some ideas as to what airlines have the direct flight going to Canberra? Qantas lang kasi ang nakita ko. My bf told me about Jetstar and Malaysian airlines pero wala naman syang direct flight. I’m not really sure how will it be. Tnx
nina, finally! na approved na ang visa ko
5 working days lang ang process.
submitted:
invitation letter, coe, bank statement, emails,
kala namin hindi binuksan ang folder (nalungkot), ni received lang kasi hindi na damaged ang scotch tape ng folder (signatures intact pa)pagbalikk ng papers ko, pagbukas eh nakita ko agad ang passport nasa labas na, eh nasa loob yun noong pinasa namin, kaya ayun alam namin na dumaan sa process, pagbukas ayuun! australia visa!
thank God.
Good day nina
May problema ako tungkol sa pag apply sa visit sa australia kasi wala akong stable na job kasi kumakanta lang ako minsan at wala talaga akong mga asset o bank statement etc.Ang anak ko 11yrs old ay dual citizenship may australian passport siya at phil.passport.Matagal nang patay father niya 2yrs palang ang baby namin hindi kami kasal kasi namatay siya.Ngayon ang kapatid niya at asawa gusto nila magvisit kami sa kanila sa australia kasi hindi pa kami nakikita sa personal at lalo na ang kanilang pamangkin.Sila ang gagasto sa lahat kasi alam naman nila na hindi ko kaya pumunta kami duon.Ang gusto talaga nila na makita kami lahat nang family nila at madalaw din namin ang puntod nang ama nanag anak ko rin..May paraan ba o chance ba ako na mabigyan visit visa dahil anag anak ko ay australian citizen at ayaw niya pumunta sa australia na hindi ako sasama kasi sa pagcocommunicate sa kanila mahirapan ang anak ko.at kailangan talaga ako makasama nang anak ko sa australia para makilala namin din ang family nang father ko.Maraming salamat po..
Hi nina nagtrabaho kami dito sa malaysia as engineer, gusto nmin mag tour s australia,meron bng advantage yung e-pass namin para madali na magaaply ng visa sa ausralia..?
I think so
Hi Nina,
Me and my boyfriend is planning to visit Australia, he is from Netherlands wala akong trabaho at bank statement, nagtratravel na kmi around Asia Lang.. Ano ba nag Mga requirements ko para makakuha ako ng visa pls. Help me.. Thank you and god bless..
Hi nina
do you think australian government check your personal details thoroughly even if it is for tourist visa ?
hi nina, im also planning to visit my fiance in australia this year, around april..my problem is, im unemployed nor a student, so wala akong maipapakitang Certificate of employment..my only documents na andito sa akin is Bank statement, Land title, Letter of invitation..ano pa kaya ang pwede kong isubmit na documents or any proof na babalik ako dito sa pinas..im only planning to stay there 2 months maximum or kung pupwede 3 months..^TIA
hi nina,
i will be applying for tourist visa for australia this week and i’m scared if i get rejected.. i got my business permit.. ITR. 2 land titles and 2 more asset but i don’t have credit card. i got 500k on my bank enough na po ba un? cousin ko sponsor ko for my stay dun… so scary..
isis
Based on what I’ve read in the comments, you have good chances if you are sponsored. Credit card statements are just supporting documents; it’s not a requirement to have one.
nina,
s form 48R,dq alm kung saan q illagay sa employment status q ung work q,kc farm owner aq,sarili lng nmin un,walang business name,pano q kya iindicate un s form?help plz!
why do you have to photocopy all the docs? as receiving copy of courier? ang passbooks ba you send original din?
read na the answer to my question. thanks
Hello, Nina!
I just wanted to thank you for posting this blog entry. I followed your “how to” and was granted an Australian tourist visa last year. I’ve been there and back, and I just wanted to thank you for your help!
Do you also have a “how to” on applying for a Schengen visa?
hi ms. nina
nag apply ako tourist visa for australia nagfile ako nung jan.30,2012 so 2mawag ung australia embassy n receive n ung application nmin nung feb.1 cmula ngayon wala pa result, paano ko po malalaman n hindi n grant ung application ko? pls wish me luck
Hi con120582,
Wow tagal na nun ha, kasi usually 7-10 business days lang not unless its peak season, and Im not sure if Jan-Feb are still consider as “peak season” kasi if thats the case, then its just normal na medyo matagal ung pag process nila ng visa application. Just to feel at peace, you may call them naman dun sa number nila, which what I did kasi nagworry na ako when I didn’t get any result ng ika 10th day. So call them, just dont mind the voice over (pbx system telling you stuff) just press the extension number (customer service) then be direct, tell ur name agad to the person you’re going to speak with. Then, ichecheck nila yung status ng application mo. Just keep the faith, magragrant yan like what happened to me. I was in OZ last Nov, 1st timer din but this blog helped me a lot
hello G_F,
thanks a lot try nya tawagan about status ng application nmin actually 1st timer din nmin hope so ma grant din ung sa amin…nkita ko nga yung blog so marami din sila nabi2gay advice…:)
G_F
what # ba t2wagan nmin? may binigay cla ref # s amin…thanks ulit
ask ko lang kung what number pwdi ko mtawagan sa manila 18days n kc application ko wala p result…:(
Hi con120582,
Direct kasi paglodge ko ng application since dito ako sa Manila, and when I called them, they didn’t give me any reference number, mine was ready for released na daw exactly that day nung tumawag ako. These are the numbers na binigay nila sakin; Same lang din sa post ni Nina.
PLDT/SMART 1909-3622779
BAYANTELL 1903-3622779
GLOBE/INNOVE 1900-3622779
I called the smart number kasi smart ung sim ko
but it’s quite expensive, like mine cost around 32/min but sabi naman ng iba, hindi naman, but just to be sure na din.
hello G_F
2mawag n kmi khapon under processing palang daw 3 to 4 weeks daw ung pagrocess nila sana magrant ung application nmin…:)
hi con
musta? bakit ang tagal yung result muh.. tourist visa ba applyan mu..?or fiancee..? ilang months ba tourist visa?
kase ako nung nag lodge ako nang application ko via centre,tourist visa din applyan q,feb 3 naglodge,feb 7 naka rcve nangtxt galing sa kanila,feb 17 kahapon ko na rcve yung envelope tsaka Thanks God,Granted na visa ko!
hello nej
bka d n grant ung sa amin tourist visa ung s amin kasama ko live-in partner ko balak nmin 1week lang kmi dun for honeymoon namin…sad nman kung d n grant 
oo nga nauna pa ung syo jan.30 ung skin feb.1 2mawag s partner ko nareceive n daw nila hangga ngayon wala p result
Hello Nina!
Kumusta? Im planing to go to Australia and NZ in November. Mag stay ako sa OZ for 2 weeks only as a backpacker jsut like what I have been doing since 2008. TApos na ko sa asian countries, I have more than php100k na savings, stable naman job, every year ako nag ttravel mostly 2-4 countries every year, but like I said puro asia pa lang, so first time ko mag travel sa OCEANIA. Wala akong sponsors just backpacking alone. May approved LOA na din ako as company ko. You think ok na yung savings ko and timeframe na i stay ko sa OZ (2 weeks)? Malaki kaya chance na ma approve ang tourist visa ko? and pde ba mag apply muna visa bago mag book ng ticket? kc pag na reject sayang yung tickets eh. I will wait for your reply. Thanks and good luck on our travels.
I’m really not in a position to say whether you have a good chance or not. However, I think it does help if you have traveled a lot in the past. It’s best to apply for a visa first before buying your ticket. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your intended departure. Best of luck!
Oh thanks for the quick response. Good to know that they also allow folks to apply for a tourist visa even without any tickets yet; and yes, I will probably give it a shot sometime in august or in september since Im planning to kick off on last week of October. Thanks a lot and I appreciate it. Last question for ya — Any idea about my savings of php120-150k, would they let me go with the money I have right now? Just an idea honey. Thanks a lot and Lucks to all the Pinoy travelers
Yeah, I think that’s a pretty good amount
Hi Nina,
i was invited by a friend living in australia. he sent me a link about VIA, and started to check some details….as i’ve noticed, people who wants to go there must have a banks statement as proof to support the visit….just wanted to know wat if i dont have money on bank…let say, he will be the one who finance my trip….what is the procedure for this?….hope u can help me…please…thanks much…
A number of people who comment here have the same situations as you and they were granted a visa. Read through the comments to know what they did.
hi Ms Nina, suggest lang po, baka pwede niong lakihan font size ng note na “Before You Post” at ibahin ang color. like red.. hahaha. kidding! you and this site is really a BIIIIGGG help for us! Salamat po.
and thanks rin po kase dahil sa site nio, i got to have lotsa friends.. and they’re all cool.
Haha onga eh! Natatawa naman ako kasi napapansin niyo na rin yun hahahahaha.
It’s great to know nakatulong tong post na to, kahit sobrang luma na! At salamat din sa pagbalik niyo at pag bigay ng advice… makakatulong rin to sakin later this year
Hi Bev,
Pakibasa na lang previous comments, im sure lahat ng tanong mo o gusto mo malaman, andun na mga sagot.
wishing you luck on your application. keep praying!
Good day to all!ask q lng po if kung paano pag couple ang magaaply?me and my husband are planning to have a vacation in oz..kelangan b n magapply kmi separately?
u mean po pareho kayong magtoturist? pwede naman po yun. for as long as both have all the necessary documents for the requirements. prang kami ng sis ko, my fiance and his mum invited me again and my sister(first time ng sis ko) for tourist visa. and we filled up 2 application forms (48r).. so my fiance and his mum provided us all the documents we need pra sa visa nmin. so im just hopin po magrant kami pareho.. makakatulong po ng malaki if you have someone who will sponsor you and invite you to go to OZ. halimabawang wala nmn po, make sure you can prove the embassy that you have sufficient funds para sa bakasyon nio po and some other documents of course.. good luck po!
thank you so much ms. fay!
Hi Ms Nina,
LMAO!
) welcome po. masarap kase balik balikan tong site nio po. kase super helpful po to samen at sa lhat ng mga nag-apply at mag-aaply. there may be times na busy ka po at di nio masagot mga tanong nila/namin, but glad to know that there are some who answer nmn.. and thanks din saknila.
yeah thats really true…. this site was really helpful to us… ask lang me po, pwedi ba magtravel kahit wlang travel insurance po? looking forward for ur reply…
thank you so much….. and more power…
Hi Ruby,
yep pwede lng nmn. i have friends who were on tourist visa na galing din dito sa JW na nagtravel na walang travel insurance. pero i had mine before though wala nmn nangyari saken.. Ikaw option mo nmn yun girl..
Hi Fay
Thank you for the advise
i really appreciate it…..
i do hope that my visa will be granted kasi ang tagal kong naghintay para ma-complete yung medical…
Kinakabahan na nga ako dito eh, but i stay positive talaga and its comes with prayer…. naawa na kasi ako sa husband sya lang mag-isa dun…
you’re welcome.. anong Visa nilodge mo girl?
add mo ko FB:
https://www.facebook.com/yafinel
Hi Fay..
I applied 6mos. tourist visa ntagalan lang ako sa medical ko coz there’s something wrong kasi pero ok na ako ngaun. I had cleared my medical last week, thanks kay LORD and i hope i will be granted
E-add kita sa FB gurl…..
hi ruby! i just wanna ask if you don’t mind on how did you go through your medical because me and my fiance are applying for a 6 months visa not only for me but also for my son…i hope you can find time to answer my question…thank you and good luck on your application…:)
Hi Vinz,
before you undergo medical, you have to wait for the email from the embassy for the reference letter/number ng medical mo..
and may i clarify this statement: because me and my fiance are applying for a 6 months visa not only for me but also for my son
*** do you mean, ikaw at ang anak mo? actually pwede yun. i have a friend na galing din dito sa JW (Justwandering) si Marif (please read previous comments) na nag apply din siya ng 6months tourist visa together with her son apparently they were only granted with a 3-month tourist visa, ang sabi daw kase ng embassy, eh she applied for 3 tourist visa in a year so 3months lng bnigay saknila. pero keri na rin yun, diba?
goodluck
hi fay thank you…so you mean i am going to file for our application first then wait for the embassy to request us for a medical?oo keri na rin yung 3 months but i will still try to apply for 6 months ang hirap kasi ng hindi kami magkakasama eh…malungkot…
Hi Ruby,
Wow! that’s cool! good luck ha. ako, im just waiting for the result na rin of my tourist visa and medical for my fiancee.
Ano name mo sa FB girl? Kase I had 2 friend requests..
Hi Fay
Thank you and good luck din sau
so thrilled na nga lol
but today i will try to ring the embassy to check my status at gusto ko rin ibigay sa kanila my new contact # because i lost my phone last month…. concern lang ako about my visa coz i cannot recieve any information from them… I know God is good and i have his guidance too… stay positive lang talaga ako and it comes with prayer
Sya nga pala na-add na kita sa FB JAMIN RUBELYN BOOTH name ko…..
aah..ok..
oo nga you need to ring them to inform you new #..
Yep.. you need to lodge first. Then wait ka email nila for medical..
Please read previous comments of Brenda Rogers and Marif Tubil,
Brenda was granted a 6-month tourist visa while Marif is 3months only pero kasama nia anak nia..
add mo ako FB, kase friends ko sila both.. they can help you.
hindi ako nag e fb girl eh.sorry…but i will try to look at the older comments here…thanks girl…i wanna lodge my application ASAP so we can go back to OZ with my fiance…and my son…have you got any idea how long will it take for them to email me for our medical?
i think within 2weeks from the time they received your application. kase yung 6mos na TV will take almost a month. yung ang sabi ni Ate Brenda saken.
oh ok girl..thank you…i can’t find the older comments of brenda and marif…pero i know them kasi halos sabay sabay tayu nung october dito sa JW db?
Hi Fay
I already ring them, they said i need to fill up the FORM 929 and attach to my email pero di ko ma-save eh
di ko alam anu gagawin ko….
paanong di mo masave? diba pupunta ka lang sa http://www.immi.gov. au tpos dun sa search itatype mo lng 929 tpos mag-aapear na yung form, then click mo lng tpos mag oopen ng PDF file, tapos my mag magpapop up na icons like kung lalakihan mo yung window, o liitan, print o save.. tapos makikita mo yung icon ng disket, yun click mo yun to save.. or pwedeng right click mo mismo yung form tas may option dun n “Save As” click mo lng.. tapos save mo na, then print. then fill up mo yung form, then scan and email to the Embassy.. tpos! tas approve na visa mo, then magsasaya ka tapos lilipad kna tapos uuwi kna ulit dito.. hehe..
Hello Ms. Nina, last year i remember i’m apply 3 months tourist visa to my ex bf and processing time its 2 weeks. i’m happy that i’m granted visa. now, i’m applying 6 months tourist visa but i’m visiting my new bf. i don’t know processing time now. u have any idea about processing time? coz i checked philippine embassy website about processing time but they don’t have any info and not like before they had info sheet about processing time. if its possible that i’m granted visa again? coz i visited australia before my visa expired march 20, 2011 but i’m back in phil march 19, 2011. thanks alot for ur response…
Visa granted in exactly 10 working days. I guess Australia is very lenient as compared to the U.S. as long as you present proper docs to them. Good luck to those who are still waiting for their applications. prayers really do help =)
congrats! book na ng ticket!
Hi Nina,
My possibibigayan ako ng posibility ba na bigyan nila ako ng tourist visa kung wala akong work dito sa philippines?
Bf ko yung mag isponsor saken.
Thanks. Reply ASAP
Hi Bernadette,
oo nman., i was working before but since my company wont allow me to leave, i declared unemployed when i applied fir a 3-month tourist visa and when my visa is approved, i resigned from my company. My bf sponsored me..
i also have friends na galing din dito sa site ni Ms. Nina na nag apply na wala rin work or dina nag-aaral..
good luck girl.
hello,
may i know what are your supporting documents attached when you applied for a tourist visa that has been granted via sponsorship of you bf,
thank you, pls reply me back..fay/nina
Hi Desiree,
i think it’s best for you to back track all the older/previous comments.. kase i already posted all the documents that i submitted when i first applied for a tourist visa and i am sure some already posted theirs too.. so that will really help you.. tiyaga lang po sa pagbabasa..
add mo nlng ako sa FB ha. 
Hi po ask ko lang po if ok na po ba ung mga pinasa ko na requirements i only passed – CEO , Letter of invitation , Evidence of funds ni BF , Approve Vacation leave ko sa work , At western union Receipt , saka mag eemail pa po ba ung embassy sakin if may kailangan pa silang ibang requirements saLamat Pls reply po salamat ulit .
hi ms.nina
i would just like to ask kasi my fiance’ will be home on june 15 and we are planning to get married bago pumunta dun and plan nya po akong isama pagbalik nya ng oz do you think it will be agood help if he’ll go with me to process my visa..thankyou and more power..godbless!!!
Hello po,
again i just want to ask if ok lang po ba if mag apply na ko ng application for 3 months tourist visa kahit sa october pa balak umalis?
and also, can i pass certificate of enrollment kahit this october eh graduate na ko?
anu po kaya maganda gawin?
please anyone?
thank you..
Hi there, pede ba personal isend ang req. 1st time ko kc eh.
worried ako sa fund na need.. need ba tlaga 300k ? i have here below 100k lang taz 60k lng credit limit sa cc.. nervous tlaga ko. apply lang ako para attend bday bf ko 2weeks stay lng. Pls help nman.
Hi Jd
If you want you can lodge it personally sa Embassy but honestly u have nothing to worries about sending it through courier kc safe nm yun basta yung assign courier nla.And about sa fund wla nmng limit, yung iba nga wla pero nbigyan nmn basta make sure lng sa requirements u.
Hello po. Salamat po ng marami d2 sa info na to. Plano po sana ng papa ko na mag apply ng tourist visa sa Aussie. Nung nag reresearch po ako, I learned na 2 visa po ung pwde ko applyan, Tourist Visa and Sponsored Family Visit Visa. Nandun po ksi lola ko, tito at tita ko sa Aussie. Tanong ko lang po kung anong magandang applyan na visa? Ang pagkakaintindi ko po ksi d2 eh ung Tourist Visa mura lng ung fee nya, kelangan lng meron kang mapakitang bank statement at kelangan mapatunayan mo na stable ka. Whileas ung Sponsored Stay visa eh kahit wla k mapakitang bank statement bsta may bond kang babayaran which could range from 200k php to 600k+ php. Tanong ko lang po ano bang mgandang options ko? Pwde po ba ung tourist visa n lng pra hndi na kelangan ng bond tpos sponsor ung tita ko? Please help po. Salamat po ulit
Gaano katagal na ba processing ngayon? Kakalodge ko pa lang ng application ko this week eh tapos plano kong umalis ng mid June. Aabot kaya yun?
Hi Ms.Nina,
have a good day!
Pa advice lng sna me kc we wanted to apply again for tourist visa 3 months kc medyo naiinip sya mghintay ng tamang timing to lodge our de facto visa w/c this July.Upon filling the form,we wanted to change my status from NEVER BEEN MARRIED or DE FACTO to DE FACTO.This is in preparion for our next visa when i come back which is de facto.Kc 1 of there requirements is 12 months of being together even though we did not reach yet this but at least.
But when i ask him about the PART C,.-FAMILY NOT TRAVELLING W/U as they ask if…DO YOU HAVE A SPOUSE,DE FACTO PARTNER,CHILDREN OR FIANCEE NOT TRAVELLING W/ U?he said to me NO.Naguluhan po me, Feeling me kc mging komplekado form nmn kpg gnun eh,.Slamt in advance po,heheheh
hello fay,
hmmmmmmmm i had problem about my visa lodgement…my bf send his all papers needed for the visa through EMS phil post last may 14,2012, pero noong tinatanong ko ang phil post when ko mareceive ung doecuments nya sinabi na 1 month pa daw…hindi na poh ako makahintay ng 1 month kasi hindi na ako makahabol sa kasal ng kapatid ng bf ko sa australia…pwde ba isubmit ko kung inemail nya na invitation letter (with signature), passport detail page na may stam and signed ng justice of peace ng queensland, ung bank statement nya na may sign and stamp ng bangko nya sa australia, certification nya na binigay at verified ng employer nya at contact of lease ng bahay nya…please help me Fay…kompleto na kasi ung papers ko ung sa kanya nlng ang hinihintay ko…thanks…ako poh un si shyn sa FB na friend mo…