Applying for an Australian tourist visa

[UPDATE October 13, 2015] Here’s a guide on how you can easily, quickly, and cheaply apply for an Australian tourist visa online

[Update: September 15, 2014] Philippine passport holders can now apply for an Australian tourist visa online through the IMMI website. Application fee must be paid via credit card. You can still apply in person through VFS.

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.

[UPDATE April 5, 2013] Please note that as of March 23, 2013, the visa subclass for Australian tourist visa is subclass 600 and the application form is now form 1419.

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

Source: Visitor Information and Application Australia

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 ๐Ÿ™‚


Comments

2,489 responses to “Applying for an Australian tourist visa”

  1. annamarie.pepito Avatar

    hello everyone i just wanna share my happiness, ang bilis na granted yung application ko sa subclass 820, it tooks 2 days lang, dito ako nagsimula sa blog ni miss nina dati noong nag apply pa ako ng tourist visa sponsored ng sister ko.at dito rin kami nagkakilala ng mga friends ko sa adelaide…God is good all the time..

    1. Rube Avatar
      Rube

      Wow congrats cs marie, is that a defacto visa? plano ko kc mag lodge ng subclass 820,sana matulungan mo ako kung ano ano ang mga docs na ipinasa mo my email add is rubzabanilla@gmail.com.. Thanks

      1. annamarie.pepito Avatar

        thanz sis no sis. from pmv yan, after sa wedding dito, nest step nag apply temporary partner visa subclass 820..de facto ka sis?

    2. valen Avatar
      valen

      Hi sis. Sa Adelaide ka? My bf will be sponsoring me for the TV kc papunta jan, is it hard kaya? kc i l dont have work now as i am having a full time review for my board exam..kamusta jan sis?

    3. Kc Avatar
      Kc

      Wow congrats sis… Ang bilis nman na grant sau… Ako sis nag submit ako ng spouse visa 802/801 nung last month. Nag email lang sa aking yung immigration na need akong mag pa medical…

  2. malou Avatar
    malou

    hi, gudpm guys, help naman on how to process tv. am planning to go to au by april together with my daughter. what are the requirements and where to submit it. please email me at sweet_marylolly@yahoo.com. Thanks and god bless all.

  3. lorie Avatar
    lorie

    gud pm guys, patulong naman kung papano magapply for tourist via. Magbabakasyon kc kami ng anak ko sa Australia sa april. Please send me list of requirements and how and where to lodge it. Please email me at le_bound@yahoo.com. Thanks for the help and god bless…

  4. rose Avatar
    rose

    hello po…cnu nag tourit sa australia ng 6 months?ask ko lng sna kung pano ang process pg 6 months tourist…sna meron sumagor..tnx po!

    1. coco Avatar
      coco

      Hi everyone, i just got married last january. I heard it will take 9-12 months for the processing of spouse visa. Can I apply for tourist visa while my spouse visa processing is ongoing?

  5. Rube Avatar
    Rube

    Hi sis marie sorry so late to reply,now ko lang nabasa,uu sis defacto yung aaplayan ko dito aus ngayong oct pa,kc on tourist visa pa ako ngayon

    1. rose Avatar
      rose

      hi rube. mg ask lng ako sau.pag nag apply ka ng defacto ano mga rqrmnts ang kelangan mo at ano medical ang gagawin? tnx

  6. Rube Avatar
    Rube

    Hi sis rose,
    Pls read this link https://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/35relationship.htm
    Nakakaloka ang mga requirements sis.

  7. Jenny Avatar
    Jenny

    Hello poh
    Tanong ko lang po na pwede ba e submit yung birth certificate nang anak ko proof as babalik ako pinas after 3 months nang TV ko

  8. MM Avatar
    MM

    hi!ask ko lang what are our chances of getting approved. We will be applying as a family (me, my sister, mom and dad). we have a letter of invitation and support from my uncle who is living in aus. i’m currently employed as well as my sister but my parents were retired already. we’re planning to go to aus to visit my uncle and gift nadin namin kay mommy on her 60th birthday. pag as family ba magapply and sponsored trip in terms of accommodation and food mas malaki ba ang chance? our show money combined (me and my sister) is around P100k only. we have already booked our ticket nadin kse kaya mejo nakakapressure. Appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

    1. Nina Avatar

      Hi MM, I can’t really say what your chances are, but just to let you know, my parents were both retired and senior citizens when they went to Australia ๐Ÿ™‚

      Just make sure your documents are complete, and provide supporting documents. Good luck!

      1. MM Avatar
        MM

        Hi Nina! thank you for the info ๐Ÿ™‚

    2. Hasse Avatar
      Hasse

      Hi Nina! We did the same thing! Have you been approved? Kami naman nagbook na kami ng Hillsong Conference, nagbook ng plane tickets, pero waiting pa for visa appoval. Hhe big faith!

      Kumusta ang sa inyo? ๐Ÿ™‚

      1. MM Avatar
        MM

        Hi Hasse!nagpass palang kme ng requirements last week still waiting for feedback. Sana maapprove tayo ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. lakwatserangchinita Avatar

    Hello Nina,

    Your blog is really helpful. I have recently lodged my application for TV, kaya medyo kinakabahan ako kasi baka madeny since unemployed ako right now. Do you have any idea or suggestion kung anong document ang pwede kong isubmit to justify that i would definitely return in the Phil.? I dont have a real property either but Im dying to see my sister andher family because it has been morethan 7 years since they left to Australia. Thanks in advance.

    1. Czarina Avatar
      Czarina

      Hi lakwatserangchinita! What’s the news with your visa application? Were you approved or denied? We have a roundtrip plane ticket for Sydney this coming November. 1st week. And we still haven’t applied for a visa. Me, my cousin and her girlfriend. For a 5 day trip lang naman. My cousin’ s family has a small corporation and I’m one of the board members. Our trip will be sponsored by my cousin’s parents. Unfortunately i don’t have a credit card and my saving doesn’t even reach a hundred thousand. Now, that’s my dilemma. What percent do you think is my chance na maapprove yung visa ko? Kakakaba.

      Hi Nina.. can you please answer my queries. Yung opinion mo lang naman. I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

      Btw, thanks for your blog. Really helpful. ๐Ÿ™‚

      1. Nina Fuentes Avatar

        I advice you to apply for a visa ASAP, because it can take more than a month to process it. If someone is sponsoring your trip, you must show proof of your relationship with your sponsor, and your reasons for coming back to the Philippines.

      2. Czarina Avatar
        Czarina

        Thank you for your reply Nina. We’re going to pass the rquirements on Monday. Hopefully ma-process agad (crossing fingers!).

        I’m currently processing / fixing my TOR from my college because unfortunately there’s a slight problem with one of my subjects. I’m planning to take the CPA board exam next year kasi. Do you think that reason would be enough for them?

        And I currently have a multiple visa for 5 years sa Japan. Hope that would help for my TV to be approved.

  10. Janine Avatar
    Janine

    Hello . Pwede po bang e present na certificate galing sa cooperatiba instead of bank certificate? Baka kasi pag trinansfer ko yung money to bank baka sabihin na nanghiram lang ako nang money. Please help. Thanks.

  11. Nina Fuentes Avatar

    Hi all! I have a new Australian tourist visa guide. This is from my experience this 2015 in applying for a visa online ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. […] Read the comments in my previous Australian visa posts How to apply for an Australian Tourist Visa Applying for an Australian tourist visa How to apply for an Australian Tourist Visa (2013 […]

  13. Leah Avatar

    hi..my uncle applied a sponsored family visa for me and the CO asked for my certified true copy of work/residence permit here in qatar.unfortunately i’ve been to diff. government sectors even phil. embassy but none of them were able to provide what i need.so i end up sending just a colored photo copy of my permit.my work permit is expiring on dec.how many percent is my chance to be granted a visa?thanks,,

  14. Con Avatar
    Con

    Hello po,

    Ask lang po ako kung sa VIA pa rin mag lodge ng application kung ayaw ko po mag online since medyo hirap po ako sa computer.

    Salamat:)

  15. luziminda Avatar
    luziminda

    I applied last feb4..processed feb5..tourist visa sponsor ng bf ko..got a refusal notice…so not granted..what are my options? pwede b mg appeal what’s the best way to do help

  16. Rizaline Guevarra Avatar

    Hello ! ma’am ! I just want to ask how to apply australian visa without sponsor, and what visa I should apply kasi I have plan to work there po. and ma’am where po banda sa manila ang Australian embassy? my possibility po ba maging citizen ako pag nag work doon? please help me I think its difficult for me because I don’t have relatives there in Australia. baka ma failed lang po ako. Maraming salamat po.

  17. ina Avatar
    ina

    hi everyone pde po makihinge ng help, my ask lng ako guys, nalodge ko visa ko sa vfs nung july 27 and hoping sana malaman ko result kagad.need ko kase pumunta japan ng july 25.pde ko kaya email ang embassy pra ask kagad result ng visa ko? sna makaalis ako punta oz ng july 13 sna two weeks lng ako dun.kinakabahan ako bka tumagal pa yung result need ko tlga pumunta sa japan ng july 25 dhil my cmpany event kmi dun.pano kaya gagawin ko guys?pag inemail ko embassy d kaya makaapekto sa process ng visa ko or bka refuse nla? pls sana po my mgreply.thnk you

  18. Ida Avatar
    Ida

    Hi Nina.

    Ask ko lang po if i-che-check uli ng consul ung previous refused australian tourist visa kapag nag-reapply ng new tourist visa application after 2weeks?

    Thank you.

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