TIPS: What you'll need to apply for an Australian tourist visa
From beaches to mountains and vineyards, Australia offers a world of travel destinations.
With something for everyone and places to visit year-round, planning your dream vacation is easy. And with just a short 8-hour flight from Manila, Australia is closer than you think.
But for those with Philippine passports, there is one more step they need to fulfill before hopping on that plane: Getting a visa.
To help cut through the noise, here are tips when getting an Australian visa:
Choose your visa type
Australia has six types of tourist visas: Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601), eVisitor (subclass 651), Transit visa (subclass 771), Visitor (subclass 600), Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), and Working Holiday visa (subclass 417).
This article will focus on the Visitor visa (subclass 600), which is for tourists, business visitors, or those who are visiting family. Under it, there are several other categories, namely: Tourist stream (apply outside Australia), Tourist stream (apply in Australia), Business visitor stream, and sponsored family stream.
I specifically applied for a Business visitor stream as I will be attending a junket in Brisbane this September. This type of visa allows me to stay in the country for up to 3 months for business visitor reasons, and to study for a short course. However, the embassy noted that visa holders of this type "can't work or sell goods or services."
For those planning to visit Australia as a tourist, go on a cruise, or visit family and friends, you should get a Tourist stream visa, which may grant you up to stay up to 12 months.
Gather documents
For a smoother process, gather your documents first. The website says to "provide as much proof as you can to show you are visiting Australia as a temporary visitor only."
Aside from a copy of the front page of your passport, you will also need a letter from your relative or friend in Australia, inviting you to visit, if ever you have one. Their letter should state their relationship to you, the purpose of your visit and the length of stay, if you will be staying with them. If this person will be paying for your stay, provide proof of their funds.
You should also show proof that you have a reason to come home. This could be a Certificate of Employment from your work, proof that you are enrolled in school, or proof of major assets in your country.
Compile documents that will prove that you have the financial capacity to fund yourself throughout the trip. This could be a copy of your payslip, bank statement, and bank certificate over three months, or tax documents.
You will also need to show your travel history by attaching a scanned copy of the entry/exit stamped pages of your current passport and expired passports.
Submit your application
The next thing to do is, create an ImmiAccount here. After doing so, log into your account, and start a "New application."
Now you can fill out the form, which can be completed at your own pace. Double-check that all the information is accurate before submitting.
Once you're done, you can submit it and pay the fee, which is AUD 195 or around P7,367.
Schedule an appointment
Following payment, you'll receive two emails. The first confirms your application, and the second invites you to the Australian Biometrics Collection Centre for your biometric scan.
After that, visit the VFS Global website and create an account.
To book an appointment, you will need to choose a center (Australian Biometrics Collection Centre has branches in Manila, Cebu, and Davao), and choose "Biometric Collection". Fill out the form with all the necessary details, including the VLN, which is found in your biometrics letter.
Once you've chosen a schedule, you will again receive another confirmation email containing your Appointment letter.
Have your biometrics taken
When your appointment day comes, arrive at the location at least 15 minutes before your schedule. Make sure to bring the following: your current passport, your biometrics invitation letter, your appointment letter, and cash for the payment.
I went to the Manila branch Circuit Corporate Center Tower 2 in Makati City on a Friday, a day after submitting my application form. If you have a laptop, water bottle, and power bank, you will have to leave them in the locker on the ground floor and pay P75 for the rental fee.
When you get to the VFS office, you will first have to show your documents to the receptionist and get a queue number. I was called to a room quickly as there was no line and the whole process took about 10 minutes.
Once you're done, you will be asked to pay the P557 lodgement fee. Note that they only accept cash.
Wait for the results
The processing time may take up to 23 days or longer if the information required for your visa is incomplete or missing, according to the website.
The officer said that visa processing times can vary greatly. Sometimes, results are available immediately after biometrics, but other times it can take weeks or even months. In my case, I was granted a visa about 30 minutes after I lodged my biometrics. My uncle, who also applied for a tourist visa last month, received his within a week.
According to the website, double-check if your details are correct to avoid delays. Provide all the required information and documents, and allow plenty of time to collect the necessary documents and information.