I almost gave up on travelling to Australia. That’s because I got all my documents ready less than a week before my scheduled date of travel. In its website, the Australian Embassy in Manila says processing time for tourist visas is five to seven working days (emphasis on working). I thought to myself ” how can I possibly do this?” But my sponsor encouraged me to just try. And so I did! 😀
Let me say I had a very good experience dealing with the Australian Embassy (as opposed to the US Embassy Manila where horror stories abound). I did not meet anybody from the Australian embassy per se, but I liked how the whole process went and somebody even replied to an email inquiry I sent. This way, I felt that I was getting my money’s worth and they were judging my application based on its merits
At 4700 pesos visa processing fee (issued through manager’s check)plus 600 pesos for the courier , applying for an Australian tourist visa isn’t cheap. You will also not know whether they approved you for a visa or not until the courier delivers your passport after an average of five working days processing.
Documents needed for one’s Australian visa application are accepted at the VIA Centre in Pasay Road, Makati City. Look for this building… it is just walking distance from landmarks like Makati Cinema Square, Greenbelt 1 and Milky Way Restaurant.
VIA Centre is a third party processing service maintained by Philippine Audiotext Services Inc. They also process New Zealand visas. I found their personnel to be very courteous and pleasant. It was also a bonus that there were hardly any long lines when I applied. My only complaint is the old building and very slow elevator 😀
I actually got hold of the documents needed from Rajah Travel because they’re near my office. I would advise that you get your checklist of requirements from a similar travel agency. This saves you the trouble of downloading the application form which they give out for free anyway. Just take note that if you course your application through a travel agency, it would cost you two thousand pesos more in “service fees.”
If you’re working, Australian tourist visa requirements include your job certification, tax forms, birth certificate and/or marriage contract, 2 x 2 passport size picture, airline/hotel booking and bank certificate (it is advisable that you have a minimum of from P300,000 to P500,000 in your bank account)
Prior to applying, it is best to consult the Visa Wizard available online to see which visa applies to your situation. I was surprised to find that if you’re being sponsored by a relative who lives in Australia, it is possible that the relative or family member will be required to post a bond ranging from AUD$5,000 to AUD$15,000
VIA Center locations:
Unit 901, 9/F One Corporate Plaza
845 Antonio Arnaiz Ave (Pasay Rd)
Makati City.
Unit 1004-B, 10/F Keppel Center
Samar Loop cor Cardinal Rosales Ave
Cebu Business Park,Cebu City
Opening hours:
8:30am – 4pm, Monday to Friday – For lodging applications
8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday – For general information
8am to 11:30am, Saturday – For lodging applications and general information.
The Centres are closed on a majority of Philippine public holidays.
very informative juju! just a few hours before i read your post, we were thinking of trying to live in australia. wishful thinking lang hehehhe
why would somebody from Norway want to migrate to Australia?? (their weather is lovely though!)
sick of taking away snow, sick of freezing, LOL… John and I are thinking that maybe we should go for an adventure before getting really old. A lot of our friends are negative about it. 🙁
why not? life is short!:)
oo nga di ba? Well… we’ll see where life brings us. We have to consider our dalaga (Janey) because she is protesting like crazy.
thank you so much!
I’m planning to go to Australia this December and I already got and invitation from my friend in Australia together with their Bank statements and tenants agreements.But, I want to know how to apply this on VIA centre. Its my first time to process documents on my own causr im still a student and currently studying. CAn I ask what are the document and requirements do I really need to bring? Should I bring my RF form from my school. Im so clueless. home you could help.
Pls. contact me on my email: blicklyce@gmail.com
Thank you so much..
Hi! Magbabayad lang ng bond ang sponsor pag “48S” visa ( 1 year ) ang ginamit. Your relative/friend can still sponsor you without paying a bond, pero “48R” ang gagamitin ( 3 months validity )na visa. 🙂
Thanks for the info Tin. Very helpful:)
Hi!
Thanks for the post. I was just curious as to how the “48R” visa works? You mentioned that (well Tin did) if its just 3 months, then your sponsor doesn’t have to pay the bond. The one which Tin suggested. Does my sponsor have to send some documents for this? or who does he need to get in touch with? Pls let me know coz I’m planning to go there this November. Thanks
Hi!
I was in troubled thinking where and how to start to apply for australian tourist visa for 3 months. I need your help,ung ausie ko bf magshoulder ng expenses ko lahat for 3 months vacation kso nd ko alam san ako punta ano requirements. Sbi nya inquire ako sa embassy nd nman papasukin don kz wla appointment.Ask ko lng poh ano requirements needed,magakano kailangan sa accountko at sa account nya.ano papers needed galing sa knya,ska wla poh ako sa ngayon invite lng na ako.san ba ako pd pumunta for inquiry…please let me know,i need your advice poh..Thanks and More Power
nung nag-aaply ako dati kailangan nila yung letter of invitation galing sa friend/bf mo then yung bank statement nila. Need din nila bank statement mo not under 300k ata dapat yung laman tapos kung student ka yung proof of enrollment kung nag work ka naman certificate sa work mo.. kung pupunta ka sa via centre nila sa one corporate plaza naiwala ko yung address sa makati ata yun bibigyan ka nila ng complete list ng requirement at kung magkanu sa managers check kasi minsan iba nakasaad sa site tapos pagdating mo dun iba yung amount.. hindi talaga pwede dun sa embasy kasi tourist lang naman visa na kunin walang interview yun
hello
marive and fe just email me here my yahoo id y.me92@ymail.com…i can help u both on that part..tnx have good day!
hello, what if yung laman lang ng bank account ko is not exceeding 90 thousand lang. May chance bang approve ang visa kung ganilo lang ang laman ng bank ko? may mag sponsor naman kaso worried lang ako sa bank account ko. thanks and have a nice day
Would tourist visa in Australia needs medical thing? what are the possible check they want?
hi…anu-ano po bang mga documents kailangan for tourist visa?!… thankx 🙂
hi,,panu mo nalaman na pwede kn mag medical???,,,nagpasa nq requirements sa australian embassy almost 2weeks na nakalipas..hanggang ngayon kc ala pq nrrcv sa email q.. sana po matulungan niyo ako
Just go to the via centre at one corporate plaza and ask for the info you want regarding visa application.but take note they are not the one assessing your application.medicals are for visa application exceeding three month and for people 70 yrs and above
To sheena try to follow it sa call center or kung malapit ka sa via centre dun ka magfollow up.
Hello Everybody! I read this article and I was thinking of posting my experienced applying for Tourist Visa 48R for 3 months which it was successful last year, that gives me chance to visit, explore , have holiday in Aussy Land.. Getting a Visa is such complicated sensitive issue. I thought tourist visa is one of the easiest visa to get but I was wrong when I realized it. I didn’t hire an agent etc.. when I was applying I just did it by myself, and I didn’t have a bunch of money in my account maybe roughly 60K Philippine money though I have my sponsor letter of invitation and his bank statement and other relevant docs that he needed to provide as part of being Sponsor. Just remember Guys a successful tourist visa doesn’t depend only on how much Millions you have in your account or your sponsors account. Everything is considered assessing an application and these are: How genuine tourist you are, Purpose of your stay, your sponsors capacity to carry the expense of your stay, your eligibility and your capacity to live for 3 months or more in Australia without hassle, your not a risk, your not a threat, and How committed you are to return in your own country after your holiday before your visa expired… anyway I lodged my application via call center to pick up my documents.. So guys Good luck.. Cheers!
Hi i would like to ask more about the 48r visa coz im planning to visit australia like maybe this june or july is it rreally mandatory to have at
Least 300k in your bank statement, what other supporting documents that can be used as a means of financial stability?
Hello guys,please help me.. I really want apply for a tourist visa,and i dont knw if its possible for me na makaalis na this coming april..ung bf ko sa australia ang mg susupport skin..i already hve my form,letter of invitation but my bank account,ung laman lang is 130k,ano po ba kelangan ko e prepare.. Ano po ba ung mga possible questions sa interview.. Knkabhan tlga ako ba ma denied ung application ko.please email me..im begging
I just had my documents picked up today. I don’t have any letter of invitation nor a sponsor to help with my stay. I have less than 100k in the bank as well. I wonder how a good travel history would come to play. I’ve travelled to the US 4x, once in SG, HK, and Macau. I’ve been approved an NZ visa as well. I also have a good employment record. I’ll keep everyone posted.
hi ask ko lang po kung puwede po akong mag apply ng partner visa . ang hawak ko pong visa ngayon ay multiple for 1 year until May 2012.
sa ngayon po ay nandito ako sa partner ko sa australia . many thanks .
Ruth
Thank you so much for the post. I’m only a student and we’re having a seminar in Australia this October. Can you pls help me kung ano2x requirments na kaylangan? kanya2x daw po kasing lakad ng Visa e and i really want to join that seminar. Pls email me. thnak you.
. .hi everyone . .can anyone tell me what’s wrong with my application. . .the courier pick my documents on march 31,2012 but until now i haven’t get my visa and my documents back. . what should i do? ? ?
is it necessary that i will call a courier to pick up my documents or i can go there by myself to pass my docs
hi everyone help lang po. how to get the visa? and what supporting documents do i need to have a visa, pero wala ako bank statement my man naman ang magprovide sa lahat. is it possible for me to get a visa? pls. need a reply asap!
is the receipt for the payment of visa need to be in print?
helo po i just asking about the requirement tourist visa for australia.. what they needed requirement… and how much the pocket money can show in airport australia. i have boyfriend in australia support to me accomudation for visit tour..but i need to know how much carry pocket money show..thanks for inquiry
hi i just reciv my visa and its stated there aug 22 2012 is my initial departure its too far for me can i make it earlier, can i travel early as august pls reply
tnx so much for ur reply just want to know if i can travel before aug 22 2012 as stated on my visa i want to get australia this july
A month ago, i have seen this site from google search. it was then when i found out that there is such thing as VIA center here in Cebu. Thanks for making such blog!such a big help 🙂
without much hesitation, my australian boyfriend and i decided to give it a try.
we thought about using a visa agent, but then decided to just do it ourselves.
basically, i did it myself. after a month of waiting, i got my visa granted! 🙂
for those who wants to apply, i can advise that you dont need to use an agent,
just make sure to do things right and you’ll get the visa eventually.
good luck! 🙂
is it possible that my husband will be the one to pay in australia. thanks
yes it is very much possible 🙂
Hi,
Meron po bang makakapag bigay sagot sa tanong ko kasi nakuha kana ung visa grant notice ko multiple entry visa for 3 months ung expiration ng visa ko is june 2013. Sa pagkakaintindi kasi ng bf ko mag exit ako after ng 3 months balik ng pilipinas tapos balik ulit ng australia for another 3 months. Pwedeng gawin un hanggang hindi pa expired and visa which is june 2013. Tama po ba? Anyone na nakaexperience na ng ganitong visa ung multiple entry na 3 months pls help me po. Thank you
hi, i already lodged my application for tourist visa for Australia in One corporate Center in Pasay Road Makati. And its been 15 days already and ala pa progress. Pano ba magfollow up ng Application may email address ba sila n pwedeng magpdala ng email n ngffolloww up ka. kasi sabi nila 7 days lang daw yong processing at may response na sila.. Tumatawag ako sa Telephone number nila at may ibinibigay na email add kung san pde mgfollow up pero ng ngsend ako ng email. Ang nagreply ay yon Maeler Daemon. mali daw yong email add n pnagsendan ko at di na raw active..i hpe you can help me. thank you
what are the requirements for a Tourist Visa?
Is it ok to present the joint account bank statement of my husband and I instead of own account? I’m the only one travelling to Australia
Is it ok to present the joint account bank statement of my husband and I instead of own account? I’m the only one travelling to Australia…
@Lita suarez. katatanong ko lang sa visa processing. one month daw ang pag processed.
@Lita Suarez. thats for tourist visa i mean
@Lita, 15 working days to 1 month po ang processing ngayon…
@Princess De Asis–yep, multiple entry visa is valid for 12 months pero ang maximum stay mo lang dun is 3 months then exit ka then balik ka ulit hangga’t di pa expired visa mo :))
i was just wondering, if we are travelling as a family, does it mean we should all have different application form? we are a family of 3 and our child is 18 now. does it mean we will pay for 3 visa
processing fee?
unfortunately we are not covered with ETA here in Philippines.. so it is unadvisable to apply online when getting a tourist visa right? so it most guaranteed to go to the nearest australian immigration office in manila or cebu….unfortunately, i am livinf in davao city so I need to travel to manila? omg it might cost me to buy a ticket..so my question will be how can i apply for a tourist visa without going to the immigration office personally? is it possible for me to apply by just sending my infos and requirements througfh air 21 courier? pls pls pls i need ur advise regarding this because i would be hassle for me to go to manila or cebu just to apply for a tourist visa.gosh..thank u in advance..God Bless u all! mwah 🙂
ask ko lang po kung anu requirement pagkuha ng australia tourist visa, my sister sya po ung mag sponsor sa akin, ang problema ko po ay wala po ako bank acount, maaari po ba ako makakuha ng tourist visa, kahit wala ako bank account ate ko lang po and mag handle lahat ng expences ko, i need ur advice thank you and more power
hi everyone… can u help me friends? … hehehe… i want to apply a tourist visa in australia.. but the problem is, me and my boyfriend never meet personally… is it still possible that i could still apply for tourist visa for three months? …i haven’t a bank statement.. but im recently working now… hehehe… i have also a friend living in australia, he is permanent there… can i use her as a reason why i visit australia.? hehehe… thanks guys..and more power…
what should i do ? what are necessary requirements that my boyfriend should provide? hehehe…. thanks
hello, ask ko lng po kng ano ung mga requirements tourist visa in australia…sponsor po ng sister ko..at kng ilang days ang process..thanks….pls email me here sweetche_05@yahoo.com