2025 AUSTRALIA VISA Application Requirements & How to Apply Online

This is our AUSTRALIA VISITOR VISA Application Guide. In this article, you’ll find a list of requirements and the application steps to secure a tourist, business or visit visa online. Note that this is based on our own experience applying for an Australian visa. This is not official advice. For that, please check out the Australian Immigration website or consult an immigration advisor.

So you want to go to Australia?

Whether it’s to spot a koala or kangaroo, snap a selfie at the Sydney Opera House, or snorkel over the Great Barrier Reef, you’re going to need an Australia visa first.

The good news? Getting an Australian tourist visa isn’t as complicated as most people think, at least not for most nationalities. For the most part, the application is done online. For Filipino applicants, it used to be 100% online. But after the pandemic, a new biometric collection step was added, which has to be done in person. But I’m getting ahead of the story.

Step 1: Decide what visa type to apply for.

If you’re traveling to Australia for tourism, business or to visit someone, you’ll most likely need a VISITOR VISA Subclass 600. But under it are several types or streams:

• TOURIST STREAM, for applicants traveling for leisure, joining a cruise, or visiting family or friends who will not be sponsoring your trip.
  Cost: AUD 195 (PHP 6750).
  Duration of stay: 3 months, 6 months or 12 months.
• SPONSORED FAMILY STREAM, for those who will be sponsored by family or friends who are citizens or permanent residents of Australia.
  Cost: AUD 195 (PHP 6750) but sponsor may be asked to pay a security bond.
  Duration of stay: 3 months, 6 months or 12 months.
• BUSINESS VISITOR STREAM, for those traveling for business-related reasons such as meeting a client or attending a conference. Not to be confused with a WORK VISA, which is a completely different type.
  Cost: AUD 195 (PHP 6750).
  Duration of stay: 3 months only
• FREQUENT TRAVELER STREAM, for those who visit Australia multiple times for tourism or business purposes.
  Eligible countries: China, Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste.
  Cost: AUD 1,435 (PHP 49,600)
  Validity: 10 years
  Duration of stay: 3 months per visit

You’ll find more information about the different types of Visitor Visa on this page.
Make sure you choose to correct stream for you!

Step 2: Complete the Australian visa requirements.

Here are the documents you need to gather when applying for an Australia Visitor Visa:

1. IMMI application form. To be accomplished online.
2. Scanned copy of the passport info page. Must be clear and readable. Passport must be valid.
3. Evidence of applicant’s previous travels. Scanned copy visas and stamps on current and old passports. If you’ve been granted an Australia visa before, chances are you won’t be required to submit this anymore.
4. Family Register and Composition Form (Form 54). List out all the members of your immediate family (parents, siblings, children, and spouse or de facto partner, if any). De facto partner means a domestic partner but not married. It has two (2) pages. Page 1 is Chinese; Page 2 is in Latin letters. Even if you accomplish just the second page, all your answers will automatically reflect on the first page. Make sure to affix your signature and your witness’. Digital signature is OK. No need to print it out.
   – You may also upload a copy of your birth certificate or marriage certificate (if the last name you’re using is different from what’s on your birth certificate).
5. Evidence of financial status and funding for visit. You can upload any or all of the following:
   – personal bank statement
   – income tax return (ITR)
   – pay slip
   – title deed, if meron kayong properties
   – retirement pension book, if retired
6. Evidence of current employment or self-employment.
   – For employees, it can be certificate of employment explaining your role in the company and proof that your leave of absence is approved.
   – For self-employed applicants, you can upload your business registration documents.
   – For students, certificate of enrollment.
7. If TOURIST STREAM: Evidence of planned tourism activities in Australia. This can be a detailed itinerary or day-to-day activities.
8. If part of a GROUP: Group tour details.
   – If you’re traveling DIY style, upload a list of all your travel companions.
   – If you booked a group tour, upload a letter from the agency that arranged your tour.
9. If BUSINESS STREAM: Evidence of business-related reason for travel. This can be any of the following, whichever is applicable:
   – proof of conference registration
   – details of previous contacts with Australian company or organization
   – letter from your employer explaining why you need to travel to Australia
10. If SPONSORED FAMILY VISIT STREAM, so we haven’t tried it so we have no first-hand information. But you may be asked to submit the following:
    – Letter of invitation. Only if you’re visiting a friend or relative. Best if you have photos with that friend and relative showing that you really know each other.
    – Identification Documents of Sponsor. If you declare that your trip will be paid for by someone other than yourself.
    – Evidence that your sponsor in Australia can financially support your trip. If you declare that your trip will be paid for by someone other than yourself.
    – Your sponsor might also be required to pay a bond.

Technically, only the above three documents are tagged REQUIRED on the website. The rest of the items are marked RECOMMENDED. But it goes without saying that you should also submit those for better chances of approval.

In addition, here are other documents that are NOT required but could help your application. I submit these whenever I apply for an Australia visa:

1. Cover letter. Remember, there will be NO INTERVIEW. So I always submit a cover letter to give better context and explain anything that I think they might find confusing.
2. Flight reservation. If you have this already — say, you snagged promo fares from an airline’s seat sale — go ahead and submit it. But if you don’t have flights yet, you are discouraged to book before you’re granted a visa to avoid wasting funds in case you are denied. What we submit instead is a “flight reservation”. It’s sometimes called a “dummy booking” but I don’t like this term because flight reservations are actually legit documents that can be cancelled, issued by travel agencies. You can get one here: HOW TO GET FLIGHT RESERVATION FOR VISA APPLICATION! ✅
3. Hotel booking. Again, only if you have it. If you decide to submit, search Klook and pick a hotel with FREE CANCELLATION so you can easily cancel refund your payment if your application is rejected.

Use our promo code TPTKLOOK5 for up to P500 discount (one-time use). Redeem P500 voucher here! ✅

Or use THEPOORTRAVELERKLOOK for up to P300 discount (can be used up to 5X). Redeem P300 voucher here! ✅

If you prefer to book with Agoda, use promo code AGODATPT! Search for Agoda FREE-CANCELLATION hotels here! ✅

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Upload PDF files. If your document is in a different format, best to convert it to PDF.
• Each file must not exceed 5MB. If your file is larger, compress it. There are plenty of free compression tools online.
• Make sure the documents are not encrypted. Remove the file’s password if it requires one.
• ZIP files are not accepted. You must upload each item one file at a time.

Step 3: Create an ImmiAccount.

ImmiAccount means an account with Immi.gov.au. This is the official immigration website of the Australian government.

It’s easy to register. Just go to this site and sign up using a valid email address.

Make sure you use a working email address. Any update about your application will be sent to this email (including the acknowledgment of receipt of your application and the actual visa grant). You will also get notified every time you log into your account.

If you’re a family, no need to create an account for each member. You can start and lodge multiple applications under just one IMMI account. Just make sure to declare the owner of the Immi account as the authorized recipient by also submitting a Form 956A. I will explain this better in the FAQs section below.

Once you have an account, you’ll receive a confirmation link via email. Check your inbox and follow the link.

Step 4: Fill out the application form.

After confirming your email, follow these steps:

1. On the dashboard, click on NEW APPLICATION. On the next page, you’ll be presented with a list of the different types of visa.
2. Click VISITOR and under that, select VISITOR VISA (600).
3. Answer all the questions and fill out all the next pages.

The application form has 19 pages total so it takes a lot of time to finish, but they’re easy to understand. But there are three things that I want to explain further:

• Group processing. If you’re traveling as part of a group, one of you can generate a group code that you can save and share with your travel companions. Other members of the group can enter that same code to tell the system that you’re all traveling together.
• Family unit. On the page 8 or page 9 of the form, you’ll encounter this question: “Does the applicant have family members of their family unit not travelling to Australia who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents?” According to the Australian Immigration website, a family unit is defined as a partner (married or de facto) and a dependent child below 23 years old. If you’re single with no kids, just tick NO. If you have a spouse/de facto partner or child who won’t be joining you to Australia, choose YES and fill out the form that appears. We have a more detailed explanation in the FAQs section below.
• Significant dates. If there are specific dates that are crucial or important to your purpose of travel, write them down under the “Any Significant Date” field. For example, if you’re attending a wedding or a concert, input the date of the event. If you have no significant date in particular — say, you’re simply sightseeing or touring — you can skip this part.

If you’re not able to complete the application form in one sitting, you can always save your progress and pick up where you left off next time. As long as you don’t hit the SUBMIT button, you can always go back to it and edit your answers.

🚨 Do NOT submit the form unless you are 100% certain that your answers are correct and final. You’ll be asked to review all your answers, but once you submit it, you won’t be able to edit it anymore.

Step 5: Upload supporting documents.

After reviewing and submitting the form, you’ll be led to the UPLOAD DOCUMENTS page. This is what it looks like for TOURISM STREAM.

For other streams, some documents will be replaced/added.

Upload your documents one file at a time. Again, each file must not exceed 5MB.

When everything looks great, click SUBMIT NOW.

Step 6: Pay the visa fee.

You’ll be redirected to the Payment Page.

How much is the Australian Visitor Visa Fee? For Tourist, Business or Sponsored Family Visit Streams, an Australian visa costs AUD 195.

You can pay via credit card, debit card, PayPal or UnionPay.

After payment, you’ll most likely receive two (2) messages in your email or in your IMMI account’s inbox, each with an attached document:

• Acknowledgment of Application Receipt
• Requirement to Provide Biometrics

And this brings us to our next step.

Step 7: Schedule a biometrics collection appointment.

You must schedule a biometrics collection appointment within 14 DAYS of submitting your application.

To do that, visit the Australia visa page of the VFS website, and create an account. As always, you’ll need to enter a valid email address and mobile number, and set a password.

Once you have a VFS account, do the following:

1. On the dashboard, click on START A NEW BOOKING. It’s the orange button in the upper right corner of the screen.
2. Enter your appointment details. Choose your preferred location. As of this writing, the Australian Biometric Collection Centre has three sites: Makati (Metro Manila), Cebu, and Davao.
3. Under appointment category and sub category, choose Biometrics collection. Then click CONTINUE.
4. Enter your personal and application details. The most important bit is the VLN (visa lodgment number), which can be found in the file labeled S257A (S40) Requirement to Provide Biometrics, which was sent to your email after paying the visa fee. This is the number just below the barcode. Then, in the Identity Document number, type your passport number. Click SAVE. You’ll be taken back to the dashboard.



5. If you’re part of a group and you’re submitting biometrics together, you can also add them to your account. Just click on ADD ANOTHER APPLICANT. You’ll be required to enter their VLN and passport numbers, too. In our family’s case, only I created an account but I added them all. I didn’t encounter any issue. Click CONTINUE.
6. Choose an appointment date. Dates that are green are still open. Greyed out ones are no longer available.
7. Select appointment time. The earliest time slot is 7:30 AM and the latest is 2:45 PM. Within this period, the biometrics processing fee is only PHP 557 per person, to be paid on site during your appointment. (This is different from the visa fee that you paid for online.) This is the cheapest option. If you really can’t make it within this period, you can choose a later time, but it’s pricier, at PHP 2350 per person. There is also a “lounge” option, but you won’t need it so just ignore that.
8. Review your appointment details. If everything looks good, click PAY AT VFS CENTER.
9. Check your email. You will receive an appointment confirmation message with an attached file. Save it or print it out. It looks like this.

Step 8: Submit your biometrics at Australian Biometric Collection Centre.

The Australian Biometric Collection Center has three (3) locations in the Philippines:

• Metro Manila. 6F, Makati Circuit Corporate Center Tower II, AP Reyes St. Brgy. Carmona, Theater Drive Circuit Makati, Makati City, 1207 Philippines
• Cebu. Unit 905, 9F, Kepwealth Center, Samar Loop Corner, Cardinal Rosales Avenue, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City 6000 Philippines
• Davao. Unit FES08, 2nd Floor, Alfresco Area Felcris Centrale, Barangay 40-D Quimpo Boulevard, Davao City, 8000 Philippines

For all these sites, business hours: 07:30 AM to 03:00 PM

Arrive at the biometrics collection center 30 minutes before your schedule.

Bring the following:

1. Passport. Original.
2. s257A Requirement to Provide Biometric document. This is the attachment with the VLN or barcode. Printed or digital copy.
3. Appointment confirmation letter. Printed or digital copy.

Don’t bring power bank, laptop or other gadgets because you’ll be forced to deposit it in a locker, which you have to pay for (at least at the Manila/Makati site). If you have a non-applicant companion, ask them to wait outside and hold your gadgets for you while you’re upstairs. They won’t be allowed to enter the center anyway.

NOTE: THIS IS NOT AN INTERVIEW. So relax and don’t be too stressed. What they’re doing here is NOT to evaluate you or your application. They will just take a photo and your fingerprints. That’s all. Chill out.

Once you’re at the Biometrics Collection Center, follow these steps:

1. Approach the reception.

There usually is a line forming in front of it. The staff will check your passport and documents. If everything is in order, you’ll be given a number.

2. Enter the main area and wait for your number to be called.

You’ll be surrounded by numerous small rooms and TV screens, where you can track which numbers are being served at any given time.

3. Once called, enter the assigned room.

Only one person is allowed at a time. If you’re a group, you’ll be assigned just one room, but you’ll still need to enter the room one by one.

4. Inside the room, the staff will take your photo and fingerprints.

The rooms are closed, so you have total privacy. In our experience, the staff were all so pleasant and courteous.

5. When done, pay the P557 biometrics servicing fee.

Cash and card payments are accepted, but cards take much longer because there are only a couple of terminals on site, shared by all staff. If you’re in a hurry, pay cash.

That’s it! It was quick. The whole process took less than 30 minutes, considering we were a group and there was a minor glitch in the numbering system when it was our turn. For some of our friends who visited alone, it took roughly 15 minutes.

Step 9: Wait for the result.

How long will you be waiting? It varies. But according to the official website of the Australian Immigration, the median processing time is 1 DAY (as of this writing, April 2025). Yes, you read it right.

But again, it varies. In our group alone, our wait times range from mere minutes from biometrics submission time to more than a month.

• Two of my friends who have been to Australia before: 30 MINUTES after submitting their biometrics. They were so shocked by how fast it was. They had not even left the biometrics center yet. The visa arrived even before their Grab booking. I think it’s because applications are being assessed while waiting for the biometrics collection.
• My mom and I, who have also been to Australia before: 1 DAY. We received our visa the day after we submitted our biometrics. Our appointment was afternoon. I feel like if our schedule was in the morning, we’d also get the result on the same day.
• My sister and cousins who are applying for an AU visa for the first time: 7 DAYS. That’s exactly a week after their biometrics appointment.
• A few of our friends who are applying for AU visa for the first time: 2 WEEKS. This confused us a little because they are well-travelled, but theirs took longer that my sister and cousins.
• Vins’s sister and another friend, both first-timers in Australia: MORE THAN 1 MONTH.

Yes, a few on our group had to wait for over a month, which is why despite the quick processing for most, we encourage you to apply at least 2 MONTHS before your travel date, just to be on the safe side.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long is the validity of the Australia visitor visa?

• Single-entry visa: valid for 6 months, stay up to 3 months
• Multiple-entry visa: valid for 12 months (1 year), each stay should not be longer than 3 months

This is just based on our experience.

Can I apply for a multiple-entry Australian visa even though it’s my first time?

YES. On the application form, you will be asked whether you need to enter Australia more than once on that trip. If you want a multiple entry visa, declare it, but make sure you can justify and prove it.

But in many cases, even if you apply for a single-entry visa, you can still be granted multiple entries. That’s what happened to my family and friends in our most recent application. Most of them are first-timers in Australia and applied for single-entry. But they all received multiple-entry visas valid for one year.

Don’t count on it though. Sometimes, you just can’t say what you’ll get. So far, I have been granted an AU visa four times. On my third application, I was granted a single-entry visa even though it would be my third time visiting Australia.

What are “non-accompanying members of your family unit”?

This question is on Page 8 or 9 of the application form: “Does the applicant have family members of their family unit not travelling to Australia who are not Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents?”

First, we need to define “family unit.”

According to the glossary of the Australian Immigration website, a family unit is defined as a partner (married or de facto) and a dependent child below 23 years old. (See screenshot below.)

Based on this, siblings (brothers, sisters), parents (mother, father) and in-laws are NOT included.

• If you’re single with no kids, just tick NO.
• If you have a spouse or de facto partner or child who will NOT be traveling with you, choose YES and fill out the form that appears.

This is different from Form 54.

I’m being asked to submit Form 956A. What is it?

Form 956A is a document that grants someone else authorization to receive files from the Australian Government. In the Application Form, you will be asked if you have an Authorized Recipient who would be receiving documents on your behalf. If you answer YES to this, you will be required to complete and submit Form 956A.

For efficiency, my family decided to have me as the Authorized Recipient for ALL of us. I received all the messages regarding their application.

Be careful when accomplishing Form 956A. This form is also used to withdraw authorization, so make sure you’re filling out the right sections and skip the withdrawal parts.

Download a copy of Form 956A here!

Is medical/health exam required when applying for an Australian visa?

There is no clear-cut answer to that, as it depends on a lot of factors. But you can easily find out if you need to undergo health examinations. Here’s how:

• Log in to your ImmiAccount.
• Go to your application. Find the Applications Status section.
• Tap on the ‘View health assessment’ link.

If you need to undergo medical or health examinations, you will see a link called ‘Organise health examinations‘.
If you don’t need one, it will be explicitly stated on the page, too.

What are the possible reasons why visa applications are rejected or denied?

You may be refused a visa if:

• You can’t prove that you intend to return to the Philippines. You probably don’t have a stable job at this point or are newly employed or newly resigned, and it’s giving the impression that you plan on staying longer than your declared duration.
• You can’t prove that you can financially support yourself on this trip. You or your sponsor may not be in good financial standing.
• There are inconsistencies in your answers. Your answers and/or your documents may be raising some red flags.
• You uploaded unreliable documents. The files you submitted may have been unreadable, forged, fake, corrupted, or encrypted.
• Your purpose in Australia is unclear. This is why it is best to be specific when you’re detailing the reasons for your visit.

What does an Australian Visa look like?

Here’s what the Australian Visa looks like when you receive it online. It doesn’t get attached to the passport. Just bring a copy of it on your travel date.

Note that Immigration officers in Australia no longer stamp passports upon entry or exit.