Australia entry requirements for travellers from the Philippines
Do Filipino citizens need a visa for Australia?
Yes. Philippine passport holders must hold a visa before travelling. The Philippines is not on the Electronic Travel Authority list and is not covered by the eVisitor, so visits are made on a Visitor visa (subclass 600), tourist stream.
The Philippines is also one of the countries covered by the frequent traveller stream, which can be granted for up to ten years and suits people who travel to Australia regularly.
A large share of Filipino travel to Australia is to visit family, and applications that set out the family connection clearly tend to run more smoothly than those that leave the case officer guessing.
How long can you stay in Australia?
The tourist stream can be granted for three, six or twelve months. Three months is the usual grant for a first application. Longer grants tend to follow a clear reason, such as an extended family visit or a strong travel history.
The frequent traveller stream limits each visit to three months but the visa itself can run for up to ten years.
Passport validity requirements
Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay. Australia does not impose a six month validity rule, although airlines and transit countries frequently do. Tell the department if you renew your passport after the visa is granted.
Proof of funds
You must show you can support yourself and pay for your return travel. There is no published figure. Bank statements over three to six months, payslips, a certificate of employment, and business or property records all help. A single large deposit shortly before applying weakens rather than strengthens the case.
If family in Australia are paying for the trip, include their income evidence and a letter confirming what they will cover.
Onward or return travel
A confirmed return ticket is not needed to apply. Do not buy non refundable flights before the visa is granted. Your application should make your intended dates and reasons for returning clear.
Applying for your Australian visa
Apply online through ImmiAccount from outside Australia. The tourist stream costs from AUD250.
You will typically need your passport biodata page, a photograph, evidence of funds and employment, your itinerary, and details of anyone you are visiting, including their evidence of Australian citizenship or permanent residence.
Biometrics at an Australian Biometric Collection Centre are usually required. Book the appointment as soon as you are asked. The frequent traveller stream, at AUD1,845, always requires them.
Health requirements
A health examination is commonly requested for applicants from the Philippines, particularly for longer stays, for anyone who will work in or visit healthcare settings, and where tuberculosis screening is indicated. The department will issue referral letters and name the panel clinics you can attend.
A yellow fever certificate is required only if you have been in a yellow fever risk country in the six days before arrival.
Other entry requirements
Complete the Incoming Passenger Card on the flight. Australian biosecurity rules are strict, and items most often seized from travellers arriving from the Philippines include dried fish, longganisa and other meat products, fresh fruit, seeds and homemade foods brought for relatives. Declare everything.
Cash of AUD10,000 or more, or the peso equivalent, must be declared.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an Australian visitor visa take from the Philippines?
It varies with demand. The department publishes an indicative guide rather than a fixed standard, so apply two to three months before you travel.
Will I need a medical examination?
Often, yes. It is more likely for stays over six months and where health screening is indicated. Wait for the department to issue referral letters rather than arranging anything yourself.
What is the ten year visa?
The frequent traveller stream of the Visitor visa (subclass 600), open to Filipino citizens. It costs AUD1,845, requires biometrics, and allows three month stays across a validity period of up to ten years.
Can I work on a visitor visa?
No. Work is not permitted on any visitor stream.
Should my relative sponsor me?
Not necessarily. The sponsored family stream exists, and a security bond may be required, but most family visits are made on the ordinary tourist stream.
Do children need their own visa?
Yes. Each traveller needs their own, including infants.