A Comprehensive Guide to Australia Visa Requirements for Filipino Travelers
Not sure what documents you need for an Australian visa? You’re not alone! Many Filipino travelers find the visa process daunting, especially because the application is done online without the help of travel agents. But with the right guidance, it doesn’t have to be stressful! Understanding the requirements ahead of time can make a huge difference in ensuring a smooth and successful application.
That’s why I’ve put together this complete guide to Australia’s visa requirements for Philippine passport holders. I’ll break down the necessary documents and share some tips to help you navigate the process with ease. By the end of this guide, you’ll have everything you need to apply with confidence. Let’s dive in!
Australia Tourist Visa Requirements
Out of all of the visa applications I’ve done so far, I found the Australia visa application to be the easiest because (1) submission of documents was done entirely online, and (2) there’s more freedom to choose the documents you have the ability to submit—depending on the category.
Documents to be submitted are classified according to Required Documents and Recommended Documents. Don’t be fooled by the term “recommended,” the general rule is still to submit at least one document for each category. Just remember that submitting recommended documents may strengthen or weaken your application, so choose your documents wisely!
Required Documents
1. Travel Document a.k.a. Passport
It is strongly recommended that your passport be valid for at least six months. This is true for all travel—not just for Australia visa application!
Just scan or take a photo of your passport’s identification page and upload it accordingly.
2. National ID Document (other than Passport)
You may submit any government ID such as a national ID, birth certificate, marriage certificate, driver’s license, or PRC license card.
Only one is required but you may submit as many as you want.
It is widely believed that having a PRC license strengthens your visa application—while I’m not quite sure if this is true, it doesn’t hurt to include it in your application!
3. Evidence of previous travel, if applicable
This will only be required if you answered “yes” to history of travel in your application form.
If you have prior history of travel, submit a photo of entry and exit stamps from your current and expired passports. It’s best to put all photos in one pdf file so your agent won’t have a hard time going through your application.
Since not all countries provide entry and exit stamps anymore (Australia included!), you may also submit visa documents.
Recommended Documents
1. Family register and composition
While other countries typically have a family register, it’s not common for Filipinos to have this document. Don’t worry, you can just fill out Form 54 and submit this instead.
This document is so tricky, and it took me forever to fill this up—so follow these tips so you don’t end up like me!
This form has two pages—one in Chinese and one in English. You only need to fill up the English page, but it will also auto-fill the first page.
Type in all of your immediate family members’ information. Australia considers de facto partners as legal family members. These are common law partners (or, in local terms, live in partners).
Remember that all dates have dropdown menus, but you can also type the date in dd-mmm-yyyy format (e.g. 01-Jan-2025). Don’t worry if it auto-formats.
There is also a code for relationship status at the bottom left side of the page. Use this code!
This document cannot be saved. You have to either print it (worked for others but not me!) or screenshot it (the only method that worked for me).
Sign the document—either physically or electronically.
Have a witness sign it as well.
Upload the document!
Here’s an accomplished sample form 54 for your reference.
2. Evidence of planned tourism activities in Australia
According to the guidance, this could either be an itinerary or your planned activities. I’m not sure what the difference between the two is (if you do, please let me know!), so let’s make our life easier and submit an itinerary. There’s no template for this, so I suggest that you include the travel date, activities, and accommodation. Don’t forget to label the document with your name and passport number!
While it is not part of the list, I submitted a cover letter under this category.
3. Evidence of financial status and funding for visit
The great thing about Australia visa application is you can complete your application mostly online, and that includes not setting foot in your bank. Bank statements downloaded online or through your bank’s app is completely acceptable. You can also submit screenshots of your online banking transactions or your app, provided that your name and bank account number are seen in the photos. Yes, you can submit more than one account.
While not on the list, you can also submit credit card statements. Just make sure your bill isn’t too high!
Unlike Japan or Korea, there is no clear amount that would strengthen your financial capacity. Some say AUD 5,000 to 10,000 for a 1-month trip is enough. This would be about PHP 10,000 a day, which sounds pretty reasonable. Just take note that it’s much more expensive to travel in Australia than it is Japan or Korea, so aim a bit higher if you can. The good thing is that you can combine your bank account and credit card to increase your chances of approval.
Aside from your bank documents, you can also submit title deed of your property (e.g. house, car, etc.) or mortgage documents as proof of ties to your home country.
Good news for Filipinos with informal work arrangements: tax document is not required! But if you do have an income tax return (BIR Form 2316), then I highly suggest that you submit it since it is a strong proof of ties to your home country.
Aside from the above documents, you can also submit payslips, retirement pension books, and other relevant documents as proof of financial status.
4. Evidence of current employment or self-employment
If you are employed, you may submit letter from employer with current role (a.k.a certificate of employment). Compensation is not required, but highly encouraged as additional proof of financial capacity.
You may also submit your payslip and evidence of approved leave.
If you are a business owner, you may submit your business license or registration.
While not listed, self-employed individuals may submit contracts with clients, invoices, or any other proof of transactions with clients.
The following recommended documents will only appear on your list, depending on the data you entered in your application form.
5. Invitation from family, friends, or organization, if applicable
If you indicated in your application form that you are visiting a friend or relative in Australia, then you will be asked to submit an invitation letter. The invitation has to be from the same person you declared in your application form.
We submitted a copy of our inviter’s passport, proof of residence/home ownership, and certificate of employment in our previous application in 2024, but it seems that this is no longer being requested. Just remember to give your inviter a heads up in case this is asked of you.
6. Group tour details, if applicable
If you are traveling through a group tour, then submit the following documents: itinerary, group tour participant list, and letter or statement from the organization or educational institution sponsoring the tour.
7. Evidence of change of name, if applicable
If you indicated in your application that you have changed your name, submit documentary evidence in this category.
The most common reason is change of name due to marriage. If this is applicable to you, submit your marriage certificate.
If you have a court ordered change of name for whatever reason (e.g. clerical error), submit a Certificate of Finality and/or the amended document reflecting your corrected name.
Submitting Your Application
Once you are ready to submit your application, upload all your documents under the appropriate category and hit the submit button!
In case you forgot to upload some documents, don’t worry—you can still upload documents after you have clicked the submit button. Yes, this has happened to me, so I know for a fact that it works! Just be mindful that visa processing will start once you submit your documents. If you must add more documents, you have to upload them as soon as possible or else the agent might not be able to consider your additional documents for your application.
You’ll be given instructions for payment. As of the date of this post’s publication, the fee for Australia tourist visa is AUD 195, which is approximately PHP 7,000. It’s very expensive! So it’s best to prepare your application very well. The good thing is, Australia typically grants a multiple-entry visa for 1 year with stays of up to 3 months per entry, if you are approved—but this still depends on the strength of your application!
After payment of the visa fee, you’ll instantly receive an email requiring you to provide your biometric data. This is the last step before your application is processed. I’ll explain this step in another post in the future!
Now, all you have to do is wait for an email!
Final Thoughts
Now that you’re equipped with all the essential visa information, it’s time to take action! Start gathering your requirements, submit your application, and begin planning your Aussie adventure.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with fellow travelers who might need it! And if you have any questions or personal experiences to share, feel free to drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear about your journey. Wishing you a smooth visa application and an amazing trip to Australia!
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Not sure what documents you need for an Australian visa? You’re not alone! Many Filipino travelers find the visa process daunting, especially because the application is done online without the help of travel agents. But with the right guidance, it doesn’t have to be stressful! Understanding the requirements ahead of time can make a huge difference in ensuring a smooth and successful application.