Tourist Visas
Australian Tourist Visa (aka Visitor Visa)
Need a tourist visa to Australia from the Philippines? Australian tourist visa, also known as Visitor Visa. Commonly called “holiday visas” too, travel visas, visa 600’s, or very often “Just a simple tourist visa”. Well, actually they are not a simple visa application as many imagine, although many assume otherwise that such a visa application will be a mere formality (and are shocked when it’s refused!)
Anyone who is not an Australian Citizen requires a visa to enter Australia. No visa, no entry. This especially applies to tourist visa applications. And Australian tourist visas, because many believe they are easy and quick, are the preferred choice of those dishonest and non-genuine visa applicants who intend to overstay in Australia to work illegally on the black market. So if you ARE a genuine visitor visa applicant, you need to prove that you are NOT intending to overstay and breach visa conditions!
Successfully getting a tourist visa from Philippines to Australia
Refusal of tourist visa applications to Australia from the Philippines and other less-affluent countries is surprisingly common. There are a lot of scams and clever schemes designed to “trick” the Embassy, often sadly encouraged by Filipino travel agents or by well-meaning family and friends, or from the various online advice forums and Facebook groups. Fortunately Down Under Visa know all of the urban myths and are familiar with all the dreadful advice about what to say and what visitor visa requirements are supposedly necessary, and we can keep you on the straight-and-narrow path to an honest tourist visa grant.
If you are a genuine visitor, ie. if you want to go to Australia for a short visit for tourism purposes or to visit friends or family, we stand a great chance of getting you a tourist visa from Philippines to Australia.
Note that visitor visas for recreation, holidaying, sightseeing and seeing Australia as a genuine tourist are less common from Philippines due to the costs involved which are often out of reach to the average Filipino (which the Embassy Case Officers know only too well). But please ask us, and be assured of an honest appraisal of your case.
Our greatest successes (in fact we have exceptional success rates) are with the Australian Filipina couples who meet and fall in love, and want her to visit Australia to enhance their relationship ie. see if she likes Australia and if she will be happy there with her Australian man on a permanent basis and to visit the friends and relatives of the Australian sponsor. If you are in a Filipina lady or Filipino man in a genuine loving relationship with an Australian, or if you are an Australian who wants their love partner from Philippines to visit you, then please use the FREE ASSESSMENT FORM at the top of the page. We have a very high success rate with genuine visa applicants and have had thousands of visa grants over the years, particularly where they have met in person as a sign of their commitment to each other.
DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this page is of a general nature. Informative, yes, but not a formula for preparing visa applications and should not be relied on as such. The devil is in the detail, rest assured. Australian migration law is complicated and Departmental decisions are inflexible and often final. Readers and future visa applicants and sponsors are advised to rely on professionals to ensure a happy outcome.
How To Apply For An Australian Tourist Visa With Your Philippines Passport
So if you are a genuine visitor from Philippines, especially if you want to spend time with your Australian boyfriend or girlfriend (or an Australian fiancee, fiance or spouse) or even a family member, then we can help you by preparing a visa application which is complete and honest and which meets the Regulations in Australian Migration Law. We can give you precise visa requirements for an Australian tourist visa that are right for your situation, and we can then check those visa requirements that you send us for correctness. We are thorough and we are absolutely honest. No lies or scams, and no promising a fast visa grant. Yes, we lodge Australian visa applications online with our business IMMI Account, but that doesn’t make it go faster. No clever schemes to fool the authorities. Our success rate very high, all without ever telling lies. And what’s more, we won’t take you on as a client unless we believe you will be successful.
Australian Tourist Visa Pros and Cons
- Less complicated visa application (compared to partner visa)
- Much cheaper than a partner visa
- May extend stay by applying for a further onshore visa application later
- Ideal for not-yet-committed couples as it’s only temporary
- It’s possible to be granted a multiple-entry tourist visa
- In most cases it’s possible to apply for further onshore visas, eg partner visas
- Onshore tourist visas are entitled to bridging visas if not granted before existing visa runs out
- Applications are assessed subjectively, ie. higher risk of refusal if Case Officer not convinced
- The high number of cheats who abuse the system and make it harder for honest applicants
- Is designed for visiting and not for maintaining a relationship, ie. it’s a poor substitute for a partner visa
- May not work ever
- No Medicare coverage
- Limited study opportunities and high education costs
Getting an Australian Tourist Visa from the Philippines
Is an Australian tourist visa easy to get?
There’s a high refusal rate for most people to try to lodge their own applications. This is the visa-of-choice for those who choose to run away and work illegally for years, therefore they scrutinize applications very carefully.
How long a stay can I get for my Filipina lady on a tourist visa?
Three months is a reasonable request, especially for a first visit.
Does she need a job and money in the bank?
Most of our clients don’t have either. What they want to see is that she has (a) a genuine reason to visit Australia, and (b) incentive to return at the end of her stay. She can do that without a job or bank account.
We haven’t met in person yet, and thought instead she can come to me.
They have a long history of refusing visa applications to those who haven’t met in person yet. We strongly suggest you don’t waste your time and money.
Can I get a tourist visa, and if we like being together can we get a partner visa and she stays?
You can in theory, but in practice it’s going to be impossible for you to (a) get married and (b) prepare a very large and complicated partner visa application all within three months. We suggest you discuss this with us before you mess it up.
I can get a travel agent in Angeles City to do an application at 1/3 the price you charge.
Then go right ahead. You get what you pay for. A Mercedes costs more than a rusty tricycle too. We have qualifications, business ethics and a great reputation. Most clients think we’re worth the investment.
Do I have to pay a bond?
Not for a tourist stream tourist visa, no.
Can she stay in Australia for one year so we become de factos?
No one takes a one year holiday, do they? I’ve never seen a 1 year tourist visa granted, and I don’t expect to. Please discuss your plans, and I’m sure we can help you properly.
Can we get married in Australia on a tourist visa?
Yes you can. All perfectly legal too. Just be aware she can’t just automatically stay because she’s now your wife.
Can I get a tourist visa at the same time as applying for a partner visa?
Normally yes. We apply for these all the time, and it makes the waiting time much smoother.
I had a tourist visa refused before. How soon can I apply again?
As soon as you have a strong case, you may apply again. We do this for clients all the time when they come to us after their own refusals.
Is a three month stay actually a 90 day stay?
No, it’s three calendar months.
Can kids be included on a tourist visa application?
No, they will need their own separate tourist visa. We can help with this.
Can we get the visa extended in Australia? A visa extension?
No such thing as an “extension” of an existing visa grant. It’s always a further application. But yes, we can apply for a further stay inside Australia before the existing visa runs out. If granted, it means she doesn’t need to leave straight away and can remain.
Have An Australian Tourist Visa Question Not Answered Above?
Now, over to you the client (or potential client)! We value our clients opinions, and we believe in keeping all well-informed. What would YOU like to ask about Australian tourist visas? What do YOU think needs a bit more explanation? Ask below, and Jeff Harvie RMA will answer your question for you and for others wondering the same thing.
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Further Reading
- Australian tourist visa or fiance visa? Read HERE
- Can I get a tourist visa when we haven’t met in person? Think again! Read HERE
- Want a 1 year tourist visa? Read HERE
- Australian tourist visa requirements for Philippine passport holders? Think again! Read HERE
- Australian tourist visa from Philippines for loving couples Read HERE
- Do you need an interview for a tourist visa from Philippines to Australia? Read HERE
Click to Get a Full Overview of Our Process & How We Work
Further Reading
Want to read more about Australian Tourist Visas from the Philippines? Check out some of our tourist visa BLOG posts below.
Australian Tourist Visa from Philippines for Filipino Relatives
How To Get a Tourist Visa to Australia From Philippines?
Tourist Visas When You Wish To Marry
Tourist Visa Articles From our BLOG Page
Visa to Australia
Australia requires visas to enter, and that applies to everyone except those who are Australian Citizens. Everyone else needs a visa. It’s not something that’s aimed especially at third-world nations. English people from Great Britain also require visas to visit Great Australia. So do Americans. It’s not just levelled at the Philippines. Granted, yes they can apply for Electronic Travel Authorities (ETA’s) rather than standard Tourist Visas like a Filipino has to apply for, but they are still visas and they can still be refused. Take some recent cases of white supremacists and gun-totin’ rap “singers” who were excluded. That’s right! Visa applications refused!
Low-risk countries versus high-risk countries
There are countries which are considered low-risk, such as the US, the UK, Canada, most of Europe, Scandinavia, and rich Asian countries like Japan and Korea. These countries allow Electronic Travel Authorities and will have arrangements where their citizens can apply for Working Holiday Visas (ie backpacker visas). And these are reasonably easy to get. ETA’s are ordered online, and take a few days.
But note that they are still visas. They can still be refused, and yes they do. NZ Citizens are issued Subclass 444 Special Category Visas when they arrive in Australia, however if they are undesirable biker types, they can also be excluded.
But those countries which are considered high-risk, they are not able to apply for those easier visas and yes, they are subject to higher levels of scrutiny due to the risk.
Does Down Under Visa ask too much of clients?
Our success rate is considerably higher than that of clients who lodge their own visa applications, so I suspect we’re actually doing our job right. And that means we’re doing our jobs correctly, so why should we start asking for less evidence that proves your visa application is genuine?
The case officers don’t know you. They get one application after another across their desks. Thousands and thousands of them. And some of these will be from ill-intentioned people who only wish to lie their way across Australia’s borders and to take advantage of the opportunity to make lots of money on the black market. Fabulous opportunity, and it all starts with a dodgy visa application. And those applications go across the same desks and are seen by the same department and embassy case officers as those who look at yours.
If they are not utterly convinced that yours is a genuine application, they will refuse it. That’s how the rules work. They’re required to refuse the visa application if they are not convinced. So if the application is full of holes and gaps and not enough to convince them that you both have the purest of intentions, then they MUST refuse it.
At Down Under Visa, we know exactly what the Department and the Embassy like seeing in applications. How do we know? We know from experience of thousands of applications and noting when they ask for further information, we have a very clear picture of what makes up a great application. Therefore we make sure we ask for what they want to see. The end result is to see a very high number of visa grants, and that’s what this is all about after all. We don’t ask for photos of your granny, nor do we ask for a certificate from the swimming pool that says you swam 50 metres. We only ask for what is necessary to prove to a stranger in an office that another stranger has a good and believable reason to visit Australia. Nothing else.
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Jeff Harvie RMA, MMIA
Cannot see anywhere here what is the travel allowance amount needed as the embassy needs to see certain amount before traveling here for a filipina lady
That’s because the Embassy doesn’t need to see a travel allowance. There are a lot of rumours that float around saying what is needed for a visa, and this is one of them.
‘m a Chinese. I’m traveling to Australia in December. For two weeks, how should I apply for my travel visa in philippines? What materials do I need to prepare? Do I have to go to the address of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines or can I apply online? What is the required margin? Thank you. You can look at my questions and look forward to receiving your reply soon. email: woyaoxiupian123@126.com;telephone: 9458416821, my name is Wang, Jing
I’m sorry, but we’re migration professionals. We don’t give free guidance to those who wish to do their own applications. I’m sure if I went to your office and asked you to do free work for me, you would not like it either. If you would instead like your application to be professionally managed, I suggest you use our free online visa assessment form on the main website. But please note that we only do applications for Australian Filipina couples.
I think Kevin means some proof of funds from the sponsor or the applicant . And or proof of income from the sponsor or the applicant. Is there a minimum amount of either required?
There is an “urban myth” that gets around about putting money in a lady’s bank account. Correct that the question wasn’t 100% clear and may have meant savings rather than an allowance for the lady, but tend to lean the other way. There is no set-in-concrete minimum amount. They do need to see that the applicant can support the lady, unless she is earning the equivalent of an Australian paypacket (which is unusual). We look at each case rather than referring to a fixed formula.
My Filipina girlfriend and I had organised a quick holiday in Bali. Trouble is, she was not allowed to leave the Philippines and got refused to exit the airport in Manila. She has a valid passport, no criminal record and I was sponsoring the whole trip. She just didn’t have enough supporting evidences, whatever these were! All very well to have an Australian Tourist visa next but what if she gets stopped by the Filipino immigration dpt again?
The Philippines airport authorities are obligated like any airport authority anywhere to not let somebody travel if they believe there may be a problem. In Philippines there is an issue with human trafficking, so they are extra strict with anyone who appears to have no money and no idea where they are ending up. They also have obligations to certain countries….like Singapore and Bali….not to let anyone through who doesn’t have hotel bookings and a clear itinerary. Maybe your girlfriend didn’t know which hotel you were booked into, and maybe didn’t have the booking with her? Maybe she didn’t have sufficient money? Maybe she appeared nervous or confused? I don’t know her or the situation, so I’m just guessing here. As for Australia? We have had the occasional client stopped, but it’s very rare. We also make a point of preparing clients for what they need and how to act at the airport.
Thanks for your reply, Jeff. She knew which dive resort we were booked in, had enough money but may have appeared nervous as it was her first trip overseas. One of the things they wanted to see was her employee i.d. Since when do you need to be employed to have a holiday paid for by your partner?
Anyhow, we know better now and will ask for your help when it’s time for us to meet in Oz.
I guess they’re about as fair as Border Force are in Australia. No, makes no sense. Getting pulled aside by scary men in uniforms at an airport will make anyone nervous. Can’t promise it will never happen to Australia, although I can say only knew it to happen about twice in several thousand tourist visas we’ve had to Australia.
How much does it cost for a tourist visa application through your company?
We need to assess you and your situation to decide if we’re able to help you or not, which we do via a free online assessment form. We will give you costs after that. https://www.assessments.downundervisa.com.au