Philippines
Visa Information and Lodgement
On this page
Country coverage
The visa office provides immigration and visa services to clients in the Philippines.
Travelling without a visa label
You need to have a valid visa to travel to Australia. We do not require you to have a visa label placed into your passport for travel to Australia. This is known as 'label-free' travel, making travel to Australia simpler and more secure.
If you are transiting or exiting through another country, you need to check with the relevant government authorities about whether you need to show a visa label in your passport. We cannot advise you on other countries’ requirements.
More information on travelling to Australia without a visa label and how to confirm your visa entitlements is available.
See: About your visa
Lodging a visa application
Through the Philippines Interactive Audiotext Service Inc (PIASI)
The department has a Service Delivery Partner arrangement with the Philippines Interactive Audiotext Service Inc to provide Australian visa lodgement services. Philippines Interactive Audiotext Service Inc operates a Call Centre for telephone enquiries and booking appointments and the Visa Information and Application Centre which provides visa information and accepts applications for Australian visas.
The Philippines Interactive Audiotext Service Inx charges applicants a service fee in addition to any visa application charges.
No prior appointments are needed to attend the Visa Information and Application Centre. Posted visa applications cannot be accepted at the Visa Information and Application Centre. Lodgement of applications by courier, however, is available through the Philippines Interactive Audiotext Service Inc’s Call Centre.
Further information on the Philippines Interactive Audiotext Service Inc’s Call Centre, the Visa Information and Application Centre and services they provide is available from the Australian Embassy website. See: Where to Apply
By post to the Australian Embassy
Applications can be lodged by post direct to the Embassy. However, it is not recommended that clients forward personal documents, passports and payment through the post as safe delivery cannot be guaranteed.
At the Australian Embassy in person
If you wish to lodge an application in person you will need to make an appointment through the Philippines Interactive Audiotext Service Inc Call Centre.
See: Contacts – Philippines
Note: Due to the high demand for appointments it may be a few weeks before an appointment can be scheduled. You can lodge your application at the Visa Information and Application Centre at any time during business hours without an appointment.
Permanent entry visas
Partner, prospective marriage, child, remaining relative, carer and aged dependent relative visa applications from applicants usually living in one of the countries in country coverage list above are processed in Philippines.
Applications for general skilled, business innovation and investment, Distinguished Talent (subclass 124), Former Resident (subclass 151) and parent subclasses are lodged and processed in Australia.
For Points Based Skilled Migration (subclasses 189, 190 and 489) and Business Innovation and Investment (subclasses 132 and 188) visas you will have to submit a complete Expression of Interest (EOI) and receive an invitation to apply.
See: SkillSelect
Former Resident (subclass 151) applications are lodged and processed at the Perth Office.
See: Perth Office
Distinguished Talent (subclass 124) visas must be lodged (by post or courier) and are processed at the Adelaide Business Skills Processing Centre.
See:
Distinguished Talent Visa (offshore) (subclass 124)
Adelaide Business Skills Processing Centre
Contributory parent and parent migration applications are lodged and processed at the Parent Visa Centre.
See: Parent Visa Centre
Refugee and Humanitarian visas
Clients from the South East Asia region whose application for a Refugee and Humanitarian (Class XB) visa is accompanied by a proposal form (form 681) must lodge their application at the department’s NSW Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centre. This applies to people who are lodging a visa for consideration under the Global Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) or as an immediate family member.
See:
Lodging Certain Humanitarian Applications in Australia
NSW Offshore Humanitarian Processing Centre
All other Refugee and Humanitarian applications should be directed to the closest immigration office outside Australia.
Temporary entry visas
Temporary entry visa applications from the Philippines, can be lodged through the Visa Information and Application Centre.
401 Temporary Work (Long-stay Activity) (Subclass 401) visa - Exchange, Sport and Religious Worker streams. Sponsorship and nomination applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre – NSW.
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - NSW
401 Temporary Work (Long-stay Activity) (Subclass 401) visa – Domestic Worker (Executive) stream. Sponsorship, nomination and visa applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - ACT
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - ACT
402 Training and Research visa – Research stream sponsorship applications only.
Professional Development stream sponsorship and visa applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre – Tasmania.
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - Tasmania
402 Training and Research visa – Occupational Trainee stream sponsorship, nomination and visa applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre – SA.
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - SA
416 Special Program applications are lodged and processed at the Specialist Temporary Entry Centre – Tasmania.
See: Specialist Temporary Entry Centre - Tasmania
420 Entertainment sponsorship, nomination and visa applications are lodged and processed at the Entertainment Visa Centre - NSW.
See: Entertainment Visa Centre - NSW
Applications for the Sponsored Family stream of the Visitor (subclass 600) visa must be lodged in Australia. These applications will be processed at one of the Sponsored Family Visitor processing centres.
See: Sponsored Family Visitor Processing Centres
457 Temporary Work (Skilled) visas can be applied for using SkillSelect. If you are:
- not sponsored by an Australian or overseas business you can register an EOI for skilled migration and permanent residence in Australia
See: SkillSelect - sponsored by an Australian employer, you may lodge your visa application online or at an Australian office of the department
See:
Centres of Excellence
Employer Sponsored Workers (e457) – Online Applications - sponsored by an overseas business, you can lodge your visa application with the Australian Visa Office responsible for applications in your country.
See: Immigration Offices outside Australia
If you are sponsored by an Australian employer, you must lodge your visa application at the same office in Australia where your employer lodged papers to support your application. Please ask your employer at which office they lodged these papers.
See: Australian Offices
Citizenship
Applications for Citizenship by Descent can be lodged at the Australian Embassy, Philippines or at the Visa Information and Application Centre.
Applications for Australian citizenship general eligibility and other situations, and applications to resume or renounce (give up) Australian citizenship should be lodged at the ACT and Regions Office.
See:
Application process for Australian citizenship
Application process to resume Australian citizenship
Giving up your citizenship
ACT and Regions Office