Applying for a Tourist Visa to Australia: A Comprehensive Guide

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I. Applying for an Australian Visa Independently

II. Guide to applying for an Australian Visa online independently

Obtaining a tourist visa to Australia, whether online or offline, may seem challenging, but with the detailed insights and experiences shared by Mytour below, the process becomes much more manageable. Let's explore.

Applying for a tourist visa to Australia has become significantly simpler with the availability of both online and offline application methods. Follow either of the two approaches below to realize that obtaining a visa for Australia is not as difficult as you might think.

Procedures and requirements for obtaining a tourist visa to Australia

Article Contents:
I. Applying for a tourist visa to Australia independently.
  1. Visa application procedures.
  2. Purpose of the trip to Australia.
  3. Demonstrating ties to Vietnam.
II. Guide to applying for an Australian Visa online.
  1. Important notes for visa application.
  2. Online visa application procedures.

I. Applying for an Australian Visa Independently

1. Prepare the documentation for an independent Australian tourist visa application

According to the experience of independently applying for an Australian visa, meticulous preparation of documents is crucial. Especially for couples traveling together, a single set of documents is required, including registration papers, household registration, and joint ownership documents. For individual travelers, the required documents are as follows:

* Documentation for Independent Australian Tourist Visa Application

- Complete the information in the Australian tourist visa application form (as per the template). You can download it from the Australian embassy's website or obtain it directly from the embassy.

- Original and photocopy of the passport, valid for at least 6 months, including photocopies of visa pages and entry stamps.

- Notarized photocopy of ID card/driver's license/residence book, and birth certificate.

- 2 passport-sized photos (4x6 cm) with a capture date within the last 3 to 6 months.

- Marriage certificate.

- Leave application with the signature and seal of the employer for employees. If you are the employer, you only need to prepare the business registration certificate.

- Proof of occupation (Work confirmation letter (employment contract), salary statement, etc.)

- Financial proof (property, savings book with at least 200 million VND, etc.)

2. Clear Purpose of the Trip to Australia

For a clear purpose of the trip to Australia, you need to demonstrate through the following documents to make the process of applying for an Australian tourist visa easier:

- Detailed and clear itinerary for the days of stay in Australia.

- Have a round-trip flight ticket and hotel reservation if traveling independently.

Many people are unsure about obtaining a visa, so they hesitate to book flight tickets and hotels in advance. Don't worry, you can ask a travel agency to book for you or reserve flight tickets and hotels on travel booking websites to hold your spot. You only need to pay and issue the tickets after obtaining the visa.

- Travel insurance. If your visa application is rejected, the amount you spent on insurance will be refunded by the insurance agency.

3. Demonstrate ties to Vietnam

When applying for a tourist visa to Australia independently, you also need to demonstrate your ties to Vietnam by:

- Having a household registration and various relationships.

- Marriage certificate (if you are married).

- Possessing high-value legal assets.

- Confirm round-trip flight reservation.

* Important Notes:

- For those sending savings books with less than one month's balance, you need to prepare additional documents such as car registration papers or land use rights certificates (red books) in your name. If you don't have them, you can use someone else's book, but ensure that the person transfers ownership to you.

- Traveling to developed countries contributes to enhancing your travel history. If you haven't traveled before, you need to demonstrate strong financials, with a monthly salary transfer typically being in the tens of millions of Vietnamese dong.

- If you still have the old passport, when applying for the Visa, remember to bring both the new and old passports.

- Before submitting the Visa application, you can call or email the Australian Embassy to make an appointment.

- The processing time for an Australian Visa is between 2 to 4 weeks from the date of application. Therefore, to avoid missing your trip, it is advisable to submit your Australian Visa application at least 4 weeks before the planned departure date.

II. Guide to applying for an Australian Visa online independently

1. Important Notes for Applying for an Australian Tourist Visa Independently

The Australian Visa comes in two types: Single Entry Visa (allowing a one-time entry with a visa validity of 3, 6, 12 months, and a maximum stay of 30 days per entry) and Multiple Entry Visa (allowing multiple entries with a visa validity from 1 to 3 years, and a maximum stay of 3 months per entry). The application fee is 140 AUD.

The visa's validity and the duration of stay for each entry to Australia depend on the decision of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. This information will be clearly stated in the Australian Visa.

The Australian Visa is a digital document. If you apply for the Australian Visa online, you will receive a soft copy. In this case, you print it out and attach it to your passport.

Similar to applying for an Australian visa offline, it's advisable to apply for an Australian visa online at least 1 month before your planned travel date. The processing time for results varies depending on the documentation and timing. Typically, it takes about 2 weeks to receive the outcome, but in some cases, results may be obtained as quickly as 3 days. However, there are instances where it may take up to a month.

The payment fees, including the Visa fee of 140 AUD and the biometric fee of 478k, sum up to approximately 3 million VND for an Australian Visa application.

Additionally, you'll need to exchange Vietnamese currency for Australian dollars for a convenient trip. You can refer to the article Exchanging Australian Dollars to Vietnamese Currency or How much is 1 AUD in Vietnamese currency to accurately convert. Keep in mind that different banks and currency exchange locations may apply different exchange rates, so it's essential to research and compare for the most favorable exchange rate.

2. Procedures for Applying for an Australian Visa Online Independently

Step 1: Prepare your documents

For submitting an online application for an Australian tourist visa, you will need to upload color photos or scans without submitting physical documents as required in offline applications.

* Personal information

- Passport-sized photo 3.5 x 4.5 or 4x6 adhering to ICAO standards, taken against a white background, and captured within the last 6 months.

- Passport: Separate the pages in the passport and take photos or scans.

- Birth certificate.

- ID card/citizenship card.

- Household registration book: Capture or scan all pages in the household registration book.

- Detailed declaration about relatives (optional). It is advisable to have one.

* Evidence of income and current financial status

Evidence of current financial status should include:

- Savings book with at least 100 million VND, the longer the savings and the longer the deposit period, the better. It is recommended to have a deposit period of at least 3 months.

- Confirmation of savings account balance.

- Payroll statement for the latest 3-6 months if you receive salary through a bank account.

- Credit card statement to show the current balance.

- Documents proving ownership of valuable assets such as red book (land use right certificate), pink book (house ownership certificate), vehicle ownership papers.

- Documentation clearly outlining income from business.

Evidence of employment:

- For employees: Prepare labor contracts, leave application for travel, salary slips/vouchers (if receiving cash salary).

- For business owners: Business registration certificate and income tax notification for the previous financial year/tax declaration for the latest 12 months.

- Students under 18 years old: School confirmation letter for students. If not traveling with parents or legal guardians, you need to supplement consent for the child to go to Australia, confirmed by local authorities, and the ID card/citizen card of parents.

- Students over 18 years old: School confirmation letter along with student ID card (if available)

Evidence of the purpose of the trip to Australia

- Travel itinerary during the stay.

- Confirmation of flight reservation (if available)

- Confirmation of hotel reservation (if available)

Step 2: Scan the above documents

When preparing all the documents listed in Step 1, including both the original and notarized copies, you need to scan these documents and save them in PDF or image format. Remember to compress the files to avoid any issues with file size and to meet the consulate's regulations.

Step 3: Submitting the Australia Tourist Visa Application

a. Create an IMM account

Visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs website. Click on Create ImmiAccount. Then, fill in all your information in the required fields. Next, select Continue and complete the details.

Continue by clicking Submit. The Australian Department of Home Affairs will send you an email. Access the email to confirm your registration and activate your account by clicking on the link provided in the email.

b. Create a Profile

1. Visit the Australian Department of Home Affairs website to log in.

2. Enter your account and password. Then, click on Login.

3. Click Continue

4. The My Applications screen will appear, then select New Application.

5. Click on Visitor and choose Visitor Visa (600). Then, click Next.

c. Complete Applicant Details

For completing applicant details, it consists of 20 pages. If you don't understand or have a busy schedule, you can save and come back later, and you won't need to start over.

1. Check the small box for 'I have read and agree to the terms and conditions.' Then, click Next in the bottom right corner.

2. If you are not in Australia, check the box for Yes and click Next; if you are in Australia, choose No.

3. On page 3/20, fill in all personal information as shown in the illustration above.

- Immigration Department: Place of passport issuance
- National Identity Card: Information on ID card

Then, click Next.

4. In the Add details section, choose Add.

Fill in all the information on the ID card and then select Confirm.

Once you have filled in all the information on the ID card, the National Identity Card section will appear as shown above.

5. Answer the following questions:

- Place of birth: Where you were born. Town/City: district, town, or city. State/Province: City or province. County of birth: Country.
- Other names/spellings: Any other names you have.
- Relationship status: Marital status.
- Citizenship: yes, meaning Vietnamese citizenship.
- Other passports: Besides your current passport, do you have any other passports?
- Other identify documents: Any other identification documents.
- Health examination: In the last 12 months, have you undergone a health examination as required by Australia? If you don't understand, select No.

Then click Next.

6. On the 4th page out of 20 is the confirmation section where you confirm the information you provided earlier. If the information you entered is correct, select Yes and click Next.

7. In the Previous travel to Australia section (meaning the history of visits to Australia), if you have never been to Australia, select No. If you have visited Australia before, select Yes, then fill in the details of your current or previous passport, and the visa number issued before. Then click Next.

If someone is traveling with you, select Yes and provide additional information. If not, select No and proceed to Next.

8. Page 7/20 contains contact information. Ensure that the email and phone number you provide are accurate for receiving and communicating about the Visa. Once completed, select Next.

Authorised recipient (If for some reason you cannot receive notifications from the IMMI and want someone else to receive them on your behalf, select Yes. Otherwise, select No and click Next.

Non-accompanying members of the family unit. If the applicant has family members not traveling to Australia who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents, select Yes. If you are completing details about family members, include key individuals such as parents, spouse, children, etc. If not, provide information about parents, siblings, children, and spouse.

Select Next

Does the applicant plan to enter Australia on multiple occasions? This means, do you intend to visit Australia more than once? If yes, select Yes. Otherwise, choose No.

How long does the applicant intend to stay in Australia?

- Duration of stay in Australia: This means how long you plan to stay in Australia. There are three options to choose from: 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Choose the option that suits your needs.
- Planned arrival date: Date of arrival
- Planned final departure date: Date of departure

If you selected Yes above for intending to visit Australia multiple times, below there will be an additional line: Does the applicant know the dates of entry for each occasion after the first entry to Australia? This means, do you know the schedule for subsequent visits to Australia, or is it just a plan? If you don't know, choose No and provide a reason. If you know, choose Yes. After selecting Yes, a new table will appear, add departure and return dates along with the purpose of each trip.

Is the applicant a parent or step-parent of an Australian citizen or permanent resident? It is recommended to choose No.

9. On page 12/20, you will provide all your employment information. Fill in all the required details. Then select Next.

Give details of how the applicant's stay in Australia will be funded: This means who will cover the expenses for the trip.

- Self-funded: Personally covering the expenses.
- Supported by another person: Someone else will cover the expenses. If you check this option, you need to specify the reason and provide information about the sponsor.
- Supported by another organization and Supported by another person are not suitable for self-funded trips to Australia.

What funds will the applicant have available to support their stay in Australia? (This means, how much budget is estimated for the trip. Remember to include the currency unit.

Next, choose Next.

Does the applicant have health insurance arranged for their stay in Australia? (Meaning, have you purchased insurance? If yes, select Yes and provide information; if not, select No)

Next, choose Next.

This section is about health. If you don't want your Visa to be denied, it's advisable to select No for all. Usually, the Australian immigration staff may only require health exams for older individuals, not typically for young adults.

Next, choose Next.

This section asks if you have committed any crimes. If not, it's recommended to select No for all.

Has the applicant held or does the applicant currently hold a visa to Australia or any other country? This means if you have traveled abroad before. If yes, provide details comprehensively.

Has the applicant violated the immigration laws of any country?

Has the applicant ever been in Australia or any other country and not complied with visa conditions or departed outside their authorized period of stay? Have you ever been denied a Visa by any country?

Next, click on Next

For this page, you should choose Yes

Next, click on Next

The next page displayed will be quite long as it summarizes all the information you have entered from page 1 to page 20 for you to double-check. If any information you entered earlier is incorrect, select Previous to correct it. If everything is correct, choose Next to proceed to the document upload step.

d. Upload documents

This section has 9 items. Check the box for each document you upload

After finishing the upload, select Next and then Submit now to proceed to the payment page.

e. Payment

The Australian Department of Home Affairs website integrates various online payment methods, making it easy for you to pay online. Choose your preferred payment method, enter the necessary information, and proceed with the payment.

That's it. IMMI will confirm by sending a confirmation email. After about 1 day, you will receive an email requesting additional biometrics. This email will contain 2 files, but you only need the IMMS s257A... file. Print and clip this file into your passport. Then move on to step 4.

Step 4: Biometrics collection, finalize documents

a. Biometrics collection

Visit vfsglobal.com/australia/ and click on the appointment booking section in the top right corner.

Then select Please click here to book an appointment.

If you already have an account on this website, simply enter your registered email, password, verification characters, and click Continue. If not, click on New User to create an account.

Fill in all the required information in the displayed fields, enter the verification code, and then click Submit.

At this point, the biometric stamping website will send you an email. Access the email you provided during the registration on the website and click on the link to activate your account.

Then log in with the email and password you just registered.

Afterwards, the interface of the page, post-login, will appear as above. Now, select Schedule Appointment in the top left corner and then choose Select Centre.

Fill in all the relevant information in the fields marked with a red asterisk:

- Destination Country: Australia

- Country of Residence: Vietnam

- Centre: Choose the submission location in Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi

- Purpose of Travel: Select Biometrics Only

- Click on Continue

Click on Add Applicant to provide additional information. Fill in all the required details in the fields marked with a red asterisk:

- Passport Number: Enter your passport number.

- Date Of Birth: Input your date of birth in the format day/month/year.

- Passport Expiry Date: Enter the expiration date of your passport.

- Select Nationality: Specify your nationality, for example, VietNam.

- First Name: Input your given name. If your name is Nam, enter Nam in this field.

- Last Name: Provide your surname. For instance, if your last name is Tran, enter Tran.

- Gender: Select your gender.

- Contact Number: Enter your phone number. For example: 0973.343.333

- Email ID: Input your email. For instance: [email protected]

Afterward, click Submit.

If you want to register for someone else, select Add Applicant. Otherwise, choose Continue.

Next, the time schedule will be displayed. The green-colored slots indicate available dates. Choose one of these green slots to schedule your appointment.

For example, select the 26th, and a timetable for that day will appear below. Choose a suitable time frame and click Confirm. Then, check the box for Yes, I agree to receive ... by VFS Global. Finally, click Close.

That's it! You've successfully scheduled your appointment. You'll receive a confirmation email. Remember to print it for your biometric appointment.

On the scheduled biometric appointment day, make sure to bring the following documents:

- Original passport.

- Printed appointment letter.

- IMMI s257A (s40) Requirement to Provide PIDs sent to you by the Australian Department of Home Affairs via email.

Biometric collection locations:

- Hanoi: 3rd Floor, Gelex Building, 52 Le Dai Hanh, Ward Le Dai Hanh, Hai Ba Trung District

- Ho Chi Minh City: 4th Floor, Resco Building, 94-96 Nguyen Du, Ward Ben Nghe, District 1

- Da Nang: 6th Floor, ACB Building, 218 Bach Dang, Ward Phuoc Ninh, Hai Chau District

b. Supplementary Biometrics

As VFS Global is a global company, they will send the biometrics to the Australian Department of Home Affairs within 1 - 2 days after you collect them. Additionally, the previously submitted documents will be processed by the Australian Department of Home Affairs even before you provide the biometrics.

Step 5: Reception, Processing Feedback, and Receiving Results

If any information or documents are missing, the Australian Department of Home Affairs will either call or send an email to notify you for further action. They may also contact you to verify the accuracy of your documents. If your documents are accurate, you have nothing to worry about. Subsequently, you may receive emails requesting a health check at the designated IMMI clinic and additional information.

So, you have completed the process of applying for a self-sponsored tourist visa to Australia. Within approximately 3 - 5 days, you will receive the results along with an email notification from the Australian Department of Home Affairs.

We hope that with the online and offline procedures for applying for a tourist visa to Australia provided above, you will choose the most suitable method to ensure a smooth travel experience without delays.

In addition, Mytour also guides you on applying for a self-sponsored tourist visa to China to make your China tourist visa application more accessible.

China is also one of the countries attracting many tourists, including those from Vietnam. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip, you need to apply for a self-sponsored tourist visa to South Korea if traveling alone. If you're going on a tour, there's no need to worry as the tour company will handle the visa application for you.

The content is developed by the Mytour team with the aim of customer care and solely to inspire travel experiences. We do not take responsibility for or provide advice for other purposes.

If you find this article inappropriate or containing errors, please contact us via email at [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the steps to apply for a tourist visa to Australia online?

To apply for a tourist visa to Australia online, you first need to gather necessary documents like your passport, photos, and financial evidence. Then, create an ImmiAccount on the Australian Department of Home Affairs website. Fill out the application form, upload your documents, and pay the required fee. Finally, you must schedule and attend a biometrics appointment, and wait for the visa processing.

How long does it take to process an Australian tourist visa application?

Typically, processing an Australian tourist visa application takes between 2 to 4 weeks. However, in some cases, it can take as little as 3 days or extend up to a month, depending on the completeness of your application and the current processing times of the Australian immigration office.

Is it necessary to book flights and hotels before applying for a visa?

No, it is not necessary to book flights and hotels before applying for a visa. You can hold your bookings through travel agencies or booking websites without payment until your visa is approved. This reduces the risk of losing money if your visa application is rejected.

What documents are needed to prove financial stability for the visa application?

To prove financial stability for the Australian tourist visa application, you need to provide documents like a savings account statement showing at least 200 million VND, a payroll statement for recent months, and evidence of valuable assets such as property deeds or vehicle ownership papers.

Can I apply for an Australian tourist visa if I have not traveled abroad before?

Yes, you can apply for an Australian tourist visa even if you have not traveled abroad before. However, you will need to demonstrate strong financial stability and provide substantial evidence to support your application to assure the immigration authorities of your intention to return.

What should I do if my visa application is rejected?

If your visa application is rejected, carefully review the reasons for the denial provided in the notification. You may have the option to reapply after addressing the issues highlighted. Additionally, consider consulting a migration agent for professional guidance on strengthening your application.

How can I demonstrate ties to my home country during the visa application?

To demonstrate ties to your home country during the visa application process, you can provide documentation such as your household registration, marriage certificate, proof of property ownership, and confirmation of return flight reservations, indicating your intention to return home after your trip.