Australian Embassy

The Philippines

Embassy address: Level 23-Tower 2 RCBC Plaza 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City, 1200 - Telephone: 757 8100 - Fax: 757 8268

General Information - FAQs | Permanent Visas | Temporary Visas | Australian Citizenship

Visas and Migration

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) in Manila accepts applications and makes decisions on most temporary and permanent migration visas. This website contains information on the main visas and citizenship applied for from the Philippines.

For detailed information about visas and citizenship services please see the DIAC website. See: www.immi.gov.au
Application forms for all types of visas can also be downloaded from the DIAC website. See:http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/application-forms/index.htm

Important Announcement from the Visa and Immigration Section

Newsflash – Visa Application Charges effective 01 January 2010

The Biannual update for the Acceptable Currencies (ACs) and Foreign Currency Equivalents (FCEs) for use at overseas posts has been approved by the Chief Finance Officer (CFO), to take effect on 1 January 2010. ACs and FCEs are used to calculate the cost of Visa Application Charges, Citizenship fees and charges arising from the migration regulations.

For information about the new Visa Application Charges, Citizenship fees and charges by the Visa Office in Manila effective 01 January 2010, please download the latest version of Manila Info Sheet No. 3 (v0110)

See: Manila Info Sheet No 3 - Visa Application Charges

Partner Visa and Child Visa Applicants

The Australian Government considers the safety of children paramount and is strengthening policies around the sponsorship of minors for visas. In particular it wishes to ensure that children migrating to Australia are protected from high risk situations, such as when a sponsor has convictions or outstanding charges for offences of a sexual or violent nature, and it is likely that a child will be residing with that sponsor. Consequently the Australian Government has introduced a requirement that when an applicant under the age of 18 is included in an application for a Child or Partner category visa, the sponsor is to provide a National Police Clearance (NPC). The information contained in the NPC will assist the Department to determine whether there is any compelling reason to believe that the grant of the visa would not be in the best interest of the visa applicant.

From Wednesday 16th September 2009, all sponsors involved in the sponsorship of Partner Visa or Child Visa applicants with migrating children under the age of 18 are to provide a National Police Clearance (NPC) with the application. Details on how to obtain this clearance is available from the AFP website at:
http://www.afp.gov.au/business/national_police_checks
or you can call the AFP on (02) 6202 3333.

When completing the NPC application form, please use Code 33 at question 1 on the form and include details of any, and all, names you have been known by. If an AFP certificate is provided based on incorrect information, the department may request another certificate. Please note that fingerprints are not required for the NPC.

Please provide this clearance with the application to assist in prompt processing.

New List of Acceptable Financial Institutions based in the Philippines

The list of "acceptable financial institutions" based in the Philippines for the purpose of Student visas to Australia was reviewed on 10 September 2009. Please see this link for the current list of "acceptable financial institutions".

Any applications lodged with our Service Delivery Partner or the Australian Embassy on or after 10 September 2009 will be assessed according to the current list.

Information on applying for visas and citizenship

Contact us

By Email :

For further information about visa requirements prior to lodging an application or how to lodge an application, contact our service delivery partner at aus_inquiry@via.ph.

For information regarding a current application or other specific inquiries not covered by information on this website, contact us by email at immigration.manila@dfat.gov.au

By Phone :

Information:

Recorded information about applying for visas and citizenship in the Philippines can be obtained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling:

757-8340

Phone Inquiry Service :

For obtaining information that is not available on our recorded service or this website, the following inquiry line is available:

845-9200

Calls to this number are toll-free from within Metro Manila but will attract
standard NDD and IDD rates for calls from outside Manila.

Making VISA Applications in Manila

The Department of Immigration in Manila has a Service Delivery Partner arrangement with Philippine Interactive Audiotext Service Inc (PIASI) to provide Australian visa lodgement services. PIASI operates a Call Centre for telephone enquiries and the Visa Information and Application (VIA) Centre which provides visa information and accepts applications for Australian visas.
Clients generally need to lodge applications either by courier through the Call Center or in person at the VIA Centre - although some applications must by law be lodged in Australia. The VIA Centre is not able to accept applications and documents by mail.

Applications may also be lodged by mail to the Embassy or through a registered Migration Agent, however, we do not recommend that clients forward personal documents, passports and payment through the mail, as safe delivery cannot be guaranteed.

For information on making applications see: Visa Applications

Using Migration Agents

Before engaging a migration agent, we recommend you read the following information.

See: Information about migration agents operating outside Australia http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/migration-agents/_pdf/information-migration-agents-operating-outside-australia.pdf