It cannot be denied that APPLYING FOR AN AUSTRALIAN TOURIST VISA can be quite challenging for travelers, especially for first-time visitors to the "land of kangaroos." This is because the application process is quite complex and requires you to prepare a considerable amount of supporting documentation.

Applying for an Australian Tourist Visa is a mandatory procedure when you wish to travel to this country.

Are you one of those people? If so, this article is just for you. Rest assured that with the detailed sharing of experiences in applying for a visa in this article, you will definitely find it easier to prepare for your upcoming trip to experience Australia with your loved ones.

1. DO YOU NEED AN AUSTRALIAN TOURIST VISA?

Do you need an Australian tourist visa? This is absolutely mandatory! Currently, Vietnam and Australia have not signed any visa waiver agreements. Therefore, you need to apply for an AUSTRALIAN TOURIST VISA, specifically the Visa 600 Tourist Stream - a short-term visa for foreign nationals to enter Australia for a specific period for tourism, vacation, visiting relatives, and other activities.

The Visa 600 Tourist Stream is a short-term visa for tourism purposes in this country.

Accordingly, with the Visa 600 Tourist Stream, you must ensure compliance with the following obligations:

● You are not permitted to engage in business activities, work, or seek medical treatment in Australia.

● You may not extend the Tourist Stream Visa.

● You may only enter Australia once.

● You may not stay in Australia for more than 3 months.

You must ensure you fulfill the obligations under the 600 Tourism Stream visa.

2. WHAT CONDITIONS MUST YOU MEET TO APPLY FOR AN AUSTRALIAN TOURIST VISA

To facilitate the Australian Tourist Visa application process, you must ensure you meet the following specific and important criteria:

● Provide a detailed explanation of the purpose of your trip, including the expected duration and specific itinerary.

● Provide all required personal documents as specified by the Australian government, including a valid passport and a recent passport-sized photo.

● Demonstrate your personal financial capacity to cover activities during your Australian trip (leisure, entertainment, etc.) and your return to Vietnam afterward.

● Prove that you currently have a stable job and financial resources in your home country.

● Prove that you will return to your home country after you visit Australia, such as with flight tickets, a commitment to return, etc.

● Commit to not entering Australia or intending to enter before the Australian government issues a tourist visa.

Comply with the entry and exit dates specified in the 600 visa to avoid violating regulations and causing legal issues.

You must meet all the important criteria for the AUSTRALIAN TOURIST VISA to be approved.

3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR AN AUSTRALIAN TOURIST VISA?

In addition to the procedures, the eligible applicants for the visa are also a matter of concern for many tourists at present. As of 2024, the Australian tourist visa is granted to the following categories:

● Vietnamese citizens residing outside Australia.

● Those who wish to travel to Australia for tourism, sightseeing, leisure, or to participate in short-term courses lasting less than three months.

● Meet the necessary health requirements.

● Have good character and no criminal record.

● Have never violated the immigration laws of any country, including Australia.

Who is eligible to apply for an Australian tourist visa?

4. UPDATE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS FOR THE LATEST AUSTRALIAN TOURIST VISA APPLICATION IN 2024

Preparing your application documents is an essential step in the process of applying for an Australian tourist visa. Note that all information in the application must be highly accurate. Conversely, if any inaccurate information is discovered, your application is likely to be rejected immediately. Below are the categories you need to prepare to complete your visa application:

4.1. PERSONAL DOCUMENTS

When applying for an Australian tourist visa for yourself, your family, or friends, you need to prepare the following documents:

● Birth certificate.

● ID card/citizen identification card (not required for persons under 18 years of age).

● Passport.

● Household registration book.

● Curriculum vitae (certified by the competent authority).

● Marriage registration certificate or marital status confirmation letter (not required for persons under 18 years of age).

● Student ID card from the school currently attending (not required for persons over 18 years of age).

● Leave of absence permit (not required for persons over 18 years of age).

● 4x6 cm photo with a white background.

Prepare your personal documents thoroughly to make the Australian tourist visa application process easier.

4.2. FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION

In addition to your personal documents, you need to prove your financial status to ensure that you are eligible for an Australian tourist visa. Specifically, you need to provide the Australian government with:

● A bank savings book or bank account balance confirmation worth at least USD 5,000, deposited as long as possible before submitting your Australian tourist visa application.

● Proof of ownership of a land title deed, real estate purchase documents, vehicle ownership papers, stocks, or shares (if applicable).

● Original bank savings account balance confirmation + savings account book.

● Recent bank statements or credit card statements showing the current balance (if applicable).

With these documents, you not only enhance your credibility but also prove to the government that you are simply traveling to Australia for tourism, vacation, etc., and have no other purposes.

Ensure you provide financial evidence to the government when applying for a 600 visa.

4.3. EMPLOYMENT DOCUMENTATION

Beyond that, proving your employment status is also essential in the procedures for applying for an Australian tourist visa. Specifically:

○ For employees, travelers must provide:

● A leave request form for travel.

● An employment contract.

● Appointment decision (if applicable).

● Pay slip (if paid in cash) or bank statement showing salary payments (if paid via bank transfer) for the last 3 months.

○ For business owners, travelers must provide:

● Business registration certificate.

● Tax payment receipts or tax returns for the last 3 months (photocopies stamped by the company).

● Company account statement or personal account statement for the last 3 months.

○ For retirees, visitors must provide:

● Retirement decision.

● Pension card or pension book.

● Pension statement or bank statement showing pension payments for the last 3 months.

○ For freelancers:

● Proof of current employment: photos of the shop/workshop, contracts or purchase/sales invoices, magazines/e-newspapers, etc.

● Personal account statement for the last 3 months.

○ For students, you need to provide:

● A student verification letter from the school you are currently attending.

● Leave request form.

● ID card of parent(s)/guardian (if under 18 years old and without parents or guardian accompanying).

● A letter of consent from parents allowing their child to travel, certified by the local authorities.

○ For children under 18 (not traveling to Australia with their father or mother), visitors must provide the Australian government with:

● A letter of consent allowing the child to travel to Australia, signed by the parent not accompanying the child and certified by the local authorities.

● The ID card or personal identification documents of the parent who is not traveling with the child.

Proof of employment status to complete the Australian tourist visa application.

4.4. DOCUMENTS PROVING PLANS TO TRAVEL TO AUSTRALIA

Not only that, the Australian tourist visa application procedure also requires travelers to provide specific proof of their travel plans in the country. This will be most clearly demonstrated through:

● If traveling on a tour, travelers must provide the Consulate with a detailed itinerary of the trip, including destinations, activities, and travel times.

● If traveling independently, tourists can plan their own trip. However, you need to ensure that the plan includes the time, places to visit, activities, and departure and return times.

● If you are visiting relatives in Australia, you need to prove your family relationship through your family register or other documents. You also need to provide a letter of invitation from your relatives in Australia along with a copy of their passports.

Complete your travel itinerary to ensure that you are applying for an Australian tourist visa solely for tourism purposes.

*** And a very important note that you need to pay attention to when applying for an Australian tourist visa is:

● Depending on each specific case, the officer receiving the 600 visa application may require the applicant to provide additional documents to verify the accuracy and credibility of the trip.

● The absence of any required documents or inaccurate information may result in the rejection of your Australian tourist visa application and may affect future visa applications.

● All documents uploaded to the online Australian visa application system must ensure the accuracy and clarity of the information.

● In addition, the Australian Department of Home Affairs applies a global visa processing model, meaning that your visa application may be processed anywhere in the world. Therefore, from May 30, 2024, when applying for a 600 visa for tourism, visitors will need to provide an English translation or other language documents.

The Consulate may request you to submit additional documents to complete your Australian tourist visa application.

5. UPDATE FROM A TO Z ON THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR AN AUSTRALIAN TOURIST VISA IN 2024

Below is a detailed and straightforward guide to applying for an Australian Tourist Visa that all travelers can refer to. These four steps will help you fully prepare for your upcoming journey to explore beautiful Australia.

5.1. PREPARE YOUR DOCUMENTS

● Check your passport, including its validity period for entry/exit, which must be at least 6 months. If your passport needs to be renewed, you should proactively renew or replace it at least 5 working days before submitting your Australian tourist visa application.

● Check your health status, as Australia has very strict and rigorous regulations regarding the health status of foreign nationals entering the country. Therefore, travelers should undergo a general health check and submit proof (this is not mandatory).

● Translate documents because, according to regulations issued by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, from May 30, 2024, all Australian visa applications must be translated into English and scanned into image files according to regulations.

Please verify the accuracy of all information used to apply for a 600 Tourist Stream visa through supporting documents, invoices, etc.

Note the necessary documents, such as passport validity and a general health check, before submitting an Australian tourist visa application.

5.2. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION ONLINE

Currently, tourists applying for a 600 Tourist Stream visa can complete the visa application process online in just 6 simple steps, as follows:

● Step 1: Access the link https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login.

● Step 2: Log in to your ImmiAccount (IMMI). If you do not have one, register under the "Register ImmiAccount" section.

● Step 3: Click on Submit a new application, then select Visitor and Visitor Visa (600) to begin completing your application. Next, fill in the required information such as Trip Information, Personal Information, Australian Visa History, Contact Information, Employment Information, Financial Information, Health Declaration, etc., and upload documents such as photos, ID card/citizen ID card, passport, household registration book, etc.

● Step 4: If you are traveling with friends or family, create separate applications for each traveler. The process is the same as in Step 3.

● Step 5: Pay the Australian Tourist Visa application fee online using an international credit card, PayPal, UnionPay, or BPAY.

● Step 6: Click "I confirm that I have provided all required documents" and wait for notification.  

You can now submit your Australian tourist visa application online.

*** Additionally, please note the following information to make the process easier and faster!

● The Australian government may request additional documentation. Therefore, please monitor your IMMI account regularly to submit any required documents as soon as possible.

● The maximum file size for attachments is 5MB. PDF files or encrypted files are not accepted.

● Under no circumstances should you travel to Australia before receiving confirmation of your visa 600 Tourist Stream from the Australian government.

● If you discover incorrect information and wish to correct it (or update new information), access your IMMI account, select the Update Information section, and execute the "Report Error" command. Then accurately describe the error and resubmit the content you wish to change.

You are not permitted to enter Australia without first obtaining a 600 Tourist Stream visa.

5.3. REGISTER FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND SUBMIT BIOMETRIC DATA

Typically, about one day after registering your Australian Tourist Visa application online, IMMI will send an email requesting additional biometric data (including fingerprints and a digital photo of your face). Simply print the file and follow these specific steps:

● Step 1: Schedule an appointment to provide biometric data at the Australian VFS Center at a time convenient for you via the link https://visa.vfsglobal.com/vnm/vi/aus/register.

● Step 2: Bring your passport (original), appointment confirmation, and biometric data request form to VFS Australia at the scheduled time and address. After providing your fingerprints and having your photo taken, pay the fee and wait for your Australian tourist visa result.  

*** Note that:

● The biometric data collection fee is 439,000 VND per session.

● Each passport is only allowed one biometric appointment.

● You may change your appointment information a maximum of 2 times.

● Please note that you must schedule your fingerprint appointment within 14 days of submitting your 600 Tourist Stream visa application.

Schedule your biometric appointment to complete the 600 Tourist Stream visa application process.

5.4. TRACK YOUR APPLICATION AND RECEIVE YOUR AUSTRALIAN TOURIST VISA RESULTS

Upon receiving your information, the Australian government will review, verify, and notify you of the results as soon as possible. Please regularly check the status of your application on the ImmiAccount website.

Australian Tourist Visa applications are typically processed within 2-4 weeks. However, in some special cases, the processing time may take longer. Therefore, to avoid waiting too long for the 600 Tourist Stream visa result, you should complete your application thoroughly and accurately!

Regularly monitor your application and receive the results of your Australian Tourist Visa application.

The above are the latest updated tips for applying for an Australian tourist visa in 2024. We hope that with these insights, travelers will find it easier to prepare the necessary documents for their Australian tourist visa application, enabling them to start your unforgettable journey to Australia with their loved ones and friends in the near future. Don't forget to follow WEOZ's articles to stay updated with more information about traveling to this beautiful country of Australia!