Australia launches 10-year multiple-entry visa for Filipino frequent travelers
Ask any Filipino with family or business in Australia, and they’ll tell you the hardest part of the trip isn't the flight—it's the visa. If you frequently travel to the Land Down Under, you can now skip the hassle of constant visa renewals.
Filipino frequent visitors can now apply for a 10-year Subclass 600 Visitor Visa under the Frequent Traveler stream. This means you can visit loved ones, go on a cruise, conduct business meetings, or unwind in Sydney's laid-back parks and soak up the sun on Queensland's beaches without the constant need to reapply!
Here's what you need to know about the new multiple entry visa.
What are the requirements
Citizens and passport holders from 11 eligible nations—including the Philippines, China, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam—can apply for Australia's Subclass 600 Multiple-Entry Visitor Visa.
To get started, you must first be outside Australia when applying and while waiting for the results.
Then, submit your application via the Australian Government ImmiAccount portal and complete biometrics at an Australian Biometric Collection Centre, which has locations in Manila, Cebu, or Davao.
For the complete documents needed, check here.
The visa base fee is AUD $1,845 (around P81,717) per applicant.
You should also set aside a budget for supplementary costs such as health requirements, police clearance certificates, and biometrics service fees.
If you are planning a trip with your loved ones, keep in mind that you cannot group family members into a single visa application. Every traveler in the group must submit an individual application, including children who are listed on a parent's passport.
How long can you stay
You can travel to Australia as often as you like while your visa is valid, but there are a few important stay limits to keep in mind. Each entry allows a maximum stay of up to 3 months, and your combined stays cannot exceed 12 months total within any 24-month window.
Additionally, you must always leave Australia before your stay period expires.
Check your visas carefully, too. If you see condition 8531 written, that means you must not remain in Australia beyond the visa period, or condition 8573, which means no more than 12 months stay in 24-month period.