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IMPORTANT: You should apply for your visa well in advance of your intended travel date. Please check the currentGlobal visa processing times (homeaffairs.gov.au) and ensure you leave sufficient time for processing of your application. |
Need help?
The Australian Embassy in Bangkok receives a significant amount of correspondence each day. Before contacting us, we encourage you to useonline servicesand information available on this website, and theHome Affairs website, to get the information you require. If, after accessing these websites, you still require additional information or assistance you can:
- Call the Home Affairs Global Service Centre number in Australia on +61 2 6196 0196, open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (local time).
- Contact Home Affairs Bangkok (Thailand, Laos and Myanmar) online using theAustralian Immigration Enquiry form. Select the overseas post as Bangkok (Thailand, Laos and Myanmar).
If your query is complex and requires us to access your details you can contact the Global Service Centre (GSC).Contact us (homeaffairs.gov.au).
Warning: Beware of visa scams
In order to protect yourself from visa scams, you should only deal with official Australian Government channels such as the official Department of Home Affairs websiteHome Affairs website to find information about visa and citizenship immigration products.
It is your responsibility to maintain thesafetyof yourpersonal information online. If you know of someone who is involved in migration fraud or if you are a victim of migration fraud, please report this to Australia'sBorder Watch.
To avoid being scammed, you can check the Register of Migration Agents on the OMARA website, to receive the protections of an OMARA registered Migration Agent.
There are Australian registered migration agents working all around the world in countries including Thailand. These agents are subject to the same Code of Conduct, professional development and regulations as registered migration agents based in Australia. More information about Australia’s efforts to ensure the integrity of the migration advice profession is available at:www.mara.gov.au.
Welcome to the website of the Department of Home Affairs at the Australian Embassy in Thailand. We manage visa and citizenship services for clients in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.
For information on applying for Australian visas, please visit the Home Affairs website.
The information provided here is additional and specific for clients in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.
Visa and Citizenship information
All non-citizens need to obtain a visa prior to travelling to Australia.
For information about different visa options, you can use the Visa Finder.
Use ImmiAccountto lodge your application, make a payment, update your details or circumstances, upload documents, and track the progress of your application.
Visa Processing Times
For current global visa processing times, please click here.
Requests for Urgent Processing
If your application is urgent due to compelling or compassionate reasons (for example, a close family member has become ill suddenly in Australia), please submit a Compelling and compassionate request for travel via the Australian Immigration Enquiry Form. Please ensure your request contains supporting documentation or other information (for example, medical certificate). Your application may not be able to be expedited if you do not provide relevant supporting evidence.
We do not consider urgent requests to travel to attend business meetings or where your flight is departing soon as genuine emergencies. We try to process all applications as quickly as we can, however we cannot be held responsible if you have pre-booked your travel and your application is not lodged early enough to allow the processing of your application. Some applications will also require us to undertake further assessments, which may take more time.
Biometrics Collection
All applicants in Thailand and Myanmar must complete biometric (face photograph and fingerprint scan) collection for each application lodged, irrespective of their nationality, unless they are excluded or exempt from the program.
Biometrics are collected through a quick and easy process that captures a photograph of your face and a 10-digit electronic fingerprint. Applicants will be required to provide their biometrics each and every time they apply for a visa.
Whilst biometric data is recorded and kept for future reference, in line with the Department’s published policy on the retention of data, this does not override the requirement for applicants to submit their biometric data should they lodge a fresh application.
The biometric data collected during the visa application process is checked against previous records and also on entry to Australia (e.g. at the airport when your passport is checked at immigration) – this process enhances the basic identity assurance of a passport document, which can be forged or altered more easily than a person’s biometric data, to ensure that the person applying for an Australian visa is indeed who they claim to be.
When you lodge your application online, you will be sent a request to provide personal identifiers (biometrics) via email. You should make an appointment to attend an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre (ABCC) in person to provide your biometrics. Take a copy of that email and your passport to the appointment.
You must provide your biometrics within 14 days of online lodgement or notify the relevant processing office if unable to do so. In the event that you do not provide your biometrics within this timeframe, your application will be refused.
VFS Global operates two ABCCs in Thailand (in Bangkok and Chiang Mai) and one in Myanmar (in Yangon). The ABCC will charge a service fee for the lodgement of applications and collection of biometrics.
- For more information about biometric collection procedures, fees charged, contact details, ABCC locations, or to book your biometrics appointment, please visit VFS Global.
- For more information on meeting our biometrics requirements, please click here.
Health Requirement
The health requirement will depend on your personal circumstances and the visa that you have applied for. All permanent visa applicants and certain temporary visa applicants will be required to undergo health examinations as a part of the visa application process.
If you have been requested to undertake a health examination there is no guarantee of a positive visa outcome. If you fail to meet the health requirement your visa may be refused, however this will depend on the visa subclass you have applied for. Some visa subclasses allow a health waiver to be exercised in certain circumstances.
For more information about the health requirement, including how to contact a panel physician near you, please click here.
Everyone who wants to enter Australia must be of good character and will be assessed against the character requirements. As part of your visa application, you might be required to provide a police clearance certificate or other evidence to satisfy the character requirements.
Everyone who wants to enter Australia must be of good character and will be assessed against the character requirements. As part of your visa application, you might be required to provide a police clearance certificate or other evidence to satisfy the character requirements.
For the Australian Government to determine whether you are of good character, you might be asked to provide police certificates for each country you have lived in for 12 months or more, over the last 10 years (calculated immediately before the time the visa application is lodged), since turning 16 years of age.
You must declare all recorded offences to us. If you do not declare an offence and we become aware of this it might have a negative effect on your application.
For instructions on obtaining a certificate from an overseas government or law enforcement authority, refer to the relevant country information on our website.
If you are required to provide an Australian police clearance certificate, you must complete the Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Police Check application form which is available at the AFP National Police Checks page on the AFP website.
Applicants Under 18 Years of Age
If a child under 18 years of age intends to travel to Australia, any non-accompanying parent(s) or person(s) with parental responsibility are required to sign a consent form to give permission for the child/children to be granted an Australian visa.
If one parent, or person(s) with parental responsibility, has lawfully been made solely responsible for making decisions as to where the child/children is/are to live, then only that parent or person needs to sign the consent form.
See: Consent to Grant an Australian visa toa child under the age of 18 years
Applicants may need to provide:
- Form 1229 to be completed by both parents (or persons with parental responsibility), with evidence of their signatures (ie bio-data pages of passport or other document containing evidence of their signature).
- If Form 1229 cannot be signed by both parents (or persons with parental responsibility), the following should be included:
- Evidence of sole custody, or permission from the relevant court authority permitting removal of the child from Thailand or Laos for example:
- A court order from Thailand or Laos permitting the removal of the child, or
- A Por Kor 14 covering the custodial circumstances of the applicant, or
- Death certificate, or
- Divorce certificate with memorandum covering the custodial circumstances of the applicant.
- Evidence of sole custody, or permission from the relevant court authority permitting removal of the child from Thailand or Laos for example:
Document translation
Documents that are not in English must be translated and accompanied by an English translation when you lodge your application.
If you are outside Australia when you apply, you should engage a reputable translation company. The translation should be endorsed by the company and include their full name, contact details and credentials. We are not able to provide any recommendation for professional translators in Thailand, Myanmar or Laos.
You must provide certified copies of both of the following with your application:
- the official translation of the document
- the document that is not in English.
Important information for Laos applicants
To enable us to process your application as quickly as possible, you should provide authenticated copies of any Lao PDR Government-issued documents that you provide as part of your application. This includes any birth certificates, marriage certificates and household registers.
The Lao PDR Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) advises that you must have the translated copy of your original document certified by:
- the Department of Court Registrar, Ministry of Justice (MoJ), or
- the Justice Division of Vientiane Capital, or
- the Justice Division of Provincial.
The document must then be authenticated legal by the Consular Department of Lao PDR MoFA. If you live outside of Lao PDR, family or friends can request the service on your behalf.
For more details on authenticating documents, contact Lao PDR MoFA (Consular Department) directly at +856 21 254176. The Australian Embassies in Bangkok and Vientiane are unable to provide further advice
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Australian Embassy in Bangkok receives a significant amount of correspondence each day. While we aim to respond to communication in a timely manner, please read the information contained in our Frequently asked questions before contacting us.
If your query is addressed on the Embassy or Home Affairs websites we will not provide a response.
Feedback and suggestions
We value your feedback. Your compliments, complaints or suggestions provide the Department with information to help improve the quality of our services.
If you wish to provide feedback or suggestions, please click here.
You can view current global visa and citizenship processing times for most visa subclasses and citizenship types. To view current processing times, see the product page for the specific visa subclass or citizenship type you are applying for. You can navigate to any product from Individuals and Travellers or Visa Support. On the product page, two processing times will be displayed, indicating how long it takes to finalise 75 and 90 per cent of all applications submitted globally.
We value your feedback. Your compliments, complaints or suggestions provide the department with information to help improve the quality of our services.
If you have any feedbacks and suggestions please visit: Client Feedback
Contact Us
We do not provide a visa and citizenship counter service.
Visit theHome Affairs websitefor further information regarding visas or citizenship. If you are unable to find the information you need on the Home Affairs website, telephonetheGlobal Service Centre.
If you have an ongoing application outside global processing times, you can complete the Australian immigration enquiry form. If your query is addressed in our Frequently asked questions we will not provide a response.
Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB)
The Australian Government is committed to protecting Australia's borders, combating people smuggling in our region, and preventing people from risking their lives at sea.
Operation Sovereign Borders is a military-led border security operation that was established in 2013 to deliver on this commitment.
Anyone who attempts an unauthorised boat voyage to Australia will be turned back to their point of departure, returned to their home country or transferred to another country.
No-one who travels illegally to Australia by boat will be allowed to remain in Australia.
People smugglers use false promises of settlement in Australia to convince people to hand over their money. Do not believe their lies. The truth is that no-one who pays a people smuggler for an illegal boat journey to Australia will get what they paid for.
There is only one way to gain entry into Australia — with an Australian visa.
For more information, please click here.
Last updated:8 November 2021
FAQs
How do I prove sufficient funds for Australian student visa? ›
You can provide evidence your parents or your partner had a personal annual income of at least AUD62,222 in the 12 months immediately before you apply. If you bring family members, you must demonstrate your parents' or partner's income is at least AUD72,592.
Can you speed up Australian visa application? ›You may be able to request priority processing for some types of visas if you can demonstrate compelling and compassionate circumstances. Priority processing can be requested by: Calling the Home Affairs' Service Centre on 131 881, or • Contacting the relevant processing offices.
What are the chances of visa rejection for Australia? ›The total Australian student visa rejection rate in 2020-2021 declined 32% from 2019-2020.
What to answer what funds will the applicant have available to support their stay in Australia? ›You must have access to sufficient funds to cover your expenses while in Australia. You will not have work rights while one a tourist visa, so you may need to demonstrate proof of funds. To do this, you could provide bank statements, payslips, or an undertaking from a family member to support you.
Does Australian Embassy verify bank statements? ›The Australian and Canadian Embassies require only the bank statement. The Chinese, Korean, and most Schengen embassies ask for BOTH certificate AND statement.
Why is ETA 2022 taking so long? ›While most eTAs are issued in minutes, some can take several days to process. In such cases, more information is needed before the application is approved. IRCC will contact you via email and advise you of the next steps. Check the junk/spam mail folder of the email address you provided on your eTA application form.
Why are Australian visas taking so long? ›What is causing the visa delays in Australia? While the influx of visa applications is one of the primary causes behind the backlog, the Department of Home Affairs has also shared that there are other contributing factors. These include: Lodgements of incomplete applications.
How long does case officer take to make a decision? ›Usually 1-5 weeks. But if you provide all the documents beforehand, it is possible that no case officer will be assigned for you, and you'll receive direct grant after DIBP performs background checks.
How long does it take to get an emergency visa for Australia? ›Australian visas are approved on average in 5 days. Urgent applications are usually approved within 60 minutes. However, immigration authorities recommend that you apply for your e-visa before you book your trip. The sooner you can be sure you will be allowed to enter the country, the better.
Is Australian Embassy accepting visa application? ›Residents of India who require a visa can lodge an application at any Australian Government visa office outside India but are encouraged to lodge their applications with the Australian Embassy Bangkok or the Australian High Commission Colombo.
Can I email the Australian embassy? ›
Alternatively, you can email us at consular.lhlh@dfat.gov.au.
How long does it take for GTE approval? ›Your genuine temporary entrant will be processed alongside your entire visa application. The processing time for a student visa application is approximately 4 months.
What is the visa success rate of Australia in 2022? ›Australian Student Visa Grant Rates
In the first eight months of 2021/22, the overall student visa approval rate surpassed 93%. This continued a 12-year streak in which the overall approval rate exceeded 90%.
The big reason for refusing a visa is insufficient funds in the applicant's bank account or lacking the necessary amount of funds to study and live in Australia. You must have sufficient funds to live and study in Australia when applying for a study visa Australia.
How much bank balance is required for Australia student visa? ›Minimum Bank Balance for Australia Student Visa
As per above calculation the minimum bank balance required for Australian student visa application for single applicant will be; A$59,000 for a university course; and A$40,000 for vocational course.
Fund requirements
As for travel, you will be required to show 2000 AUD for yourself. If any of your family members are coming along, an additional 2000 AUD are to be stated in the bank statement as to their travel expense. Then there is a tuition fee for one year which has to be covered.
Travel costs depend on your home country and whether you are applying in Australia or overseas: If applying outside Australia, include $2,000 AUD for most of the countries. If applying in Australia, include $1,000 AUD for most of the countries. Who can show funds for a Student Visa in Australia and how?
How do I show proof of sufficient funds? ›Proof of funds usually comes in the form of a bank security or custody statement. These can be procured from your bank or the financial institution that holds your money. Bank statements are the most common document to use as POF and can typically be found online or at a bank branch.