Filipinos planning to travel to Australia are being urged to secure the appropriate visa for their intended activities, with the Department of Migrant Workers flagging a pattern of visitor visas being used outside their permitted scope.
The Visitor visa (Subclass 600), which covers short-term tourism, business, and family visits, is not intended for employment, extended caregiving, or other work-related purposes. The DMW said violations of these conditions can result in visa cancellation, deportation, and restrictions on future travel to Australia.
Working with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of Migration Affairs and the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney, the DMW said it is stepping up public advisories to make sure Filipino nationals understand which visa categories apply to their specific situations and what conditions are attached.
Filipinos intending to work abroad are advised to obtain the correct work visa and comply with all immigration requirements of the destination country before departing the Philippines.
The DMW grounded its advisory in its mandate under Republic Act No. 11641 and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to uphold the welfare and rights of OFWs. The agency said it is also working to strengthen its pre-departure orientation programs as part of broader efforts to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration.
