Australian Embassy
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Km 4, Thadeua Road, Watnak (P.O. Box 292)

How to Apply

Priority will be given to visa applications lodged online using ImmiAccount where this option exists.

Online using ImmiAccount

The following applications can be submitted online by Laos Nationals;

  • Visitor visa (Tourist or Business streams): Subclass 600
  • Student visas: Subclass 500 and 590 – mandatory online lodgement since 1 July 2016
  • Partner visas: Subclass 300 and 309
  • Resident return visa (RRV): Subclass 155 and 157
  • Citizenship by Descent
  • Temporary Work: Subclass 400 – mandatory online lodgement since 19 November 2016
  • Temporary Activity: Subclass 408 Invited Participant - mandatory online lodgement since 19 November 2016
  • Temporary Work: Subclass 403

Please see Online Visa Lodgement and www.border.gov.au/immiaccount for more information on how to lodge your visa application online.

Once the online application is complete and all supporting documentation has been attached, please do not send hard copies of documents, email documents or contact the processing office in Bangkok to ask if the documents have been received. This takes time away from processing and may cause delays to the outcome of your visa application.

Paper applications

If you are lodging a paper visa application from Laos, you are eligible to post your application to the Australian Visa Application Centre (AVAC) in Bangkok.  More information about posting your application from Laos can be found on the VFS website here: http://www.vfsglobal.com/australia/Laos.

Important Notices

Incomplete applications

Under the Migration Act 1958 applications may be decided on the basis of available information. Therefore, it is important that applications contain all requested information at time of lodgement. Incomplete or poorly documented applications are likely to be refused.

Complete your medical examination before you lodge your visa application

All visa applicants need to meet Australia’s health requirement and depending on which visa you intend to apply for, a medical examination may be required. Please refer to the relevant visa document checklist for further guidance.

The health examination and following immigration health assessment process can take several weeks to be completed. To avoid delays, you can complete your health examinations before lodging your visa application by using a new service called My Health Declarations.

My Health Declarations is a service that allows you to complete your health examination before lodging your visa application using our eMedical system.

Start: My Health Declarations

Fraud or misrepresentation

Any degree of fraud or misrepresentation will result in your application being refused. Applicants should answer all questions truthfully and disclose any information relevant to the question. All signatures on forms and in the applicant’s passport must be the applicants.

Certification of documentation

All documents issued in Laos that require certification must be certified by the applicant’s local authorities or the State Public Notary.

The Consular Section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the Australian Embassy in Vientiane can certify documents issued by the Australian government organisations and/or other Australian agencies and witness signatures of the Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents at their request, however, please note there is a small fee for this service.

In Australia, copies may be certified by a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Declarations, or person before whom a statutory declaration may be made under the Statutory Declarations Act 1959. Photocopies of certified copies are not acceptable.

Translation of documentation

Some Lao documents will require an English translation. Please refer to the relevant document checklist for the type of visa you are applying for. All other foreign language documents must be accompanied by a translation

 

Last updated 5 July 2017