VFS Global is a company that works with the Australian government by handling the administrative process of the visa application. When filing with the Australian government for a visa you are required to file through VFS Global and they will submit the completed application to the Australian immigration.
The passport must be a South African issued national passport that will be valid for at least six months after your intended date of departure from Australia. You are also required to have a photocopy of the biodata page of your passport. Also, you must submit a passport photo that is was taken not longer than six months prior to the application submission date.
All South African passport holders must pay the visa application charge through VFS Global. VFS Global also charges their own additional processing and handling fees, but they will also collect any fee payment that is required to go to the Australian government in order to process the application. If the application fee is not paid, then the visa application will not be processed.
If you have not visited Australa within the last ten years, you will also be required to show evidence of sufficient funds for your stay in Australia. This is required to make sure that you will have enough money to support yourself and any additional dependents that will be travelling with you during your vacation in Australia.
If you have not visited Australia in the last ten years, you will need to provide a letter from your current employer stating what dates you are taking vacation from work. This is to show ties to your home country and help ensure Australian immigration that you intend on leaving Australia at the end of your visa term. If you are a student in South Africa, you can substitute the letter from your employer with a letter from your school, college or university.
If you have a criminal record, you must supply a police copy of your record to the Australian government with your application. The copy of your police record cannot be older than 12 months.
If you have served in the military, you must submit a copy of your discharge paperwork along with your application.
If you are intending on going to a school, hospital, or stay in Australia longer than three months, you will be required to have a medical examination conducted by a doctor approved by the Australian panel of radiologists (see Resources).
