AUSTRALIAN VISA

There are several Australian Immigration and Australian Visa options for potential migrants to Australian. Read about the main Australian Visa and Australian immigration options here. Potential migrants to Australia are selected based on skills, health, financial resources, age, English language ability and family and business contacts in Australia. Race, gender and culture are not considered at all.

Half of the more than 80,000 places for migrants to Australia each year go to skilled migrants as Australia seeks those migrants who have skills and qualifications to improve the Australian society and economy.

If you are looking to travel to Australia, then please consider these visa classes:

 

Visa Classes:

• Permanent entry visa
• Work visa
• Temporary entry visa
• Visitor visa
• Business visa

Permanent Entry Visa

Australia accepts people from overseas for permanent settlement in the country under two main migration streams:

• The Migration Program
• The Humanitarian Program

The Migration Program caters for all potential applicants wishing to migrate to Australia.

The Migration Program

Potential migrants to Australia are selected based on skills, health, financial resources, age, English language ability and family and business contacts in Australia. Race, gender and culture are not considered at all. Migrants today fall into two main categories for a place in the Migration Program:

Skilled Migrants

Business Migrants

Half the 80,000 places each year go to skilled migrants as Australia seeks those migrants who have skills and qualifications to improve the Australian society and economy.

The other half of the Migration Program places go to family reunion and resettlement of former residents and citizens, and for the families of New Zealanders. These categories are:

• Family Migrants
• Special Eligibility

Skilled Migrants

There are five categories of migrants in the Skilled Scheme:

1. Independent Skilled Migrants

• For qualified persons in an approved occupation in Australia
• Must be under 45 years of age to apply

2. Skilled Migrant - Australian Linked

• Applicants who have close family members in Australia who are able to sponsor them.
• Applicants are assessed on age, qualifications, English & other language abilities.

3. Distinguished Talent

• This is a small category for especially talented people, particularly in the arts or in sports.

4. Employer Nominated Migrant

• Employers may nominate skilled people from overseas to fill an Australian job vacancy when no one local has suitable skills for the job.
• Age, qualifications and English abilities are assessed.

5. Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme

• If your Australian employer, who wants to nominate you, is in a remote area outside metropolitan districts, he or she can sponsor you through this scheme.

Business Migrants

• Business Migrants come under the Skilled Migrants Stream, but there are so many special provisions for them that Australian Visas puts them in separate categories.
• The Business Skills visa class of Australia's migration program encourages successful business people to settle permanently in Australia and develop new or existing businesses. Business owners and investors can apply for a visa under the Business Skills category.
• Under the two-stage arrangements, business migrants are granted a Business Skills (Provisional) visa for four years and, after establishing the requisite level of business or maintaining their eligible investment, are eligible to make an application for a Business Skills (Residence) visa.
• A direct permanent residence category will still be available for high-calibre business migrants sponsored by State/Territory governments. This is known as the Business Talent visa.

The Business Skills program is divided into four categories:

• The Business Skills program is divided into three categories:

  1. Business owner - for owners or part-owners of a business

  2. Investment - for investors/business people willing to invest in Australia

  3. Business talent- for high-calibre business people who have sponsorship from a State/Territory government

The Australian Government implemented a two-stage visa arrangement for business people. Most people interested in coming to Australia under the Business Skills category will need to apply for a Business Skills (Provisional) visa.

After successfully establishing the requisite level of business activity or maintaining a designated investment in Australia, holders of a Business Skills (Provisional) visa will be eligible to lodge an application for permanent residence in Australia.

State/Territory government sponsorship will be available at both the provisional and permanent residence stages, with significantly lower requirements when sponsored.

A direct permanent residence category will still be available for high calibre business migrants sponsored by state/territory governments. This will be known as the Business Talent (Migrant) visa.

Business People on a Short Stay

If you need to visit Australia to conduct business - a conference, site inspection, negotiations or perhaps an exploratory visit - there are a number of visa options. For example, the Business (Short Stay) Visa allows the bona fide business person unlimited travel to Australia. Visits can be up to three months and you can choose the period of time the visa is valid up to the life of your passport or five years, whichever is longer. 

Family Migrants

Currently, 32,000 migrants will be accepted in the Family Stream section. Family migrants must have a responsible relative in Australia who will sponsor them. Family members not able to support themselves (aged relatives or dependent children) apply under this class. Independent working age family members should apply under the Skilled Migrant Australian linked class.

As a Family Migrant you will not be tested on your skill level or your English Language ability, but you will be assessed against Australia's health and character requirements, as are all migrants.

You may apply as a Family Migrant in one of the following categories:

 

1. Partner

 

• Spouse - or established partner
• Prospective Marriage Partner - intending to get married or engaged to be married
• De Facto relationships

Child

• Dependent Child - your child who is financially dependent on you. This can apply to children over 18 if they are still fully dependent on their Australian sponsor.
• Adoption
• Orphan Relative  

Parent

• Parent applications are given a low priority. Limited places are available.
• Contributory Parent visas

Other Family

• Aged Dependent Relative - single aged relatives
• Remaining Relative - last remaining family relative
• Carer - person traveling to Australia to care for a special need relative
  
  The following categories of migrant can apply under this section:
• Former citizens or residents of Australia
• Family of New Zealand citizens - for dependents of New Zealand citizens who have settled or intend to settle permanently in Australia

Work visa 
Work Visas are only available in certain circumstances. The options are:  

Working Holiday Maker Visa - The main intention of your trip should be recreation, but you will be allowed to do part-time and temporary work to supplement your income. This is available to citizens of the following countries: Canada, Japan, Ireland, Korea, Malta, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30. Note: This visa is not available to South African citizens.

Temporary Residence Visa with Working Rights - this visa is for applicants wishing to work in Australia for up to 4 years. Employer sponsorship is the main requirement. Your employer must arrange this from Australia. Only when the sponsorship is approved can you apply for a temporary residence visa.

Students
Australia's student visa program provides for the entry of overseas students who wish to undertake full-time study in registered courses in Australia.Work rights for students have been made available so that students can supplement their income, rather than it being their sole source of finance.Work rights, while their Australian institution is in session, are limited to 20 hours per week. There are no limits while the institution is not in session.

Business people
If you need to visit Australia to conduct business - a conference, site inspection, negotiations or perhaps an exploratory visit - there are a number of visa options. For example:The Business (Short Stay) visa allows the bona fide business person unlimited travel to Australia. Visits can be up to three months and you can choose the period of time the visa is valid up to the life of your passport or five years, which ever is longer. 

Visitor visas 
If you are the citizen of any country other than Australia and New Zealand, you will need a visa (or in some cases an Electronic Travel Authority, ETA) to visit Australia. On a standard visitor visa you can stay up to 3 months from the date of entry. The visa is for multiple travel and can be used to enter Australia for 1 year from the date of issue. You are not permitted to work on this visa. You can also apply for a long stay visa. This is usually granted for stays up to 6 months. Electronic applications are generally processed within 24 hours. 

You are eligible to enter Australia on an ETA if you meet the following conditions:

• You hold a passport approved for ETA
• Your visit to Australia is for the purposes of: tourism, visiting relatives, business meetings, a convention or conference, or a short term project or event requiring a high level of skill
• You will not work in Australia if you hold a tourist ETA
• You will not stay in Australia for more than three months
• You are in good health and have no criminal convictions