|
Australian Visa Classes
The following summary gives an overview of some of the
main Australian visa categories. It is not an exhaustive list, and is
intended only to give you only an indication of what options may be
available to you. Other visa categories exist - please contact Advance Australia Visas for further
information.
Permanent Resident
Visas
General Skilled Migration
Visas under this category are for highly skilled
applicants who, due to their qualifications and work experience, should
be able to contribute to the Australian economy.
You must be under 45 years of age, have sound English
language ability, and must usually have formal qualifications (either
trade or tertiary) and recent work experience. Your occupation must be
included in the Skilled Occupations List, and you must have your skills
assessed in Australia by the relevant assessing authority. You will
usually have to achieve a
pass mark in a points test. Your prospects of success may also be
enhanced if you
have a close relative living in Australia.
International students who have studied for at least 2
years in Australia may be able to lodge an application for General
Skilled Migration without any work experience.
All applications under the General Skilled
Migration
programme must be lodged at the Adelaide Skilled Processing Centre. You
cannot lodge an application of this type outside Australia.
Employer Sponsored Migration
 An application may be made under this
category where an employer wishes to secure the services of a person
who possesses skills not readily available from within the Australian
workforce.
The employer must show that they meet key criteria to
be approved as a sponsor.
You must be offered a full-time, permanent position with the company,
and will usually need to be under 45 years of age. The position
must be included on the Employer Nomination Scheme Occupation List, and
minimum gazetted salary levels must be satisfied.
Specific provisions exist where the position to be
filled is within a
designated regional area of Australia.
Business Skills
Migration
You may be able to come to Australia if you have a
successful record of business or investment management, and wish to
continue business or investment activities in this country.
Most business applicants will need to enter Australia
on a provisional (temporary) visa, valid for a period of 4
years. After satisfactory evidence of a specified level of
business or investment activity, applicants may apply for permanent
resident visas. However, there is provision for high calibre
business applicants to obtain permanent resident visas from the
outset. Your application may need to be supported by an
authorised Australian State or Territory business development agency.
Most applications under the Business Skills programme
must be lodged at the Perth Business Centre.
Partner Migration
Partner applications can be made by the spouse
(married or de facto), fiancé or interdependent partner of an
Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
Interdependent relationships include same sex couples. De facto
spouses must usually have been in the relationship for at least 12
months immediately before lodging the visa application.
In each case, you must be sponsored by your partner.
Applicants for
spouse or interdependent visas must satisfy the Department of
Immigration that
the relationship is genuine and continuing, and applicants for
fiancé visas must be able to prove that they will marry their
partner within 9 months of the grant of the visa.
Parent Migration
If you are the parent of an Australian citizen or a
permanent resident of Australia, you may be eligible to apply for a
visa, if you are sponsored by one of your children.
You must demonstrate that at least half of your
children live permanently in Australia, and your sponsor must be
"settled", which usually requires him/her to have resided permanently
in Australia for at least 2 years.
There are 6 different types of Parent visas -
government fees, Assurance of Support bonds and other statutory charges
range from under $6000 to
around $75,000, and processing times can vary dramatically depending on
the visa category
selected! Please contact us for advice on the best Parent visa to
suit your circumstances.
Applications for Parent visas where the applicant is
not already in Australia must be lodged at the Perth Offshore Parent
Centre.
Temporary
Resident Visas
 Retirement Visas
The
Investor
Retirement visa (subclass 405) is for applicants who want to retire to
Australia. You must be more than 55 years of age, and will need to
demonstrate
that you are financially self-sufficient. You must be sponsored by an
Australian State or Territory government, and will need to make a
substantial
investment with the relevant treasury. If you wish, you can work
in
Australia for up to 20 hours per week, and you must take out private
health
insurance.
The
Retirement visa
(subclass 410) is only available
to people who already hold this type visa and want to renew their
current visa for a further 4 years
Student Visas
Student visas are available for people who want to
undertake an approved course of study in Australia. You will need to
demonstrate that you are able to support yourself while in Australia,
and that you will study on a full-time basis.
If you hold a student visa, you may apply for
permission to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time.
Long-stay
Temporary Work Visas
Commonly referred to as a "Work Permit", this type of
visa enables people to work in Australia for up to 4 years.
You can be employed by either an Australian company or
an overseas company wishing to develop a branch in Australia. In
either case, you will need to be sponsored by the company before a visa
can be granted.
Other Temporary Visa Categories
There are many other temporary visa categories that
may be suitable for you. Please contact us for details
Visitor Visas
Tourist Visas
Long or short stay visitor visas are available for
those people wishing to come to Australia as tourists. Tourist visas
usually allow a visit of up to 3 months, but under certain
circumstances can be granted to cover an extended visit of up to 12
months.
Business Visitor Visas
If you need to visit Australia for business purposes
(such as to attend a conference, investigate business opportunities, or
to negotiate a contract), you may be able to get a short stay business
visitor visa, which is usually valid for a stay of up to 3 months.
Note, however, that this is not a work permit.
Sponsored Visitor Visa
If you have previously had difficulty obtaining a
visitor visa, your chances of success may be improved if you are
sponsored by an approved person in Australia. Your sponsor will be
asked to pay a bond on your behalf, which will be returned providing
you comply with the terms of your visa.
Working Holiday Visas
This scheme allows young people from certain countries
to have an extended holiday in Australia of up to 12 months. It may
also be possible to apply for permission to remain in Australia for a
further 12 months. Holders of
working holiday visas are allowed to supplement their travel funds
through temporary or casual employment of up to 6 months with any one
employer. Applicants must be aged between 18 and 30.
Working Holiday Visas are currently available for
people from 19 different countries - please contact us for
details.
Electronic Travel Authorities
An Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) is the electronic
equivalent of a visa label in a passport. It enables you to obtain
authority to enter Australia at the same time as you book your travel
arrangements, either through your travel agent or by an airline.
ETA arrangements are available to passport holders
from 32 countries around the world. ETAs can be issued for tourists or
for business visitors, and allow up to 3 months stay in Australia per
visit.
|
