Visas

There are many different visas for those who want to enter Australia. The Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship has a detailed website with information on all visa options and how to make an application.

Those who wish to visit Australia for a short period of time can do so on a visitor visa providing they have no intention of working while they are in the country and are only there to sight-see or visit relatives. Other short term visa options include the business visit visa, which covers those who need to attend work related functions such as training courses or conferences. This does not cover those who are involved in film or television work.

Young people who are travelling and wish to spend up to 12 months working in the country may do so on a working holiday maker visa and there are student visas available for those who wish to study at an Australian university. Temporary work visas are available for those who want to spend a fixed period of time working in the country.

Those who wish to apply for a working holiday maker visa do not have to do so on a paper form and these applications can be made online. The completed form can be found on the immigration department with the instructions on how to complete and submit the form. The form should be submitted along with the relevant fee for processing the application, a valid passport which has at least one page free and a stamped addressed envelope suitable for the return of your documents.

A temporary residence visa can be applied for if the individual is hoping to live and work in Australia for a short period to time. Those who are travelling as a religious worker, a domestic worker such as a nanny or au pair, a sportsman or an academic on a short contract at a university will apply under this category. Anybody applying under this category must be sponsored by an employer, who must file the sponsorship application for approval before the individual can apply for the visa. Included with the completed application form must be the fee and a passport for each person travelling.

For those who are planning on living and working in Australia for a longer period of time, there is the Skilled Migration Visa. These are issued at the discretion of the Australian Immigration department. In order to be eligible for one of these visas you need to be assessed on the points system. Points are given for your abilities in different categories and these include age, language skills, occupational skills and your previous work experience. There are a number of agents that have online points assessors that can tell you if you may be eligible and it is worth using one of these when you first consider moving to Australia.

The basic criteria for this category are to be between the ages of 18 and 44, have been employed recently in your chosen field, to be in good health and to have a good character. Once you have determined that you are eligible to apply then your skills will need to be assessed by the immigration authorities. The details of these need to be submitted to the relevant authority who will determine that you are correctly qualified and experienced within your chosen field.

Once these have been assessed you can submit your application for the visa. You will need to submit supporting documentation such as your passport, birth certificate, qualifications and references. The number of people accepted onto this scheme each year is strictly controlled and it should be noted that using an agent to help you with your application is no guarantee that you will be accepted. An agent will charge a fee and this is payable regardless of whether or not you are successful.

Those who are the partner or spouse of a permanent resident or citizen can apply for a visa on that basis. There is a visa that will allow an individual to live and work in the country while a decision is being made on their application for permanent residency. In order to apply you will need to provide evidence of the relations including information on each other’s personal circumstances, evidence of joint finances, statements from people who know you well to confirm that you are in a relationship, details of the history of the relationship, information on your domestic arrangements and your future plans, a copy of the marriage certificate if applicable and for those who are engaged, information on the wedding plans. The partner who is already a citizen or resident will need to sponsor the applicant, then when the sponsorship is approved the application for a visa can be made.

For those who work for a company in their home country which has a base in Australia, there are specific business visas which allow a worker to spend time and work in the country for a limited period of time. This can be for up to 4 years at a time and allows unlimited travel in and out of the country. In order to qualify you must be sponsored by the employer to fill a specific vacancy in Australia. You must have the necessary skills and qualifications to fill the experience. You must have good English language skills and be eligible to apply for any licences or permits that you may need in order to carry out your work. An applicant can also include dependent family members in this application. This includes a partner, dependent child or any other dependent relatives.

In order to apply you must first await the sponsorship approval. The employer must be approved to as a business sponsor. Then the employer needs to nominate the vacancy that needs to be filled by a foreign worker. They must detail which skills and qualifications are necessary for the post. The final stage is the visa application. The applicant will have to prove that they meet the requirements detailed for the vacancy and will need to submit supporting documentation to prove qualifications, experience and references.

The duration of the visa will depend upon the length of the contract specified for the vacancy. These are for fixed term contracts only. If the position extends beyond the length of the visa a new visa will have to be applied for. It is now also possible for somebody to change jobs while they are in the country without having to reapply for a visa.

When applying for a visa, particularly those intended for long term stays in Australia, you may need to undergo a medical examination. If this is the case it will be detailed in the information guide on how to complete your application. If you are required to undergo a medical examination you will need to present your passport to the panel physician. After you undergo the examination the panel doctor will submit the results to the Migration branch which is processing your application. You cannot be examined by your own doctor, but must see one that is nominated by the visa office.

Visa applicants must also provide evidence of good character. Those who are planning on staying in the country for more than 12 months will be asked to provide a police clearance to prove that they do not have a criminal record. This does not normally apply to those aged under 16. Occasionally those who are staying for less than 12 months may be asked for a police clearance also. This has to be done for each country that the applicant has lived in for more than 12 months. Instructions are given with the visa application guide on how to obtain a police clearance and for each country the amount of time to process a police clearance request is different, so the applicant should allow plenty of time for this information to be gathered. For example, in the UK, this is approximately 2 months.

Each visa application must be submitted with the relevant fee and applicants will need to consult the immigration department website or that of the local embassy or consulate to determine the current rates. Fees are regularly updated in accordance with fluctuating exchange rates. Payment methods will vary according to the visa office processing the application but most will accept payments by credit cards and bankers drafts. Most offices will not accept payments by personal cheque, business cheques, payments in currencies of other countries or credit cards issued in another country. If you fail to submit the correct payment or submit a payment in an unacceptable form then you will be contacted and your application will be put on hold. An officer will telephone or email you so that you are informed immediately to minimise the delay to your application, but this will only progress when the correct payment has been made.