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Related pages on this website:
Australian Visas
Australian Migration
Australian Citizenship
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Australian Visa Application
When applying for migration to Australia, you will need pass the "character
test". This takes account of various aspects and includes a criminal
conviction check. It is important to understand that "spent convictions
legislation" does not apply to decisions made under immigration law, therefore
you must declare ALL convictions, no matter how old. This is specified under
section 6 of the
Character Checks - Frequently Asked Questions Page.
In general you must be between 18 and 45 and have skills and experience in
an occupation where Australia has a shortage of workers, to be able to get a
visa to live and work in Australia.
THE VARIOUS VISAS FOR ENTRY TO AUSTRALIA
General Skilled Migration Visa
There is a range of different
General
Skilled Migration visas available:
- Three of these can be applied for, and
granted, while you are in Australia
- Five can be granted while you are outside
Australia
- One can be applied for, and granted, either
in or outside Australia - conditions apply
- Three are only available to New Zealand
citizens in Australia
Employer Sponsored Migration
There are 3
permanent
employer sponsored visas:
- Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 121/856)
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 119/857)
- Labour Agreements.
Business Skills Entry
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. They are available as both Provisional and Permanent.
Family Migration
There are a number of
Family Migration options for fiance(e)s, partners, children, parents and
other family members of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or
eligible New Zealand citizens.
Visas subclass 309 and subclass 820
are provisional visas issued to people who are applying for permanent residence
on 'spouse' grounds. The provisional visa will lead to the grant of a permanent
'spouse' visa (subclass 100 or subclass 801) as long as the Department of
Immigration and Citizenship decides that the person's relationship is still
'genuine and ongoing' 2 years after the person applied for the visa.
Retirement Visa
An
Investor Retirement Visa (subclass 405 - Temporary)
is a temporary entry visa only. It does not lead
to permanent residence in Australia or to Australian citizenship.
If you are considering applying for an
Investor Retirement visa, the principal applicant must be 55 years or older,
have no dependants (other than a spouse), and be able to be self-supporting in
Australia without cost to Australia's social and welfare services systems.
The Investor Retirement visa does not provide
any entitlement to coverage by Medicare (Australia's national health cover) or
to Australian social security benefits. Applicant will be required to hold
private medical coverage for the duration of their visa.
If your application is approved, you will be
given a visa that will allow multiple travel in and out of Australia initially
for 4 years. Before your visa expires, you may apply to remain for further
stay of 4 years, however, you will need to satisfy particular criteria for
this further visa. There is no maximum period for which you can remain in
Australia as the holder of consecutive Investor Retirement visas.
Investor retirement visa holders are subject
to the 8104 'limited work rights' condition and will be valid until the expiry
of your current visa allowing you to work for up to 20 hours per week.
There are no concessions if you have any
family or children in Australia.
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs - Retirement Visa Link
Occupation in Demand
Doctors & Nurses
457
Temporary Business Visa (Long Stay)
475
Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa
This visa requires you to be sponsored by an eligible person or government.
You must live for two years and work for at least 12 months in a Specified
Regional Area of Australia.
After that time you can then apply for Permanent Residency.
Student Visa
Tourist Visas and Working Holiday Visas
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Tourist Visa's and Working Holiday Visa's (for those aged 18-30)
need to apply for various
Visitor
Visa's, some of which are available electronically.
-
From 21 April 2008, the Australian Department of Immigration and
Citizenship has implemented some minor changes to the ETA system. Most ETA
applications will still be processed instantly, however a small number of cases
may require some additional processing.
-
There is also a slight change being made from 26 April 2008 to
the e676 eVisa form to contain additional questions on Health and Character.
-
Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
www.immi.gov.au/.../417
- For people from Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of
Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom.
Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
www.immi.gov.au/.../462
- For tertiary educated people from Chile, Thailand, Turkey and the USA to holiday and work in Australia.
Tourist Visa (Subclass 676)
www.immi.gov.au/.../676
- This visa is for people who want to visit Australia for a holiday or recreation,
visit family and/or friends, or study for up to three months. This visa may also
be used for other short-term non-work purposes including study for less than
three months.
This temporary visa is generally granted for a stay of 3 or 6
months.
You can apply for a stay up to 12 months but the period of stay granted
will depend on the purpose of the visit and your personal circumstances.
ETA (Visitor) (Subclass 976)
www.immi.gov.au/.../976
- An ETA (Visitor)
subclass 976 is designed for people who are outside Australia and want to
visit Australia for holidays, tourism, recreation, and informal studies or
training.
Sponsored Family Visitor visa (subclass 679)
www.immi.gov.au/.../679
- For people seeking to visit family in Australia. Formal sponsorship by an
Australian citizen or permanent resident is required.
- You can visit Australia once, usually to stay for a period of up to 3 or 6
months, but in certain circumstances a stay of 12 months may be granted. While
in Australia you can also study for up to three (3) months.
and... for after you have your
Permanent Residency (PR), and your initial entry visa has expired, but before
you get your Citizenship...
RESIDENT RETURN VISA (RRV)
A Resident Return visa (RRV) is valid for 3
months or 5 years (depending on circumstances).
It allows Australian permanent residents to
travel to and from Australia as often as they wish within the validity of the
visa, while maintaining their status as permanent residents. A 5 year RRV costs
AUD$240 (July 2008) regardless of whether you apply within Australia or
overseas.
How do I apply for a Resident Return Visa (RRV)?
To be eligible for a Resident Return Visa (RRV),
you must be:
- a permanent resident holding a valid
permanent visa,
- a former permanent resident whose last
permanent visa was not cancelled, or
- a former Australian citizen who has lost or
renounced their Australian citizenship.
In addition to the above, to be eligible for a
five year RRV:
- you must be lawfully present in Australia
for a total of at least 2 years in the 5 years immediately before lodging the
application for the visa, or
- you must have substantial and beneficial
business, cultural, employment or personal ties to Australia and compelling
reasons if you have been absent from Australia for more than 5 years, or
- you must be a member of the family unit of a
person who holds a valid RRV or who has applied for and met the criteria for
an RRV.
If you do not meet these criteria, but have to
leave Australia for compassionate and compelling reasons, you may be eligible
for a 3 month RRV. If you are unable to meet the RRV requirements in your own
right, but you are a member of the family unit of a person who holds an RRV, you
may be granted an RRV with the same validity period as the family head's RRV.
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