VISA Criteria


Visa Criteria

Business migrants taking the first pathway must undergo a 2-stage progression to obtain residency. As such, visa holders are first granted a Business Skills (Provisional) Visa for 4 years and, after establishing the requisite level of business or maintaining their suitable investment, will be eligible to make an application for a Business Skills (Residence) Visa.

The second pathway leading to direct permanent residence is only open to high-calibre business migrants sponsored by a State/Territory government. This category is known as the Business Talent Visa (see below).

The Business Skills Program is divided into 4 categories:

  • Business Owner category for owners or part-owners of a business
  • Senior Executive category for senior executive employees of major businesses
  • Investor category for investors/business people willing to invest in Australia
  • Business Talent category for high-calibre business people who have sponsorship from a State/Territory government.

Partner Visa

A partner visa is for fianc'e(e)s, spouses and de-factor or same-sex partners of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens.

The first requirement of a partner visa is to show evidence that your relationship is genuine and lasting and that you intend to live together on a permanent basis. Only one application is necessary for a partner visa which includes the temporary visa and the permanent resident visa. The temporary visa is issued for the partner to travel from his/her home country abroad to Australia where he/she may then adjust his/her status to permanent resident.

Child Visa

Dependent children are always welcome to join their parents in Australia. While it is an option for the children to migrate to Australia with the migrating parent, sometimes children migrate separately. There are visas for biological children, orphan relatives and adopted children of Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens - these children may receive permanent resident visas, meaning they can live in Australia permanently and eventually apply for citizenship. There are also visas available for children, under the age of 18, of persons who in Australia on temporary student, worker or business visas.

Parent Visa

There are two categories of parent visas - Aged Parent (Residence) (Sublcass 804) and Parent (Migrant) (Subclass 103).

To be eligible for an aged parent visa, you must be sponsored by your child or stepchild who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen. You must also meet one of the following requirements:

  • At least half of your children are Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens who are usually resident in Australia; or
  • You have more children living in Australia as Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens than in any other country.

Documentations

Those travelling for business purpose and have U.S. green cards are needed to have a range of documents such as: a legal passport from their nation; their green card as evidence of U.S. residence; two passport sized photos; request Form 456; a submission checklist along with Form 456 that helps travellers in the visa procedure; and proof of health cover for example an indemnity certificate. Documentation for tourists having green cards comprises of: a legal passport; request Form 48 and submission checklist; a passport sized photograph; and proof of health insurance.

Proof of requirement of Travelling

Both business as well as tourist green card owners should offer proof for their purpose of moving to Australia. For business people these consist of: a business memo of liability and an agreement communication on official letterhead representing the tasks to be executed as the person stays in Australia; and a note of invite from the host in Australia. Other necessities consist of evidence of educational and professional credentials. Those coming for tourism are needed to produce their travel schedule and invite note if visiting near and dears.

Financial and Character

Both business as well as tourist green card owners ought to have sufficient money to satisfy their requirements while they stay in Australia. Apart from the requirement of having health cover, candidates ought to produce an evidence of their accessible finances. Candidate may produce bank documents and inspected accounts reports, credit limits of credit cards, salary slips or tax paperwork. These are examined by the immigration executive. In addition candidates may require submitting a character affidavit and showing any criminal history certificate.

Fee

Applicants are also required to pay for a suitable Visa charges. Appropriate visa charges can be enquired from the Australian embassy.

Visa Request

Request for an Australian visa may be forwarded online over the internet through the website of Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship. It can also be forwarded by taking the services of an immigration agent.

The Australian Subclass 457 Work Visa allows Australian and overseas employers to sponsor an immigrant worker to enter Australia for up to 4 years in order to engage in skilled work. The visa holder's family members can also gain entry to Australia, and may work and/or study during their stay.

Once a person enters Australia on a 457 work visa, there is no limit to the number of times he or she can enter and leave the country during the time frame of his or her visa.

Both business as well as tourist green card owners ought to have sufficient money to satisfy their requirements while they stay in Australia. Apart from the requirement of having health cover, candidates ought to produce an evidence of their accessible finances. Candidate may produce bank documents and inspected accounts reports, credit limits of credit cards, salary slips or tax paperwork. These are examined by the immigration executive. In addition candidates may require submitting a character affidavit and showing any criminal history certificate.

Sponsorship

Most employers who sponsor workers via a 457 visa do so as a standard business sponsor, but in some circumstances employers may also sponsor via a labour agreement instead. A labour agreement is required in the following circumstances:

  • Sponsorship is sought for workers in the meat or on-hire industries
  • The sponsor is seeking to address 'special labour market circumstances'
  • Sponsorship is sought for a role that is not on Australia's Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL)

International students have a variety of options for studying in Australia, and tens of thousands of students travel to the country every year to take advantage of the high level of education offered. From primary school all the way to post graduate study, our team can help you get the most out of your studies in Australia.

ELICOS Sector Student Visa (subclass 570)

This visa subclasses for international students who want to study English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) in Australia. Where a student is undertaking ELICOS as a prerequisite to another course, the student must apply under the subclass relevant to the principal course.

Schools Sector Student Visa (subclass 571)

This visa subclass is designed for international students applying to study in Australia and whose main course of study is a primary school course, a secondary school course, including junior and senior secondary, or an approved secondary school exchange program.

Vocational Education and Training Sector Student Visa (subclass 572)

This visa subclass is designed for international students applying to study in Australia and whose main course of study is for Certificate I, II, III, and IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma.

This visa is for the temporary entry of people for tourism purposes

This visa is available to all passport holders who are outside Australia and want to apply for a visa to visit Australia.

Visitors of certain nationalities are eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or an eVisitor.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

The Australian High Commission accepts two formats of passport copies:

  • Notarized copies of ALL pages, blank or otherwise; or
  • Copies certified by VFS.

Under the temporary visa framework there are four temporary activity visa subclasses:

  • Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) (subclass 400) visa;
  • Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) visa;
  • Training (subclass 407) visa; and
  • Temporary Activity (subclass 408) visa.