Categories: Move to Australia

Migrant guide: Choosing the right Australian visa

THE thousands of migrants coming to Australia every year are composed of people who want to work, study, travel, relocate, and reunite with loved ones. For each of these purposes, the Australian government has a specific type of visa that comes with the necessary requirements and conditions. There are also several visa subclasses that add to the complexity of dealing with Australian visas, which is the exact reason why the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) supports the consultation with migration experts like National Visas. Here are some instances where National Visas agents can assist:

Visa for jobseekers

Australia’s Skilled Migration program allows skilled foreign migrants to come to Australia to work in positions specified in the SOL and CSOL. Once jobseekers know that they have a definite position to fill, they can apply for a Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (or Subclass 457) that lets them work for an Australian employer for up to four years. States and territories also nominate eligible job applicants under the Skilled — Nominated visa (or Subclass 190).

There are a few basic details that visa applicants must take note. These two work visa subclasses require employer sponsorship or regional nomination, which can only be obtained once an applicant has submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI). Once a sponsoring employer or an invitation for visa application from a regional employer has been secured, the applicant can then lodge a visa.

For more information about help with Australian employer sponsored visas, view this short video

Visa for tourists and visitors

The Visitor Visa program permits people to visit Australia for specified periods of time for the purpose of doing holiday travel, undertaking minimal business activities, and visiting families and friends. For such purposes, people may apply for the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) visa or the eVisitor visa, which are also called Subclass 601 and 651, respectively. These visas allow their holders to remain in Australia for up to three months in each stay, which means that they can enter the country multiple times during the validity of the visa.

These Australian visitor visas can be lodged and are issued electronically, but only those holding a passport from eligible countries can apply. Applicants must be outside Australia during lodgement, but those who want to extend their stay may do so while in the country.

Visa for jobseekers and travellers

Australia also caters to tourists who want temporary employment while in the country. The Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417) and Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462) provide holders work and travel privilege. The visa holder can stay in the country for a year and undertake temporary employment for up to six months with an employer.

These two visa subclasses are for young travellers aged 18 to 30 who also hold passports from eligible countries. These visas can be issued electronically depending on the applicant’s situation.

Visa for students

Student visas are some of the most confusing to deal with because there are seven visa subclasses and five assessment levels. Australia permits all levels of students to come to the country to study and take advantage of the high-quality educational standards it has. However, students must have sufficient funds for their stay; family members included in the application must show separate proof of funds as well as meet family member eligibility requirements.

Student visa applicants are assessed into five levels (Assessment Level 1 to 5), where the higher level indicates students with a higher level of immigration risk. The assignment of the level is determined by the applicant’s passport nationality and the student visa subclass applied for. Assessment levels also determine the number of supporting documents the applicant needs to supply.

Visa for families

Family visas are also complicated because of the applicant categories (partner, parent, child, and other family members) and the corresponding visa subclass for each. There are several factors to consider in the application, such as the location of the applicant  at lodgement, the relationship with the relative settled in the country, and other eligibility matters. Hence, applicants must consult with expert migration agents in order to determine the appropriate visa. 

Discussed above are only some of the common Australian visas migrants can apply for in order to acquire legal entry to Australia. As visa conditions are updated regularly, first-time and experienced applicants can make use of the expertise of National Visas agents in migration law and visa processing in order to complete the procedures with minimal setbacks. National Visas has the right services for every need, ensuring that migrants can enter Australia well informed and with the appropriate visa.

National Visas

National Visas is Australia's leading provider of Australian visa and Australian immigration advice and is regulated by the Australian Government (OMARA).