sydneyboats

"Australians all let us rejoice for we are young and free,

We've golden soil and wealth for toil our home is girt by sea, .."

 

Email us

Migration options

Immigrate to Australia

If you wish not to speak to an agent directly, we suggest that you follow the link and work through the wizard to help you determine your preferred route/eligibility.

The above wizard gives a ‘general assessment’. Immigration agents are able to interpret the finer detail of Australia’s immigration laws and are thus sometimes able to successfully apply for visas where prospective migrants have not obtained sufficient results from the wizard.

Send an email of this page to someone you know by clicking on this link.

Do you have enough saved up? Check out the exchange rates:

Go to this link for "Information booklets" to tell you more about the migration process.

Visa options to Australia

Depending on your circumstances you can either apply directly to Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for a visa (there are certain "classes" or "sub-classes" for these visas) or, if you lack certain credentials you can first apply for a State sponsorship (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory), after which you can apply to DIAC for a visa "sub-class".

You will need to familiarise yourself with the different visa options as it is an important consideration in terms of your liklihood of success, processing times and costs. Send us an email if you would like us to refer a migration agent to you.

Choose one of mainly three types of visas for Temporary Residence status (there are other options):

** The rules and conditions noted here change from time to time. Please check the latest updates with a registered migration agent. **

  1. General Skilled Migration ("GSM"). Visas based on your professional or other skill (see below or click here for a summary)
  2. Employer Sponsored Migration. Visas based on a job offer (see below or click here for a summary)
  3. Business Skills Migration. Visas based on your business skill and investment (see below)

Generally speaking, the Australian government and States are moving towards giving preference to those who apply for visas based on job offer and visas based on business skill & investment. This does not discount visas based on professional or other skill - it only means that a greater allocation of visas will be afforded to the two categories mentioned above.

1. General Skilled Migration - “Professional and other skilled migrants to Australia”

Download Booklet 6 here.

Where someone gets a visa because they have a skill/occupation that there is a stated need for. Generally speaking, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), welcomes applicants for residence visas whose skills are in demand in the country.

What this means is DIAC will have identified a need for your skills and therefore will give preference to your application. This is good news but you will still have to comply with various other criteria such as health, a criminal check, a military check and other requirements. Should you prefer to handle your own application that can be done but it is very risky because, should you have difficulty, you will not have the experience, contacts or know-how to address the problem(s). See this link for the lasest developments.

Please note that the options below represent only a few. Also, DIAC may change visa rules - you need to confirm your eligibility for yourself or via an agent.

2. “Employer sponsored visas to Australia”

See this link to Booklet 5.

Where an employer in Australia offers someone a job. Note that the prospective employer has to be approved as a “Sponsor” and the prospective employee has to be approved as a “Nominee” before the so-called “457 visa” can be approved. See this link.

See also these links to permanent visas:

3. “Visas for Business people”

(you can download this booklet (Booklet 7) to help you understand the various options, process and obligations)

Herewith a list of some of the options available:

Where an investment is made in an existing or new business (note that there is no need to buy the business before applying, but a business plan needs to be submitted and the owner needs to show relevant business owner/manager experience. The business needs to be of a certain type). See this link for the different types of business visas to Australia.

Many applicants use state sponsored Business visas because their conditions are seen to be less onerous. Here is an example of what the Queensland state government expects (subject to change):

Temporary Business visa holders applying for Permanent Residence status (subclass 892)

Provisional visa holder

You are the holder of one of the following visas:

Health requirement

You must meet certain health requirements and may need to undergo a health examination.
See: Health Requirements

Character requirement

All family members must be of good character to enter Australia.
See: Character and Penal Clearance Requirements

Sponsorship

You have been sponsored by an appropriate regional authority of a State/ Territory government.

Ownership interest

You have had and continue to have, an ownership interest and direct and continuous management, in up to two actively operating main business in Australia for at least two years immediately before you apply. You must own at least:

A transitional provision is available if you have purchased a main business in Australia prior to 19 April 2010 and you are applying for this visa. Under these circumstances a minimum of 10 per cent ownership in a main business is required.

For each of these businesses, an Australian Business Number has been obtained for all Business Activity Statements (BAS) required by the Australian Taxation Office and you can provide evidence that the BAS were lodged to the ATO for the 2 years before you lodged your visa application.

Acceptable business record

You (or your partner) have never been involved in unacceptable business activities.

Time in Australia

You have been in Australia for at least one year cumulatively in the two years before you apply.

Other requirements

You must also meet at least two of the following three requirements (unless the appropriate state/territory authority has determined there are exceptional circumstances).

Annual turnover

Your main business (or two main businesses together), had a turnover of at least AUD200 000 in the 12 months immediately before you apply.
See: Definitions

This may not apply if you meet all of the following conditions:

Current trends for visas to Australia

There is a tendency for the authorities to move closer to the market being the determining factor in deciding the number of migrants coming to Australia. Thus, one may expect categories 2 and 3 above to receive greater attention/allocation going forward.

Although there is no problem with coming to Australia for a visit to investigate possible migration options, it is not advisable to fly to Australia on a holiday visa in the hope of securing a job or buying a business in view of an application for an “Employer sponsored” or “Business people” visa.

Tips for your visa application to Australia

Should you wish to not use a migration agent we suggest that you take note of the following tips:

Once your application has proceeded past the initial stage of approval a case officer is normally appointed, which makes correspondence and updating a whole lot easier.

Australian Immigration agents

DIAC awards licenses to selected migration agents. You can search for a suitable migration agent on the MARA web site. Recent developments in regards the skills and registration of suitable migrations is said to have initiated a review of the licensing process. Some South Africans have run into much difficulty in this regard.

The Klue family, for instance, have come unstuck mainly because of poor advice and poor service levels by immigration agents. To the credit of their immediate community many Australians have rallied around them to allow them passage and residence in Australia, but their future remains very much in the balance. Moreover, their ordeal has cost them many stressful days and thousands of dollars, which is money they’ll never see again.

Send us an email request and we’ll have an accredited and competent immigration agent contact you.