Atlantic Hoppers

Which Australia Visa do I Need?

An Australia visa is required to enter the country, regardless of the time spent there. It may be for a short holiday, a business trip or emigration, but nothing can happen without first being granted some type of visa.

Australia also has a list of Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) countries. In certain circumstances, being a citizen of one of these nations enables the applicant to make a faster visa application online.

Australian visas can be characterised according to two factors; the time spent in Australia and the purpose of the visit. While these specific visas can be split into a vast array of specific visas, it is simpler to characterise them as follows: work, business, working holiday, travel, student, family and retirement.

With each category we will set out the requirements and entitlements briefly. Firstly, work visas.

Work visas have various criterion for each sub section but ultimately the more desirable your skills or work experience you can offer, the greater the chance you have of obtaining your chosen visa. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has drawn up a points-based assessment to determine whether applicants should be accepted as Australian residents.

These work visas generally apply to those aged between 18 and 45. If you achieve 120 points or more on the skilled occupation test, you should be granted a skilled independent visa. This then entitles you to permanent residency in Australia with no restrictions regarding work or travel. Most that achieve this have skills that Australia may have a shortage of.

Should you score between 100 and 120 points you can still receive full, permanent Australian residency, but only with the sponsorship from a living relative in Australia or from the government of a participating state or territory. Certain skills may only be needed in a specific territory, and so it may be possible to obtain a visa in this respective territory; this is a skilled regional sponsored visa. To do this the applicant must commit to spending at least three years working and living in this state or territory, thus it is only temporary residency that is granted.

Business visas apply to those you wish to work in Australia. This may be short-term visits, long placements or investment. Within this category, there are also various Australia visas.

Under the ETA Business visa, there are short-term and long-term options. If you are a resident or citizen of a country eligible for an Business ETA, and wish to travel to Australia to attend a conference or as an exploratory business visit for less than three months then a short-term visa is required. You can travel to Australia for up to three months within a 12 month period. If the work you do will require more frequent exploratory trips to Australia, then a long-term visa is valid for 10 years or up to the expiry of your passport is more suitable. The applicant is still only entitled to be in Australia for three months at a time, but the expiry of the visa is longer. This work does not apply, however, to acting and musical performances.

There are also investor visas, business owner visas and senior executive visas. The basis of all of these is very similar and there are only slight, nuanced differences. All require the applicant to be under 45 years of age and have a proven track record in generating turnover for business. They must be able to prove they are committed to the business interest in Australia. They are all temporary visas which enable the applicant to travel and work in Australia for up to four years. Upon the qualification of this entitlement, the applicant may be eligible for permanent residence.

Australian working holiday visas are suited to those who wish to travel in the country for a good length of time, but do not intend to stay long-term; primarily gap year students and alike who wish to support their travel costs with small amounts of work. The Working Holiday Program has a list of around 30 countries whereby residents of the respective countries can apply for a working holiday visa. These visas are available to applicants aged 18 to 30 and are valid for 12 months from the date of entry. It enables the applicant to work for six on those months, or study for four, or both.

Travel visas are essential for holidaymakers to Australia, even for the shortest trips. The most popular of these tourist visas is the ETA, as it allows for travel to Australia for tourism purposes for up to three months. Again, holders of passports from ETA countries can apply online and the process is a relatively straightforward one. Once the visa has been approved, the ETA is electronically attached to the applicant’s passport number.

Student visas apply to a wide range of levels of education. The lowest level is primary education, and the visas go right the way through to postgraduate and diploma courses. There are also courses for learning English, as well as specific vocational courses.

For any type of student visa the requirements are the same. Applicants must have the correct health insurance, they must have a good grasp of English, they must have a confirmed place on the course in question, and they must be able to support themselves financially during the period of study.

The amount of hours in which the applicant is allowed to study depends on the type of qualification. It is also worth noting that applicants who are below the age of 18 will need permission from a guardian or parent, as well as adequate care regarding accommodation, money and welfare during their time in Australia.

Family visas are available to those wishing to join a spouse or child in Australia. Being married to an Australian resident or citizen entitles that individual to a temporary spouse visa for two years, and then a permanent one if the couple remain together after that time. Parents can gain full residency if their child is already an Australian resident and sponsors them, although there are limited spaces for this parent visa each year.

It is also possible to apply for a retirement visa. Applicants must invest in the local state government and pay tax on any money earned. This visa lasts for four years but can be renewed upon completion.

With the variety of Australia visas on offer, the importance is placed on the understanding of the Australian immigration legislation. Once an applicant does that, there should be no problems.