Getting into Australia requires one of a number of visas. Each one of these visas has qualifying requirements. 

Types of Australian visas:

1. Skilled Migration Visas

2. Employer Nominated/ Sponsored Visas

3. Student Visas

4. Business Visas

5. Family Visas

Skilled Migration Visa
This is based on a Points System. Points are allocated according to a number of criteria such as occupation, education levels, work experience, health and age. The criteria also vary according to the current Australian skills shortfall, giving preference to specific skills meeting the shortfall. See more detail.

Employer Nomination or Sponsored Visas 
The requirement is that the potential employer has to make a case for filling a position by a non-Australian. This type of visa can be either issued as a permanent or temporary visa. The temporary visa is easier to get and can be valid for up to 4 years. 

Student Visas 
Student visas are given to those who want to further their education in Australia. Although the fees are expensive (AU$10,000 to AU$15,000) you can work up to 20 hours a week on this visa. 

Business Visas 
People who have a business background and want to invest in Australia by starting a business may apply for this type of visa. The requirements are tough and there are many criteria that you have to adhere to. Remember that although businesses are similar the world over, doing business in another country is a lot different to doing business in South Africa - believe me on this one. See more detail.

Family Visas 
For people who already have family residing in Australia. See more detail.

Suitability assessment
Unsure of which visa you qualify or should apply for? Migration Expert's website offer a free Eligibility Assessment. We also suggest that you contact an immigration expert or look at the Australian Immigration Department website for more complete information and professional assistance. 

   

To sustain its population growth and fill specific skill shortages, Australia is looking to attract skilled migrants to its shores. The Skilled Migration Permanent Residency visa is specifically designed to target migrants who have skills or outstanding abilities which will contribute to the Australian economy.

Independent skilled migrants can come to Australia without a sponsor if their qualifications, job skills, and record of employment is good. This means they will be able to settle into the Australian way of life and find work within a short period. If you are applying for this visa, you will also need excellent English and to be of a young working age.

In recent years, Skilled Migration has accounted for more than half of all migration to Australia. In 2001-02, around 53,000 out of 93,000 places under Australia's Migration Program were made available to the Skilled stream. An additional 7,000 places were offered in 2002-03 which is 58 per cent of the total program - a significant increase from just 29 per cent in 1995-96. These levels are set to remain constant for the next four years.

Types of Skilled Migration visas

1. Skilled Independent visa – for those who do not have a family sponsor, or choose not to be sponsored. To qualify for this category, you must satisfy the Basic Requirements of the visa as well as pass the Australian Department of Immigration's Points Test. To find out if you meet the basic requirements of this visa type please click here.

2. Skilled Sponsored visa – if you have a family sponsor and an assurance of support. To qualify for this category, you must satisfy the Basic Requirements of the visa as well as pass the Australian Department of Immigration's Points Test. To find out if you meet the basic requirements of this visa type please click here.

3. Skilled Designated Area Sponsored visa – if you have a family sponsor living in a particular region of Australia. To qualify for this visa, you only need to satisfy the Basic Requirements of the visa. To find out if you meet the basic requirements of this visa type please click here.

Basic requirements for a Skilled Migration visa

1. Qualifications. You will need at least a post-secondary qualifications and have the required skills for your nominated occupation. See assessment of qualifications.

2. English language. You need to be able to speak English (or at least be able to converse in Australian). See English assessment.

3. Health & Age. Candidates younger than 45 (when you apply) in a state of good health are viewed favourably. See health assessment.

4. Nominated occupation. You have to nominate an occupation and therefore you will need the skills and qualifications to perform this occupation.

5. Recent work experience. As with most requirements they need to be up to date and the more experience you have will give you more points. 

Assessment of your qualifications

When you apply for migration to Australia under one of the Skilled Migration categories, you must select the name of your occupation from the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). This is called 'nominating' your occupation. Not all occupations are listed on the SOL, for example 'Farmer' is not listed. This is because Australia does not need more farmers: you cannot migrate with that nomination. You must nominate your occupation from those listed, and you will then have to prove that you have the required qualifications for that particular occupation.

The reason for this careful assessment is that in the past many new migrants found it difficult to find a job here. Their qualifications were different from those provided for the same job in Australian tertiary education institutes, and they had a difficult time explaining to employers in Australia what they could do. Many migrants remained out of work for long periods, even years, after they arrived in Australia, thus creating an unskilled, poor and marginalised sector of the population.

Assessing you against your nominated occupation

When you nominate your occupation, the assessment will be of your formal qualifications. If you nominate as an Electronics Engineer, for example, the assessing authority is the Institution of Engineers, Australia (IEAust). In Australia, Engineering is a professional occupation, and requires a degree from a university. So the IEAust will ask for your University degree qualifications, and your transcripts - the marks you got. If universities in your country are not standardised in academic levels, then the IEA will rate the standard of your particular campus. They will compare your transcripts and unit curriculum against those units included by Australian universities for the same profession. You are assessed on your qualifications, to see if you can claim to be educated to the same level as someone in Australia applying for the same job position. 

In Australia, trade skills are highly valued. You can get 60 points for your occupational skills in most trades. You will have to provide full documentation of your qualifications at trade school or apprenticeship training.

When you consult the SOL, you will notice a column of numbers listed as the 'ASCO Code' for each skill, a listed 'Assessing Authority' and 'Points for Skills'. These points are for those visas in the Skilled Migrants section that have the points test system.

What about work experience? 

You are not normally skills assessed for migration on your work experience. There are some exceptions.

• If your professional training requires work experience, like the training for nursing, then you will be required to have experience. This is different to the work experience required by DIMIA as part of the basic requirements of the visa. This is work experience required by your training college, as part of your qualification. 

• There are some jobs where work experience is accepted instead of formal qualifications. IT skills is one occupation where they will give you Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). With the RPL assessment, you are required to have 6 years work experience, and you will have to give evidence that your knowledge has developed to professional level. The application is not a mere listing of your employers for the past 6 years, but evidence that you have studied on your own to bring your core knowledge level up to equal a university training, and you have then used those skills to benefit your employers. 

• Occasionally a trade skill can also be assessed on work experience, with 6 years experience. Again, you will have to give documentary evidence that you can perform the range of skills, and you have a depth of knowledge, equal to someone who has had formal training. Apprenticeship, or self-training will have to be proved. A 'work experience' assessment is usually much more work and has less likelihood of success than an application by someone whose eligibility can be proved by records of formal qualification. Successful work experience assessments are rare. 

Who assesses you? 

Overseas applicants and graduate students in Australia applying for a skilled visa are assessed in most cases by the professional association for their skill, like the Australian Computer Society. Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) and Vocational Education and Training Assessment Services (VETASSESS) are the exceptions: these are government authorities.

What does it cost? 

Assessing authorities charge AUD$300 - AUD$600. If you have documented training and qualifications from a recognised educational institute. Recognised Prior Learning assessments cost more. There is some variation between assessing authorities.

   

English Language Skills

Since 1993 there has been a move by the Australian immigration authorities to improve the standard of English language skills of migrants. The focus is on the family members who will need to find a job soon after arriving in Australia. Primary applicants arriving in the country with poor English skills have less chance of finding work and will be slower at settling into the community, which is a financial burden for the Australian tax-paying public. Thus all adult migrants are required to give details about their English language skills and for most visa categories an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test is required. 

If you come from a country where English is the mother tongue, and taught in schools from kindergarten upwards as the main language of communication, you will not have to take the IELTS test. Similarly, if you hold a post-secondary level qualification in English you MAY not have to take an IELTS test. It somewhat depends on the standard of academic English acceptable in your country for post-secondary written and spoken work.

In the Skilled Migration visas, the standard of IELTS varies according to the specific skill of the applicant. The relevant Assessing Authority will determine the required pass level. Nurses, for example, require Academic IELTS with a 6.5 score for reading and listening, but a 7.0 score for speaking and writing. An overall band score for nurses must be at least 7.0. DIMIA will request the original of your IELTS test certificate. People with an English language standard below 5.0 overall band score, or with a band score too low for their points in the application, will be refused a visa.

English Assessment 

English language skills are assessed in four categories:

1. Reading - ability to read and understand texts on familiar topics. (This would not include technical language from another profession.)

2. Writing - you can write well enough to communicate ideas and information, but you make some grammatical or spelling errors. Computer skills help enormously these days.

3. Understanding - you can understand spoken English, unless it is technical language from another profession.

4. Speaking - you can speak fluently, but you know you make a few errors.

Functional English: English skills to the above standard is called "functional English". It is required for all employment where you must deal with the Australian public on a professional level - except those professional who are required to have an English standard higher than this, like nurses, pharmacists and teachers. If your English is functional or better you will not be able to take the language tuition under the Adult Migrant English Program, and thus no visa charge for your English tuition.

You can check prices for the IELTS, and their exam centres at www.ielts.org. 

If you are applying in the other sections of family reunion, for example for a Spouse Visa, you will not be asked to pay the English Education Charge, no matter what standard of English you have. If your English is below the functional standard, you will be entitled to up to 510 hours of tuition at an Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) course, to bring you up to this level. You must enrol within three months of your arrival in Australia. It makes no difference whether you have come in on one of the sections where payment is not required.

   

Health and Health Checks

Good Health

You need to be in good health for migration, and to have a history of reasonable health. The Australian government needs to be sure that you will not become a burden on their taxpayers soon after your arrival, nor that you are bringing into the country infectious diseases, such as Tuberculosis or HIV.

Everyone who plans to travel with you on your application will be required to have a health check, and if you have dependants who you are leaving behind, (other children, for example) they too will be required to have a health check. Everyone in your immediate family (husband, wife & kids) will require a health examination, whether they are travelling or not.

Medical Examinations

Forms for medical checks will be issued when your application has reached a specific stage in the process. They will also include a list of doctors approved by the Australian Immigration Department for you to select from. You can't use your own doctor. Costs for health examinations are approximately AUD$300 each, unless there are further tests. All medical costs associated with your application are your responsibility.

What they look for:

• Tuberculosis. This has become a world epidemic, and Australia has very low incidence. If you or any family member is detected to have a trace, even an old scar, you will not be able to travel until recommended treatment gives a successful result at another test. 

• Other indications of poor health where the person will need a considerable amount of treatment, support and assistance to bring them to a health standard which is considered normal for people living in Australia. This might be different from what is considered normal in other countries. 

The decision

The doctor who does the examination will make a full report in English. It is the Australian immigration authorities who decide if your health meets the required standard.

   

Good Character

People arriving in Australia with a visa, either to stay permanently or just for a few months, must be of good character. They must satisfy what are referred to as the "Public Interest Criteria", those requirements that effect the Australian public. It is the job of the visa applicant to prove that he or she is of good character.

Section 501 of the Migration Act 1958, now includes a character test in the visa application to allow visa officers to assess people’s character, and this test also allows the officers some discretion in accepting a visa on character grounds.

Permanent Exclusion from Australia

If your visa is refused at application on the grounds of either a substantial criminal record or past criminal conduct you will never gain visa grant for Australia in the future. Or if your visa is cancelled as a result of your criminal conduct while you are here (and you have not become a citizen) then you will never be granted another Australian visa.

Passing and failing the Character Test

You may fail the character test if you:

• Have a substantial criminal record. This means a prison term of more than 1 year, a life or death sentence, two or more prison terms that total more than two years in jail. Or if you have been acquitted of an offence on the grounds of unsoundness of mind or insanity, and as a result been placed in a secure facility. [Just an aside: the Aussies don't enjoy the joke that "all you need is a criminal record" to be accepted by the ex-con colony - believe me, I have tried :-)]

• Have, or have in the past, been associated with a group or an individual who has been involved in criminal activities.

• Give the Australian Visa authorities reason to believe there is a significant risk that you may engage in criminal behaviour, such as causing mental or physical harm to someone in Australia, or saying and writing publicly that a section of the Australian community is ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’, without giving due cause, or that you may spread and incite discord in Australia.

• When your past or present behaviour gives the Australian authorities reason to consider that you are not of good character.

Discretionary powers of Australian visa officers

When a visa applicant fails the Character Test, or a visa holder commits an act that threatens their good character record resulting in their visa being refused or withdrawn, the Australian visa officers may exercise their discretion to allow a visa grant or the continuation of the visa. There are strict guidelines for allowing a favourable discretionary decision.

Police Clearances and other character references (also see next section)

You may be asked to provide a police certificate or clearance to show whether you are of good character. In some instances applicants may be asked for more personal details to enable further character checks to be made. If the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) requires this information, they will contact you. You don’t have to provide this information when you apply, but we did supply a South African and Australian police clearance. It definitely helps to a 'complete' application to expedite the evaluation of your application.

   

Police certificates and Clearance

In South Africa: The application only required us to complete a form which asked for our ID numbers, some personal details, and contact details. It took two months to get an answer from Pretoria, so don't leave this until the last minute. It is valid for an extended period (usually a couple of months). 

In Australia: Send in all personal details about yourself — your name, address, date of birth, and passport number. It is best to telephone or write first to find out what details the police want. A self-addressed envelope is a good idea if you write. 

   

Some additional info on Skilled Migration visas

For overseas residents the Visa process is as follows:

1. Apply for sponsorship to the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, providing your information such as CV, job description and letter of offer. If you use an agent, this process tends to take up to 4 weeks for approval.

2. When you receive notification that sponsorship is approved, you must then complete Forms 1066 and 160 - which will be sent to you. A medical examination including chest X-Ray is required with Form 160 (this includes, where relevant, your partner/children also coming to Australia). This process tends to take 6 – 8 weeks in total.

The visa is usually for a period of 4 years and is granted for the individual working. Individuals are not permitted to change employment or employer without prior approval from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. 

The visa covers the individual’s partner – i.e. sponsorship allows an individual’s partner the right to work in Australia as well.

For more information visit the website of the Department of Immigration at www.immi.gov.au.

   

Two-stage migration scheme

On 1 March 2003, a new two-stage Business Migration scheme was introduced for Australia. Under this new arrangement, business migrants are granted a Provisional Visa for four years. After establishing the required level of business or maintaining their eligible investment, they can apply for a Business Skills Residence Visa.

A positive aspect behind these changes is that it gives prospective business migrants the opportunity to trial their intentions in Australia rather than making a permanent decision. They can gain a firsthand perspective on business opportunities available in Australia, liaise with Australian State/ Territory Government agencies and local businesses on the type of business which may be favourably viewed, conduct market research, meet local citizens, and examine the settlement and education prospects for their families as well as experience the Australian lifestyle.

Types of Business Visas

1. Senior Executive (Provisional) Visa - is aimed at successful senior executives of major businesses who demonstrate a genuine commitment to participating, as a substantial owner, in managing a new or existing business in Australia. Click here for a free assessment.

2. Business Owner (Provisional) Visa - is aimed at successful owners or part-owners of a business with a legitimate interest in establishing and managing a business in Australia. Click here for a free assessment.

3. Investment Linked (Provisional) Visa - is aimed at successful business investors with a genuine commitment to maintain business or investment activity in Australia after the designated investment matures. Click here for a free assessment.

4. Established Business Owner Visa - For successful owners or part owners of one or more businesses already established in Australia, seeking to change their residency status from temporary to permanent. Click here for a free assessment.

Information sourced from the Migration Expert's website.

   

Popular visa

Of the 110,000 visas on offer in 2002-03, just over 43,000 visas have been allocated to the Family Migration Program.

Family stream migrants are selected on the basis of their family relationship with their Australian relative. All family migrants must be either sponsored or nominated by a close family member, partner, or fiancé(e) living in Australia.

• For applications made in Australia, the main applicant and any dependents included in the application must be nominated. 

• For applications made outside Australia, the main applicant and any dependents included in the application must be sponsored. 

Types of Family Visas

A. PERMANENT RESIDENCY VISAS FOR PARTNERS

1. Spouse Visa - The wife or husband or de-facto partner of an Australian sponsor or nominator.

2. Prospective Marriage - Any fiancé(e) overseas who plans to marry their Australian sponsor in Australia.

3. Interdependent Partner - A person in a same-sex relationship with an Australian partner involving a mutual commitment to a shared life together.

B. PERMANENT RESIDENCY VISAS FOR PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS

1. Working Age Parent - A person outside Australia who is not old enough to be granted an Australian age pension (males = 65, females = 63) and who meets the balance of family test.

2. Aged Parent - A person either in or outside Australia who is old enough to be granted an Australian aged pension (males = 65, females = 63) and who meets the balance of the family test.

3. Remaining Relative - A person with all relatives settled in Australia may be considered for the "remaining relative" visa in Australia.

Spouse Visa (Married or de facto) 

To be eligible to apply for a Spouse Visa you must be able to demonstrate you:

• are married to an Australian in a marriage valid under Australian law; OR, 

• are in a de facto relationship with an Australian for at least 12 months prior to making application; OR, 

• have personally known, i.e. met with your Australian partner physically, and will be married to the sponsor in a marriage valid under Australian law by the time the visa is granted (available to offshore applicants only). 

An application for the spouse visa is in 2 stages (temporary and permanent), and an applicant actually applies for both visas using one single application form and paying only one application fee. These temporary visas, once granted, are valid for 2 years from date of application, and then if the relationship is assessed to be still genuine and ongoing at the end of the 2 years, applicants will be granted a permanent visa.

The Spouse Visa may be applied for from inside or outside Australia. If you are applying whilst you are in Australia you must also hold a valid substantive visa and be in Australia at the time the visa is granted.

If you are applying from outside Australia then you must also be outside of Australia at the time the visa is granted.

Click here for a free assessment.

Information sourced from the Migration Expert's website.

   

Working Age and Aged Parent Visas

In order to apply as a parent, applicants must pass the “balance of family” test. In addition, all parent migrants must be sponsored by their child who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Applications for the Working Age parent visa must be lodged outside Australia. However, applications for the Aged parent visa can be made in Australia. 

An aged parent is one who is old enough to be granted an Australian age pension. For male applicants, the qualifying age is 65 and for female applicants the qualifying age is gradually being increased from 60 to 65.

The number of places available for the Parent visa class in the current program year (2003-04) is 1500. Therefore, applications under the existing Parent visa class are experiencing a substantial wait to be finalised.

However, a new “Contributory Parent” category was introduced on 5 March 2003 aimed at speeding up the processing time for parents. The changes enable applicants to take up one of the following options:

• apply directly for permanent residence and pay a substantial second visa application charge; or 

• apply for temporary residence (with access to work rights and Medicare) and pay a lesser second visa application charge

This new category provides an additional 4000 parent places in the migration program.

Click here for a free assessment.

Information sourced from the Migration Expert's website.