Immigration Visa Type & ETA

Article by: Elizabeth
Last updated: Tuesday, 11-Jul-2006 00:00:00 CEST

An additional 20,000 skilled visas will be available in 2005-06, totalling 97,000. This includes more engineering and trade occupations are being added to an expanded (MODL) Migration Occupations in Demand List. Under the Skilled Independent Regional (SIR) visa type you will be able to allocate an extra 10 points for the parts listed below: -

Most Recent Pages

Regional or State sponsorship

The introduction of a new pilot program allowing overseas students to undertake trade apprenticeships in regional Australia

The Skilled Migration Program is an official Government initiative to overcome skill shortages within the Australian workforce and to identify individuals who can make a valuable contribution to Australia’s thriving economy.

With over 150,000 jobs being advertised each week, a thriving economy and unemployment at its lowest level in 10 years there is a need to attract additional skilled workers
into Australia.

If you are a skilled professional, tradesperson or student graduating from an Australian university, you can qualify for unrestricted Australian working rights for you and your partner. This allows you to secure employment without the requirement for sponsorship.

89% of Skilled Independent visa type holders gain employment within first 6 months and 92%
within 18 months. These figures are from the Australian Government's statistical body

Business Skills Visa Type

A new two-stage Business Skills Program was launched in Australia in March 2003.

This new system allows business migrants to be granted a Provisional Visa for four years, and after establishing the required level of business or investment activities, a Permanent Residency
Visa type can be applied for.

In order to qualify for one of the provisional business visas you must:

be able to demonstrate that you have had a successful business or investment career and,
a genuine commitment to engage in business activities in Australia.
Australia welcomes experienced business people who can bring their expertise and investment to Australia. Now is the time and opportunity to benefit from Australia's Business Skills Program.

Partner Visa Type Program

Australia encourages the reunion of couples in genuine relationships. The Partner Migration Program enables Australian citizens and permanent residents, and Eligible New Zealand citizens to sponsor their partner (spouse, fiancé or defacto partner) to migrate to Australia.

To be eligible for Partner Migration, you must either be married, engaged to, or in a defacto (common law) relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.

If your application for an interdependent partner or spouse visa type is successful, you will be granted a provisional type visa for two years.After this period, you will be assessed for permanent residency in Australia.

Investor Retirement Visa Type Program

The Investor Retirement Visa Program is for people over 55 years of age who are able to support themselves financially and spend some of their retirement years in Western Australia. The Investor Retirement visa provides the opportunity to work part-time and enjoy a relaxed and rewarding lifestyle in Western Australia.

The criteria for an Investor Retirement visa is that you must be over 55 years of age, be sponsored by an Australian State or Territory government agency, and have no dependent family members (apart from your spouse). You must have sufficient assets to enable you to be financially self-sufficient in Australia. You cannot rely on the public healthcare system or social benefits. In fact, you must take out comprehensive health insurance with an Australian company to cover any medical costs.

This visa is available in all States and Territories eith the exception of New South Wales.

Parent Visa Type Program

You must be the parent of an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to qualify for Parent Migration. You must also pass the ‘balance of family’ test, which specifies that at least half of your children must live permanently in Australia; or you must have more children living permanently in Australia than in any other single country.

You must be sponsored - either by your child or another adult - who has been settled in Australia as a citizen or permanent resident for at least 2 years. Your sponsor must provide a legal undertaking to support you during your first two years in Australia.

You must also satisfy character and health requirements for permanent residency into Australia.

Travel / Visitor Type Visa - apply on line

Australia plays host to several million visitors a year and no matter what the purpose of your visit you will need a valid visa to enter and spend time in Australia.

Electronic Travel Authority (ETA)

An ETA is equivalent to a visa, but there is no stamp or label in your passport and there is no need for you to visit an Australian visa office to submit an application.

This option is only available to passport holders of ETA -eligible countries.

An ETA is valid for a period of 12 months or until your passport expires - whichever comes sooner - and allows multiple entry into Australia providing no single visit exceeds 3 months.

Working Holiday Visas

You can travel and work in Australia for up to 12 months.

Western Australia needs you…now! Exciting News from the Australian Government ...
Australia has reciprocal Working Holiday maker arrangements in effect with

Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Malta
Norway
Republic of Ireland
Republic of Korea
Sweden
Taiwan
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China
The Republic of Cyprus
The Netherlands
United Kingdom

With effect from November 2005 Working Holiday Makers (WHM) will be able to apply for another WHM visa type if they have completed a minimum of 3 months seasonal harvest work in regional Australia
Over 100,000 visas are anticipated being issued in 2004-05, and this is expected to grow in 2005-06
WHM type visa holders will be allowed to apply for a Skilled Independent Regional type visa while still onshore; this will provide a pathway to permanent residence

The Working Holiday Program provides a wonderful opportunity for hard working, enthusiastic and self-sufficient young people from 14 participating countries to spend up to 12 months exploring Australia with the option of engaging in casual employment when travel funds need to be topped up.

With the option of applying on line, the Australian Department of Immigration (DIMIA) has now made the visa application process much faster and more convenient.

Generally, you will be notified of the outcome of your application within 48 hours which is a dramatic improvement on the previous processing time extimate of up to five weeks, if applying through your local Australian Embassy or Consular Office.

You can check the status of your application from the link below:-

Electronic Application Status Inquiry

If you have any queries regarding your lodged visa application, please email:-
eVisa.WHM.Helpdesk@immi.gov.au