Australian Visas

Australia is a country of immense natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and a rich cultural heritage. It's no surprise that it attracts millions of visitors each year, however, if you are planning to visit Australia, you will need a valid visa.

What is an Australian Visa?

An Australian visa is an authorisation granted by the Australian Government which, if successful, allows non-Australian citizens to enter and stay in Australia for a specified period. An Australian visa can be granted for various purposes such as tourism, holiday, study, work, business, family reunion, and more.

Unlike most other countries, Australia’s days of issuing visa labels in passports is long gone. Instead, they will electronically record your approved visa.

Types of Australian Visas

There are almost 100 different types of visas, each designed to meet specific purposes. The most common visa types are:

Visitor Visas: These visas are for people who wish to visit Australia for tourism, visit family or friends, or attend a business meeting. The Visitor Visa is valid for up to 12 months and allows multiple entries. There are different categories of visas within this class and will depend on your country of passport and your purpose of stay
Student Visas: These are for people who wish to study in Australia. To apply for a student visa, some of the criteria requires you to be enrolled into a course with an education provider, both of which must be registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (“CRICOS”), meet the English language requirements and have sufficient funds to cover your living and educational expenses
Work Visas: There are more than 10 different visas which can give people full-time rights while they are living temporarily or permanently in Australia. These visas include the employer sponsored TSS 482 visa, Graduate 485 visa, the Training 407, Short Stay Specialist 400 and the Temporary Activity 408 visas, employer sponsored Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional 494 visa, any of the visas under the employer sponsored permanent residence categories, or any of the visas within the General Skilled Migration Program.
The visa appropriate to you will depend on a few factors including your purpose of work, how long you intend to be working in Australia and your skillset.
The application processes here in particular can be complex and the level of which will come down to the type of Australian work visa you are applying for.
Family Sponsored Visas: A partner visa is for people who are in a committed and mutually exclusive relationship with an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an Eligible New Zealand citizen. The Partner Visa is a two stage process that involves a provisional partner visa, followed by a permanent residence partner visa. Both stages are lodged together but may be assessed at different times. Fortunately, if you have been approved a provisional partner visa and are still waiting on the associated permanent stage to be approved, you can still remain in Australia.
A parent visa is for parents of children who have acquired Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency and who can meet ‘balance of family’ test.
Business Visas: This category is for people who wish to make significant investments or start a business in Australia. There are more than a few options to consider and this will depend on your situation.

How to Apply for An Australian Visa

To apply for an Australian visa, you will need to:

Determine the visa type that best suits your purpose of travelComplete the relevant visa application form and provide all necessary supporting evidence
Complete the relevant visa application form and provide all necessary supporting evidence
Pay the visa application fee
Submit your application and wait for a decision

Processing Times

Once submitted, the visa application process can take several days, weeks or months to reach a case officer for assessment. The processing times often change in accordance to Australia’s needs, the government’s resources and the volume of cases already in the system.

It is always advisable to book your tickets to Australia once your Australian visa has been approved by the government.

Conclusion

If successful, an Australian visa will give the ability to enter the country and stay for a specific timeframe.

Applying for a visa can be complex so it’s important to understand the process and requirements beforehand. Due to this and the costs involved with applying for a visa, you need to have the best chance of success. We recommend you seek qualified advice from a Registered Migration Agent or immigration lawyer.

Josie MarrMarch 8, 2023