Australian Immigration Visas

Immigration to Australia

This vast but sparsely populated country has a long tradition of welcoming immigrants to its shores and as it has remained relatively unaffected by the economic strife that has afflicted many other countries around the world it is still a great option for people who would like to move abroad, either on a temporary or permanent basis. Depending on your age, skills and financial situation there are various types of visa that may be suitable. For people of working age who are under 45 there is a list of skilled occupations that can be found on the government website which will give you an idea of the sort of skills that are currently in demand. For those who have already retired there is another option but you will need to be financially secure and willing to invest an amount of money. As to why you may wish to live in Australia immigrants who have made the move over the years have always found it to be a very welcoming country with lots of opportunities for younger people to make a very good income and a great climate in which older people can relax and enjoy the autumn of their life.

Working visas

The General Skilled Migration program is currently the only path to obtaining a visa to work in this country and there are a number of requirements that must be met for those who are thinking of applying. For a start, as mentioned above, you must be under 45 years of age. Applicants must be capable of communicating in English at a level that will enable them to work alongside natives of the country. In addition to being qualified for one of the jobs on the Skilled Occupations List you should have recent experience in a relevant field. In order to immigrate Australia also requires that the skills, health and character of the person immigrating are assessed, before permission is granted to enter the country on a working visa. The whole system is based on points which are awarded for the various categories, such as proficiency in the English language, age and the demand for workers with your particular skills. Points are also awarded for qualifications and work experience that have been gained during any previous time spent in the country. It is quite a complicated process which is why organisations such as ours exist to help those who are interested.

Retirement visas

For people who are 55 or older there is the possibility of obtaining what is known as an Investor Retirement Visa which allows the holder and his partner, if applicable, to stay in the country for up to 4 years. As for other types of visa to spend time in Australia immigration via this method can be confusing when applying to the relevant department, but with our help the whole experience is usually a lot simpler. With the exception of your partner, it is not possible to qualify if you have any other dependents that will be staying with you and you must be able to take care of yourself financially. All applicants must have their own private medical insurance for the time that they will be staying, as they will not be entitled to take advantage of the national health cover that citizens of the country are entitled to. You will also need to be sponsored by a government authority in the area that you wish to stay in. In order for this to happen it will be necessary for applicants to invest a certain amount of money with the treasury department of the state or territory in question.

Australia immigrants

There are people from all over the world that wish to spend time in this country for one reason or another but the common language and customs that it shares with the UK can make the transition somewhat easier for British citizens than it can be for residents of many other countries. All the visas that may be applied for only allow the holder to stay for a certain amount of time but it is possible, after having resided in the country for 4 years or more, to apply for citizenship. If granted this would allow you to stay for as long as you wish and confer many other rights that natives of the country enjoy, such as the ability to vote and stand for election. There is another test and character assessment for those who wish to pursue an application for citizenship but whether you initially arrived via the Australia immigration skilled worker program or another legal route, should not affect the eventual outcome. Things that could affect your eligibility include any time that you might have served in prison whilst living there or being out of the country for more than 3 months in the year before applying.

Working Holidays

Younger people, between the ages of 18 and 30 are able to apply for a visa that allows them to stay in the country for up to 2 years and also work for some of the time that they are there. This is a great way to explore the place and earn enough money to support yourself whilst there. In order to be eligible for this type of visa though, you must have enough money to take care of yourself when you first arrive. As you might imagine, this has proved to be one of the most popular routes for immigration to Australia amongst young people and one we are also able to assist with. Initially this type of visa allows a stay of 1 year but for people that have worked in certain industries during that time it is possible to apply for an extension allowing them to stay for another year. Some types of work that may make you eligible for an extension include positions in forestry, fishing, construction and mining. Anyone who is planning on applying for a working visa later on can use their work experience in the country to gain extra points, as mentioned earlier.

A helping hand

As can be seen from the information above, there are a number of ways to enjoy an extended stay, depending on your personal circumstances and age. Although this means that there are opportunities for many different types of people to apply, it also causes some confusion amongst potential applicants. Australia immigration UK agents such as ourselves are here to guide you through the options and help you to make the best choice when deciding which the best visa to apply for is. There is a simple form that you can fill in to start the process, which will help us to assess your situation and give you the best advice possible. Alternatively you can talk to a member of our team by calling us on the number provided and they will be more than happy to discuss your individual situation and get you started with your application for a visa. The initial assessment is completely free of charge so there is absolutely nothing to lose and a great deal that could possibly be gained. As we are a registered migration agent you can be assured of our knowledge of current policy and rules when dealing with your Australia immigration application.