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Do I qualify for immigration to Australia? Which class should I apply under? What conditions do I need to satisfy? To help answer some of these questions here is a brief introduction to the Australian immigration system.

Essentially, Australia grants permanent residence visas under four main streams; Skills, Family, Business and Humanitarian. Under each stream there is a range of visa classes and the key is to select the right class according to your personal situation. The fifth option is to apply for a temporary residence visa.

Skills

The off-shore general skilled migration stream is divided into several classes including the Skilled Independent class (the most popular class, sometimes known as the “points-system”) and the Skilled Sponsored subclass. To qualify, you or your partner must be:

Under the age of 45 years.
Competent in English.
In an occupation on the “skilled occupation list” (a list containing literally hundreds of approved occupations).
Have at least 12 months work experience in a skilled occupation.

If you are interested in migrating as a skilled migrant and you would like to find out if your occupation is listed on the SOL list please click here or for more information contact your nearest Registered Migration Agent.

If you meet the minimum criteria, then you will be subject to a points test and the objective is to claim enough points to achieve the automatic passmark. If you would like to know what the current passmark is please click here.

You are granted points for your qualifications, work experience, occupation, age, English language ability, occupation targeting and spouse's skills (qualifications, age, work, English). Additional points are available if you have studied or worked in a skilled occupation in Australia previously, OR if you are fluent and qualified in one of the languages of the country's major trading partners or ethnic groups.

You or your partner's occupation is often the make or break of an application; either you or your partner must have recent work experience in an occupation on the skilled occupation list.

Applicants receive additional points if their occupation is listed on the periodically amended Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). Applicants must also have experience in their MODL occupation. Occupations that are listed on the MODL are identified by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations as being in national demand with sustained employment prospects. If you would like to find out if your occupation is listed on the MODL list, which may entitle you to additional points increasing your eligibility to migrate as a skilled worker please click here.

Qualifications relevant to your occupation are also important; with most degrees and higher trade certifications from recognised tertiary institutes meeting the requirements provided they involve at least three years post-secondary school study. An exception to this rule is made for certain tradespersons, IT professionals, and Senior Managers, who do not possess formal qualifications. These applicants can often qualify by using their relevant work experience to obtain industry certification in Australia, thus satisfying the qualification requirement. Applicants in occupations requiring professional registration (for example Dentists, Nurses and Physiotherapists) may need to apply for registration or meet specific requirements prior to submitting a residence application.

Sponsored subclasses

Those applicants who do not meet the pass mark for the Skilled Independent Subclass are also able to consider making a sponsored application, either by obtaining sponsorship from a family member or a state or territory in which they intend to initially settle.

Are you eligible to emigrate? Find out now. Click here for a FREE initial immigration assessment under this class or any other visa class, provided by the Migration Bureau (officially recognised immigration and visa consultants). For information on the Migration Bureau Click here.

The pass mark set at a lower level under the sponsored subclasses. Additional points are awarded if your sponsor resides in Regional Australia.

The Skilled Sponsored subclass presents options for those applicants who have an occupation listed as being in demand in a state or territory of Australia. Additional points are available for those applicants nominated by a state or territory. If you fail to meet the pass mark, but meet the minimum requirements and have a family sponsor (including first cousins or grandparents) living in a designated area (mainly the areas outside Sydney, Melbourne and other selected cities), you may be able to qualify under the Skilled Regional Sponsored subclass. This subclass is processed in two-stages with a provisional visa issued initially and permanent residence available after the applicant and their family have successfully settled in a designated area in Australia. The applicant must have lived in a designated area for two years and have worked for at least 12 months before being able to apply for the permanent visa.

If you are willing to settle mostly outside the mainland state capitals (except Adelaide), further opportunities for regional migration are available under the Skilled Regional Sponsored subclass. Migrating to Australia under the Skilled Regional Sponsored subclass will involves a two-stage process, whereby successful applicants initially receive a temporary visa valid for three years. Sponsorship by a State or Territory Government is required to obtain the initial visa. Skilled Regional Sponsored subclass visa holders can apply for permanent residence in Australia after a period of two years residence in regional Australia, provided they have worked for at least 12 months.

The Skill Matching scheme enables applicants to enter their details in the skill-matching database for a period of two years. During this time they may receive a nomination to reside in a certain region of Australia.

Most applicants who succeed under these classes qualify for residence WITHOUT the need for a pre-arranged job offer at the time of applying.

Employer Nomination and the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme can be considered by applicants who have been offered a highly skilled job offer that cannot be filled by an Australian citizen or permanent resident through the local labour market.

Are you eligible to emigrate? Find out now. Click here for a FREE initial immigration assessment provided by the Migration Bureau (officially recognised immigration and visa consultants). For information on the Migration Bureau Click here.

Family

This category is for those persons who can be "sponsored" by a relative or interdependent partner who is either an Australian citizen, a holder of a permanent residence visa or an eligible New Zealand citizen aged over 18 years of age. If your partner is an Australian, you must be married OR in a stable, de-facto relationship (common-law) or interdependent (same-sex) relationship for 12 months or more to qualify for residence.

You can be sponsored if you are a spouse; fianc￩e; child/adopted child; parent; orphan relative; special need relative; aged dependant relative; or last remaining relative of a qualifying sponsor who is resident in Australia. Certain conditions apply.

Contributory Parent options are available for those parents with sufficient capital to contribute to their future health costs in Australia. These visas subclasses are designed to overcome the otherwise lengthy waiting period currently facing parents wishing to migrate to Australia, subject to places being available.

Immigration Target

Australia's immigration policy allows for the granting of residence visas of up to 152,800 new settlers per year.

Are you eligible to emigrate? Find out now. Click here for a FREE initial immigration assessment provided by the Migration Bureau (officially recognised immigration and visa consultants). For information on the Migration Bureau Click here.

Business

Australia has proactive business immigration regulations. There are three main options: Business Owner, Investor Class and Senior Executive class, plus a number of less popular classes.

If you own and operate a business and possess total assets of at least A$500,000, you can consider an application under the Business Owner class.

Under this class, the process is essentially divided into two stages: provisional (4 years) and then permanent.

To qualify for the provisional visa, applicants must possess net assets of at least A$200,000 in a qualifying business with an annual turnover of at least A$500,000, for at least 2 years of the 4 years immediately prior to applying. Applicants must be under 55 years of age. You must prepare a viable, well-researched Australian business proposal and have past relevant management experience, and an overall successful business career. Once approved, you will receive a 4-year provisional visa to travel to Australia in order to establish or purchase a business enterprise.

To qualify for permanent residence, you must have carried out your intention to take up an ownership interest in a qualifying Australian business. For 12 months immediately before applying, you must possess net assets of A$100,000 in that business, a turnover of at least A$300,000 AND overall net personal and business assets in Australia of at least A$250,000. Furthermore, your Australian business must have employed at least the equivalent of 2 full-time employees who are not members of your family. Applicants aged between 45 and 55 years or those not meeting the above financial thresholds can consider an application under the Business Owner (State Sponsored). Under this class, applicants must apply and be approved for sponsorship with one of the participating State or Territory Governments.

Most significantly, the financial requirements are reduced under this class. Applicants are required to have had an ownership interest in a business with a lower annual turnover of $300,000 in 2 of the last 4 years, OR a sound continuous business employment record in a senior management role for at least 4 years. You must also be under 55 years of age and possess total personal and business assets of at least A$250,000, plus sufficient assets available to settle in Australia. Furthermore, it is necessary to reside in your nominated state for 4 years in order to be approved for a permanent residence visa.

Under the Investor Class, applicants must have possessed a net worth of A$2,250,000 for at least 2 fiscal years immediately prior to applying. Of this amount, applicants must be prepared to invest A$1,500,000 into Australian State treasury bonds for at least 4 years. The investment is Government guaranteed and interest is paid on the investment. Applicants must be under 45 years of age.

In addition, applicants must have owned and managed a business OR had a direct involvement in managing eligible investments, AND are required to meet a range of financial/ownership thresholds.

Are you eligible to emigrate? Find out now. Click here for a FREE initial immigration assessment under this class or any other visa class provided by the Migration Bureau (officially recognised immigration and visa consultants). For information on the Migration Bureau Click here.

The Investor Class allows for the granting of a 4-year provisional visa, after which time a permanent visa can be applied for once investment criteria has been met. Applicants aged between 45 and 55 years or those not meeting the above financial thresholds can consider an application under the Investor Class (State Sponsored). Under this class, applicants must apply and be approved for sponsorship with one of the participating State or Territory Governments.

Most notably, the financial requirements are reduced under this class. Applicants are required to possess a lower net worth of A$1,125,000, of which A$750,000 must be invested for 4 years. Under this option, it is necessary to remain in your nominated state for 4 years in order to be approved for a permanent residence visa. If you are proposing to establish a business in Australia that your sponsoring State or Territory Government has determined is of exceptional economic benefit, then you can consider an application under the Business Talent class, providing the set financial criteria is met.

All applicants are required to satisfy health, character, police and credibility checks, and a range of other criteria.

Temporary visas

A number of temporary visas are also available;

Investor Retirement visa: If you are aged 55 plus, of good health and meet the necessary financial thresholds, you can consider an application under the Regional Investor class. Applicants apply for sponsorship to the State or territory in which they intend to settle and need to have sufficient resources to provide for their settlement, an annual income accessible in Australia, and must be prepared to make a designated investment. The financial requirements are lessened for applicants who intend to settle in regional Australia (generally defined as outside the major metropolitan centres, with the exception of Adelaide and Hobart), and are currently set as follows:

Assets
For non-regional: AU$750,000
For regional: AU$500,000

Designated investment
For non-regional: AU$750,000 for the initial visa, and AU$500,000 for a second or further visa
For regional: AU$500,000 for the initial visa, and AU$250,000 for a second or further visa

Annual income
For non-regional: AU$65,000 for the initial and all subsequent visa applications.
For regional: AU$50,000 for the initial and all subsequent visa applications.
The initial visa and subsequent visas are issued for 4 years.

Work Visa:
If you are offered a job that cannot be filled by an Australian and the Australian employer is willing to provide sponsorship, you may be able to apply for a work visa. This visa is issued for the duration of the employment contract or 4 years, whichever comes first.

Important note: Australian employers are generally reluctant to sponsor offshore candidates unless there are specific skills shortages, and often do not consider applicants unless they are ALREADY in possession of Australian residence visas, present in Australia for an interview and able to start within 4-6 weeks. So unless you are to be transferred to Australia by your current employer, this can be a very difficult visa to obtain.

Working Holiday Visa:
Citizens of certain countries who are under the age of 30 years may consider obtaining a Young Persons Working Holiday Visa. This visa enables you to work and travel for 1 year, and allows the holder to work for 6 months with each employer or undertake a course of study of no more than 4 months duration (from 01 July 2006). A second Working Holiday Visa will be available to those who undertake 3 months seasonal farm or harvesting work, during their first working holiday.

Student Visa:
If you are enrolled into a qualifying course at an Australian tertiary institution, you can apply for a student visa. This visa allows you to study and to work 20 hours per week. Students who graduate with an Australian degree may be able to apply for permanent on-shore residence visas.

For further information on these visa options please contact your nearest Australian Migration Consultant as they will explain the immigration regulations and entry criteria in greater detail.

CAUTION: Immigration Regulations can change without advance notice. You are strongly advised to seek the advice of an Australian Registered Migration Agent before applying.

(Information on these pages valid as at 1st December 2007)