The Australia work visa is open to all foreigners who meet the minimum legal requirements for the issuance of this type of document. Our immigration lawyer in Australia provides the necessary legal support to those who want to relocate here for employment purposes.
There are multiple categories of work visas, and they are divided based on the level of skills required for a job position, the type of employment contract signed with a local employer, the duration of the work activity and so on.
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Main categories of work visas
As a general rule, the Australia work visa can be obtained as a document for short-term stay work activity, for temporary employment or for permanent employment, when we refer to the duration of the work relations. Highly skilled employees can apply for various visas for skilled employment, which generally refer to work activities where extensive expertise is required, or for innovation visas.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Types of activities that are eligible for a work visa | There are various types of work visas in Australia, designed for all categories of employment. Thus, foreigners can apply for visas for skilled or unskilled work and for temporary, long-term or permanent employment. |
Documents that must be prepared by the applicant for the visa application | They depend on the visa type. In general, applicants must present their identity documents and papers that attest their eligibility for the chosen visa (education, level of skills, work experience, etc.), language skills (English is the national language in Australia). For some visas, an Expression of Interest must be made (for skilled visa category), or proving that the applicant has secured an employment contract with an Australian employee. |
Minimum income requirements (salary) | It applies for some visa streams, such as the skilled work visas (for example, one can apply for and obtain a work visa in Australia if the person has a salary of at least AUD 76,515 when applying for a Temporary Skilled visa stream). |
| Institutions involved in the visa application process | The Department of Home Affairs |
| Individuals who are required to apply for a work visa | The obligation to obtain a work visa in Australia applies to all foreigners who want to arrive here for any type of employment – an exemption in this sense is granted to New Zealanders, who can arrive here visa-free. |
| How long does it take to process the visa application? | It depends on the visa stream. In general, processing times range from 1 to 3 months. |
| Maximum validity of the work visa | Maximum 5 years. |
| Is it necessary to have a work contract established with an Australian employer? | The rule applies for certain categories of visas, such as the skilled visa stream or the employer nomination stream. |
| Possibility to renew the visa (yes/no) | Yes |
| When can a foreigner apply for a job opening in Australia? | Foreigners must secure a job in Australia prior to arriving here in the case of most of the skilled work visas, or, for other work visa streams, they may apply for a job after they have obtained a visa and have arrived in Australia. |
| Legal obligations upon the arrival in Australia | Start working, as per the obligations of the visa. Those who arrive under a Temporary Skilled visa must begin work in maximum 90 days after their arrival. |
| Application forms to complete for employment in Australia | They depend on the visa that the foreigners want to acquire (Form 1000 – Nomination for Global Talent, Form 1491i – Including family members in your application, Business, Industry and Regional Outreach contact form – necessary for the Skilled Migration program, etc). |
| Health insurance requirements | In general, it is mandatory to have a health insurance in order to obtain a work visa in Australia (such requirements can vary in accordance with the type of visa). |
| Mandatory immigration documents that must be obtained by foreigners relocating to Australia for employment | The work visa and the residency permit. |
| Fees exemption for work visas (yes/no) | Yes – for the Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) – Privileges and Immunity stream |
Regardless of the type of work visa you are interested in, our Australia immigration lawyer can help you with in-depth legal advice on the visa application process and on the documents you have to prepare. Please address our lawyer for more information, as each type of Australia work visa will have its own specific application conditions.
Obtain a work visa for Australia for short-term stays
As mentioned above, immigration to Australia is also possible for short-term employment opportunities. Some of the main visas are:
- Temporary Activity visa (Subclass 408);
- Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (Subclass 400);
- Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (Subclass 403);
- Work and Holiday (Subclass 462);
- Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417).
These visas have different requirements and they can address to different age groups (this is the case of the work holiday program, for instance) and this is why we recommend you get legal advice from our Australia migration lawyer.
The Australia work visa for permanent residency
The legislation for immigration in Australia also prescribes visas for employment purposes that grant the right to permanent residency.
Having a permanent residence permit in Australia provides a set of advantages and rights, but the Australia work visa for permanent residency can be obtained only by certain categories of foreigners; you can rely on our Australia immigration lawyer for assistance on how to become a permanent resident.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, visas for permanent residency are divided between the following categories: regional, skilled migration and business investment visas, as well as visas for highly skilled employment. Depending on the visa type that is of interest for the applicant, one may need to have a sponsor, as it is the case of the Employer Nomination Scheme visa or the Skilled Nominated visa.
In order to obtain the Australia work visa the applicant should satisfy conditions such as the minimum/maximum age, the ability to speak English or another foreign language, having specific skills, being able to stay at a single job for a given period of time without the possibility of changing it, meet certain health requirements and having a good character, to name some of the numerous variables.
Our lawyers can assist you on how to obtain Australian citizenship as well, if you want to permanently relocate here. You should know that citizenship in Australia can also be granted if you are married to an Australian citizen.
Obtain a work visa for Australia for global talent
Global talent refers to those individuals who have highly developed skills in various fields and who can carry out their activities in various jurisdictions. Global talent is of high importance for all the states of the world and this is why numerous countries have created visa programs to attract professionals in key economic sectors.
These programs are set to attract persons who have excellent knowledge in specific jobs or in niche occupations, but they also take into consideration foreign businessmen willing to invest in startups in Australia.
Currently, global talent canmigrate to Australiaby applying for the National Innovation Visa (Subclass 858), which replaced the previous global talent visa program. The visa grants the right to permanent residency in Australia and some of its highlights are:
- applicants must pay a processing fee that starts from AUD 4,985;
- once granted, it offers the right of free travel to and from Australia for a period of 5 years;
- in order to apply for it, foreigners must make an Expression of Interest followed by an invitation to apply (for those whose initial application is accepted), and once the invitation is made, the foreigners have 60 days to complete and submit the formal application;
- the formal application is made by submitting the Nomination for National Innovation Visa (Form 1000), which is a mandatory document to be included in the file;
- it is addressed to 4 categories of applicants – researchers, entrepreneurs, innovative investors, athletes/creatives.
There are multiple advantages of being the holder of the Subclass 858 visa, besides the right to permanent residency in Australia, employment and freedom of movement. Visa holders have the right to enroll in the country’s public health system and they may also sponsor their close family members to relocate here.
Immigration to Australiafor close family members is, however, bound by certain eligibility criteria. Our immigration lawyer in Australia can provide legal assistance in this case. We also mention that this visa type opens the possibility of acquiring Australian citizenship through the naturalization pathway, given that it offers permanent residency rights.
For more information on how to obtain a work visa, we invite you to contact our immigration lawyer in Australia, who can help you throughout this process. Our team is also ready to answer your questions if you wish to apply for the Australia investment visa, instead of the visa for work purposes.
