Australian Immigration for Dummies

This is the shortest most brief tutorial on Australian immigration.

There are three main categories of Skilled Australian Immigration.

1. Onshore immigration
2. Offshore immigration
3. Employer Sponsored (you can be in Australia or outside Australia)

In most cases, the end result of applying for immigration through offshore and onshore immigration is that you would receive the Permanent Resident Visa, class 885,886,175,176. And after having lived in Australia for four years(as of now), you can apply for Australian citizenship. In some cases you might receive Temporary Resident visas which allow you to work and live in Australia for a specific time. After having lived for the specific amount of time, you can then apply for Permanent residency. I will first deal with the onshore migration section and later on discuss the offshore one.

1. Onshore immigration. If you are in Australia

Skilled – Independent (Residence) visa (subclass 885)

A permanent visa for eligible overseas students who have obtained an Australian qualification in Australia as a result of at least two (2) years study and for holders of certain temporary visas with skills in demand in Australia. Applicants are not sponsored and must pass a points test.

Skilled – Sponsored (Residence) visa (subclass 886)

A permanent visa for eligible overseas students who have obtained an Australian qualification in Australia as a result of at least two (2) years study and for holders of certain temporary visas with skills in demand in Australia. For applicants not able to meet the Skilled – Independent pass mark, who have either a relative in Australia to sponsor them or a nomination from a State or Territory government. Applicants must pass a points test lower than that for the Skilled – Independent visa.

Skilled – Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887)

A permanent visa for eligible provisional visa holders who have lived for at least two (2) years and worked for at least one (1) year in a Specified Regional Area in Australia.

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)

A three (3) year provisional visa for eligible overseas students and holders of certain temporary visas who can meet the lower pass mark for this visa. Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia or nominated by a participating state/territory government. After living for two (2) years and working for at least one (1) year in a Specified Regional Area, applicants can apply for a permanent visa.

Skilled – Grduate Temporary Visa (subclass 485)

An 18 month temporary visa for overseas students who have obtained an Australian qualification in Australia as a result of at least two (2) years study. Allows applicants who are unable to pass the points test to remain in Australia for 18 months to gain the skills and experience needed to apply for a permanent or provisional General Skilled Migration visa. No points test applies.

All the above categories are mainly designed for International students who have studied in Australia for two years OR for skilled people who are on various temporary resident visas and have skills which are in demand in Australia. Now we will discuss some of the offshore visa options.

2. Offshore immigration. If you are outside Australia

Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175)

A permanent visa for people with skills in demand in the Australian labour market. Applicants are not sponsored and must pass a points test.

Skilled – Sponsored (Migrant) visa (subclass 176)

A permanent visa for people unable to meet the Skilled – Independent pass mark. Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in Australia or nominated by a participating State or Territory government. Applicants must pass a points test lower than that for the Skilled – Independent visa.

Skilled – Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475)

A three (3) year provisional visa for people who can meet the lower pass mark for this visa. Applicants must be either sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area of Australia or nominated by a participating state/territory government. After living for two (2) years and working for at least one (1) year in a Specified Regional Area, applicants can apply for a permanent visa.

Skilled – Recognised Graduate (Temporary) visa (subclass 476)

An 18 month temporary visa for graduates of recognised overseas educational institutions who have skills in demand in Australia. There is no points test for this visa. Employer Sponsored Immigration The employer sponsored immigration has three different categories.

Temporary Visas

For lawfully operating Australian and overseas employers to employ approved skilled workers for temporary vacancies in particular occupations required in Australia. Temporary visas can offer a pathway to a permanent visa.

Skilled Workers Temporary Visa Options

Temporary Business Long Stay – Standard Business Sponsorship (subclass 457)

A program for employers to sponsor approved skilled workers to work in Australia on a temporary visa. Employers can nominate a number of positions for different occupations under the same sponsorship application.

Service Sellers

For representatives of overseas suppliers of services who are negotiating, or entering into, agreements to supply their services in Australia under the General Agreement on Trade and Services (GATS).

Medical Practitioner visa (subclass 422)

Doctors should generally apply for a Temporary Business (Long Stay) visa (subclass 457) but this visa is an alternative for doctors registered to work in Australia. Employers must lodge a separate sponsorship application for each doctor sponsored.

Educational visa (subclass 418)

For educational workers to be employed in Australia on a temporary basis. The sponsoring organisation must be an Australian tertiary education or research institution, school or technical college.

Labour Agreements

Formal arrangements for an Australian industry group or employer to recruit a specified number of skilled workers on a temporary or permanent basis over a number of years.

Permanent Visas

For lawfully operating Australian employers to sponsor skilled workers in particular occupations required in Australia .

Skilled workers Permanent Visa Options

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 121/856)

For lawfully operating Australian employers to recruit workers on permanent visas, to fill full-time highly skilled positions which cannot be filled from the Australian labour market.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 119/857)

For employers in regional Australia to employ skilled people in positions unable to be filled from the local labour market.

Labour Agreements

Formal arrangements for an Australian industry group or employer to recruit a specified number of skilled workers on a temporary or permanent basis over a number of years.

So this is a general overview of the three main pathways to Australian immigration. I will be posting more on immigration to Australia later on.

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