Visa categories are divided into four basic classes: the Visitor visa (for short-term touring, visiting or working holiday), the Workers Visa (for business visits, specialists and skilled professionals), the Student Visa (for study in Australia), the Refugee Visa (for Australia’s Humanitarian Program) and the Migrant Visa (for relocating and living in Australia). Within each class, there are up to 20 different sub-classes used for immigration purposes. The specific sub-class title within the Migrant Visa category will be of vital importance because each classification has its own individual requirements.
Download and complete your sub-class specific visa application from the Australian Department of Immigration website. Include all of the requested information with regard to your sub-class. For example, the Work Visa application requires qualifications, skills and work experience. If you are sponsored by an employer, then the appropriate documentation must accompany the application. The majority of applications require postal mailing, but a few types, such as business visas, urge applicants to complete an online application to expedite the process.
As of 2010, Visa processing fees varied depending on type. For example, Visitor Visas are approximately $92, while Migration Visas can cost between $1,500 and $2,000. Pay with Visa, MasterCard, a bank check or an international money order; the Visa Office does not accept personal checks. Processing times vary by the type of application but range from one month for Long Stay Business Visas to three months for Sponsored Migration Visas
Take time to research and handle all of the financial matters that affect you and your family. Study the cost of living in Australia and set up bank accounts that operate from both your old and new country. In Australia, most employment wages are paid directly into a bank account; to receive this income, you need to apply for a Tax File Number (TFN). Call the Australian Taxation Office and have a TFN application form sent to you, or apply online.
Applicants in search of visas that lead to permanent residency in Australia are required to undergo a health examination. A successful health examination result does not automatically mean a visa will be granted, but such a result is a necessary factor in the process. All applicants must adhere to strict rules, such as proceeding with the examination only when told and arranging the examination with a panel doctor approved by the Australian Government. Download a list of approved panel doctors and clinics in your country on the Australian Government Department of Immigration website.
The Australian Government must determine whether you are of good character. During the process, you may be asked to provide police certificates for each country you have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years, since the age of 16. These certificates are also known as official background checks or police certificates.
During the application process and until your arrival in Australian Immigration and Customs, you will need to show some important documents. These include a valid passport and visa, along with the originals of birth, marriage, medical and work records. All travelers other than Australian and New Zealand citizens need to present these documents to immigration officers upon arrival.
