All immigrants need visas to live in Australia. Those who want to work there need work visas. While some visas--such as the working holiday visa--allow young migrants to work in Australia for up to 12 months, many migrants prefer long-term or permanent visas. Skilled migrant visas allow permanent settlement in Australia. Future migrants with job offers in Australia should apply for skilled migrant visas through the employer nomination scheme at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship website.
Applicants who plan to find work after arriving in Australia should apply for skilled independent visas. They may also add their details to the Australian government's Skill Matching Database, which enables Australian employers to review visa applicants' work details. Sometimes employers offer applicants jobs through this database even before they arrive in the country.
Before applying, applicants seeking skilled independent migrant visas must submit evidence of work skills to an Australian skills recognition authority for approval. Next, applicants should submit their visa applications to the nearest Australian consulate. The Australian government will prompt applicants to obtain police certificates from every country they have lived in for at least one year of the past 10 years. Some may also need to undergo health examinations if the government asks them to do so. The Australian government looks favorably on individuals with much-needed job skills, personal ties to Australia or prearranged jobs in Australia.
Once Australia has granted them permanent work visas, future immigrants should start rearranging their lives for the move at least six months in advance. WorkingIn.com's "Moving to Australia" checklist recommends migrants put their houses on the market eight months before moving. In the final four months before the move, they should open Australian bank accounts, register their children at Australian schools, and find temporary housing and transportation for their arrival. Because Australia is so far away from the rest of the world, migrants should expect plenty of yard sales to get rid of possessions they cannot take with them. WorkingIn.com recommends devoting the last month to canceling subscriptions and transferring funds to Australia.
Immigration duties continue after immigrants arrive in their new Australian homes. Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship lists several tasks immigrants should complete upon arrival. The first is registering for a tax file number, which allows immigrants to work for income. Seven to 10 days after arrival, immigrants should visit a Medicare office and register for health insurance. If intending to drive, immigrants must also apply for driving licenses--though they may drive with licenses from their home countries for up to three months without penalty.
