If you wish to come to Australia, the first thing that you will need to do is find the appropriate visa for your stay. On the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship website, there is a feature that will help you search for the visa appropriate for you. The Visa Wizard will ask a few questions regarding your intentions for entering Australia, how long you wish to stay and what country you are currently a citizen of (see Resource section). The Visa Wizard will then generate the different visas you are eligible for. You can then select the visa that fits your circumstances the best, and this visa is the one you will apply for.
All visa applications will require additional documentation. This additional documentation will vary depending on the type of visa that you will need. For example, a student visa will require you to show proof of acceptance to an Australian university, and a work visa will require you to show proof of a work contract. Common additional documentation will be a health certification and a penal clearance. Some visas may require documentation from a sponsor who lives in Australia.
All visa applications will have to be filed with the Australian embassy/ consulate closest to your location. When you file the visa application, you will also be required to pay the visa application fee. The fee will vary depending on the type of visa that you are applying for and the country that you are located in.
A migration agent is an agent who goes through the visa application process with you. He helps with the administrative processes of the application and files it with the Australian embassy/ consulate. Most migration agents will collect the fee that needs to paid to the Australian government, plus a service fee for helping you file your application. Using a migration agent is not required, and the Australian government recommends that if you use an agent, you use an agent who has registered with the Australian government (see Resource section).
Currently, Australian law dictates that persons who overstay a visa can face imprisonment and even deportation. As of 2009, the Australian government has allowed people on expired visas to apply for a visa for enough time to get their affairs in order and leaver Australia without penalty. This is a leniency new to Australian immigration law, and how permanent it will be is in question. For more information about this, contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Please do not plan to overstay your visa, in order to avoid unnecessary penalties and judgments against you.
