Australia allows citizens of other countries to immigrate under the categories of employer-sponsored workers, professional or skilled migrants, business people, specialists or doctors or nurses. Anyone planning to work in Australia will be issued visas based on one of these categories and the designated purpose of the visit. These visitors are recognized as individuals with skills and qualifications in occupations beneficial to Australians.
Visas are required for visitors and issued to travelers with valid passports. An electronic visa may be issued for travelers planning a short-term visit for business or tourism of up to three months in Australia. Temporary visas can be extended to six or 12 months, based on the applicant's reason for staying, such as visiting family. The working holiday visa is a cultural exchange opportunity for young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 who wish to travel and work for a year in Australia. It is ideal for student travelers who intend to support their travel expenses with a part-time job in Australia. Work Holiday Visas may be issued to citizens from Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.
According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, "if you migrated to Australia and meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for citizenship by conferral." This includes spouses of Australian citizens, British or New Zealand residents who have lived in Australia for an extended period of time, children of Australian citizens, refugees and humanitarian entrants. Other applicants include citizenship by descent for individuals born overseas to Australia parents, children adopted by Australian citizens or citizenship by resumption for anyone who lost or gave up citizenship.
Applicants for citizenship must have three original documents with a photograph, signature, residential address and birth date, as well as a proof of identity declaration. According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, "most applicants for Australian citizenship will need to show that they are of good character. Applicants 18 years of age and over may be required to get overseas penal clearance certificates,or overseas police checks as they are sometimes known, from each country they have visited."
Applicants can expect to wait three to six months for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to process the application; the wait can take approximately six months if the applicant is required to attend a citizenship ceremony.
