Australia

According to research based on which locations worldwide are most popular with expatriates, an increasingly large number of Asians and Europeans aspire and dream about living in Australia. The popularity of the country comes down to the fact that those surveyed rated the quality of life achievable in Australia to be incredibly high and believed that Australia is a country offering unlimited possibilities.

Australia has a prosperous, Western-style capitalist economy. With high growth, low inflation, low unemployment, low interest rate economy, it is more vibrant than ever before. An efficient government sector, a flexible labour market and a very competitive business sector make it one of the most resilient economies in the developed world. While the near-term outlook is for continued economic expansion, Australia’s longer-term prospects depend heavily on continued fundamental economic reform.

Australia is the first choice destination for a number of immigrants. People from all over the world come to Australia every year to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that it offers immigrants. Besides immigrants hundreds of thousands of visitors and students come to Australia for its acclaimed universities, beautiful landscapes and affordable luxuries. Multicultural Australia is a safe, friendly, sophisticated and harmonious society in which anybody can earn, learn and travel without any kind of apprehension. More than 100 ethnic groups are represented in Australia, making Australia one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.

The Australian Government seeks skilled workers & professionals to fill shortages created by the growing Australian economy. The

Australian workforce has experienced many structural improvements over the last decade, which has contributed to the growth in job creation and productivity.

Employment and working conditions are strictly legislated in Australia through the Workplace Relations Act 1996. Under this Act, employees are guaranteed the right of freedom of association, i.e., they are free to join a trade union or any other organization.

Working conditions, minimum rates of pay, allowances, overtime, hours of work, holiday/sick leave and so forth are either covered by federal or state awards, collective agreements between an employer and a group of employees, or an individual workplace agreement.

Getting an Australian visa can be very simple or very difficult, if not impossible. In some cases, visa applications can turn out to be complex & requires research & regular references to the Australian Migration Act & Regulations. Not everyone is eligible to migrate to Australia. If migration to Australia is something you have always dreamed of doing, it is best to apply when you are eligible. Changes to the Australian immigration law & requirements can at any time affect the viability of your chances of applying for migration to Australia. Essentially, Australia grants permanent residence visas under three main streams:

• Skills
• Family
• Business

SKILLS CATEGORY:

The skilled stream is divided into several classes but the main ones are:

• Sub-Class 189 Skilled – Independent (Permanent)
• Sub-Class 190 Skilled – Nominated (Permanent)
• Sub-Class 489 Skilled – Regional Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional)

FAMILY CATEGORY:

 

Partner Category:

Partners and fiancés of Australian Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents or eligible New Zealand Citizens may enter and/or to remain permanently in Australia. Partner category migration may apply to:

• people intending to get married (fiancés)
• married (de jure) partners
• de facto partners (including those in a same-sex relationship).

Parent:

Parents may be able to migrate to Australia if they have a child in Australia who is an Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or eligible New Zealand Citizen.

 

Child:

For dependent children, orphan relatives or adopted children of an Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or eligible New Zealand Citizen.

 

Other Family:

Aged dependent relatives, remaining relatives and carers of Australian Citizens, Australian Permanent Residents and eligible New Zealand Citizens may apply for visas to come to Australia permanently.

BUSINESS CATEGORY:

Australia has proactive business immigration regulations. The different visa options are:

Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Sub-Class 188):

This visa is for people who want to own and manage a new or existing business in Australia, or to invest in an Australian state or territory.

You must :

• be nominated by a state or territory government and invited to apply
• have a successful business or investment history
• have adequate personal and business assets.

The Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) is part of the Business Innovation and Investment Program. You must submit an expression of interest through SkillSelect and be nominated by a State or Territory government before being invited to apply for this visa. The visa includes three streams:

• Business Innovation stream: for people with business skills who want to establish, develop and manage a new or existing business in Australia.
• Investor stream: for people who want to make a designated investment of at least AUD 1.5million in an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
• Significant Investor stream: for people who are willing to invest at least AUD5million into complying investments in Australia and want to maintain business and investment activity in Australia.

Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa (Sub-Class 888):
This visa allows you to:

• continue to own and manage a business in Australia (the Business Innovation stream)
• continue business and investment activity in Australia (the Investor stream and the Significant Investor stream).

You must:

• hold a provisional Business Innovation and Investment Visa (Sub-Class 188)
• have met the requirements of that visa in the stream in which you first applied
• be nominated by a State or Territory.

The Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888) is the second stage of the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (Sub-Class 188). You can apply for it after you have fulfilled the requirements of your provisional visa. You do not need to submit a new Expression of Interest or be invited to apply for this visa. You need to be nominated by a state or territory government agency if you are seeking to satisfy the primary criteria.

Investor Visa (Sub-Class 891):

This visa is a Permanent Residence visa. You will be able to travel in and out of Australia for five years.

You must:

• hold an Investor (Provisional) (Sub-Class 162) Visa
• have maintained a designated investment of AUD1 500 000 for four years.

The Investor visa (subclass 891) allows you to live in Australia if you and your spouse or de facto partner together have held a designated investment in Australia for four years. Your family can also apply for this visa if you have already been granted it. It is the second stage of the Investor (Provisional) (Sub-Class 162) Visa.

Business Owner Visa (Sub-Class 890):

This is a Permanent Residence visa. You will be able to travel in and out of Australia for five years.

You must:

• hold one of the required provisional business visa’s
• managed your business in Australia for the past two years.

A Business Owner (subclass 890) visa is for people who own and manage a business in Australia.

State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Sub-Class 892):

This is a Permanent Residence visa. You will be able to stay in Australia for five years.

You must:

• hold a qualifying Provisional Visa
• are sponsored by a State or Territory authority.

The State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner Visa (Sub-Class 892) is for people who own a new or existing business and are sponsored by a State or Territory authority. You can only apply if you already hold a qualifying provisional business visa.

State/Territory Sponsored Investor Visa (Sub-Class 893):

This is a Permanent Residence visa. You will be able to travel in and out of Australia for five years.

You must:

• State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) (Sub-Class 165) visa
• have held a designated investment of AUD 7,50,000 in Australia for four years.

The State/Territory Sponsored Investor visa (subclass 893) is for people who are sponsored by a state or territory authority and have held a designated investment in Australia for four years.

Business Talent (Permanent) visa (sub-class 132):

This visa allows you to establish a new or develop an existing business in Australia. It has two streams:

• Significant Business History stream: for high-calibre business owners or part-owners who want to do business in Australia
• Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream: for people who have sourced venture capital funding from a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL).

You must:

• have net business and personal assets of at least AUD1.5 million and an annual business turnover of at least AUD 3 million, or
• have obtained at least AUD 1 million in venture capital funding to start the commercialization and development of a high-value business idea in Australia.

The Business Talent visa (subclass 132) is a permanent residence visa for business people who are nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency.

• To be able to get this visa you need to lodge an expression of interest through SkillSelect and then be invited to apply.
• You can be in or outside Australia when you apply and when the visa is decided.

All applicants are required to satisfy health, character, police and credibility checks, and a range of other criteria