Australia Migration

Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) is for skilled workers who want to work in regional Australia. This visa involves a two-step process, firstly, nomination by an approved Australian employer and then an application under the nominated stream. It is part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa program.

This visa is a permanent residence visa. You can be in or outside Australia when you apply. If you are in Australia, you must hold a substantive visa or a bridging visa A, B or C.

Streams

-The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years, while holding a subclass 457 visa, in the same occupation with their nominating employer ( who is not subject to a labour agreement and who has lodged a valid nomination with us under the Temporary Residence Transition stream), who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.

-The direct entry system is for people who have been nominated by their employee under the direct entry stream

-People who have never, or any briefly, worked in Australia

-temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.

-The Agreement stream is for people sponsored by an employer through a negotiated formal labour agreement.

​ Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you:

-have been nominated by an approved Australian employer within the six months before you apply

-are under the age of 50 at the time of application, unless you are exempt

--at time of application lodgement, have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for (you must hold any mandatory registration, license or professional membership, or you must already be fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body

-have appropriate English language skills (at the time of application lodgement) ， unless you are exempt

-

meet health and character requirements

-meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply

The Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa (subclass 187) is for skilled workers who want to work in regional Australia. This visa involves a two-step process, firstly, nomination by an approved Australian employer and then an application under the nominated stream. It is part of the Permanent Employer Sponsored Visa program.

• The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years, while holding a subclass 457 visa, in the same occupation with their nominating employer ( who is not subject to a labour agreement and who has lodged a valid nomination with us under the Temporary Residence Transition stream), who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.
• The direct entry system is for people who have been nominated by their employee under the direct entry stream
• People who have never, or any briefly, worked in Australia
• Temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.
• The agreement stream is for subclass 457 visa holders nominated by an employer through a labour agreement.

​ Application requirements:

• have been nominated by an approved Australian employer in regional Australia (outside of the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne) within six months before you apply
• are under the age of 50 at time of application lodgement, unless you are exempt
• at time of application lodgement, have the required skills and qualifications for the position you have been nominated for (you must hold any mandatory registration, license or professional membership, or you must already be fully assessed as suitable by the relevant body
• at time of application lodgement, have appropriate English language skills for Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream and Direct Entry (DE) stream unless you are exempt
• meet health and character requirements
• meet the requirements of the stream in which you apply

The Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188) is part of the Business Innovation and Investment Programme.

You must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and be nominated by a state or territory government of Austrade on behalf of the Australian government before being invited to apply for this visa.

Holding this visa is the first stage before becoming eligible to qualify for a Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888).

Streams

• Business Innovation stream: for people with business skills who want to establish, develop and manage a new or existing business in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government.
• Investor stream: for people who want to make a designated investment of at least AUD1.5 million in an Australian stare or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government.
• Significant Investor stream: for people who are willing to invest at least AUD1.5 million into complying significant investments in Australia and want to maintain business and investment activity in Australia. Applicants can be nominated by a state or territory government or Austrade on behalf of the Australian government.
• Premium Investor Stream: for people who are willing to invest at least AUD1.5 million into complying premium investment in Australia and want to maintain business and investment activity in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by Austrade on behalf of the Australian government.
• Entrepreneur stream: for people who have a funding agreement from a third party for at least AUD200 000 to undertake a complying entrepreneur activity that is proposed to lead to either the commercialisation of a product or service in Australia or the development of a business in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if:

-you are nominated by a state or territory government or Austrade on behalf of the Australian government.

-you (and all members of your family unit) meet certain health and character requirements

-you meet the additional requirements for the stream in which you apply.

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, the Significant Investor stream and the Premium Investor Stream)
• Continue entrepreneurial activity in Australia (Entrepreneur stream)

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are nominated by a state or territory or the Australian government, and

-hold a provisional Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 188) and have met the requirements of that visa

OR

-hold a special category visa (subclass 444) and have met the requirements of the business innovation stream.

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.

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)

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you are nominated by a state or territory government agency and are invited to apply by the minister.

You must also either:

-have net business and personal assets of at least AUD1.5 million and an annual business turnover of at least AUD3 million if you intend to apply for the visa in the Significant Business History stream, or

-have obtained at least AUD1 million in venture capital funding to start the commercialisation and development of a high-value business idea in Australia if you intend to apply for the visa in the Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream.

The Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) is for people who want to come to Australia to marry their prospective spouse.

It is a temporary visa for nine months. You must be outside Australia when you lodge your application and when the visa is granted. You can have the wedding in any country: the wedding does not need to be in Australia.

Requirements

You might be able to get this visa if you intend to marry:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an eligible New Zealand citizen

You must:

• intend to marry and live as husband or wife with your prospective spouse
• be sponsored by your prospective spouse
• know your prospective spouse and have met in person
• be the opposite sex to your prospective spouse (same-sex couples can apply for a Partner visa based on their de facto relationship)
• meet age, health and character requirements

The Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) is the first stage towards a permanent Partner visa (subclass 100). You lodge only one application for your temporary and permanent visas and pay one application charge. Your application is processed in two stages, about two years apart.

You must be outside Australia when you apply and also when the Partner (Provisional) visa (subclass 309) is granted.

You can be in or outside Australia when Partner visa (subclass 100) is granted.

You must be outside Australia and married or in a de facto relationship with:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an eligible New Zealand citizen

You must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship. You must live with your partner or, if you do not, any separation must be only temporary.

Both parties must freely consent to the relationship.

You can apply if you intend to marry your partner before a decision on your visa is made.

In most cases, permanent residence cannot be granted less than two years from when you lodge your application.

Requirements

To get this visa, you must be married to or in a de facto relationship with an:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an eligible New Zealand citizen

The temporary Partner visa (sublass 820) allows you to live in Australia of you are the spouse or de facto partner of:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an eligible New Zealand citizen

In some circumstances the visa can be granted where your partner relationship has ended.

The temporary Partner visa (subclass 820) is the first stage towards a permanent Partner visa (subclass 801). You must be in Australia when you apply and also when this visa is decided.

You lodge one application form for your temporary and permanent visas and pay one application charge. Your application is processed in two stages, about two years apart.

Requirements

To get this visa, you must be married to or in a de facto relationship with an:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian permanent resident
• an eligible New Zealand citizen

You must be in a genuine and ongoing relationship. You must live with your partner or, if you do not, any separation must be only temporary. Both parties must freely consent to the relationship.

1. Married applicants
   Your marriage must be valid under Australian law. Underage, polygamous and same sex marriages are not legal in Australia. The marriage could be valid under limited circumstances of one person is younger than 18 years of age. Same-sex couples can apply for this visa based on their de facto relationship.
   
   
2. De facto applicants
   Usually your de facto relationship must have existed for at least 12 months immediately before you apply for this visa. Time spent dating does not count towards a de facto relationship.

You can be granted a visa without having been in a de facto relationship for 12 months if:

• you can demonstrate compelling and compassionate circumstances, such as having dependent children
• your partner has been granted a permanent humanitarian visa and your de factyo relationship existed before it was granted, and you told us about the relationship before the visa was granted
• your de facto relationship has been registered in Australia (this is not available in all states and territories)

You must be older than 18 years of age and not be related to your partner by family. This means you cannot be an ancestor or descendant of one another or have a parent in common.

You must be in Australia when you apply.

Features

This visa lets parents of a settled Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen to live in Australia permanently.

There can be long waiting times of up to 30 years for this visa.

​ Eligibility

You must have a child who is an Australian citizen, permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen.

At least half of your children must live in Australia or more of your children live in Australia than any other country.

Length of stay

Permanently

Sponsor

You must be sponsored. Usually, this will be your child who must be:

1. 18 years old or older
2. a settled Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen.
3. If your child is under 18

A sponsor can sponsor more than one parent for this visa.

Sponsors have financial and other responsibilities.

Features

This temporary visa is for self-funded retirees who have no dependents and want to live in Australia during their retirement years.

Eligibility

You must:

• be 55 years or older
• have no dependents (other than a partner)
• have an income of AUD 65 000 per year (or AUD 50 000 if you wish to live in a regional area)
• have a designated investment of AUD 750 000 in Australia (or AUD 500 000 if you wish to live in a regional area)

This is the only retirement visa. If you are not eligible for this visa, you might be eligible for a parent visa.

Length of stay

Four years