Good news for entrepreneurs. A new visa for individual... moreGood news for entrepreneurs. A new visa for individuals with innovative ideas and financial backing from a third party will come into effect from November 2016.
For more information on the Entrepreneur visa http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/188-
Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) have rele... moreDepartment of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) have released the new Skilled Occupations List (SOL) for 2016-17.
This list will come into effect from 1st July, 2016.
The Skilled Occupations List is used for 189 (Skilled Independent Visa), 489 (Skilled Regional Provisional Visa) and 485 (Graduate Temporary Visa) visa applications.
The DIBP have also released the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations List (CSOL) which is used for 190 (Skilled Nominated Visa), 457 (Temporary Work Skilled Visa) and 186 (Employer Nominated Scheme) visa applications.Here’s the SOL 2016-17 less
Government plans to introduce a new five-year temporary sponsore... moreGovernment plans to introduce a new five-year temporary sponsored parent visa. You can find more information from here
Australia introduced a simplified student visa framework (SSVF) ... moreAustralia introduced a simplified student visa framework (SSVF) on July 1st 2016. Find more information from here
General information
Longer Visitor visas fo... moreVisitor Visas
General information
Longer Visitor visas for parents
Frequently asked questions
Document checklist
Visa application charge
Application form
General information
The Visitor visa (subclass 600) lets you visit Australia for tourism or business visitor activities.
Tourism includes holidays, recreation and seeing family or friends.
Business visitor activities may include attending a conference, negotiation or an exploratory business visit.
You cannot work for or provide services to a business or organisation in Australia or sell goods or services to the public. If you are intending to do short-term work in Australia you should apply for the new Temporary work (short stay activity) visa (subclass 400).
People intending informal study or training for less than 3 months, may also apply for a Visitor visa.
Longer Visitor visas for parents of Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents
Parents of Australian citizens and permanent residents are able to apply for Visi... less
Australia’s annual immigration intake has remained at the centre of political discussion with Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicating it could be slashed, and more opportuni... moreAustralia’s annual immigration intake has remained at the centre of political discussion with Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicating it could be slashed, and more opportunities opening up for migrants in regional Australia. Read here for more details
New arrivals are powering the state’s population growth with overseas migration accounting for 80 per cent of the increase in the NSW population last year.
Net overseas migra... moreNew arrivals are powering the state’s population growth with overseas migration accounting for 80 per cent of the increase in the NSW population last year.
Net overseas migration to the state was a record 98,800 in the 12 months to September 2017, up 17 per cent on the previous year. The majority of overseas arrivals to NSW typically settle in Sydney.
The annual increase in overseas migrants to NSW was 4400 more than the number of new births in the state, meaning migration contributed more to population growth than newborns in the year to September.
The new population statistics released by the Bureau of Statistics on Thursday come amid national debate over population levels and as governments struggle to relieve pressure on overstretched transport infrastructure and social services.
The figures revealed the number of births per woman in NSW slumped to 1.645 last financial year, the lowest in Australia, raising the prospect that soaring house prices in Sydney are taking a toll on the fe... less
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) have recently published the processing times for Global Visa and Citizenshipapplications for the public to view for ... moreThe Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) have recently published the processing times for Global Visa and Citizenshipapplications for the public to view for the first time.
This new development is part of the Government’s efforts to give clients more useful information about visas and citizenship products. These newly published times are meant to offer clients more transparency about how long a particular visa, stream, subclass or citizenship application is taking.
The Government aims to update the processing times for most visa and citizenship application types monthly to reflect the volume of applications coming in and the expected caseload. Some visa subclasses will not be published because they are either at capacity, not accepting any new entrants or are queued.
The Government has advised candidates that they must lodge a complete application if they want their application to fall within the allocated published processing times.
However, the published processing times are not gu... less
Population is "the everything issue". It affects all aspects of public policy and our daily lives. It is essential to get population policy right if we are to achieve critical... morePopulation is "the everything issue". It affects all aspects of public policy and our daily lives. It is essential to get population policy right if we are to achieve critical public policy outcomes like secure jobs, affordable housing, better planning and a sustainable environment.
That is not to say that it is the only reform required in order to achieve these outcomes, but trying to achieve these goals while engineering record population growth is like walking up a down escalator.
From a population of 19 million in 2000, Australia has grown to reach nearly 25 million today. That is nearly 20 years earlier than the official prediction made by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2000. We’ve added an extra 6 million people in quick time, or around 30 per cent. Incredibly, that’s more than the entire population of Sydney.
Why is this extraordinary growth happening? The fundamental reason is the ramping up of Australia’s annual permanent immigration intake from the 20th century average of... less
Recently arrived Chinese migrant Yuzhen Chen is glowing in her praise of her new home and all that it offers for her young family.
"My children can have good future here. Australia... moreRecently arrived Chinese migrant Yuzhen Chen is glowing in her praise of her new home and all that it offers for her young family.
"My children can have good future here. Australia has a clean environment and a good education system with opportunities,” she said.
“My favourite thing about Australia is the lovely blue sky every day. I love to do outside activities under the blue sky.”
She was one of more than 130 clients of settlement agency Australian Management Education Services Australia who took part in a survey gauging the migrant and refugee experience.Respondents were asked why they came to Australia and to describe their experiences of making a new life in their adopted country.AMES spokesman Laurie Nowell told SBS News the survey produced some positive and negative findings."What was encouraging was that everybody who comes here seems to want to fit in and contribute, get a job and join in community activities," he said.
"One of the troubling things we found was that not everybod... less
The 457 visa will be replaced with Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa
... moreThe 457 visa will be replaced with Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton (R) has defended the decision to scrap the 457 visa program.
From March 2018, the current 457 visa program will be abolished and replaced with the completely new Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa.
The TSS visa will be comprised of a Short-Term stream allowing stays of up to two years, and a Medium-Term stream allowing stays of up to four years.
The Short-Term stream visa is renewable only once. The STSOL occupation list will apply for Short-Term Stream applicants.
The Medium-Stream visa holders may renew their visas onshore and may apply for permanent residence pathway after working for three years in Australia. The MLTSSL occupation list will apply for Medium-Stream visa applicants. This stream is relatively similar to the current 457 visa.
Tighter Regulations for both streams:
Increased Work Experience Requirements
Higher English Langua... less
Australia’s permanent migration programme for 2017-18 will remain at a ceiling of 190,000 places.
This was announced by Department of Immigration and Border Protection Minist... moreAustralia’s permanent migration programme for 2017-18 will remain at a ceiling of 190,000 places.
This was announced by Department of Immigration and Border Protection Minister Peter Dutton on budget day.
After recent announcements of abolishing the 457 visas and strengthening the requirement to gain Australia’s citizenship, all eyes were on government to see if the skilled migrant intake would be reduced or would it be maintained.
Debate on migration intake was reignited in late 2016 when Labor and Coalition debated the ‘Australians First’ policy and brought back focus on 457 visa.
Migrant intake was also one of the core election issues in the West Australian state elections.
Even former Prime Minister Tony Abbott opined that reducing migrant intake could solve the problem of housing crisis in Australia.
Immigration amounts to approximately 55 per cent of Australia's population growth annually and "High rates of immigration put upward pressure on land and housing prices in Aust... less
Thinking about working in Australia? You will need a valid work visa. If you have been told that you can work with an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), you have been lied to.
You ... moreThinking about working in Australia? You will need a valid work visa. If you have been told that you can work with an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), you have been lied to.
You could be caught in a scam if:
the advertisement lists only a first name and number
the employer or agent demands that you pay them upfront for an Australian visa
you are told to get an ETA for work
you are asked to set up a company in order to come and work in Australia
you feel like you are being harassed with promises that you will be safe and looked after once you pay
you are promised permanent residence in Australia
the employer or agent uses the Australian coat of arms on their website
you are told you will be paid in cash only
you are told you won’t be required to get an Australian government tax file number
the employer or agent in Australia does not have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
you won’t be paid minimum Australian wage (see www.fairwork.gov.au)
you are asked to give your travel document... less
