Skilled migration

The Australian government grants permanent and temporary visas to skilled professionals whose skills contribute to the country’s economic development, under the General Skilled Migration program. Typical requirements: being under 45, holding academic qualifications (preferably university degrees), a good level of English, an occupation on the in-demand skills list and substantial experience in the field. For regional areas, the requirements of the destination state or territory must also be met.

They allow Australian employers to hire foreign workers when they cannot fill vacancies with local staff. They include labour agreements, distinguished talent and intra-company transfers, and favour employers in Australia’s less populated areas.

For business owners, investors and entrepreneurs who want to establish a business, undertake joint ventures or invest in Australia. As part of the investment, Australian citizens or permanent residents must be employed.

Australia welcomes full-time international students at schools, language institutes, vocational institutions and universities.

• Student visa

  For programs longer than 3 months. Requires being a genuine student, confirmation of enrolment, health insurance, sufficient funds, good health and no criminal record. You can apply from inside or outside Australia.

• Training visa

  Allows foreigners to gain work experience through an internship at an established Australian business, which supports and is responsible for the training. You can apply from within Australia or from abroad.

A temporary visa that lets international students gain work experience after graduating from programs of 2 or more years in Australia. It has two streams:

• Graduate stream

  For those who completed a 2-year vocational program related to an occupation on the MLTSSL; it allows you to stay and work in Australia for 18 months.

• Post-study work stream

  For graduates of bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral programs of at least 2 years at an Australian university; it allows you to work for 2 to 4 years depending on your level of study.

Citizens and permanent residents can sponsor children, spouses or fiancés, parents and certain relatives and carers. Partner visas are the most common: to sponsor a spouse, the couple must have been married or in a de facto relationship for at least one year and have registered their relationship, or be engaged, among other requirements.

They include visitor, working holiday and transit visas. They are temporary: they allow tourists or business travellers to stay for a short period, to transit through Australia, and young people from eligible countries to work in certain industries during extended holidays.