WORKING VISAS

There are Visa Options for skilled people to be employed in Australia on a temporary or permanent basis. Applicants for visas seeking to work for an Australian employer must be sponsored by their employer.
Temporary Business Long Stay – Standard Business Sponsorship (subclass 457) is the most commonly used program for employers to sponsor overseas workers to fill nominated skilled positions in Australia on a temporary basis. There are also special arrangements for employers in regional areas across Australia.
 
Employers can be either:
  • Australian businesses
  • Overseas businesses

With this visa an employer can employ overseas workers for a period of between three (3) months and four (4) years who can:
  • work in Australia for a period of between three (3) months and four (4) years
  • bring any eligible secondary applicants with them to Australia – secondary applicants can work and study
  • after entering Australia, have no limit on the number of times they travel in and out of Australia.

MIGRANTS

There are a number of visa options available for people who want to migrate permanently to Australia and who have the required skills and qualifications.

Under the General Skilled Migration programme for skilled workers who want to live in Australia and who do not have an employer sponsoring them there are options to apply as an independent migrants to be sponsored by a relative, or nominated by a State or Territory government. The application procedures may vary depending on whether the migrant:

  • is in Australia
  • is outside Australia
  • is a New Zealand citizen
  • holds a Skilled – Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
  • holds a Skilled – Designated Area Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496) 

For more information please visit Department of Immigration and Citizenships website: http://www.immi.gov.au
Note that the rules have recently changed and DIAC has decided to stop all Labour Hire Firms from sponsoring specialists on 457 visas under the business sponsorship provisions.