Visa Information

I have received several requests for information about visas and although I have previously focused on things that are more about culture, this is probably more important because it will tell you exactly how to make your own downunder discovery a reality. The information from the government website where you must apply for these visas is pretty dense and hard to read so I will try to simplify the main points and make things easier. You can find the Australian government website under my "links" tab or if you are at all familiar with the powerful tool we call the internet.

Work and Holiday Visa
This is the visa that I initally entered Australia on and it is a great option because it allows you a long period of time to travel around (12 months) and an opportunity to work for any employer for up to 6 months. This is probably your best bet because if you are anything like me you won't want to leave and you will run out of money fast!  Also gives you an opportunity to study but I should warn you that tuition for international students is pretty steep. In my experience, it was also pretty easy to find work as it is a very common visa that people are familiar with. Here are the basics:

• For young people (18-30)
• Enter Australia at any point within 12 months of visa grant date
• Stay in Australia for 12 months from entry
• Undertake temporary employment with any employer for up to 6 months
• Study for up to 4 months
• Must have graduated from high school
• Cannot be accompanied by dependent children
• Must provide evidence of funds to support yourself for initial stage of your holiday
• May need to provide health information or checks 
• Must meet character requirements
• Costs $270
• For certain countries it can be extended or you can apply for another but there are requirements depending on your country.

Here are the basics of the working holiday visa but I will also add a few notes from my personal experience. This is when I applied as an American Citizen for the Subclass 462 about 2 years ago

I was not required to provide evidence of funds or perform a health check up but my visa was granted with a no further stay option which meant I could not apply again for this specific visa. The next time I came to Australia I had to enter on a 3 month tourist visa.


Skilled Migrant Visa - Independent
This visa is a great way to migrate to Australia permanently but does require specific skills or occupations that are in demand. I am not going to list all of the skills or occupations that are in demand here in Australia because they are constantly changing and it is quite a long list. Here is a link to the skilled occupation list: SOL Acceptance for this visa is all based off a point system and I believe they are strict on qualifications they recognize in Australia. Here are the basics:

• Must be under the age of 50
• Skill or occupation must be on SOL list
• Qualification must meet Australian standards
• Acceptance based off of a point system
• Must have competent english
• Can include secondary applicant (spouse, child etc.)
• Costs $2960

Considering the current economic situation in America and other struggling countries I still believe this is a great option for skilled individuals looking to find a professional job. It is no mystery that Australia is a great place to live and work while it also offers much more government support and a great lifestyle. The visa, on the other hand, is not cheap but is average to get any type of citizenship here.
In short, if you are seriously looking to migrate to Australia and have the skills to pay the bills, this might be your best option. You will be surprised to learn the type of occupations that are in demand and not all of them require a fancy degree or ivy league qualifications. This is just one of the options for skilled migrants and there are also visas specifically for recent graduates who have a desired skill or occupation. To find more information go to the immi.gov.au government site which can also be found in my links.