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Immigration Facts & Figures for Australia
Australia is a major immigration country, approximately a
quarter of its 20 million people were born outside of Australia.
Their countries of origin are diverse: they include the UK,
China, Italy, Greece, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia, South
Africa and many, many others.
Although the fertility rate sits at 1.76 children per female,
this is well below the rate required, since Australia’s
population is ageing rapidly (median age is 36 years and
rising). Much of Australia’s population growth therefore, is due
to immigration and this is expected to continue to be the case
throughout the 21st century. Information on Visas for Australia
Australia Immigration - There are several Australian Immigration
and Australian Visa options for potential Australian migrants.
Read About the main Australian Visa and Australian immigration
options.
Potential migrants to Australia are selected based on skills,
health, financial resources, age, English language ability and
family and business contacts in Australia. Race, gender and
culture are not considered at all.
Migrants today fall into two main categories for a place in the
Migration Program: half the +-80,000 places each year go to
skilled migrants as Australia seeks those migrants who have
skills and qualifications to improve the Australian society and
economy.
Visa classes
Permanent entry visa
Work visa
Temporary entry visas
Visitor visa
Business visas
PERMANENT ENTRY VISA
Australia accepts people from overseas for permanent settlement
in our country under two main migration streams:
The Migration Program
The Humanitarian Program
The Migration Program caters for all potential applicants
wishing to migrate to Australia.
The Migration Program
Potential migrants to Australia are selected based on skills,
health, financial resources, age, English language ability and
family and business contacts in Australia. Race, gender and
culture are not considered at all.
Migrants today fall into two main categories for a place in the
Migration Program: half the 70,000 places each year go to
skilled migrants as Australia seeks those migrants who have
skills and qualifications to improve the Australian society and
economy. These categories are:
Skilled Migrants
Business Migrants
The other half of the Migration Program places go to family
reunion and resettlement of former residents and citizens, and
for the families of New Zealanders. These categories are:
Family Migrants
Special Eligibility
Skilled Migrants
There are five categories of migrants in the Skilled Scheme.
1. Independent Skilled Migrants.
For qualified persons in an approved occupation in Australia
Must be under 45 to apply
2. Skilled Migrant - Australian Linked.
Applicants who have close family members in Australia able to
sponsor them.
Applicants are assessed on age, qualifications, English & other
language abilities.
3. Distinguished Talent.
This is a small category for especially talented people,
particularly in the arts or in sports.
4. Employer Nominated Migrant
Employers may nominate skilled people from overseas to fill an
Australian job vacancy when no one local has suitable skills for
the job.
Age, qualifications and English abilities are assessed.
5. Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme
If your Australian employer, who wants to nominate you, is in a
remote area outside metropolitan districts, he or she can
sponsor you through this scheme.
Business Migrants
Business Migrants come under the Skilled Migrants Stream, but
there are so many special provisions for them that Australian
Visas puts them in separate categories.
Business Skills Migration
This information is about migrating to Australia as a business
person.
Please note: on 1 March 2003, there were major changes to
business skills entry whereby business migrants:
will be granted a Business Skills (Provisional) visa, valid for
four years;
and, after establishing the requisite level of business activity
or maintaining their investment,
they will be eligible to make an application for permanent
residence.
The Business Skills visa class of Australia's migration program
encourages successful business people to settle permanently in
Australia and develop new or existing businesses.
Business owners, senior executives and investors can apply for a
visa under the Business Skills category
Under the two-stage arrangements introduced on 1 March 2003,
business migrants are granted a Business Skills (Provisional)
visa for four years and, after establishing the requisite level
of business or maintaining their eligible investment, are
eligible to make an application for a Business Skills
(Residence) visa.
A direct permanent residence category will still be available
for high-calibre business migrants sponsored by State/Territory
governments. This is known as the Business Talent visa.
The Business Skills program is divided into four categories:
business owner: for owners or part-owners of a business;
senior executive: for senior executive employees of major
businesses;
investment: for investors/business people willing to invest in
Australia;
business talent: for high-calibre business people who have
sponsorship from a State/Territory government.
In addition, the Business Skills program also has two categories
for persons who are in Australia on temporary visas, other than
the Business Skills (Provisional) visas:
established business in Australia (EBA): for people temporarily
in Australia who are owners or part owners of a business; and
regional established business in Australia (REBA): for people
temporarily in Australia who are owners or part owners of a
business in a designated area of Australia.
Factors affecting Business Skills migrationThe Australian
Government implemented a two-stage visa arrangement for business
people on 1 March 2003.
Most people interested in coming to Australia under the Business
Skills category will need to apply for a Business Skills
(Provisional) visa.
After successfully establishing the requisite level of business
activity or maintaining a designated investment in Australia,
holders of a Business Skills (Provisional) visa will be eligible
to lodge an application for permanent residence in Australia.
State/Territory government sponsorship will be available at both
the provisional and permanent residence stages, with
significantly lower requirements when sponsored.
A direct permanent residence category will still be available
for high calibre business migrants sponsored by state/territory
governments. This will be known as the Business Talent (Migrant)
visa.
Through the State/Territory sponsorship arrangements, the new
system will provide for improved linkages with State and
Territory government business services to provide the help that
many business migrants need to get into business.
Family Migrants
32,000 migrants will be accepted in the Family Stream section.
Family migrants must have a responsible relative in Australian
who will sponsor them. Family members not able to support
themselves (aged relatives or dependent children) apply under
this class. Independent working age family members should apply
under the skilled Migrant - Australian linked class.
As a Family migrant you will not be tested on your skill level
or your English Language ability, but you will be assessed
against Australia's health and character requirements, as are
all migrants.
You may apply as a Family Migrant in one of the following
categories:
1. Partner
Spouse - or established partner
Prospective Marriage Partner - intending to get married, a
fiancé
Interdependency - for people of the same sex who live together
interdependently.
Child
Dependent Child - your child who is financially dependent on
you. This can apply to children over 18 if they are still fully
dependent on their Australian sponsor.
Adoption
Orphan Relative
Parent
Parent applications are given a low priority in 2000. Only 500
places are available.
Working Age Parent - not old enough to qualify for a pension at
65 for men and 62 for women in 2000.
Other Family
Aged Dependent Relative - single aged relatives
Remaining Relative - last remaining family relative
Carer - person traveling to Australia to care for a special need
relative.
The following categories of migrant can apply under this
section.
Former citizens or residents of Australia
Family of New Zealand citizens - for dependents of New Zealand
citizens who have settled or intend to settle permanently in
Australia.
Work visa
Work Visas are only available in certain circumstances. The
options are:
Working holiday maker visa - The main intention of your trip
should be recreation, but you will be allowed to do part-time
and temporary work to supplement your income. This is available
to citizens of the following countries: Canada, Japan, Ireland,
Korea, Malta, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Applicants
must be between the ages of 18 and 26. Note: This visa is not
available to South African citizens.
Temporary residence visa with work rights - this visa is for
applicants wishing to work in Australia for up to 4 years.
Employer sponsorship is the main requirement. Your employer must
arrange this from Australia. Only when the sponsorship is
approved can you apply for a temporary residence visa.
Temporary entry visas
Temporary Residence Categories Australia's temporary residence
program is designed to allow overseas people to come to
Australia for specific purposes that result in some benefit to
Australia. The focus is on the areas of skilled employment,
social/cultural and international relations.
Students
Australia's student visa program provides for the entry of
overseas students who wish to undertake full-time study in
registered courses in Australia.
Work rights for students have been made available so that
students can supplement their income, rather than it being their
sole source of finance.
Work rights, while their Australian institution is in session,
are limited to 20 hours per week. There are no limits while the
institution is not in session.
Business people
If you need to visit Australia to conduct business - a
conference, site inspection, negotiations or perhaps an
exploratory visit - there are a number of visa options. For
example:
The Business (Short Stay) visa allows the bona fide business
person unlimited travel to Australia. Visits can be up to three
months and you can choose the period of time the visa is valid
up to the life of your passport or five years, which ever is
longer.
Visitor visas
If you are the citizen of any country other than Australia and
New Zealand, you will need a visa (or in some cases an
Electronic Travel Authority) to visit Australia.
On a standard visitor visa you can stay up to 3 months from the
date of entry. The visa is for multiple travel and can be used
to enter Australia for 1 year from the date of issue. You are
not permitted to work on this visa. You can also apply for a
long stay visa. This is usually granted for stays up to 6
months.
Applications are generally processed within 24 hours.
If you are eligible to enter Australia on an ETA if you meet the
following conditions:
you hold a passportapproved for ETA
you visit to Australia is for -
tourism,
visiting relatives,
business meetings,
a convention or conference, or
a short term project or event requiring a high level of skill;
you will not work in Australia if you hold a tourist ETA;
you will not stay in Australia for more than three months;
you are in good health and have no criminal convictions.
Types of ETA
There are 3 types of ETA:
if you are travelling for tourism or to visit friends or
relatives, and wish to stay for up to three months on each visit
within a twelve month period, you should apply for the
Visitor/Tourist ETA (976). There is no Australian Government
charge for this ETA;
if you are travelling on a business visit, and wish to stay for
up to three months on each visit during the life of your
passport, you should apply for the Long Validity Business ETA
(956). There is a fee of AUS$60.00 for this ETA. Payment is by
credit card only;
if you are travelling on business and intend just one visit to
Australia, you may apply for the Short Validity Business ETA
(977). This ETA is free of Australian Government charges and
entitles the holder to one visit to be made within 12 months and
permits a stay of 3 months from date of arrival.
All ETA holders are provided with a copy of the leaflet
Electronic Travel Authority System ETAS - Information for ETA
Holders at the time that an ETA is issued. The leaflet will
provide ETA holders with concise information about ETA
arrangements (including conditions and validity and that a visa
label or stamp is not required).
ETA Countries
ETA arrangements are currently available to '32 eligible
passport holders'. They apply to these passport holders:
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Brunei
Canadian
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hong Kong Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japanese
Liechtenstein
Luxemburg
Malaysia
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway Singapore
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan*
UK - British Citizen
UK - British National (Overseas)**
USA
Vatican City
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