Australia Visa Requirements

Migrating to the continent of Australia or its territories can be a bureaucratically frustrating experience. That said, Australia has taken many steps towards reducing red tape associated with visa applications, and most immigration authorities contend that Australia's system is one of the best in the developed world, better than even the U.S. migration system. So what are the major Australian visas and their concomitant requirements?

The most common visa is something known as the skilled visa, which is provided to university students or trade workers migrating to the continent. Skilled migration visas, otherwise known as "points test" visas, are relatively easy to come by, provided that you remain flexible in your application. Bear in mind that the government prefers to harbor individuals who will improve the economy by strengthening Australia's industries.

Qualifying to Move to Australia

Another way to qualify for a skilled visa is to accept residence in one of Australia's lesser populated territories or states. You won't necessarily be declined if you exclusively seek to migrate to a populous center, such as Melbourne or Sydney, but your chances of acceptance will go down. If your business or school grants you the freedom to establish yourself anywhere in Australia, you might choose to start out in the territories and then move to the city after a year or two.

Australia also offers partner visas. To qualify for a partner visa, you need to be in a committed relationship with an Australian permanent resident or citizen or a New Zealand citizen permanently living in Australia. Australia's partner visa requirements are extremely progressive. Same-sex couples are entitled to visa protection, as are fiancés and de facto spouses.

Securing a Partner Visa

Applying for a partner visa is normally done in two stages. After the first stage, you'll be granted a temporary partner visa. You then must wait two years to apply for a permanent partner visa. During that time, you may wish to leapfrog the visa application process and apply directly for Australian citizenship. If you elect to serve in the Australian military in the interim, that may boost your chances.

If your company requires you to move to Australia, you should apply for what's known as a business sponsorship visa. You can get a business sponsorship visa either for four years or for a permanent stay. Exclusions do apply, however, so you might want to talk with your company executives in detail about your potential status before migrating.

Taking Up Permanent Residence Down Under

Some business sponsorship visas will allow you to bring your family over to Australia. However, you can also apply for a family sponsorship visa if you already have family living in Australia or the territories. Once again, special circumstances may apply if your relatives are New Zealanders.

Finally, you may apply for a temporary residence visa if you visit Australia frequently on business or if you want to take a long holiday to the continent. Limitations on temporary residence visas are strictly enforced, so it may make more sense to apply for a permanent visa if you foresee spending a lot of time down under.