| Introduction
Family (external link)
Economic immigrants
General criteria
Introduction (link)
The information on this website is updated periodically, but for full details and the latest updates, check the Australian immigration website.
The annual number of immigrants in Australia (see link):
- year 2007-2008: 149 400
- year 2008-2009: 158 021
- year 2009-2010: 140 610
- year 2010-2011: 127 460
- year 2011-2012: 185 000 (planned)
- year 2012-2013: 190 000 (planned)
Breakdown in immigrant categories:
- 60% economic immigrants (“business”)
- 30% family class immigrants
- 10% refugees
FAMILY CLASS IMMIGRANTS (link)
The Family Stream seeks to reunite Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and eligible New Zealand citizens with their close family members.
There are a number of migration options for fiancés, partners, children, parents and other family members..
Some visa classes within the Family Stream are subject to being capped and queued. These visas may have extensive waiting periods and this may affect your decision to apply for one of these visas.
ECONOMIC IMMIGRANTS
This category includes skilled workers, business people, outstanding talents, and investors. Since 1 July 2012, immigration procedures for economic migrants have changed. The new system is called “SkillSelect”.
SkillSelect (external link)
SkillSelect is an online service that was introduced on 1 July 2012 and involves significant changes to the skilled visa application process.
There are three points-tested skilled migration visa subclasses (see below). Intending migrants for these categories will first need to submit an expression of interest (EOI) and then will need to be invited to apply for one of the new points tested skilled migration visas.
Points test (external link)
The points test will be based on the applicant’s attributes at the time of invitation rather than at the time of application lodgement or decision. The pass mark is the minimum number of points required to be eligible for a points-tested skilled migration visa and is subject to change in response to Australian labour market needs. Jobs for wich there is a shortage in the labour market, can be found on the Skilled Occupation List, or SOL (external link).
Under SkillSelect, the ability to meet the points test mark will not guarantee an invitation to apply. Invitations will be issued periodically to the highest ranking expressions of interest subject to occupation ceilings.
An expression of interest is not an application for a visa. If you are invited to apply, you will have to demonstrate that the claims in your expression of interest are correct.
| SKILLED WORKERS POINTS TEST, external link |
| 1. Age (under 50)
(max. 30 points) |
30 points: 25-32 years
25 points: 30-34 and 35-39 years
15 points: 40-44 years
0 points: 45-49 years |
| 2. Language
(max. 20 points) |
20 points for “Superior English”, i.e. the applicant has a minimum score of 8 on each of the language abilities (reading, writing, speaking, listening) in the International English Language Testing System test ( = IELTS test).
10 points for “Proficient English”, i.e. the applicant has a minimum score of 7 on each of the abilities in the IELTS test.
0 points for “Competent English”, i.e. the applicant has a minimum score of 6 on each of the abilities in the IELTS test. Applicants from the united kingdom, Ireland, the US, Canada and New Zealand automatically receive this score, and are not required to do the IELTS test. |
| 3. Experience
(max. 20 points) |
20 punten: minimaal 8 jaar specifieke werkervaring in Australië
15 punten: minimaal 5 jaar in Australië of 8 jaar in het buitenland.
10 punten: minimaal 3 jaar in Australië of 5 jaar in het buitenland.
5 punten: minimaal 1 jaar in Australië of 3 jaar werkervaring in het buitenland in een willekeurig beroep op de Skilled Occupations List.
De jaren werkervaring moeten betrekking hebben op een periode van maximaal 10 jaar voorafgaand aan het moment van de aanvraag. |
| 4. Qualification
(max. 15 points) |
15, 10, or5 points for an Australian post-secondary qualification (diploma, trade qualification, Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or a doctorate) that was obtained while present in Australia (where all instruction was in English). |
| 5. Australian study (5 points) |
5 points: minimum two years full-time (Australian study requirement) |
| 6. Regional area
(5 points) |
5 points: the applicant has lived and studied for at least 2 years in regional Australia (i.e. outside the cities) or in low population growth metropolitan areas. |
| 7. Professional year (5 points) |
5 points: completion of a recognised Professional Year |
| 8. Community language (5 points) |
5 points: NAATI accreditation |
| 10. Partner skills
(5 points) |
5 points: the applicant’s spouse, too, satisfies the basic requirements of age, English language ability, qualification, nominated occupation and recent work experience, and has obtained a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for his/her nominated occupation. |
| 11. State nomination
(15 points) |
5 points: nomination by a state or territory government under a state migration plan |
| 12. Designated area (10 points) |
10 points: sponsorship by an eligible relative living in a designated area or nomination by a state or territory government under a state migration plan |
(a) Skilled independent workers (permanent residence), link
Features
- This points-based visa is for skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, a state or territory, or a family member.
- A visa holder can live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
- Certain family members can be included in the application.
Requirements
Applications are by invitation only. To be invited to apply, a person must:
- submit an Expression of Interest
- have an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list
- have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
- be less than 50 years of age when the invitation is issued
- meet the English language requirements
- be able to score at least 60 on the points test.
(b) State/territory sponsored workers (permanent residence), link
Features
- This points-based visa is for skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory.
- A visa holder can live and work permanently anywhere in Australia.
- Certain family members can be included in the application.
Requirements
Applications are by invitation only. To be invited to apply, a person must:
- submit an Expression of Interest and be nominated
- have an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list
- have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
- be less than 50 years of age when the invitation is issued
- meet the English language requirements
- be able to score at least 60 on the points test.
(c) Nominated or sponsored skilled workers (provisional visa), link
Features
- This points-based visa is for skilled workers who are nominated by a state or territory or sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area in Australia.
- The visa is valid for four years, and a visa holder must live and work in a specified regional area.
- Certain family members can be included in the application.
Requirements
Applications are by invitation only. To be invited to apply, a person must:
- submit an Expression of Interest and be nominated or sponsored
- have an occupation that is on the relevant skilled occupation list
- have a suitable skills assessment for that occupation
- be less than 50 years of age when the invitation is issued
- meet English language requirements
- be able to score at least 60 on the points test.
(d) Skilled workers (provisional visa), link
Features
This visa allows a business to employ someone from outside Australia in a skilled job in Australia.
If you hold this visa, you can:
- work in Australia for up to four years
- bring your family with you
- travel in and out of Australia as often as you want
Requirements
You can apply for this visa if you:
- are sponsored by an employer to fill a nominated skilled position
- have skills, qualifications, experience and an employment background that match those required for the position
- have demonstrated your English language ability
- are eligible for any relevant licences or registration required for the nominated position
- have health insurance.
(e) Employer-nominated skilled workers, link
Features
This visa is for skilled workers from outside Australia or skilled temporary residents who live and work in Australia. It has three streams.
Requirements
People can apply for this visa if they:
- have been nominated by an approved Australian employer
- are less than 50 years of age
- meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements.
(f) Regional sponsored skilled workers, link
Features
This visa is for skilled workers from outside Australia or skilled temporary residents who live and work in regional Australia. It has three streams.
Requirements
People can apply for this visa if they:
- want to live and work in regional Australia, meaning not in the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne
- have been nominated by an approved Australian employer located in regional Australia
- are younger than 50 years of age
- meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements.
(g) Business talent (permanent residence), link
Features
This visa has two streams.
- The Significant Business History stream is for affluent owners or part owners of a business who want to have a major management role in a new or existing business in Australia.
- The Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream is for people who have obtained at least AUD1 million in funding from an Australian venture capital firm.
Requirements
Applications are by invitation only. To be invited to apply, a person must lodge an Expression of Interest, be nominated by a state or territory government, and
- have personal and business assets of AUD1.5 million (AUD400,000 must be net assets in the business), and have a business turnover of AUD3 million, or
- have obtained at least AUD1 million in funding from an Australian venture capital firm for a promising high value business idea.
(h) Buiness innovator & investor (provisional visa), link
Features
The visa has two streams.
- The Business Innovation stream is for people who want to own and manage a new or existing business in Australia.
- The Investor stream is for people who want to make a designated investment in an Australian state or territory and want to maintain business and investment activity in Australia after the original investment has matured.
Requirements
Applications are by invitation only. To be invited to apply, a person must:
- lodge an Expression of Interest
- be nominated by a state or territory government
- be less than 55 years of age
- have a successful business and/or investment history
- have adequate personal and business assets
- score at least 65 points on the innovation points test.
(i) Buiness innovator & investor (permanent residence), link
Features
The visa has two streams:
- the Business Innovation stream is for people who own and manage a business in Australia
- the Investor stream is for people who have a designated investment in an Australian state or territory and want to maintain business and/or investment activity in Australia after the original investment has matured.
Requirements
People can apply if they:
- hold a provisional Business Innovation and Investment visa
- have met the requirements of that visa (including the specific requirements for the stream in which they first applied)
- are nominated by a state or territory.
| INNOVATION POINTS TEST, external link |
| 1. Age
max. 30 points |
30 points: 25-32 years old
25 points: 33-39 years old
20 points: 18-24 & 40-44 years old
15 points: 45-54 years old |
| 2. English language
max. 10 points |
10 points: proficient or higher
5 points: vocational level |
| 3. Qualifications
max. 10 points |
10 points: Bachelor Degree in Business, Science or Technology
5 points: Australian trade certificate, diploma, or Bachelor Degree, or a recognized equivalent foreign qualification |
| 4. Business experience
max. 15 points |
15 points: more than 7 years
10 points: more than 4 years |
| 5. Investment experience
max. 15 points |
15 points: more than 7 years
10 points: more than 4 years |
| 6. Net assets
max. 35 points |
35 points: at least AUD 2,250,000
25 points: at least AUD 1,800,000
15 points: at least AUD 1,300,000
5 points: at least AUD 800,000 |
| 7. Business turnover
max. 35 points |
35 points: at least AUD 2,000,000
25 points: at least AUD 1,500,000
15 points: at least AUD 1,000,000
5 points: at least AUD 500,000 |
| 8. State or Territory nomination
10 points |
10 points: for a limited number of applicants who propose a business regarded as unique and important to the State or Territory. |
GENERAL CRITERIA & INFORMATION
online application
After you have have sent in your Expression of Interest (EOI), and after you have been invited to apply, you must lodge your application online. This can be done while you are in or outside Australia.
application charge
You must pay an initial application charge by credit card..
A second charge, that applies only to dependants who are aged 18 years or older who are included on your application and who have less than functional English, is payable before a visa can be granted.
processing times & priority processing (link)
Priority processing arrangements apply to skilled migration applications.
Some subclasses are exempt from priority processing and are processed in the order in which they are received.
Processing times may vary from 5 to 18 months The estimated processing times are provided as a guide only, and individual processing times may vary considerably from the published estimates. See external link.
confirmation of Australian values
As part of lodging your application, you must confirm that you agree with the Australian Values Statement and have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia book (online version). It contains an overview of Australia, its history, way of life and the values its people share. Though this book has been translated into many languages spoken by minority immigrant communities in Australia (external link), there is no Dutch translation available.
Temporary visa applicants also have to sign the Australian Values Statement, but are not required to read the book, or have it explained to them.
certified documents
You must provide documents that prove the claims you make in your application (e.g. regarding the points test, if applicable), as well as birth certificates, marriage certificates, proof of identity etc.. These are identified and explained in the Document Checklist (link). This checklist also explains whether you need to provide original documents or certified copies. ‘Certified copies’ have been authorised (or stamped) as being true copies of originals, by a person or agency recognised by the law of the country in which you live. E.g. a ‘notaris’ in the Netherlands, notary public in the US and Canada, solicitor in the United Kingdom, or a Justice of the Peace in Australia and New Zealand.
Any document in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
- A translator in Australia must be accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters.
- A translator outside Australia does not need to be accredited, but they must endorse the translation with their full name, address, telephone number, and details of their qualifications and experience in the language being translated.
health requirements
The applicant must meet certain health requirements.
character requirements
You and all members of your family unit must meet certain character requirements. This means you and each of your dependants (whether migrating or not) who are aged 16 years or older must provide police certificates. These need to be obtained from each country you and your family members have lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years or, in the case of those younger than 26 years or age, since each person turned 16 years of age.
English language proficiency
Proof that confirms a person’s English language skills includes:
- an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) average score of at least 4.5 for the four test components (speaking, reading, listening and writing)
- an Occupational English Test score which is at least equivalent to an IELTS 4.5.
- the applicant’s first language is English and they have a current passport from the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland
- a positive assessment on the basis of the Australian Adult Migrant English Program, certifying that the applicant’s English language proficiency is at functional level.
- evidence of a trade, diploma or higher qualification awarded by an institution in or outside Australia which involved at least two years of full-time study and all instruction was in English
- evidence of completion of at least one year of full-time or equivalent study in Australia for a diploma or higher qualification and all instruction was in English.
biometrics
The applicant may be asked to provide biometrics as part of his/her application. See external link.
interview
The applicant may be asked to attend an interview, either face-to-face or by telephone, after lodging the application.
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