FAQs on Migration to Australia

Why migrate to Australia?

There are numerous reasons such as:

Australia has a successful on-going large-scale migration program since the end of World War II in 1945 and has welcomed more than 7 million migrants since then.
More than a quarter of Australian residents are born overseas, contributing to Australia’s rich diversity in multiculturalism.
Australia has been consistently ranked by the United Nations Human Development Index as amongst the top “very high human development” countries in the world.
Australian cities have been consistently rated (e.g. Economist Intelligence Unit, Mercer, Monocle) as amongst the top 10 most liveable cities in the world.

What entitlements does an Australian permanent resident have?

An Australian permanent resident can:

live, work and study anywhere in Australia indefinitely;
receive subsidised healthcare;
receive social security welfare (subject to waiting periods);
receive subsidised tuition fees for studies at Australian government schools, vocational education or training institutes and universities;
get automatic Australian citizenship for children born in Australia;
sponsor people for Australian permanent residence; and
be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to meeting certain criteria).

What entitlements does an Australian citizen but not an Australian permanent resident have?

An Australian citizen but not an Australian permanent resident can:

vote in government elections;
become an elected government official; and
serve as a juror in jury trials in courts.

I am a skilled worker/executive. What migration visa should I apply for?

You should apply for a Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) or a Skilled – Nominated Visa (subclass 190), subject to eligibility criteria.

I am a skilled worker/executive and my relative in Australia can sponsor me. What migration visa should I apply for?

Your migration process has 2 stages:

Stage 1 – You should apply for a Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491), subject to eligibility criteria.

Stage 2 – After staying at least 3 years in the designated area in Australia and having a taxable income at or above the specific income threshold for at least 3 years, you should apply for a Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (subclass 191), subject to eligibility criteria.

I am a skilled worker/executive and my employer in Australia can sponsor me. What migration visa should I apply for?

You should apply for an Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (subclass 186), subject to eligibility criteria.

I am a skilled worker/executive and my employer in regional Australia can sponsor me. What migration visa should I apply for?

Your migration process has 2 stages:

Stage 1 – You should apply for a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 494), subject to eligibility criteria.

I am a recent graduate of an Australian university/institution in Australia. What migration visa should I apply for?

You should apply for a Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) or Skilled – Nominated Visa (subclass 190), subject to eligibility criteria.

I am a recent graduate of an Australian university/institution in Australia and want to extend my stay temporarily in Australia. What visa should I apply for?

You should apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485), subject to eligibility criteria.

I am a recent Engineering graduate of an overseas university/institution (including overseas-based Australian university/institution) and want to stay temporarily in Australia. What visa should I apply for?

You should apply for a Skilled – Recognised Graduate (Temporary) Visa (subclass 476), subject to eligibility criteria.

I am a businessperson/investor. What migration visa should I apply for?

Your migration process has 2 stages:

Stage 1 – You should apply for a Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (subclass 188), subject to eligibility criteria.

Stage 2 – After fulfilling the requirements of the Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (subclass 188), you should apply for a Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) Visa (subclass 888), subject to eligibility criteria.

You should apply for a Business Talent (Permanent) Visa (subclass 132), subject to eligibility criteria.

The above content is general in nature and is not intended to address your specific circumstances. We welcome the opportunity to have a chat with you and assist you with your legal issues or concerns. Talk with us and see the difference.

Updated December 2019.