Visa to Australia

Australia is a country of beach holidays, diving and surfing. There are many unique parks with flora and fauna that are not represented in other parts of the world. A Schengen visa is not used in Australia. The recipient of a permanent residence visa receives the right to stay in the country indefinitely and enjoy benefits provided to indigenous people, for example, health insurance.

A guest visa is usually issued in 2-3 weeks, a work and business visa in 5-20 days, and a tourist visa for 4 weeks.

The relocators apply for a visa on the official website immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

Freelancer Visa

Digital nomads are not in their native country, and they earn money through freelancing. They can change the cities or states of their location. Many countries are trying to attract digital nomads, because it is beneficial for the national economy – a person lives in the country, spends money there, but works remotely. But in Australia, until recently, there was no provision for a freelancer visa.

How much a visa cost

It is recommended to obtain visas when contacting migration agents or Australian lawyers. The prices for their services vary greatly. So, a tourist visa can cost from $200 to $1,000. It does not include biometrics and visa fees. It is made through a travel company. It is possible to apply for a visa at the visa application center, where they will additionally charge money for the service provided. If the application is submitted by the applicant himself, then you will need to pay $135.

A Class 482 Temporary Skill Short-Short work visa costs $905. The business price is about $80. A student visa costs about AUD 750-1,000. In 2024, the visa fee is AUD 190. The delivery of biometrics is possible at visa centers, where it will cost the applicant about ₱1,500.

Types of visas (types of visas)

There are 3 types of visas available in Australia:

• type A – transit;
• type C – guest (tourist), business with a short period of validity;
• type D – for training, work, for family reunification.

Student's

Who the visa work for

In 2024, there is only one student visa remaining, belonging to the 500 subclass. Upon receiving it, you can stay in the country for up to 5 years of study. To purchase it, you must have an invitation from one of the Australian educational institutions. If the student is underage, he must have a guardian with him at the place of learning.

The educational institution must be included in the CRICOS list. If the application is not submitted in Australia, you must submit a confirmation of enrollment using the CoE form, except in the following cases:

• if the student is sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Australian Department of Defense (with a letter from these departments attached); 
• if he is a participant in a student exchange (a completed AASES form is submitted); 
• if a certified specialist conducts scientific research (confirmed by a letter from an educational institution).

Tourist

Its official name is Visitor Visa, classified as a subclass 600. It is obtained in electronic form before the trip. It does not allow you to work, it can be used for short-term courses (up to 3 months). It is divided into 5 varieties:

1. Steam (issued for those outside Australia).
2. Steam (for those staying and wishing to extend their stay in the country).
3. Special visas for Chinese people coming to Australia for work or personal reasons.
4. Tourist business visa (Business Visitor Steam).
5. A family visa paid for by Australian relatives (Sponsored Family Steam).

Business (for business trips)

Within this variety, classic and alternative visas are distinguished. The first of them involve the provision of a business plan, demonstration of assets, and financial statements. This includes the Business Innovation Stream Visa of subclass 188A, which allows you to work in both new and existing businesses.

Alternative visas include:

• used to transfer the applicant to a country sponsored by a foreign legal entity to open a business branch; 
• Skilled Work Regional Visa of subclass 491, acceptable for registration by business owners who received a nomination from the state; 
• obtained from startup accelerators, intended for novice businessmen (Entrepreneur Stream Visa of subclass 188E).

Working (to work legally in the country)

The bulk of them relate to migration, but some of them (for example, Short Stay Specialist, a subclass 400 – non-migratory, not leading to permanent residence). To obtain a work visa for a while, a minimum length of service of 2 years is required. It is issued only after receiving an invitation from an Australian employer.

At the same time, business is in no hurry to nominate relocants for a work visa, as this is associated with financial costs and monitoring by the Department of Internal Affairs. Highly qualified personnel have the best chance of obtaining it, which is due to the need to coordinate hiring with the Australian Immigration Department.

A potential employee must be proficient in English (IELTS testing is carried out, at least 5 points must be obtained in each section of the main module).

Required documents

The dossier:

• a passport with a validity period of six months after the trip, as well as copies of the completed pages of old passports; 
• a questionnaire filled out by the applicant in Russian; 
• a 3.5x4.5 cm color photo; 
• a form 956a (for children under the age of 18, any parent signs);
• an extract from a bank account or personal account;
• certificate of employment;
• marriage certificate;
• copies of national passport;
• travel plan;
• copy of reservation or air tickets;
• scanned copy of military ID or certificate provided by the military enlistment office.

A person who has relatives in Australia additionally provides a copy of his visa. In each specific case, it is necessary to specify which additional documents will be required for the applicant to obtain a particular visa.

Recent changes in the Australian visa issue

Since June 2024, the national Government has taken measures aimed at attracting qualified personnel and tourists to the country. New varieties have been introduced in tourist visas, allowing you to stay in the state for up to 12 months. As long as the issued document is valid, there is the possibility of repeated entry into the country.

To obtain work visas, the number of quotas for those sectors where there is a shortage of labor has been increased, a visa for freelancers has been introduced, and the procedure for applying for a visa has been simplified. There are new online platforms for applying for a visa, which will speed up the process. E-visa systems have been implemented for most categories. Thanks to this, the application process has become faster and more comfortable.

Additional features

The visa extension procedure has also been simplified, and the possibility of automatic renewal has appeared when using online platforms.