If you want to get a work permit for Australia, it can be a little bit trickier than you think. Here are some things to consider if you are looking at working Australia.
If you’re not Australian or New Zealand with the intention to make a permanent residency, then you also need a work permit. A work permit is also considered a visa, which allows you to legally work for an employer in Australia. It also shows your employer that you have permission from the Australian government to live and work in Australia on that particular job.
Do you want to work in Australia? Do you hold a passport from a country that has visa-free travel to Australia? If yes, you may be able to come and work in Australia with a Working Holiday Visa. This is the subject that we will be looking at today. I will tell you what this visa is, how it came to be and how you can get one for yourself.
How To Get A Work Permit For Australia
There are a number of ways to enter Australia, including having a family member sponsor you and studying at an Australian university. If you get a work permit, you will be eligible for permanent residency in Australia.
If you have a job offer letter and have a university degree, you have the best chance of getting Australian working holiday visa, because the year is coming to an end and early next year you can apply for the visa then your trip can start in January.
Work Permits and Employment-Based Visas
Australia offers work permits and employment-based visas for different types of expert workers moving to Australia for job-related purposes. Some of the work visas for skilled professionals include the following list.
Types of Work Permits for Australia
- Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa – allows skilled workers nominated by their employer to live and work in the country permanently.
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) visa – allows skilled workers nominated by their employer in regional Australia to live and work in the country permanently.
- Skilled independent visa – for invited workers and New Zealand citizens with skills Australia needs to live and work permanently anywhere in Australia
- Skilled Nominated visa – lets nominated skilled workers live and work in Australia as permanent residents.
- Temporary Skill Shortage visa – temporary visa that enables an employer to sponsor a suitable skilled worker when an Australian is not available
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa – temporary visa for skilled workers who want to live and work in regional Australia.
- Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa – temporary visa that lets you do short-term, highly-specialized work in the country.
- Temporary Work (International Relations) visa – temporary visa to work in particular circumstances that improve Australia’s international relations
- Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 858 for applying within Australia or 124 for applying outside of Australia) – permanent visa for people who have an internationally recognized record of outstanding achievement in a profession, sport, the arts, or academia and research.
In addition to these visas, Australia also has a Business Talent (Permanent) visa, which is specifically for establishing or developing a new or existing business in Australia. Read more about this type of visa in the Self-Employment Visas section below.
Work visas exist for the following professions:
- skilled workers
- people participating in specific activities
- highly specialized workers
- trainees, short-term
- experienced businesspeople
- investors
If you are unsure which visa is the most suitable for you, or if you don’t know how to proceed with your application for an Australian visa, contact our immigration professionals today. They will guide you on all the steps you need to take to successfully secure your visa.
Australian Work Visa Requirements
The requirements for depend on your circumstances and the type of visa you apply for.
The different requirements per category are as follows:
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Direct Entry Stream)
For the ENS Visa, you must:
- have the skills necessary for the job (skills assessment will be required, with some exemptions).
- be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.
- be nominated by an Australian employer.
- meet health (learn more about Australia’s medical exam below) and character requirements.
- have at least Competent English.
- have at least three years of relevant work experience.
- be under 45 years of age (with some exemptions).
- read or have been explained the Life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian Values Statement.
Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Visa (Direct Entry Stream)
For the RSMS Visa you must:
- be nominated by an approved Australian employer for a job in regional Australia.
- be under 45 years of age.
- be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.
- have at least Competent English.
- have at least three years of relevant work experience.
- have the skills necessary for the job (skills assessment will be required, with some exemptions).
- agree to remain employed with your nominating employer in regional Australia for a minimum of 2 years.
- meet health and character requirements.
- read or have been explained the Life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian Values Statement.
Skilled Independent Visa
For invited workers, who must:
- be nominated by an Australian state or territory government agency and invited to apply by submitting an expression of interest (EOI).
- be under 45 years of age.
- be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.
- have the skills necessary for the job (skills assessment will be required, with some exemptions).
- satisfy points test with 65 points or more (learn more about Australia’s immigration point system below).
- have at least Competent English.
- meet health and character requirements.
- read or have been explained the Life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian Values Statement.
For New Zealand citizens who must:
- hold a New Zealand Special Category visa (subclass 444).
- have lived in Australia for at least five years.
- have started living in Australia on or before February 19, 2016.
- meet health and character requirements.
- read or have been explained the Life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian Values Statement.
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa
For this type of visa, you must:
- hold a substantive visa or a Bridging visa A, B, or C and complied with previous visa conditions, if applying within Australia.
- be nominated by an approved sponsor to fill an occupation on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List (for the short-term stream) or Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (for the medium-term stream).
- have worked in your nominated occupation or a related field for at least two years.
- have the skills necessary for the job (skills assessment will be required, with some exemptions).
- have adequate health insurance.
- meet health and character requirements.
- have at least Competent English.
- read or have been explained the Life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian Values Statement.
Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa
For the invited pathway, you must:
- be nominated by an Australian state, territory government agency, or sponsored by an eligible relative and invited to apply by submitting an expression of interest (EOI).
- be under 45 years of age.
- have a suitable skills assessment
- satisfy a points test with 65 points or more (learn more about Australia’s immigration point system below).
- have at least Competent English.
- be on the relevant list of eligible skilled occupations.
- meet health and character requirements.
- read or have been explained the Life in Australia booklet, and sign the Australian Values Statement.
If you apply via the extended stay pathway, you will have to previously hold the Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475), Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 487), Skilled Independent Regional visa (subclass 495), or the Skilled Designated Area Sponsored Provisional visa (subclass 496) at the time of application. There is no age limit when you apply via this pathway.
Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa
For this type of visa, you must:
- have highly specialized skills, knowledge, or experience to support Australian business and do on-going work (six months or less).
- have adequate funds to support yourself.
- meet health and character requirements.
Temporary Work (International Relations) Visa
For this visa, you must:
- provide a letter of support:
- stating that you are engaged in a bilateral agreement between Australia / Australian state or territory government, and another country (for those applying via the Government Agreement stream);
- from the foreign government agency, ministry, mission, international organization, or Australian school or relevant state or territory education authority (for foreign language teachers) for those applying via the Foreign Government Agency stream;
- or from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs Trade (DFAT) for those applying via the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream.
- have adequate funds to support yourself.
- hold a temporary substantive visa if applying within Australia.
- meet health and character requirements.
- have adequate health insurance.