When relocating to Australia, there are a few options for permanent residency in Australia, which allows you to work and live in Australia permanently. In addition, once established within the country and a permanent resident, there may be an opportunity to become a citizen of the country.
Visa Types
There are a few different visas available, and the first step is to determine which one you qualify for or will need. The two main paths to residency are family-based and worked based. If you have a family member who is a permanent resident of Australia, you may qualify for residency. For example, having a romantic partner or fiancé, children, or other relatives who are dependant upon you, you can apply for a family-based residence visa. If you do not have family who are residents but will be going to Australia for work, you can apply for a work-based visa. For a work visa, you will be required to meet one of the criteria, including being sponsored by an employer, having a needed skill that is in shortage, or moving as a nurse or doctor. Visas are also available for study within the country and for refugee or humanitarian purposes.
Applications and Waiting Times
Retrieve the applications online and fill them out carefully. You will need to meet some necessary requirements to be eligible, and it is important to have all paperwork filled out and submitted together. Necessary documents will include your current residence and citizenship where you are currently residing, information regarding your health, and any care that you may need while living within Australia. In addition, it will be necessary to show your career choices and any work that you will be doing while in Australia, and your educational background. There are online programs for completing applications and submitting paperwork, which helps to streamline the process. However, the visa process is time-consuming and can take several months to receive a final answer or approval.
Follow up and Renewal
Once your Australian visa is approved, you can begin to plan your stay. The visa remains active for five years and will require renewal before the final expiry date. You can look online to submit your application and information and await a response to complete the renewal. Each visa also has a set of conditions that must be adhered to keep the visa valid. These will include the times that you can travel and when in the process you can not travel, jobs that you are limited to or that you are restricted from performing, and the date that you must renew your visa by. There will also be conditions you can fulfill if you want to become a permanent citizen. If you do not follow the needs of your visa, it can be revoked, and you will not be eligible for permanent residency or to become a citizen.
