A VISA is a government authorization for foreign people to stay for a period of time in a certain country. If you’re living or thinking of moving to Australia, one of the most important things for you to concern yourself with is the types of Australian VISA that could be the best fit for you.
Are there different types of VISAS?
Absolutely! The type of visa you will need depends on the reason why you’re staying in Australia, how long you’re staying, what country you’re originally from and so on. It’s important to establish what those are in your case, in order to figure out exactly what type to apply for.
Seek help from a specialist
The best idea for anyone thinking of applying for an Australian VISA is to seek help from an immigration agent or attorney. This will ensure that you have all the updated information you need to avoid any trouble with immigration in the future. Your permanence in Australia could depend on it.
Does everyone need a visa to enter AU?
Unless you’re from New Zealand, the answer is yes! Everyone who isn’t from New Zealand or Australia needs to get a visa or authorization before entering the country. Depending on your nationality, you can get a visa online or at an Australian Embassy/Consulate in your own country.
What type should I apply for?
Again, the best thing you can do is to look for specialized help. There are over 120 types of Australian VISAS, and we can’t go through all of them here, but we’ll try to clear some of your doubts. Note that Australia doesn’t issue a stamp on your passport, the visa is on their database.
Do I need a VISA for short stays?
Yes! You need a visa even if you’re only traveling to Australia for a little while. These types of visas are generally easier to be accepted, and depending on your country of origin, the main ones you will need are a Tourist Visa, an Electronic Travel Authority or an Visitor.
Types of Australian VISA for studying.
If you’re planning to take a course or training program in Australia, you’ll most likely need a Student Visa. This is also a temporary kind of visa, and should only be valid for the duration of your program. You have the Student Visa, the Training Visa and the Student Guardian Visa.
Work or Skilled Visa
If you’re thinking of working in Australia, you will need a Work or Skilled Visa. These are more permanent kinds of visas, and there are a few different types of each of them and different ways to get them. You could either be nominated by the company you work for or have an eligible skilled occupation.
Family or Partner Visa
A Family Visa is for someone who has Australian relatives and a Partner Visa is for people who are married to an Australian person. There are various different kinds, but the most common are Partner Visas, Parent Visas and Child Visas.
Other types of Australian VISAS
As I’ve said before, it would be impossible for me to cover all types of visas in this article, but you also have Humanitarian Visas, Bridging Visas, Business and Investment Visas and many more.
Proficiency in English
For most of these visas, you will need to prove that you are fluent in English. This is where the English proficiency exams come in. The most popular English test in Australia is the PTE Academic because you can get your score by studying strategies. Check what score you need!