Student & Graduate Visas
For student visa holders there is a once off grace period offered to students who may have forgotten that their visa has expired. However, if it has been more than 28 days, you cannot meet this requirement and you must look at alternative visas or determine whether an exemption is available.
- Category 2 “Cities and Major Regional Centres”
- Category 3 “Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas”.
- studying on your student visa and
- on your first 485 visa
Employer Sponsored Visas
- The Federal Government introduced sweeping changes to the skilled visa program in 2017 and 2018. However, they also introduced transitional arrangements to ensure people who were already pursuing a permanent pathway were not disadvantaged.These transitional arrangements apply to the following cohorts:Those who held a 457 visa on or before 18 April 2017 and continue to hold this visa or a 457 visa/TSS visa/related bridging visa at time of application
- Those who lodged a subclass 457 visa application on or before 18 April 2017 which was subsequently granted and continue to hold this visa or a 457 visa/TSS visa/related bridging visa at time of application.
- If the above is applicable to you, you can access the transitional arrangements for Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) (Temporary Residence Transition Stream) visa applications:occupation list requirements will not apply
- the age requirement will remain at less than 50 years of age with existing age exemptions still available, and
- the minimum period an applicant is required to have been employed as the holder of a subclass 457 or TSS visa will remain at two years
You do not have to hold the same 457 visa or be working for the same employer to access the transitional arrangements.
You can since have been granted a subsequent 457/TSS visa and/or been re-nominated by a different employer.
As long as you held or applied for a 457 visa on 18 April 2017, you can access the transitional arrangements.
You will however need to lodge your permanent visa application by March 2022.
Talk to us at Migration Affairs and find out how we can assist you.
If you’re considering hiring a foreign worker in Australia, verifying their work rights before offering them a job is essential. The employer must ensure their employees have the legal right to work in Australia.
As an employer or individual, you can check the work rights of a non-citizen in Australia by accessing the Department of Home Affairs’ Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) system.
VEVO will tell you the visa holder’s visa start date and expiry date, as well as whether the person is NOT allowed to work or whether there are work restrictions on their visa.
It is important to note that even if the visa holder has work rights in Australia, there may be restrictions on the amount and type of work they can undertake.
Find out more information on how to hire international skilled workers here.
Global Talent & Skilled Visas
There is no age requirement for the Global Talent Visa Program; however, if you are under 18 or over 55 years of age, you must show that you would provide an exceptional economic benefit to Australia. Evidence can include but is not limited to:
- statement regarding your professional plans upon settling in Australia
- job offer or employment in Australia
- service agreements or business contracts in Australia
- pitch-deck or business planning documentation for Australia
- grants associated with planned research in Australia
- membership or appointment on industry advisory boards or regulatory authorities in Australia.
· Stage 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
· Stage 2: Receive an invitation to apply and be issued with a Unique Identifier (UI)
· Stage 3: Submit a Global Talent (subclass 858) visa application
As can be seen, several steps are required to be completed to make a successful application for the Global Talent Visa Program.
Our experts at Migration Affairs are highly experienced in all stages of the application process and can help guide you through the complexities of each aspect of the process. To maximise your chances of receiving an invitation for the Global Talent visa, we can assist in making sure you are putting forward the most robust case possible to the Department for consideration.
The Department provides examples of specialisations in each of the priority sectors. Specialisations listed by the Department are not exhaustive and represent only what each sector can cover. Our Independent Global Talent Advisors can assist in selecting the specialisations and target sectors.
The ten target sectors are quite broad, and Migration Affairs has assisted numerous individuals with skills other than those listed below.
Resources
· Advanced visualisation technologies, e.g. sensors;
· Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies;
· Beneficiation technologies (improving the economic value of a resource such as ore.);
· Expertise in energy-saving technologies for extracting and processing ores, such as ore body mapping, geophysical tools and drilling, mineral refinement, automated trucks and robotic equipment or grinding and processing technologies; and
· Resource waste management.
Agri-food and AgTech
· Agricultural big data analytics;
· Commercialisation experience within the industry;
· Future proteins for human and animal consumption;
· Food and beverage technology;
· Individual technologies or a combination of technologies related to farm equipment, weather, seed optimisation, fertiliser and crop inputs, and irrigation;
· Precision measurement and/or application of farm inputs such as nitrogen and pesticides, gene editing, nanomaterials and synthetic biology;
· Predictive technologies around planting times, climatic forecasting and crop cycles; and
· Wearable technology, including ear-tag trackers for animal management.
Energy
· Advanced visualisation technology (e.g. sensors);
· Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies;
· Automation and robotics (e.g. smart sorting technologies for recycling);
· Beneficiation technologies (i.e. improving the economic value of ore);
· Recycling technology (e.g. feedstock recycling or E-waste processing);
· Traceability technologies, e.g. experience with sophisticated material trading systems that make material sources more transparent to consumers; and
· Expertise with the following fields in the sector:
o Hydrogen technology;
o Clean technologies, renewables & hybrids (including solar and wind power);
o Battery/energy storage design (specialised, grid-scale and precursors for batteries);
o Bioenergy and biofuels;
o Micro-grid design; and
o Supporting the transition to net-zero carbon emissions.
Health industries
· Antimicrobial resistance;
· Biochemistry and cell biology;
· Biostatistician;
· Biotechnology;
· Biomedicine and Bioengineering;
· Cell and gene therapies – genomics;
· Clinical trials;
· Digital health;
· Health economists;
· Implantable and wearable devices (e.g. 3D printed custom devices, bionics & prosthetics);
· Infectious disease;
· Medical devices;
· Medical physicist;
· Microbiology and immunology;
· Nanotechnology and genomics;
· Neuroscience and neurology;
· Pharmaceuticals;
· Precision medicine;
· Point of care diagnostics; and
· Regenerative medicine.
Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space Defence
Defence
· Augmented and virtual reality;
· Cyber Security;
· Expertise in military equipment acquisition, sustainment & evaluation;
· Robotics and automation; and
· Sensors and analytics.
Advanced manufacturing
· Advanced materials;
· Additive manufacturing (3D printing), materials resilience and repair;
· Artificial intelligence and machine learning;
· Automation & Robotics;
· Bio-manufacturing and biological integration;
· Biotechnologies;
· Digital design and rapid prototyping;
· Digitisation and automation;
· Nano-manufacturing and micro-manufacturing;
· Precision manufacturing; and
· Sustainable manufacturing and life cycle engineering.
Space
· Aviation in space
· Experience that would be of benefit to the National Civil Space Priority Areas:
o Position, navigation and timing (PNT) infrastructure (global navigation satellite systems);
o Earth observation technology and services;
o Communications technologies and services (lasers for data communication, quantum technologies for secure communication, and hybrid radio and optical communications);
o Space situational awareness and debris monitoring (including space traffic management);
o Leapfrog R&D, which includes new rocket technology, high-tech materials, space medicine, synthetic biology, quantum communications, in-orbit servicing and optical wireless communication technologies;
o Robotics and automation on Earth and in space;
o Access to space, which includes international space missions and launch activity;
· Engagement with international space and astronomy regulatory bodies.
Circular economy
· Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies;
· Bioenergy generation;
· Bio-methane production;
· Commercialisation experience within the industry;
· Development of sustainable production and supply chain practices that reduce atmospheric land and marine pollution;
· Energy infrastructure;
· Recycling and responsible manufacturing to support industries (plastics, paper, glass, tyre components, e-waste and lithium batteries);
· Reducing emissions and increasing efficient use of natural resources (including energy, water and materials);
· Waste treatment (management and reuse) and emissions technology; and
· Waste to Energy (WtE) technology (the ability to generate reliable baseload electricity capable of diverting waste away from landfills and reducing carbon emissions).
Digitech
· Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning;
· Automation;
· Big data;
· Blockchain technology;
· Cloud computing;
· Cyber security detection, prevention and response services;
· Data and eResearch infrastructure;
· Data management and analysis;
· Data science;
· Disruptive technologies;
· Front-end development;
· Internet of Things;
· IT integrated with control systems for plant and machinery;
· Machine learning engineering;
· Network engineer/architect;
· Quantum information and computing;
· Robotics;
· Senior experience in developing and producing digital games and immersive technology;
· Smart cities;
· Smart tech;
· Software and product management/development;
· Start-ups and Entrepreneurs in the industry;
· Systems integration; and
· 3D printing.
Infrastructure and tourism
Infrastructure
· Potential or ability to:
o drive economic development in regional communities;
o develop gateways to support Australia’s international competitiveness;
o improve and expand Australia’s energy infrastructure; and
o, improve water security across Australia.
Tourism
· Potential or ability to:
o increase the economic benefits to Australia from tourism;
o target high-value travellers in the markets and tourism segments that deliver the most significant returns; and
o foster a sustainable and innovative tourism industry.
Financial services and FinTech
· Automated and predictive financial advice;
· Blockchain technology;
· Commercialisation experience within the industry;
· Digital wallets;
· Financial advice (e.g. automated and digital);
· Financial data analytics, compliance and ‘RegTech’;
· Micro-savings;
· Next-generation lending, investment and wealth management;
· Online banking; and
· Platform banking and payments (e.g. contactless).
Education
· Cutting edge innovation within the Education sector;
· Research and education infrastructure planning;
· Characterisation (Technologies in advanced microscopy and microanalysis that underpin modern science, medicine, engineering and industrial innovation);
· Digital Data and eResearch Platforms; and
· Platforms for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
For the 2021-2022 financial year, 15,000 places are available for the Global Talent Visa Program. According to Federal Budget for the 2022-2023 year, the Global Talent places will be reduced to 8,488.
From 20 January 2021, students and recent graduates of Masters by Coursework, Masters by Research and Bachelors with Honours are not eligible for the Global Talent Program based solely on their qualifications.
However, as a PhD graduate, you may still be eligible for the Global Talent Visa Program if you must demonstrate a record of exceptional achievement and international recognition in a target sector.
On 17 December 2020, the Department issued Direction No. 89, which outlines the order of consideration, with the Global Talent visa being at the top of the priority list. The Minister has indicated that the purpose of this Direction no. 89 is:
”to enable the Department of Home Affairs to give effect to the priority processing intentions to Government for the Global Talent cohort. This will support the responsive processing of applicants that are identified as highly desirable by the Government.”
Applications made concerning one of the ten target sectors, with evidence of current or future earnings equivalent to or higher than the FWHIT, receive the highest priority processing of their applications.
An Australian nominator should be either an:
· Australian citizen;
· Australian permanent resident;
· Eligible New Zealand citizen; or
· Australian organisation
The Australian nominator should also be:
· Internationally recognised in the same industry sector as you;
· Familiar with your international recognition and achievements; and
· Able to attest to those achievements in detail
We can provide recommendations and connections based on your professional profile. Migration Affairs is dedicated to working with independent Global Talent Advisers to identify and help exceptionally talented professionals in these target sectors to obtain permanent residency in Australia.
Please also refer to our page regarding Independent Global Talent Advisors for further information.
Business & Investment Visas
- Business Innovation Stream
- Investor Stream
- Significant Investor Stream
- Premium Investor Stream
- Entrepreneur Stream
Partner & Family Visas
- Hold a subclass 820 visa or
- Hold a subclass 309 visa or
- Have applied for a subclass 820 visa
- Your relationship has ended because your partner passed away
- You have a biological child of the relationship
- You suffered family violence, committed by your partner, while in the relationship
The 309 visa usually requires an applicant to be offshore at the time of grant.
However, the Department of Home Affairs currently has a temporary concession aimed at helping applicants who are in Australia and are unable to travel outside Australia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This concession allows applicants who have applied for a partner visa outside Australia but are inside Australia during the COVID-19 concession period to be granted their visa if they meet all other criteria.
Talk to us at Migration Affairs and find out how we can assist you.
Resident Return & Citizenship
Former permanent residents, i.e. those who used to hold an Australian permanent visa that have since expired (not cancelled) are often under the assumption that they have ‘lost’ their permanent residency and will need to apply for a new Australian visa to migrate to Australia.
However, this is not true!
You may be able to reinstate your permanent residency because former permanent residents of Australia are eligible for a Resident Return Visa if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Appeals & Ministerial Intervention
Talk to us at Migration Affairs and find out how we can assist you.
Talk to us at Migration Affairs and find out how we can assist you.
Talk to us at Migration Affairs and find out how we can assist you.
- the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (Migration and Refugee Division)
- the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (General Division) for protection visa refusals or cancellations on character grounds
- the former Migration Review Tribunal
- the former Refugee Review Tribunal
- the former Immigration Review Tribunal or Migration Internal Review Office.
Talk to us at Migration Affairs and find out how we can assist you.