Australia has a vast array of opportunities for highly skilled workers who are looking for work or long-term options. The usual path to residence is through temporary work visas, permanent residency and naturalisation. For such a transition, it is vital to be aware of what is involved to help plan the stages. Most importantly, if you’re looking to secure the future of your family in Australia, be sure to start from the first stage.
Step 1: Understanding the basics of temporary work visas
Temporary work visas are pathways that could help skilled migrants enter the Australian workforce and gain temporary resident status.
Temporary work visas in Australia exist for a reason. Employers can take advantage of this scheme when there is a chronic shortage of skilled workers, but the supply of domestic workers does not meet the needs of the labour market. From the perspective of migrants, it will be much faster and legally easier to start a new life in Australia.
The Skills in Demand Visa in Australia allows such migrants to enter the Australian labour market and confirm their skills. In general, a temporary work visa in Australia is a scheme of foreign worker entry into the country, the purpose of which is to work for an Australian company for a specific period of time (usually up to 4 years).
During this period, the employee can gain certain skills or rights to stay in the country, such as the right to apply for permanent residence. The visa is always based on employment, which means the company will apply on behalf of a foreign employee and sponsor them.
Step 2: Preparing to meet the permanent residency eligibility
For permanent residency, you need to have a sponsor, as well as a high level of language knowledge, and fulfil certain conditions. These include:
- Work regularly with an approved sponsor and in an occupation nominated when applying for the visa.
- Pass the skills assessment in your occupation carried out by one of the Australian authorities.
- Have a good level of English proficiency, which is usually confirmed during the interview by IELTS, PTE, or similar tests.
- Pass the required medical examination and comply with the moral integrity of the legislation.
There are streams under the Skills in Demand Visa that are specifically for the built-in pathways to PR in Australia. Migrants who have the skills can have ongoing employment in a nominated high-demand occupation and then apply for permanent residency after two to three years. In this case, it is crucial to comply with all visa conditions and keep all records up to date.
Step 3: Applying for a permanent residency visa
Permanent residency allows you to live and work in Australia without time restrictions and is generally considered to be a long-term residence. This stage of migration is also important as it gives a person the right to apply for Australian citizenship in the future.
A person can apply for permanent residency under programs such as the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS), Independent (Skilled) or (State Nominated) pathways. At the same time, having sponsorship from an Australian company and a job that is at a skill level will be a key advantage for some applications.
Permanent residency (PR) has the following benefits:
- The right to work and live in Australia, including all of its territories and regions, for an indefinite period of time.
- Access to medical coverage as part of the Australian public health system (Medicare)
- The opportunity to apply for Australian citizenship or sponsor eligible relatives.
- Protection of rights and freedoms as an Australian citizen.
Processing of these visas takes time. Hence, it is always good to gather and prepare all documents early. Moreover, the waiting period is 12 to 18 months for most of the PR visa types.
Step 4: Citizenship requirements in Australia
Citizenship in Australia can be considered the last step in migration. However, this time period can only be satisfied if the individual has a PR in Australia and satisfies at least the following:
- Lawful residence in Australia for 4 years, which includes 12 months of permanent residency immediately before the citizenship application.
- A background check will prove that you have a good character.
- The Citizenship test assesses your knowledge of Australian history, culture, values and understanding of civic rights and responsibilities.
After receiving your citizenship, you will have the following rights:
- Vote and run for government elections.
- Apply for Australian government jobs, which is usually tricky for a temporary resident.
- Apply for an Australian passport (for travelling and protection by the government of Australia).
- Stay in Australia permanently with no risk of cancellation of a visa or residency.
Step 5: Long-term security for you and your family
Every step on this roadmap follows on from the previous one. A temporary visa allows you to enter the workforce. Permanent residency provides certainty of long-term residence, and citizenship protects your future. Citizenship is even more important to families. Children of Australian citizens automatically become Australian citizens and are entitled to the full range of education, health, and social benefits.
Citizenship also offers the opportunity of increased mobility around the world. An Australian passport is an international passport that allows access to over 180 countries either without a visa or with simplified visa procedures, enabling easier travel for business and pleasure.
The transition from a temporary work visa to Australian citizenship is not an easy task. It requires detailed planning but is one of the most effective ways to migrate to Australia. The skills in demand visa for Australia is an excellent option for any skilled migrant as it provides the best way to enter the country and get a job.If you have decided to take such a path of migration, you should remember that the implementation of some steps may be complicated by errors or other factors. That is why it is necessary to contact the migration agents in Australia to help you complete the procedure. Additionally, they will assist in collecting all the necessary documents and working with the required materials accurately.
