What are the Key Requirements for an Australian Work Visa?

When searching for a country with excellent job opportunities and good pay, Australia stands out. As it is true! “The Land Down Under” has a strong job market, low unemployment rates, and fair minimum wages compared to most countries around the world. Additionally, the Australian government makes sure that people can earn a decent living even in entry-level roles across various sectors like technology, finance, education, construction, healthcare, and others.

Therefore, it attracts migrants from all over the world to build a thriving career and benefit from its robust economy. If you are also considering migrating to Australia for work, you need an Australian work visa. However, applying for this visa requires you to meet specific visa requirements. Read this article to learn about the key requirements to actually secure a working visa for Australia.

Understanding Different Types of Australian Working Visas

Australia has various types of work visas, each specifically designed to cater to labour shortages and contribute to various fields. Check out the following to find the visa that actually matches your conditions:

Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482)

The Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) is a temporary visa that would allow you to stay and work in Australia for up to four years. Australian employers can sponsor a skilled worker to fill their labour shortage for this visa. This visa consists of three streams: Core Skills, Specialist Skills, and Labour Agreement.

Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)

A subclass 186 Visa can allow you to permanently move and work in Australia if you have ample experience in your eligible occupation. You must have a nomination from an approved employer to become eligible for this visa.

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494)

With Subclass 494, you can work in your nominated occupation as well as in a chosen regional area of Australia for up to five years.

Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

Subclass 417 allows you to work in short-term jobs as well as travel in Australia for up to three years.

Training Visa (Subclass 407)

Under the Subclass 407, you can take some workplace-based special training in Australia and improve your skills for an occupation.

Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462)

If you are a young adult, Subclass 462 allows you to travel in Australia for three years and even work while you stay to manage your expenses.

Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa (Subclass 400)

Subclass 400 would allow you to stay in Australia for up to three months and even six months (in case of exemption). It is granted to meet the immediate short-term needs of a highly skilled job.

Hence, it is essential to choose the appropriate Visa that aligns with your requirements and facilitates your path to work in Australia.

Fundamental Requirements for an Australian Work Visa

Although each work visa, whether Subclass 186, Subclass 482, or another, has different eligibility criteria, they do share some fundamental requirements. Let’s discuss them.

Sponsorship/Nomination (Employer-Sponsored Visas)

Well, this is not a fundamental requirement of all work visas, but the major ones. An Australian employer can provide you with sponsorship or nomination only if they also meet certain obligations, such as:

• They are an approved sponsor and hold an authentic approval agreement issued by the Australian government.
• They have an approved nomination for the position. Plus, they pay the minimum salary threshold as set for that nomination.
• They can prove that the local population is unable to meet the labour demand for that particular job and require an immigrant to fill the position.

Occupation, Skills Assessment and Registration

• Most of the skilled visas require you to apply for a visa under the occupation that is listed under the relevant skilled occupations list.
• Moreover, you might have to get a positive skills assessment from an Australian authority relevant to your occupation.
• In highly regulated industries, you must register or obtain a licence from the Australian state or territory in order to work in the designated occupation.

English Language Ability

Almost every Australian visa requires proficiency in the English language to work and communicate in the country. You can prove your English proficiency level, such as competent or proficient, through tests like IELTS, PTE, TOEFL iBT, OET, Cambridge, etc.

The score requirement varies for each work visa, and it also influences the analysis of the points system as a whole.

Age, Qualifications, Experience, and the Points System

The majority of work visas have a minimum age requirement, usually under 45. Therefore, it is advisable to verify that you are under the legal age limit before initiating the visa application process.

Additionally, some visas require proof of employment history or qualifications (such as pay stubs, tax records, or references), so be sure to have them as well.

The point system plays a crucial role in the Australian skilled migration system. It is mostly measured based on several factors, including age, English proficiency, employment experience, and more. Evidently, the higher the score, the greater the chances of securing a permanent residency visa.

Health and Character Requirements

You need to meet Australia’s health requirements and prove your well-being by getting a medical checkup from a licensed healthcare professional.

In addition, you must pass the character test in order to obtain a visa. It is critical to prove that you have no criminal record, and you may need to obtain police certificates from your home country.

Financial Capacity

As it is obvious that you are applying for a work visa to work and earn in Australia, most work visas don’t require a strict financial capacity. However, for certain work visas, you might have to show your financial capacity to support yourself until you start earning in Australia.

Documents & Evidence

Here are some of the important documents that you need:

• Passports and other forms of identification (certified copies of all)
• Proof of occupation, including credentials, the results of a skills evaluation, professional licences or registrations, etc.
• Paystubs, tax records, job descriptions, thorough reference letters, and other crucial employment documentation.
• English test results.
• Police and health clearances, if requested.
• Evidence supporting the sponsor/nomination

Step-By-Step Working Visa Application Process

Here are the steps you need to follow when applying for a work visa:

Choose the Right Work Visa

Do the research and select the work visa that will actually work for you.

Collect Required Documents

Verify the documents you need for your visa, including your passport, health insurance, proof of funds, and employer sponsorship letters; if not, you must have them all.

Submit Your Application Online

File your application on the official website of the Department of Home Affairs. For that, you need to create your account, fill in the mentioned details, and attach the required documents.

Pay the Application Fee

The application fee for a work visa depends on the visa you are applying for. For example, the main applicant fee for Subclass 186 is from AUD 4,910 and for Subclass 482 it is from AUD 3,210.

Health and Character Checks

You may be required to present both character and health certificates; to do so, you must obtain a character certificate from the police station and pass the health examination.

Wait For Processing

Similar to the cost, the processing time for each visa varies; for instance, depending on the stream, the Skills in Demand (Subclass 482) visa typically takes 13 to 41 days to process.

Receive Your Visa Decision

Once approved, you will receive the visa approval in your email.

Wrapping Up

Applying for a work visa can be an overwhelming process with numerous options to choose from and actually finding the visa that fits your conditions. Additionally, there are other factors to take into account, such as getting paperwork and submitting an application for sponsorship.

But you don’t have to worry if you let our MARA agents guide you every step of the way. Ozee Migration is the top Migration Agent in Adelaide that has assisted numerous individuals with their work visa application process. From assessing your conditions to finalising the visa that will work for you and actually submitting your application, we can help you with your work visa application. Book your consultation call with our experts and fulfil your dream to live and work in Australia.

Recommend Read: Important Things to Consider Before Migrating to Australia