Humanitarian Program
The second program is the separate humanitarian program which is designed for refugees and others in special humanitarian need.
A major component of the humanitarian program is the offshore resettlement Program , which assists people in humanitarian need overseas for whom resettlement in another country is the only option.
The onshore protection component is for those people already in Australia who arrived on temporary visas or in an unauthorised manner, and who claim Australia 's protection.
The size of the 2007-08 humanitarian program is 13,000 places.
Some of the major elements of Australia 's Migration Programs will be described below. For more information regarding your particular situation please contact us.
Summary of general skilled migration information
The skill stream of Australia 's migration program targets people who are highly skilled, are under 45 years of age, and who will quickly make a contribution to the Australian economy. This visa is points tested and applicants need to have sufficient points for the visa to be approved.
To make a valid application, applicants or their spouses must be able to satisfy the basic requirements. These are:
- Age - You must be under 45 years of age when you apply.
- English language - You must have sufficient ability in the English language for working in Australia and appropriate for your chosen occupation. From 1 September 2007, the main applicant for a GSM visa will need to demonstrate that they have competent English (minimum score of 6.0 in each component of IELTS). (Exceptions apply for applicants who have nominated a trade as their skilled occupation - vocational English is required (minimum score of 5.0 in each component of IELTS).
- Qualifications - You must have post-secondary (such as university or trade) qualifications (in a small number of occupations, substantial relevant work experience may be acceptable). Your skills must have been assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your nominated occupation.
- Nominated occupation
When you apply, you must nominate an occupation which fits your skills and qualifications. Your nominated occupation must be on the Skilled Occupations List (SOL) - see this link for SOL ( If your nominated occupation is not on the SOL, you cannot apply).
- Recent work experience - This requirement is separate from the need to have your skills assessed as suitable for your nominated occupation before you apply
(All offshore visa applications for skilled migration have a recent employment requirementof 12 out of the last 12 months in an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List).
Additional points can be awarded for Specified Work Experience (at least 3 years employment, closely related to to the applicant's nominated occupation); English language proficiency; Australian Work Experience; Australian Education; nominated skilled occupation being on the Migration Occupation in Demand List; Designated language and study in regional Australia.
If your application is supported by a State/Territory nomination then additional points apply.
Australian qualification exemption
You do not need to meet the work experience requirement if you meet the 2 years study in Australia requirement less than 6 months before lodging your visa application.
This exemption cannot, however, be used to waive any specific work experience requirement imposed by an assessing body as part of a skills assessment.
Skilled Migration Assessment Questionnaire
For further information about migrating to Australia as a skilled migrant and information on these visa subclasses please contact us.
As indicated elsewhere on this website we are happy to receive telephone, facsimile or email enquiries regarding the immigration solution you are seeking and discuss these briefly with you free of charge.
Please complete and submit this questionnaire so that we can assess your options in relation to Skilled Migration to Australia .
Please click here to fill our Online Skilled Assessment Form
Summary of Business Migration Requirements
The Business Skills visa class of Australia 's migration program encourages successful business people to settle permanently in Australia and develop new or existing businesses.
Business owners, senior executives and investors can apply for a visa under the Business Skills category.
Under the two-stage arrangements that apply, business migrants are granted a Business Skills (Provisional) visa for four years and, after establishing the requisite level of business or maintaining their eligible investment, are eligible to make an application for a Business Skills (Residence) visa. This is a permanent visa. Please note that it is only the business visas outlined below that can lead to a permanent residence visa.
A direct permanent residence category will still be available for high-calibre business migrants sponsored by State/Territory governments . This is known as the Business Talent visa.
Business Skills Categories
The Business Skills program is divided into four categories:
- business owner : for owners or part-owners of a business;
- senior executive : for senior executive employees of major businesses;
- investor : for investors/business people willing to invest in Australia ;
- business talent : for high-calibre business people who have sponsorship from a State/Territory government.
To be eligible to apply you will need to have a proven background in one of the business categories (above) that are part of the Business Skills program.
ObligationsAll applicants for Business Skills (provisional) and Business Talent (Migrant) visas are required to sign a declaration that they agree to meet certain obligations after arrival in Australia .
Business Migration Assessment Questionnaire
For further information about migrating to Australia as a business migrant and information on these visa subclasses please contact us .
As indicated elsewhere on this website we are happy to receive telephone, facsimile or email enquiries regarding the immigration solution you are seeking and discuss these briefly with you free of charge.
Please complete and submit this questionnaire so that we can assess your options in relation to Business Migration to Australia .
Please click for for our online Business Migration assessment form
Summary of Family Migration Requirements
Family Migration applicant migrants must be sponsored by a close family member or fiancé(e) living in Australia .
The sponsor must be either an Australian citizen, permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen, and would usually be 18 years of age or older.
Like all migrants, Family Migration applicants are assessed on an individual basis and they are also assessed against Australia 's health and character requirements.
Family Migration Categories
Applicants can be sponsored for family migration or permanent residence in a number of visa categories. These include:
- Partner Migration: Visas in this category include Spouse visa ; Prospective Marriage (Fiancé(e)) visa and Interdependency visa .
- Child Migration: Visas in this category include Child visa, Adoption visa, Orphan Relative visa and Dependent Child (temporary) visa .
- Parent Migration: Visas in this category include Parent visa, and Contributory Parent visa . Parents must be sponsored by their child, who must be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or eligible New Zealand citizen
- Other Family' Migration:Visas in this category include Aged Dependent Relative visa, Remaining relative and Carer visa .
- Assurance of Support
Some Family Migration applicants are subject to an Assurance of Support, which includes payment of a bond.
- Capping visa classes
A number of visa classes in the family stream may be subject to “capping”. This means that once the limit for the number of visas to be granted in a visa class has been reached, no further visas can be granted in that year.
Priority processing
In general, priority is given to child and partner applications.
Family Migration Assessment Questionnaire
For further information about migrating to Australia under the family migration stream and information on these visa subclasses please contact us .
As indicated elsewhere on this website we are happy to receive telephone, facsimile or email enquiries regarding the immigration solution you are seeking and discuss these briefly with you free of charge.
Please complete and submit this questionnaire so that we can assess your options in relation to Family Migration to Australia .
Please click for for our online Family Migration assessment form |