Work Visas are for applicants who intend to perform short or long term work in Australia. Visitors to Australia on tourist visas are not permitted to work whilst on their visitor visas. Whether working in Australia, on offshore installations, as maritime crew or simply looking to bring your domestic helper on a trip with you, see below for the various Work or Training visas that could apply. Fort he latest and most up to date information, call to arrange for an appointment.  

Skilled Temporary Work (400)
This visa is for holders to enter, work and live in Australia on a short term basis. The visa is normally issued with validity for up to 3 months, and may be either for single or multiple entries.
Applicants must:
• show that they have sufficient funds to support their stay, including having health coverage for the work they will perform
• show that the work is short term, non-recurring and highly specialised in nature
• be invited or supported by an Australian organisation that the applicant will be working for
• have specialist knowledge, experience or skill that is required for the task, which cannot be found locally

This visa is not suitable for producers, directors or entertainers in tv, media, radio, concert or theatre productions that will be broadcast in Australia. Families visiting Australia wishing to travel with their helpers may apply for this visa.

Processing times may take from 2 weeks to a month. Please contact us early to allow for sufficient time to enable processing.

Training Visa (407)
This visa is a short stay visa that allows a holder to participate in either a professional development or occupational training program. Three types of occupational training covered by this visa are:
1. workplace-based training required to obtain registration, membership or licensing in Australia or overseas
2. structured training to enhance a skill in a current occupation which is specified in the list of eligible skilled occupations
3. training to promote capacity building overseas. There are three categories available:
i. overseas qualification – allows for 6 months of structured workplace-based training
ii. government support – allows for structured training with Australian or overseas government support
iii. professional development – allows for overseas employers to send managerial or professional employees to Australia for face-to-face training and development programs

Occupational training must be for a minimum of 30 hours per week, with no more than 30% being classroom based.
Applicants must:
• be nominated by an Australian sponsor who is a temporary activities sponsor*; or be sponsored by a Commonwealth government agency 
• be at least 18 years or older
• have functional English
• have sufficient funds to support themselves in Australia, hold private health insurance and meet health and character requirements

* before nomination by the employer, a training plan is required to be in place. The employer also needs to have a temporary activity sponsor status. Contact us to get help with setting it up.

Maritime Crew Visa (998)
This temporary visa is for foreign crews serving on non-military ships. It allows the visa holder to enter Australia by sea and to work aboard that vessel. Holders of this visa may arrive by air but will need a different visa to enter Australia, and will be required to join the vessel within 5 working days or risk the MCV ceasing.
Crew members must be articled members of crew, which may include contractors and subcontractors working on a ship while at sea, scientific researchers and foreign government owned ships.

Applicants must :
• be outside Australia when applying
• be a crew member of a non-military ship taking part in an international voyage to Australia
• will enter or leave Australia by sea as a crew member

Business Innovation and Investment Visas (188)

Business visas are temporary visas that provide a pathway to permanent visas once certain criteria are met. It is a part of SkillSelect, and requires the applicant to first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and be invited to apply for the visa. No skills assessment is necessary although a points test applies. Once certain criteria are met, the holder may apply for a permanent Business Innovation and Investment (888) visa. There are multiple streams within this category of visa, but below are 3 of the most popular and common streams.

Business Innovation Stream

This stream is for people who want to own and manage a business in Australia.

Applicants must:
• be below 55 years of age, or is proposing to establish a business or investment activity that a nominating State/Territory considers to be of exceptional economic benefit
• meet the minimum score for the business innovation and investment points test, currently at 65
• be nominated by a State/Territory government agency
• have had an overall successful business career
• in the last 2 out of 4 fiscal years, had ownership interest in a business with annual turnover of at least A$500,000
• at time of invitation, have combined business and personal net assets of A$800,000 that can be applied to the establishment of a business in Australia

Investor Stream

This stream is for people who want to make a designated investment of A$1.5 million in a state or territory bond and maintain a business and investment activity in Australia.

Applicants must:
• be below 55 years of age, or is proposing to establish a business or investment activity that a nominating State/Territory considers to be of exceptional economic benefit
• meet the minimum score for the business innovation and investment points test, currently at 65
• be nominated by a State/Territory government agency
• had an overall successful record of an eligible investment activity or a qualifying business activity
• had a total of at least 3 years experience of direct involvement in managing one or more qualifying businesses or eligible investments
• demonstrated a high level of management skill in relation to the eligible investment or qualifying business activity
• maintained direct involvement in the qualifying business and had at least 10% ownership of the business or maintained direct involvement in managing the eligible investment with a total net value of at least A$1.5 million
• have at least A$2.25 million in business and personal net assets
• make the designated investment before the visa is granted

Significant Investor Stream (SIV)

The Significant Investor Visa is aimed at attracting applicants with business and entrepreneurial skills and capital to enhance investment into innovative Australian businesses and the commercialisation of Australian ideas, research and development. This stream requires applicants to invest A$5 million or more in complying investments.

Visa applicants must:
• submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect
• be nominated by a state or territory government or by Austrade
• make investments of at least $5 million into complying investments in Australia

The SIV does not have an age requirement or a points test, and successful applicants may apply for a permanent Business Innovation and Investment (888) visa after 4 years.

At the time of writing, these investments must include:

✓ At least $500,000 in eligible Australian venture capital or private equity (VCPE) fund(s) investing in start-up and small private companies.
✓ At least $1.5 million in an eligible managed fund or Listed Investment Companies (LICs) that invest in emerging companies; and
✓ A ‘balancing investment’ of up to $3 million in managed fund(s) or LICs that invest in a combination of eligible assets that include Australian listed securities, eligible corporate bonds or notes, annuities and real property (subject to a 10 per cent limit on residential real estate).

The SIV does not have an age requirement or a points test, and successful applicants may apply for a permanent Business Innovation and Investment (888) visa after 4 years.

For the latest information and assessment, please contact us to arrange for an appointment.