The Government of Australia requires you to apply for a visa if you are not a citizen. Even as a tourist and whether you are visiting for a long or short while, you are required to apply for a visa to go to Australia. This process has been made easier and faster by technology: in fact, the visa application may be done entirely online on websites like auvisa.org for example.
There are requirements that you must meet to be eligible for an Australian Visa. You should not have a criminal record for more than 12 months, you should be of good general health and you must undergo a medical checkup. For a working visa, you must be under 45 years at the time of application, be eloquent in English, also you must undergo a skills assessment by the Australian assessing authority.
The following are various types of visas available:
Tourist Visa
This is for tourists or families visiting for 3, 6 and 12 months. For you to be eligible, you must be a genuine visitor and have enough funds to support your stay during the visit.
Business Visa
It allows business people to visit Australia for work for 3 months. Activities covered include seminars, conferences and negotiations.
Maritime Crew Visa
This is a temporary visa given to crew members for a maximum of three years. The members are usually under a contract to work on the ship while it is at the sea. In most cases, the ship is government or military-owned.
Work and Holiday Visa
It is given to young people aged between 18 and 30 who hold a valid passport from a number of countries who want to explore and work at the same time. It is valid for 12 months.
Long Stay Visa
This is a business visa valid for a longer period (4 years). It is issued to managers, executives who own companies operating in Australia or those willing to open business branches.
Student Visa
This visa is for people seeking to further their studies in Australia. For you to apply for this visa, you must meet the requirements for the course of study. Unless it’s a scholarship, students must provide evidence that they can cater to their accommodations and tuition fees.
Temporary Work Visa
It is issued to Australian employers to allow them to sponsor people from overseas to work in their businesses.
Second Working Holiday Visa
It allows young people to enjoy another year of working while still exploring Australia.
In case you are planning to visit Australia either for leisure, business or education, applying for a visa should be your first step. If you are unsure of the type of visa you need to apply for, check out the online travel visa advisor for help.
- Written in conjunction with Mary Johnson
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