• The points test has not changed and still sits at a minimum pass mark of 65.
• The more points you can account for, the more likely you are to receive a nomination and visa invitation.

• Age – be under 45 years. Ideally be under 40 years if you have not started any of this process.  This will give you time to organise your skills assessment, English test, work references; and still have time to wait on an invitation.
• Marital status – single is best, but married is fine too. 
• English – the higher your test score, the better.  If you are a native English speaker holding an approved passport, you won’t need to take the test for visa purposes, however you also won’t be given any points.  You might want to take a test to obtain extra points.
• Tertiary education – A vocational diploma or bachelor’s degree is the very least needed.  Certificates are not going to be enough.
• Study in Australia – if you studied at least 2 years in Australia for a diploma or degree, Great! There are some more points for you!
• Work experience – this needs to have occurred after you achieved your qualification for most occupations. And at least 1 year of full-time work will probably account to you being deemed qualified… so aim to have at the least 3-4 years work experience if you can.

There are some other ways to earn points, but they are under very specific circumstances.  Speak to us today and we will happily do a free eligibility check for you.

This is the most valuable thing to do!  Registering your interest (ROI) and being nominated by a State government will earn you valuable extra points and guarantee you a visa invitation. 
Be open to living, working and studying in a regional area of Australia for at least 3 years and there are even more bonus points coming your way.  At the end of all this, what you want to achieve is PR status, so keep your doors and windows open for any opportunity!

Depending on where you are currently living, this can impact which nomination you can pursue.  Here’s a very basic rundown per State or Territory:

190 Visa allocation: 3000
491 Visa allocation: 2000
VIC Skilled Migration Visas

​Onshore:

• Must be living in the state, no timeframe needs to be met.
• May need to claim your earnings if working in your skilled occupation.
• VIC have indicated that there are priority skilled sectors.
• English is also a key selection factor.
• Last years ROIs are deleted, new ROIs are needed.
• No ROI or Nomination fees apply.

Offshore:

• Open to all.
• Earnings do not need to be declared.
• Priority sectors and English still a priority.

190 Visa allocation: 2100
491 Visa allocation: 760
TAS Skilled Migration 

Onshore:

• Must be living in the state, minimum period of 6 months.
• Occupations are ranked for their priority using a coloured system.
• Tasmanian occupation list applies.
• Nomination fee payable upon selection. ROI is free.
• ROI only valid for 6 months.

Offshore:

• Requires a job offer.
• Priority to heath and allied health professionals.
• Must have been out of the country for at least 12 months.

Australia’s skilled and employer sponsorship PR visa programs all start with your tertiary education and work experience.  Without this, it will be difficult to obtain PR status unless you seek it through the Partner visa program.  This blog though is focusing on studying and the skilled or employer sponsor visa programs. Learn more about the Partner visa and discover which option is best for you.
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If you are in a position to study in Australia this will be the best start to your PR journey.  It is given good weight when it comes to the visa program requirements (points for Skilled Migration) and employers alike; as you will be able to demonstrate your communication capacity in English and be deemed qualified just like any Australian who is also in that field of work.  It is understandable though that this is not always possible, primarily due to the international student fees associated to studying in Australia.

This advice is applicable to anyone studying in Australia or back in their home country. 
A good starting place is to work out what you are passionate about.  It is said that if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.  That can be hard to determine, especially if you are young and haven’t really had enough life experience to figure it all out. For others, they have known from a young age what they wanted to be.


So, another way to decide where your study pathway starts is to ask yourself this…
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Do I like to study through books and lectures? Or do I like working more with my hands? 

If you like to study with texts and teachers, then perhaps a diploma or university degree is something to aim for.
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If you are more able to learn through hands-on processes, then it sounds like a trade skill is more your calling.
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Once you have determined the style of education that works for you, you need to decide what occupation specifically you should study for. 

Selecting a broad degree such as Business Management or Humanitarian Arts may seem like a good start, however you will need to select a major and this might mean doing even more study.  Another options is to study at a lower level such as a certificate and build your way up to at a minimum level Diploma.  This will give you the opportunity to work out what you like, or don’t like, without investing too much financially and potentially changing courses along the way.  The main thing is that if you can be more specific early on, it will avoid further studies, fees and time, getting you into the workforce quicker.

​I suggest you have a look at the Skilled Occupation list to see which occupations might peak your interest.  Some occupations will only require a diploma whilst others will require a university degree.

Great Australian Migration can help you narrow down your options and guide you towards good schools and courses that will be the most beneficial towards permanent migration.
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No matter if you are studying in Australia or plan to study at home, you are going to need a good command of the English language.  This is in 4 areas – reading, writing, speaking and listening. 

Australian tertiary schools will need you to prove your English level to enrol you in a course.  The Department of Home Affairs may also need this to grant you a student visa… and the two may not have the same pass marks. It may be necessary for you to complete an English (ELICOS) course or a foundation course before starting your qualification studies. Again, this is where Great Australian Migration can guide you. 

If you are in your home country studying, it is recommended that you study English also.  Whether that is part of your formal studies or separately. For any skilled visa or employer sponsored visa you will need to demonstrate your English level through formal testing such as IELTS or PTE.  So the more you study and practice early on, the better mark you will receive and this is invaluable.  An employer who interviews you for a position will be impressed by your command of the language and your commitment to studying.  And for the independent skilled migration visa, the higher your pass mark, the more points you will achieve and more likely will be selected for invitation.
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Whilst studying if possible, and definitely once you have graduated, you should enter the workforce in your field of qualification. Your work should be full-time and formally paid accordingly.  This must be demonstrated through formal documents such as a work contract, pay slips, salary bank deposits and tax lodgments.  Avoid casual cash-in-hand work as this will not be suitable when it comes time to prove you are skilled in your field. 
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How do you prove you are skilled?  This is through the appropriate skills assessing authority for your occupation. As this is a lengthy process it's best you seek out the assistance of Great Australian Migration to do this process too.  

As you can see – there is more to Great Australian Migration that just knowing about visa requirements.  We can guide and assist you with all the items you need pre-visa application.

Contact us today to work on your migration pathway – we are ready to help you!

The relationship between Australia and New Zealand is super strong and at times the migration process may start in New Zealand but end in Australia.
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New Zealand citizens are not required to be granted a visa prior to boarding their flight across to Australia.  They will be issued with a Special Category Visa (SCV) TY444 visa on arrival – but there is a caveat to this.  You must be of good character and health (for what this means - click here).  If you have had issues with your character or health, you should apply and be granted a visa before you travel across to Australia. Failure to do this could mean you are denied entry and flown back home.
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Most New Zealanders are holding a TY444 visa that allows you to stay indefinitely in Australia with full work rights – but you are not a Permanent Resident.  You can only have PR status if you specifically applied for a PR visa and have had it granted to you.  A TY444 visa is a Temporary Resident visa only.
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With that said though, there is a special date in Australian-New Zealand immigration history that can affect your status in Australia…  ~ 26 JAN 2001 ~  This date determines whether you are a Protected/Eligible New Zealand Citizen or not in the eyes of Immigration, Centrelink and possibly other governmental services.
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You are a P/ENZ citizen if you were either:

• in Australia on 26 February 2001;
• if not in the country on the above date then you must have been in Australia for 12 months in the 2 years immediately before this date;
• you have been given a certificate by Centrelink that has assessed you as a protected SCV holder, issued before 26 February 2004.

 
Basically, if you have this special status, you are meeting the same requirements as an Australian Citizen when it comes to sponsoring someone for a visa; applying for Citizenship and possibly other government services.
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But if you do not have this status, your ability to sponsor someone for a visa, obtain Centrelink payments or other government services may be limited or simply not available to you.​

My partner is a NZ citizen living in Australia.  I’m not a NZ citizen and my visa is coming to an end.  I don’t want to go home, I want to stay with my Partner; what options do I have to stay?

Your NZ partner could sponsor you under the standard partner visa program and you will receive Permanent Residency upon successful grant. 

Your NZ partner could sponsor you under the NZ Family Relationship visa.  This is temporary visa valid for 5 years and provides you with full work rights.  You will need to renew this visa to continue staying in Australia.  And if your relationship ends, you can still have this visa provided you have not entered into another relationship.

You will need to be sponsored under the partner visa as they will no longer hold the status of a NZ citizen in Australia for the purposes of the NZ Relationship Visa.  It is best to check your visa expiry date as it could affect your next visa application timeframe.  Timing is EVERYTHING!

From 1 July 2023, the Albanese Government legislated that New Zealand Citizens no longer needed to become Permanent Residents first in order to qualify for Australian Citizenship; a huge and costly hurdle taken away and brings them inline with Australian citizens living in New Zealand.
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As a TY444 visa holder, you need to meet the same eligibility requirements as a Permanent Resident.  Becoming an Australian Citizen will bring you so many more benefits compared to being a Temporary Resident TY444 visa holder that it really is worth obtaining.  For more citizenship information – click here.
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They could be both!
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For a child born to New Zealand parents prior to 1 July 2022, your child will need to be registered with the New Zealand government to obtain their citizenship status and passport.  They can then be issued with a TY444 visa.

If they have lived in Australia since their birth until 10 years of age, they will automatically obtain Australian Citizenship on their 10th birthday. This can be confirmed through an application of “Evidence of Citizenship” and will be needed for an Australian Passport application.
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If they left Australia to live back in NZ or any other country, then upon their return they will need to meet the standard eligibility for citizenship as discussed above.
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If they are born on or after 1 July 2022, they automatically become an Australian citizen at birth. Again its a good idea to obtain an "Evidence of Citizenship" certificate, especially to make an application for an Australian Passport. You may look to registering them with the New Zealand government as well to establish their dual citizenship.

Other links to look at:

• https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/new-zealand-citizens/overvie
• ​https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/new-zealand-citizens-claiming-payments-australi
  
• ​https://www.govt.nz/browse/passports-citizenship-and-identity/nz-citizenship/register-as-a-citizen-by-descent-and-get-a-passport/

Great Australian Migration are experts in this field.  We are here ready to help you for all your Australian Visa and Citizenship needs or questions.
​Please reach out to us on [email protected] or call 0493 497 588.

For most people, the simple equation to check if you qualify to make an application for a visa is simple…

Do I have a clear immigration, health and character history?  YES = Yes you can lodge and be granted a visa. 

​But what happens if your answer is NO?
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Answering NO does not automatically disqualify you from applying or being granted a visa.  What it does mean is that you will have additional items to address – and if you can overcome these things, then your application will move forward.

​If you have ever had a visa refused or cancelled; or if you have overstayed your visa (expired) or you departed Australia whilst on a Bridging Visa C,D, or E then you most likely do not have a clear immigration history – something at sometime has gone a little wrong and most likely you have some sort of bar or exclusion period applied to you.  You are best to seek the assistance of a registered migration agent to assist you on your next application.

Simply – are you of good health? Yes, then there should be no issues.  However, if you have now, or had in the past, medical issues that required treatment via ongoing medications and could incur substantial costs it is best you discuss your case with an agent.  Most visas will require that you undertake a medical examination, and at times a visa can be refused based around your medical condition. 

Australia wants to ensure those that are entering the country are “good” people. All criminal issues should be declared, however minor you think they are. If you have gone to court, you should declare.  Fines are not considered.  If you wish to discuss your case, speak with a Registered Migration Agent, they are bound by confidentiality and Privacy laws, so you can speak freely about your situation.  They can assess your case and discuss the threshold of what is considered being of good or not good character.
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​The most common are: 

• Condition 8503
• Public Interest Criteria 4014, 4013, 4020
• Schedule 3 Partner visa

This is imposed on your visa and does not allow you to lodge for another visa whilst you are in Australia – expect for a Protection Visa.

You can request this be waived in order to lodge another visa whilst in Australia only if there is a major change in your circumstances.

The change must be something that is out of your control; in a manner that you could not have prevented or stopped it.

For example – you are unable to travel due to a medical episode; there has been a major incident in your close family; there has been a natural disaster, war or civil unrest in your home country that came about whilst you are in Australia…. The list is not exhaustive; but this is where a migration agent can certainly review your case and make an informed opinion.
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A waiver request should be lodged as soon as possible, do not wait for your visa to expire.  If your visa is due to expire and a decision has not been made, you should look to departing as you will become unlawful without a visa. If this happens, again, speak with an agent who can help you.  It is always your responsibility to ensure you have a valid visa for the whole of your stay in Australia.

These are items that will restrict you from being granted another visa.  This is better known as a “re-entry ban”.  It does not apply to all visas.

PIC 4014 relates to your departure from Australia when you did not hold a valid visa to do so (unlawful departure) or you left whilst holding a Bridging Visa E, D or C.

PIC 4013 relates to a previous visa that was cancelled.

PIC 4020 relates to a current application being lodged or a previous application where false information or bogus documents have been provided to the Department.

Having one of these PICs imposed on you means that you may be subject to an exclusion period from being granted a visa – you can still make an application but you will need to request a waiver of the PIC in order to then be granted the visa.  An approved waiver will only apply to that specific application.
A request to waiver must be made at the same time as the application.  The waiver will need to demonstrate that compelling circumstances affect the interests of Australia (as a country); or there are compassionate or compelling circumstances that affect the interests of an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident or an eligible New Zealand Citizen.
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Should the waiver NOT be approved, the visa will be refused and there will be no refund of the application fee.  As you can see, it is very important you have a migration agent assist you with this process if you know or believe you are subject to a PIC.

When applying for a Partner visa in Australia, generally this is done whilst you are validly holding a substantive visa (eg visitor visa, work visa, student visa).  But it is also a visa that can be applied for even if you have overstayed your visa and are therefore unlawfully in Australia or you are holding another type of Bridging Visa.

If this is the case, then some additional criteria do need to be met to be granted the visa. 

At a basic level these are compassionate and compelling reasons that convince the Department there is no way that you can go overseas to lodge this visa offshore and to wait there whilst it is being processed.  Failure to do this will mean that the visa is refused.  This can be costly considering that, as of today, an onshore Partner visa is over $9000 and seeking review of the decision will cost another $3000+ and 2-4 years will have passed. 
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​A good migration agent will review your case and help you determine if its actually better for you to depart to lodge offshore, where Schedule 3 does not need to be met and you will not be subject to a re-entry ban based on PIC 4014.  You may even be back in Australia before an onshore application would have been decided!

As you can see, there are many minor details that are not readily known to those who are not registered migration agents.  This is why it is essential to seek your immigration information from a registered MARA agent who studies and keeps up to date with immigration laws.  They are passionate about what they do and have made it their career.  Do not rely on your neighbour, friend, cousin or boss!  They are not qualified to guide you through your immigration journey. 

Contact Great Australian Migration as soon as you can to ensure you have the best advice and strategy.  Investing in a paid personalised consultation is money well spent!