If you have the skills and capabilities to improve Australia’s workforce and economy, you might be eligible to migrate to Australia by applying for an Australian work visa. But if you apply for an Australian visa where you cannot work but have the skills to do so, you might be offered a work permit.
A work visa is specifically designed to help encourage international visa applicants to acquire sponsorship via an employer or to get a nomination for work. A work visa and a work permit are not the same, foreigners who want to live and work in Australia can apply for either of those. Read the renew visa guide below to learn more about Australian work visas, work permits and the differences between the both.
What Are the Different Australian Work Visas?
Some of the Australian work visas that you can choose to apply for are as follows:-
1. Temporary Skill Shortage visa or subclass 482
If you want to fill the temporary skills shortage for an Australian employer, a subclass 482 visa is a work visa that you can apply for. This is a visa that can entitle skilled workers to work in Australia for around four years if they are sponsored by relevant Australian employers. It is important for our skills and work experience to be relevant to the position that you wish to apply to in Australia.
2. Employer Nomination Scheme Visa or subclass 186
For an Australian employer looking to sponsor skilled workers to live and work full-time in Australia, the Employer Nomination Scheme. To apply for this visa, you need to have relevant qualifications or work experience in the nominated occupation and be nominated in a specific skilled occupation as given in the Combined list of eligible skilled occupations.
3. Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa or Subclass 494
This is an Australian provisional work visa and you can stay in Australia for around five years from the date the visa is granted. You must be employed to work in the nominated occupation and under a position in the sponsoring business. You can also work as an associated entity of the business that is located in a designated regional area of Australia. This can help provide a pathway for you to permanent residency.
4. Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) or Subclass 482 to 186)
Under DAMA, Australian employers can sponsor skilled and semi-skilled international workers for positions they cannot fill with the local people of Australia. It also applies to states that have DAMA agreements and are custom-made to address the current and growing labour market shortages, and local terms and conditions of employment.
5. Working Holiday visa or subclass 417
You can enjoy extended holidays in Australia along with finding short-term employment to fund your travels with work and holiday and working holiday visa programs. The work visa that can provide people between the age of 18-30 or 35 years old a chance to live and work in Australia for three years is the subclass 417 visa.
6. Training visa or subclass 407
If you need to do extra workplace training to acquire an occupational license or registration or want to improve your skills in specific occupations, this is the visa that you must opt for. The training visa is for people who wish to come to Australia temporarily to participate in occupational training or professional development.
7. Work and Holiday visa or subclass 462
The subclass 462 visa is a type of Australian visa meant for young adults who want to spend their holidays and work in Australia for around three years. It is an Australian visa that offers the holder an extended holiday in Australia and a chance to work to be able to pay for their trip.
8. Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) Visa or Subclass 400
With the help of this visa, you can stay in Australia for three months when needed or in some circumstances for up to six months. If you are granted this Australian visa, it will be due to the discrediting of the assessing officer if you get the visa for three months or the requested six-month period.
Why Do You Need a Work Permit?
A work permit is an important document for foreigners who wish to work abroad in Australia. You get a work permit on a work visa that can allow you to work in Australia. There are various Australian work visa processes to follow based on the nature of the work be it specialized worker, short-term trainee, investor or businessman.
Working Visa in Australia for Business Owners
If you are a business owner who wants to expand your business or set up a new business in Australia, you must acquire a Temporary work visa. Some of the work visas for business owners are as follows:
1. Business innovation and investment visa
This is a permanent visa for entrepreneurs, business owners and investors to continue their activity in Australia.
2. Business Talent visa
This is an Australian working visa that can help you set up a new business in Australia. If you are an existing business owner in Australia, you can operate in Australia with this visa.
3. Investor visa
This is a permanent Australian visa, especially for people who undertake investment and business activities in Australia.
What Are the Requirements for an Australian Work Permit?
Though there is not much difference between a Temporary and Permanent work visa Or work visa and work permit, there are certain requirements for every visa. For a permanent Australia employee visa, the requirements will include specific skill sets, age limits, taxable income and many more.
The requirements for an Australian work visa are as follows:
- Your age must be below 45
- You must meet health requirements
- You must meet the character requirements
- You must have good English language ability or fluency
- You must have specific skills and three years of work experience
- You must sign the Australian values statement.
Documents Needed for Work Permit in Australia
Some of the documents you need for a work permit in Australia:
- Valid passport
- An Australian visa application form
- An identity photo
- A national identity card
- Education certificates
- Evidence of financial statements
- Proof of good character/Police certificate
- Appointment letter from the company
- Sponsorship letter
- Employer letter
- Invitation letter
- Visa payment receipt.
Australia Work Permit Application Process
The main step of the Australian work visa process is to understand the type of visa you need. It is also important for an employer to understand and decide the type of visa that your employee would fit in. If you are an Australian employer, you must ensure to complete the online nomination before your employee applies for an Australian work permit.
To know about the Australian work visa process as an employee, you can visit the official website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs. After this, you can select the type of visa you are applying for and fill out the form. For skilled visas, if you are an employee, you must check whether your occupation is on the skilled occupation list.
In the case of a sponsored visa, you must ensure to receive a nomination from an approved work sponsor and then can proceed for skills assessment. You also need to submit an EOI through SkillSelect and wait for an invitation to apply for the visa.
Final Words
Whether you need a work permit or must apply for a work visa, you can choose to take the help of a visa agent or lawyer in your area. The most experienced migration lawyers can provide you with the help you need to fill in the visa application form and decide which visa is suitable for you.
