New visa for parents of Australian migrants in 2019
Migrants to Australia will be delighted to learn that Australia is introducing a Temporary Sponsored Parent visa in 2019. This visa will present parents and grandparents with a new pathway to reunite with families.
More about this visa
The Temporary Sponsored Parent visa will allow parents to visit their families in Australia for a continuous period of up to 5 years.
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said the visa demonstrated the Government’s commitment to migrant communities.
“This new visa will help families reunite and spend time together,” Mr Coleman said. “It will provide a new pathway for parents and grandparents to visit their families in Australia, which will deliver great social benefits to the Australian community.”
As the name of the visa suggest, migrants will act as sponsors for their parents. Sponsors will act as a financial guarantor for any outstanding public health costs incurred by the visa holder while in Australia.
“This new visa will ensure family reunions are possible for many migrant families across Australia, while protecting taxpayers with strict guidelines to ensure all public health debts including hospital and aged care fees are recovered by the Australian Government,” Mr Coleman said.
The application process
The application will be a two-step process. There will first be an assessment of the sponsor and only once the sponsor is approved can the visa application be lodged.
It is also important to note that according to the regulations of the visa, each migrant household will only be able to sponsor one set of parents. This regulation was criticized by the Labour Party as well as migrant groups, as it would force families to choose which parents or in-laws they reunite with.
Applications open in the first half of 2019
Applications for the Temporary Sponsored Parent visa open in the first half of 2019. No official date has been released at time of writing.
If you and your parents would be interested in applying for this visa, we suggest following us on Facebook or signing up for our newsletter to be the first to know when application dates are announced.
- Published in News, Our latest posts
What is the Invitation to Apply for an Australian visa?
There are many parts to general skilled migration visa applications. One of these parts is the Invitation to Apply for an Australian visa. Continue reading to find out what it is and where it fits into the process.
What is the Invitation to Apply?
The Invitation to Apply is as the name suggests – an invitation to apply for a visa, specifically certain skilled migration visas:
- Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189).
- Skilled Nomination Visa (subclass 190).
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 489).
From your Invitation to Apply, you’ll learn the following:
- Under which subclass you are being invited to apply.
- The time frame within which you have to make your application.
- Additional information to include, if applicable.
Where does the Invitation to Apply fit into the visa application process?
The Invitation to Apply is the third step in your skilled migration visa application:
Step 1:
The first step is getting your eligibility assessed for general skilled migration by means of a points-based assessment. You must get 65 points or more to move on to the next stage.
Step 2:
Should you qualify for skilled migration to Australia, the second step is submitting an Expression of Interest. This in application which details:
- The visa subclass and stream you intend to apply for.
- Whether you’re seeking sponsorship from a state or territory government; and
- If you’re open to living in specific states or territories.
The Expression of Interest also judges your application on a points-bases and against other EOIs. Once this evaluation is completed, a decision is then made whether or not to invite you to make a visa application.
Step 3:
If your Expression of Interest is selected, you’ll receive an Invitation to Apply for an Australian visa for general skilled migration.
How often are Invitations to Apply extended?
Invitations to apply are usually extended on a monthly basis. SkillSelect and the Department of Home Affairs publish reports after each month’s invitation round which shows the lowest-scoring test marks.
What should I go if I get an Invitation to Apply?
If you receive an invitation, you’ll have 60 days to apply for the visa. Our immigration agents will guide you through this stage and assist with the process.
What if I don’t get an Invitation to Apply for an Australian visa?
If you’re not invited to apply within two years of submitting your EOI, your EOI will expire. The Department of Home Affairs will send you an email when your EOI is about to expire.
Do you have more questions?
Please feel free to contact us should you have any other questions about the Invitation to Apply. You can either call us on +27 (0) 11 123 4274 or +27 (0) 21 424 2460 or email us.
You can also read more about the Invitation to Apply and general skilled migration on our website.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Our latest posts
4 Uncomfortable truths about emigrating – Plus the good news
It’s no secret that emigrating is a huge undertaking. Especially if you’re a family doing it!
However, most people entering the emigration process do not fully realise what lies ahead.
Is it worth it? Of course! You’re opening doors to new opportunities and a better life for yourself and your family.
But how do you prepare yourself for the emigration journey? A good way to start is by reading the below.
You’re going to have a lot of admin to do
Many applicants are surprised by the amount of admin that’s involved in the application.
You have to gather the required documents, complete the necessary paperwork, do the applicable tests, and apply for professional registrations if your occupation asks for it.
Everything has to happen at the right time too and it also has to happen in a way or format that meets Immigration Australia’s requirements.
The good news
Our immigration advisers can guide you through everything that’s required and ensure that it happens as it should. Our team even go as far as booking English tests for you. Leaving you with more time to focus on those behind-the-scenes things.
Your emigration might not happen as quickly as you’d like
If you’re like the average person who wants to emigrate, you basically want to do it immediately! You can’t wait to pack your bags and get on that aeroplane. And who can blame you? Australia is a dream destination.
Unfortunately your emigration might not always happen as quickly as you’d hope. Sometimes, for instance, Immigration Australia could take a bit longer to process a visa because there has been a high volume of applications.
The good news
You can rest assured that we always compile your application as quickly as possible to submit it as soon as possible. And while we cannot influence Immigration Australia in any way, we do undertake to ensure that you’re never left in the dark about what’s happening with your application.
Emigration is not cheap
There are a lot of costs involved in emigrating, from paying the movers to putting down a deposit on a place to stay or importing your pet. You’ll also have to pay government fees and you might need to pay for English tests and registrations too.
The good news
Here’s what you don’t want to do – part with any money without knowing if you’re eligible for emigration. This is why we offer a free initial assessment. This assessment tells you whether or not you do qualify for emigration. It’ll also give you a good idea of the initial costs, so that you can draw up a better budget.
Emigration is not for the faint-hearted
It is almost guaranteed that your stress and anxiety levels will rise during the application process. Mostly because it’s an unfamiliar process and because it’s such an important step in your life.
The good news
Our advisers will see to it that don’t have to go through it alone. Our team will always ensure that your stress and anxiety is kept to a minimum by seeing to it that all requirements are met, and by giving you realistic timelines and expectations.
Here’s what some of our recent clients had to say:
We had the absolute pleasure of working on our immigration process with Katrin Maja O’Flynn from Intergate.
It was a crazy journey as we are a complex case and only had the bare minimum points needed. Katrin guided us efficiently, effectively and with endless patience. She went above and beyond her basic duties sending us plenty extra information.
We never felt like “just another case” to Katrin, which for me was the most important thing. She grasped the fact that she was dealing with a family seeking to change their future and that she held that future in her hands. When there were bumps in the road and I was scared, Katrin called me and handled me with such kindness and empathy.
We just can’t thank you enough Katrin. Thanks to you, generations of our family to come will be safe. I simply would not recommend you take this journey with any other company – Intergate and Katrin especially are absolutely brilliant.”
~ Lara
Hi Katrin & Maike,
Thank you so much for all your hard work and expertise!
It has been 322 days since we signed our mandate with you to guide us along this journey! We couldn’t be happier right now to have received our Visa grant. Both you and Maike have made the entire process so easy and stress-free. Everything happened within the time-frames you gave us and there were no unrealistic expectations given. Your professionalism and knowledge in the whole process was awesome!
We can’t recommend you both and Intergate enough 🙂 Thanks again for all you have done in helping us achieve our goal! THANK-YOU! THANK-YOU! THANK-YOU!
~ Bronwyn
We can gladly recommend Intergate Emigration to any one aspiring to emigrate or just for a visitors visa.
We contacted Intergate in February 2016, and they were extremely helpful and patient with all our emigration questions and concerns. They also helped us to obtain Visitors Visas quickly.
When we decided to emigrate, we had the pleasure of working with Maike and later Katrin. The team was wonderful and we really felt that they were invested in our case . They were patient and always answered all our emails without complaining. They are professional and they made sure we had all the documents before it was requested.
Intergate Emigration is the BEST!
~ Nico and Adri Botha
Ready to make your emigration easier?
If you are, please book an initial assessment with us. This initial assessment is free and non-obligatory.
Following the outcome, you’ll know if you’re eligible to immigrate to Australia. From this point, our agents will guide you through the application process, providing support and knowledge every step of the way.
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Our latest posts
Australian immigration agents in South Africa
Are you looking for Australian immigration agents in South Africa to assist with your immigration? Then you’ll be happy to hear that Intergate Emigration are located in South Africa.
Here’s why you’d want to work with us:
Our immigration agents are registered with MARA
Our immigration agents are licensed and registered with MARA, as required from agents based outside of Australia.
MARA is the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority and it registers migration agents and regulates the migration agents profession.
Some agents based outside of Australia will show you a DIBP number, but this is NOT a license. A DIBP number is only issued for administrative purposes.
Always insist on seeing a MARN number. If the agent cannot produce a MARN number, it’s likely that they are not licensed and registered by MARA. Do not use this agent – if anything goes wrong during your application, there would most likely be very little you’d be able to do about it.
You can find our agents on MARA’s website:
You can also do a search for any other agent on MARA’s site.
We offer a free initial assessment
You should never have to part with money for an application without knowing if you’re eligible for emigration to Australia.
This is why we offer a free initial assessment as a first step. This free initial assessment reveal if there are any migration pathways open to you. In doing so, this assessment ensures that you:
- Don’t run unnecessary financial risks; or
- Don’t get your hopes up, only to be disappointed later.
You get a written report with your emigration options
If you are eligible for emigration to Australia, you can choose to proceed with a comprehensive assessment. This assessment results in a written report detailing your emigration options. You’ll know exactly what to do to set yourself up for a successful emigration.
Our agents have also emigrated
Our immigration agents have been through emigration themselves, so they are familiar with the emotions, anxieties, uncertainties, and hard work of emigration. They know exactly what you’re going through!
And the obvious benefit of working with Australian immigration agents in South Africa…
There is no time difference. You can pick up the phone and speak to someone right away. Choose to work with someone in Australia, who’s roughly 9 hours ahead of South Africa, and the picture suddenly looks a lot different.
Here’s how to contact us
If you’d like to chat to us, you can contact us via phone or our website, or go ahead and book your free initial assessment:
- Call: 021 234 4275 OR 021 424 2460
- Send a message.
- Book your free initial assessment.
You’ll hear from someone in our team within 24 hours. We know you want to realise your Australian dreams as soon as possible!
- Published in Immigration to Australia, Our latest posts
Moving household items to Australia
It’s one thing to move house, but it’s a different thing to move house across continents. That’s why we wanted to give you a complete guide on moving household items to Australia.
In our guide, you’ll find information on:
- Prohibited items
- Fees and charges you can expect
- Duty-free concessions
- Clearing your belongings once in Australia
- Tips on preparing your goods
- The best way to pack your belongings
Prohibited items
It’s safe to say that as a new resident entering Australia, you’ll send your personal belongings and household goods to the country via air or sea freight.
These items are referred to as Unaccompanied Personal Effects (UPEs).
Your UPEs may be inspected upon arrival by Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. The Department will be particularly interested in items that:
- Originated from an animal or plant, including timber, or contains part of an animal or plant.
- Has been contact with animals, plants, water, food or soil.
The reasoning is simple – Australia wants to prevent pests and diseases entering the country.
Here’s what you cannot take with you
To make it easier for you to decide what to take, The Department has shared the following list of items you cannot bring as personal effects:
- Fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Live plants and bulbs.
- Prohibited and restricted seeds.
- Unidentified seeds, including spices.
- Live animals that require an import permit, including pets. Find out here how to take pets to Australia.
- Biological products including some plant-based, herbal medications.
- Unprocessed goods of plan or animal origin.
- Soiled goods, or goods containing organic residues.
- Goods knowingly infested with pests or diseases.
Consult the Biosecurity Import Conditions system if you have any doubts about whether or not an item can be taken to Australia.
Please note: Cars and car parts are not considered to be UPEs.
Fees and charges
There are multiple fees and charges you have to prepare for. These include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Documentation screening charges.
- Minimum 30 minutes up-front inspection fee. Your final inspection fee will depend on the time it takes to inspect your goods.
- Treatment of goods, if applicable.
- Facilitation fees and storage fees, charged by Approved Arrangement (AA) sites.
It’s best to ensure that you confirm all costs before moving household goods to Australia!
Duty-free concessions
You may be eligible for concessions on customs duty and Goods and Services Tax if you and your goods meet certain requirements.
Requirements you should meet
- You arrived on a ship or aircraft from a place outside Australia.
- You meet permanent residency requirements.
Requirements your belongings should meet
The goods must be:
- Your personal property;
- Suitable and intended for use by you in Australia; and
- Personally owned and used overseas by you for a specified length of time. Usually, this is 12 months prior to your departure to Australia.
Please be aware that you won’t receive concessions for:
- Cars or car parts.
- Tobacco and tobacco products.
- Alcoholic beverages.
Clearing your belongings
You can arrange to have your goods cleared yourself, or you can use an agent or representative to arrange to have your goods cleared on your behalf.
To clear your UPEs, you must complete and lodge an Unaccompanied Personal Effects Statement (B543 Form). You can lodge the form in person or online. Read more about both options here.
Tips on preparing your items
As mentioned, Australia wants to prevent pests and diseases entering the country. This necessities the emptying, draining, cleaning and drying of any items that have come into contact with food, soil, plants, animals, or their products.
Let’s look at some specific examples of what you can do:
- Garden furniture, fencing, pots, ornaments, outdoor toys, tools and implements: Remove all soil, animal and plant debris.
- Waste bins, brooms, and vacuum cleaners: Remove all waste from these items.
- Container and appliances: Clean these items.
- Camping and sporting equipment: Thoroughly clean tents, backpacks, golf clubs, soccer boots, and like.
- Carpets, rugs, and mats: Vacuum.
- Animal bedding, grooming equipment, cages, and fish tanks: Wash and vacuum; remove all traces of pet hair; drain and clean.
- Fresh water sporting equipment: Drain and dry equipment like reservoirs, wetsuits, and fishing tackle.
- Household items made from wood or with wooden components: Check wooden artefacts and toys, musical instruments, furniture, kitchenware, timber and items with wooden components for any signs of insect infestation. Either treat affected items or leave these items behind. Also check furniture and baskets containing materials such as bamboo, banana leaf, cane, rattan, and wicker.
- Everyday household items: Check for plant material such as seeds, flowers, leaves and pine cones. Think ornaments, photos albums, pot pourri, artefacts, decorations, and the like. Don’t forget to check the fillings of heat bags.
- Fresh food or opened packages of dry foods, and herbs and spices: Do not pack these items. You can check the import conditions of all food items, including pet foods and treats, on BICON.
Packing your belongings
If you pack properly when moving household items to Australia, you’ll minimize the time it takes the Department to inspect your goods. This in turn will help keep the costs of the inspection to a minimum.
Here are tips from the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources on how to make their job easier:
Create a packing list:
Record all boxes and what is in each box. Also include a description of what the goods are made from. For example, metal bed frame or cane basket. The Australian authorities will ask for this list.
Label and number:
Number the packing boxes and match the numbers on your packing list. Be sure to use permanent marker to write on boxes when you’re labelling them. Don’t use sticky labels, as these often fall off during the move.
Cartons and packing materials:
It is best to not use second-hand boxes or bags, unless you’re absolutely certain these are free from animal or plant material. Additionally don’t use straw, sawdust, wood shavings or other plant materials as packing or filler.
Pack items in groups:
Pack goods that the biosecurity officer may be interested in together and group the boxes together.
Pack for safety:
Securely wrap sharp or breakable objects such as knives or ceramic items. Clearly mark boxes with medical items, dangerous goods, or any items that could pose a safety risk. Do not pack flammable items such as fireworks or paint thinners.
Let’s recap what to do when moving household items to Australia
Your personal belonging and household goods are classified as Unaccompanied Personal Effects. The biosecurity officer will be interested in items that originated from animals or plants, or that have been in contact with animals, plants, water, food or soil.
To minimize the time it takes to inspect your goods, you should clean your belongings and follow certain packing guidelines. The inspection is charged on time, so the shorter the inspection has to be, the less you’ll have to pay.
If you meet certain requirements, you’ll be eligible for concessions on customs duty and Goods and Services Tax.
For more information, please see the Department’s website. For all other immigration advice, please feel free to contact us.
- Published in Our latest posts, Tips for your move
Australia’s health and character requirements
While Australia welcomes migrants, the country wants to maintain their excellent health standards and ensure that newcomers are of good character.
It’s for these reasons that the Australian government requires migrants to meet certain health and character criteria.
Below we’ll go into more detail so you can get an overview of both sets of requirements.
Who should meet Australia’s health and character requirements?
Most migrants hoping to move Down Under should be able to meet the health requirements. This includes all permanent provisional and certain temporary visa applicants.
However, the character requirements apply to all visa applicants.
Health requirements
Australia enjoys some of the best health standards in the world. The government wants to keep it this way. It is for this reason that migrants have to meet certain minimum health standards.
Looking at it in more detail, the Australian government aims to:
- Protect the Australian community from public health and safety risks, particularly active TB (tuberculosis).
- Contain public expenditure on health and community services, including social security benefits, allowances, and pensions.
- Safeguard the access of Australian citizens and permanent residents to healthcare and community services in short supply.
For these reasons, the government requires migrants to be free from a disease or condition that is:
- Considered to be a threat to public health or danger to the Australian community.
- Likely to result in significant healthcare and community service costs to the Australian community.
- Likely to require healthcare and community services that would limit the access of Australian citizens and permanent residents to those services as they are already in short supply.
Meeting the health requirements
To determine whether or not you meet the health requirements, you must undergo certain health examinations. Please note that there are specific requirements for the health exams.
You’ll be considered for a waiver of the health requirements if you failed to meet the health requirements for a visa where a waiver is available.
Where further tests are required once you’re in Australia, you may be required to sign a Health Undertaking.
Health insurance
Certain temporary visas require proof of adequate health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia. This would be on top of meeting the health requirements.
Character requirements
To live in Australia, you must be of good character. If any of the following is true, you won’t pass the character test:
- You have a substantial criminal record. Australia defines a substantial criminal record as:
- A prison sentence of 12 months or more; or
- Multiple sentences adding up to more than 12 months in prison.
- Please note: A suspended sentence is considered a prison sentence.
- You are or have been a member of a group or organization, or had or have an association with a person, group or organization that the Minister for Immigration reasonable suspects of involvement in criminal conduct.
- The Minister for Immigration reasonable suspects that you have been involved in:
- People smuggling or trafficking;
- Genocide;
- A war crime;
- A crime against humanity, a crime involving torture or slavery, or a crime that is of serious international concern;
- Whether or not you have convicted of such an offence.
- Your past and present criminal or general conduct show you are not of good character.
- There is a risk that while you are in Australia you would:
- Engage in criminal conduct;
- Harass, molest, intimidate, or stalk another person;
- Vilify a segment of the Australian community;
- Incite discord in the Australian community or in part of it;
- Be a danger to the Australian community or a part of it.
- You have been convicted of, or found guilty or had a charge proven for one or more sexually based offences involving a child;
- You are subject to an adverse security assessment by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.
- You’re subject to an Interpol notice, from which it is reasonable to infer that you are a direct or indirect risk to the Australian community or a segment of the Australian community.
Proving your character
You might be asked to provide police clearance certificates to if you are of good character. You’d have to provide police clearance certificates for each country you’ve lived in for 12 months or more.
This would be for over the 10 years prior to lodging the visa application, since turning 16 years of age.
In summary
Australia’s government wants to uphold their health standards and migrants are of a certain caliber. Hence, the government has put in place health and character requirements for migrants.
As explained on the Home Affairs’ website: ‘What you’ll need to do to meet the health requirements will depend on your personal circumstances and the visa you have applied for or intend to apply for’.
Lastly, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Our agents can advise on all matters related to Australia’s immigration requirements.
Source: www.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Published in Immigration Advice, Our latest posts
Emigrate to Australia from South Africa
Why do so many people emigrate to Australia from South Africa?
In our experience, the number one reason is that Australia is a safe place to raise a family.
Coming in at a close second is that Australia can still sort of feel like home. Both Australia and South Africa are known for sunny days, the great outdoors and being sport mad.
Our guess is that it doesn’t hurt that Australia is one of the most prosperous countries in the world. Or that three out of the world’s 10 most liveable cities are in Australia.
And you know what else? Australia’s healthcare system is rated as the second best in the developed world.
The only downside? Well… It doesn’t really seem like there is anything.
Let’s hear from some South African migrants
The best way to get information on how life in Australia is, is to find out about the experiences of other migrants. Here are two stories of people who’ve been living in Australia for the past couple of years:
Lynne, a South African who emigrated to Brisbane in 2013
Lynne, born and bred in Cape Town, emigrated with her husband and child to Brisbane in 2013. After an unexpected hiccup with an employer, Lynne’s husband managed to find a job and the family could settle in their new city.
Lynne says she and her husband are able to give, Tristan, their son much more than what would have been possible in South Africa. Tristan walks home from school with his friends, sometimes even on his own.
The safety of life in Australia is one thing Lynne and her family cannot get enough of. The family can be at home with the doors open and go for walks without feeling like they have to be on guard at all times.
Lara Davis, who’s been living in Australia for 7 years
Lara Davis emigrated from Cape Town, South Africa, to Australia in 2011. When she first arrived, Lara chose to live on the Sunshine Coast. She’s since moved and now lives on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane.
Lara says the quality of life is better than she could possibly have imagined. The Gold Coast has a city, the beach and a rainforest all within 30 minutes of each other.
Lara feels that although the cost of living seems more expensive in Australia, the minimum wage is a lot higher than in South Africa. This makes it possible for her to live well within her means and live a good lifestyle.
Is it your dream too to emigrate to Australia from South Africa?
If you’re reading this and it’s your dream to live in Australia, you should absolutely do these three things first:
1. Find out if you qualify
This is always worth repeating – if you want to emigrate to Australia from South Africa, you have start with an immigration assessment.
The immigration assessment will assess your chances of qualifying for an Australian visa. It’s only after completing the assessment that you’ll know which, if any, migration pathways are open to you.
The benefit of this? You set yourself up for success from the start. You won’t spend money on an impossible dream either.
2. Decide if you want to go it alone or with the help of an agent
Immigration assessment should be non-obligatory. This gives you the option of shopping around or deciding to apply for your visa on your own.
Our advice is to always choose the agent route. Ensure it’s an immigration agent licensed with MARA!
A MARA licensed immigration agent is well-versed in what’s required and up-to-date on immigration developments. By working with such a person, you’ll give yourself the best shot of getting your application correct the first time.
3. Find a job
While it is possible to emigrate to Australia without a job, you’ll make things much easier on yourself if you do have a job. Just make sure you first know which visa you qualify for.
Also be sure to read these articles:
Final thoughts
Australia regularly makes changes to their immigration laws, so it’s always better to start your emigration sooner rather than later. You don’t want to wait for ages, only to find out that you are not too old or won’t earn enough to earn permanent residency. It’s happened to many people – trust us!
- Published in Immigration Advice, Our latest posts
Up to AUD15,000 on offer for people willing to move to the Northern Territory
Australia’s Northern Territory is offering couples, individuals and families up to AUS15,000 to make this part of Down Under their home.
This announcement was part of the Territory’s Population Growth Strategy for 2018 to 2028.
The Northern Territory wants to attract and retain talent
The Northern Territory’s government want to attract skilled individuals to the region. Their aim? To create a diversified economy, so that the Territory is less reliant on investments.
This has led to the decision to offer up to AUD15,000 over five years to interstate migrants who come to the Territory to work in a ‘high priority occupation’. Eligible interstate migrants will be able to take the Territory up on their offer from November 2018.
Three separate financial incentives
The Northern Territory will offer interstate migrants a relocation bonus, a local spending benefit, and a 5-year retention bonus.
The relocation bonus is AUD3,000 for singles, AUD6,000 for couples and AUD7,000 for families.
The local spending benefit is a once-off payment of AUD1,250 after six months of living in the Northern Territory. This money may be used for a range of local spending. For instance, vehicle registration, local hospitality vendors and child care support.
The 5-year retention bonus will be a cash payment after five years of continuous residence. Singles will receive AUD3,000, couples will get AUD6,000 and AUD7,000 will be paid to families.
53 High priority occupations
The Northern Territory has identified the 53 occupations below as ‘high priority’. These jobs are high in demand or critical to the local economy and industry, but hard to fill.
Please go the Northern Territory government website for additional information on high priority occupations. To view the 2018 – 2018 Population Growth Strategy in full, go here.
- Published in News, Our latest posts
Starting a business in Australia
If your dream is emigrating to and starting a business in Australia, you’ll have to know which visa to apply for and how to set up a business once you’re there.
Here’s the good news – we’re going to share all this information with you. All you have to do is continue reading to find out:
- The correct visa for starting a business in Australia.
- How to apply for a visa to start a business.
- The steps involved in starting a business in Australia.
- A checklist for starting your business.
The correct visa for starting for starting a business in Australia
Immigration Australia created the Business Innovation and Investment category for migrants who want to set up a business in Australia. The main aim of the category is growing Australia’s economy.
For this purpose, there are three Business Innovation and Investment visas:
- Business Innovation and Investment (Temporary) visa (subclass 188)
- Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 188)
- Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132)
Before we delve into these visas, let’s discuss how to assess your eligibility for a Business Innovation and Investment visa.
Finding out if you qualify for a Business Innovation and Investment visa
Our recommendation is always to start your emigration journey with an immigration assessment.
Ideally, the assessment should be done by a licensed immigration agent. Only MARA registered agents are allowed to give immigration advice.
Our agent is licensed and can do a free initial assessment with you. It’s non-obligatory too.
Now let’s look at all the Business Innovation and Investment visas individually. 
The Business Innovation and Investment (Temporary) visa (subclass 188)
This visa is the first step towards qualifying for permanent residency via the Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 888). It allows you to:
- Set up and run a business in Australia; or
- Own and run an existing Australian business; or
- Invest in an Australian state or territory.
You can make applications under one of three streams, each with its own qualifying criteria:
- Business Innovation stream: You want to establish, develop and manage a new or existing business in Australia.
- Investor stream: You want to make a designated investment of at least AU$1.5 million in an Australian state or territory, and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
- Significant Investor stream: You are willing to invest at least AU$5 million into complying investments in Australia, and maintain business and investment activity in Australia.
The Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 188)
This is the permanent residency phase of the Business Innovation and Investment category. This visa allows you to continue:
- To own and manage a business in Australia; or
- Business and investment activity in Australia; or
- Entrepreneurial activity in Australia.
To be eligible for this visa, you must, of course, hold a subclass 188 visa, have state or territory nomination and meet the following criteria under the relevant business stream:
1. The Business Innovation Stream
- You have owned and managed a business in Australia; and
- Meet certain business threshold requirements.
2. The Investor stream:
- You have a designated investment in an Australian state or territory; and
- Want to continue the business and/or investment activity in Australia after the original investment has matured.
3. The Significant Investor stream:
- You have invested at least AU$5 million into complying investments in Australia; and
- Want to continue the business and/or investment activity in Australia after the original investment has matured.
The Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132)
The subclass 132 visa is meant for prospective immigrants who want to set up or invest into a business in Australia, and who have state nomination to do so. Successful applicants will receive permanent residency in Australia.
The Business Talent visa has two different streams:
- Significant Business History stream: For business owners of a high calibre.
- Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream: For those who have secured venture capital from the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL).
Applying for a Business Innovation and Investment visa
There are generally three steps in the Business Innovation and Investment application process:
- You submit an Expression of Interest through SkillSelect. Provided, of course, you do qualify for a visa.
- You wait for a state or territory government to extend an Invitation to Apply.
- If you receive an Invitation to Apply, you proceed with your visa application.
Should you choose to let us help you with your visa application, our agents will guide you through this entire process. 
The steps in starting a business in Australia
Australia’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science provides a wealth of information on how to start a business in Australia. We’ve summarized the most important points below and provide links for further reading:
1. Choose a business structure
There are four main business structures commonly used by small businesses in Australia:
- Sole trader: An individual operating as a sole person legally responsible for all aspects of the business. You can employ people to help you run the business.
- Company: A company is a legal entity separate from its shareholders.
- Partnership: An association of people or entities running a business together, but not as a company.
- Trust: An entity that holds property or income for the benefit of others.
You’ll choose the structure that suits your needs best, but it’s important to make the right choice. Your business structure can determine different aspects of the business. For instance, such as the licenses you require and how much tax you pay.
Please note: You’ll cover this step in your application, as part of your business plan.
Continue reading about company structures.
2. Register for an Australian Business Number (ABN)
Your Australian Business Number is a unique 11 digit number that identifies your business to the Australian government and community.
It’s not every business that needs an ABN though. You can find out more about who does need an ABN here.
3. Register your business name and trademark
Chances are you already know that a business name is a title under which your business will trade. When you register your business name in Australia, it will be connected to your ABN.
Should you want to register your business as a trademark, you can also do it at this stage. Trademarks are protected in all Australian states and territories for an initial period of 10 years. After 10 years, you can renew your registration.
Continue reading about registering your business name and trademark.
4. Register a website name
This is not a compulsory step, but in today’s digital world, you want to seriously consider a website for your business.
A website will give your business an online identity, which can help customers find your business.
Continue reading about registering a domain.
5. Determine the taxes you have to register for
The taxes you must register for will depend on the type of business you’re starting. Some taxes apply to all businesses, while other taxes are compulsory depending on the size of your business. Other taxes are optional but could make life easier.
Continue reading about taxes.
6. Business and company registration
You must understand your legal requirements when starting a business in Australia. For instance, understand which licences and permits are necessary to run your business.
Once you know your legal responsibilities, you must start taking steps to comply with all the applicable requirements.
Continue reading about business and company registration.
7. Find a business premise
Whether you choose to buy or rent a business premise, ensure you are crystal clear about the agreement you are entering into. It would be best to get advice from accountants, solicitors and other professionals who are able to guide you.
Continue reading about buying or leasing premises.
8. Arrange business insurance
Chat with insurance companies and brokers to discuss the best solutions for your business. It’s important to shop around and to understand what your chosen insurance policy cover.
Continue reading about arranging business insurance.
Your checklist for starting a business in Australia
Now that we’ve covered everything you should be aware, let’s draw up a simple checklist you can use to ensure you’ve covered all your bases:
- Get assessed to see if you qualify for a Business and Investment visa.
- Work with your licensed immigration agent to submit your visa application.
- Receive your visa.
- Choose a business structure. Remember – this step would have been part of your visa application.
- Register an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Register your business name and trademark.
- Register a website name.
- Determine the taxes you have to register for.
- Business and company registration.
- Find a business premise.
- Arrange business insurance.
Summary
Your first task is getting assessed, to see if you qualify for one of Australia’s business visas. If the outcome is positive, you can proceed with your visa application.
To start your business, follow the guidelines of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. To ensure that you tick all the to-dos off your list, keep our handy checklist by your side.
Ready to get assessed? Simply book your free initial assessment right now. One of our consultants will be in touch within the hour, enabling you to take the first step in hopefully starting a business in Australia.
- Published in Business visas, Our latest posts
Australian Eligible Skilled Occupation Lists Announcements
Your eligibility for an Australian work visa greatly depends on having a job that appears on one of Australia’s Eligible Skilled Occupations lists.
Due to this, we wanted to update you on what’s been happening to Australia’s skilled occupation lists:
No new MLSSL, STSOL, or ROL lists yet
The Australian government announced a number of changes to the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLSSL), Short-term Skilled Occupation List (STSOL), and Regional Occupation List (ROL) in March 2018.
At the time, the government said that a mid-year review will happen, but there have been no new updates or changes as of the date of publishing. (9 July 2018).
To know if and when updates are announced, simply sign up for our newsletter to get the news first.
Queensland has released a new QSOL list
Queensland has released their new Queensland Skilled Occupations Lists, with a number of significant changes.
The most significant is the increase of the minimum points score for General Skilled Migration (GSM) to 65 points.
This is a change that was made by Immigration Australia in June, effective on 1 July for all GSM applications made on or after 1 July 2018.
South Australia has published new Lists of State Nominated Occupations
South Australia published their new Lists of State Nominated Occupations today, 9 July 2018. You can find the lists on their website.
Victoria reopens nominations
The Victorian government stopped accepting new applications for nominations for skilled nominations in order to ‘manage current demands’ back in May.
The government has now managed to get back on track and is again accepting nomination applications as of the start of July.
Keep up with developments
We’ll always update you on changes happening in Australian immigration on our blog. To ensure that you don’t miss any announcements, why don’t you follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn, or sign up for our newsletter? It’s packed with useful immigration tips as well as news. The best part? You get it for free!
- Published in News, Our latest posts