For most organizations, an important part of establishing and expanding in Australia will be your existing workforce. But to bring along your employees, you’ll need to attain work visas for Australia.
Australia has strict immigration rules, so you’ll need to know which visas are most suitable for your employees and ensure that you apply well in advance of the move. Failing to follow the proper procedures could result in significant and costly delays to your expansion operation.
At Horizons, our expansion experts offer wide-ranging Australia work visa services, immigration support, and custom outsourcing, giving your organization everything necessary to expand into Australia with the help of your valued workforce.
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Basic requirements for Australian work visas
Different Australian work visas have varying requirements. Many function on a points-based system, where candidates must meet a certain threshold of eligibility. Some of the main factors which gain points are being under the age of 45, competency in English, having certain work experience and/or qualifications, and more.
Beyond fulfilling at least some of these criteria, candidates will need a valid travel document and may need to provide a criminal record check.
Types of Australian work visas
The Australian work visa process is complex, and there are many options to choose from depending on the candidates’ individual circumstances. For employees of many businesses, the skilled professional category of visa is the most likely to be suitable. The following visas fall into this category:
- Skilled Nominated visa: Allows employers to sponsor an employee for permanent residency
- Temporary Skilled Shortage visa: Suitable for employees with specific in-demand skills.
- Skilled Regional (Professional) visa: Enables skilled temporary migrants to work in a specific region of Australia.
- Employer Nomination Scheme visa: Allows an employer to sponsor an employee to work in Australia.
- Skilled Independent visa: For invited workers from New Zealand.
- Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa: Allows an employer to sponsor an employee to work in a specific area of Australia.
- Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa: A short-term visa for individuals to work in highly specialized roles
- Temporary Work (International Relations) visa: A temporary visa for work meant to improve Australia’s international relations.
- Distinguished Talent visa: For individuals with a recognized and exceptional skill to gain permanent residency.
- Business Talent (Permanent) visa: Suitable for those looking to start or expand a business in Australia.
The specific visa, or visas, most relevant to your organization and its employees will depend on your circumstances, so it is important to determine which you will need well in advance of your expansion.
Obtaining work visas for Australia
The process of obtaining a work visa for Australia varies depending on the category. As an employer, it is likely you will be sponsoring employees to work for you, in which case you will need to apply for the visas. For individuals looking for a skilled visa, the individual will need to lodge an application themselves, which can be done online.
Applications can take several weeks to complete, so always start the process in good time to avoid delays to your expansion operation.
Other considerations
When applying for your employees’ work visas for Australia, it is important to take into account any additional considerations such as family members. In some cases where your employees need to bring spouses or dependent children, you will need to apply for different visas or include all the necessary extra information with the application.
Additionally, you should carefully determine whether temporary or permanent visas are best suited to the circumstances of your organization and your employees.
How can Horizons help?
At Horizons, we assist businesses of all kinds with their successful expansion into Australia, and we are experts in helping to obtain working visas for Australia. Our Australia work visa specialists offer reliable advice and tailored outsourcing services to support you through Australia’s complex work visa process as quickly and efficiently as possible. We can ensure that you and your valued employees are fully compliant with Australia’s unique regulations, save you time, and answer any questions you may have.
Additionally, we provide extensive outsourcing services covering recruitment, payroll, HR, administration, and more to help your business start trading in Australia as quickly and effectively as possible, even if you don’t have an established entity in the country.
