If you are planning a trip to Australia then getting the right travel visa is your essential first step. All visitors to Australia need a valid visa. The only exception to this is if you are a citizen of New Zealand.

Which Visa is Right For You?

The most popular visa is the 3 month tourist visa. This allows you to travel around Australia for a maximum of 3 months. Getting this visa is relatively straight forward. You just need to go on line and submit your application. Your visa is usually accepted within 48 hours. The current cost is approx $110 AUD and everyone can apply for this visa, unless you have criminal convictions.[1:4:J]

If you would rather stay longer, you can apply for a tourist visa for a longer period. There are visas for 6 months and 12 months. Equally you could apply to immigration and extend your 3 month visa. Be careful with this option. If you are turned down for an extension, you will be expected to leave after the 3 months is up.

If you are 30 or under then a great option is the Working Holiday Visa or Work and Holiday Visa. Most countries are eligible but you must check to ensure your country is part of the scheme. This visa entitles you to travel around Australia for 12 months. It also permits you to work to fuel your travel. There are a few restrictions (e.g. you can’t work longer than 3 months for one employer) but generally this is an excellent option for those wanting to experience the best of Australia.

This visa costs approx $240 AUD. You can apply on line and your application is usually processed in less than 2 days. When you arrive in Australia, you will be asked to go to a desk to have your visa added to your passport.

If you are 30 and would like to travel when you are 31, I think this is still possible providing that you apply for the visa when you are still 30. Check the immigration website for more details.

Generally, it’s really hard to enter Australia if you are over 30 and want to work in Australia At this point, I would recommend getting some advice from an Australian Immigration Lawyer. This is because there are lots of visas available and the rules change regularly.

Staying for Longer

If you do intend to stay more permanently in Australia then there are a couple of options. You can apply for Permanent Residency through the points system (175 Visa) Here you need 120 points to qualify. You earn points for your English proficiency, your skill and any Australian work experience you may have. The more that a job is in demand, the higher the points you can get, making it easier to enter the country. Another option is to find a business to sponsor you (457 Visa) This gives you 4 years in the country with that one employer.

Don’t give up! If you really want to live and work in Australia then you will find a way. My advice however is to expect it to take quite some time - years rather than months. The paperwork is also long and due to the current World Recession, immigration in Australia is running particularly slowly.

Tags: Travel Tips

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