Visa & Work Permit advice

In order to work in Australia or New Zealand you need to hold a valid work permit or visa. There are a number of options open to you dependent on your circumstances and long-term plans. This page will give you a brief overview of the most popular visas and sponsorship options that you may want to consider, and list some useful sources of information you can refer to later on.

It is important to remember that some visa and work permit applications take a long time to process. Applications for permanent residency can take anything from 12 months to 2 years, so you’ll need to plan ahead.  Temporary Working Holiday Visas can usually be obtained within 2 weeks to a maximum of 3 months.

Visa and Work Permits for Australia

Visa and Work Permits for New Zealand

Overview of major Visa and Work Permits for Australia

Permanent Residency

Skilled Independent Visa
Employer Nomination Scheme
Partner Visas: De Facto Visa, Prospective Marriage Visa

Temporary Visas

Working Holiday Visa

For general information and to find out if you are eligible, contact:
 
Australian Visa Office,
Australian House,
Strand,
London.
WC2B 4LA 

T:  09065 508 900  - Calls are charged at £1 per minute.

Skilled Independent Visa

Please note the new changes to Skilled Migration criteria – major changes became effective as of September 1 2007. These changes affect the points system under which visas are approved. For a summary of these changes – please visit:
 
http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/changes/qa.htm

Often referred to as the Skilled Migration Visa, the Skilled Independent Visa offers the opportunity to migrate on the basis of your educational background or professional experience. It is targeted at those who will be able to contribute to the Australian economy through the use of their skills.
 
To gain a Skilled Independent Visa you must fulfil a number of basic criteria. The result is based on a points system, where points are gained on the variables such as your occupation, age, English language abilities and work experience. A target of 120 points is the requirement to achieve this status.
 
Upon receiving this visa status you will have achieved permanent residency in Australia. Providing the relevant criteria are met, after a two-year period you may apply for Australian citizenship.
 
Criteria

• Applicants must be under the age of 45.
• Applicants must have sufficient English language skills.
• You must be deemed suitable for the nominated profession by the relevant body.
• Your nominated profession should appear on the Skilled Occupations List.
• You will have worked in paid employment for at least 20 hours per week in this occupation.
• If the occupation you have nominated is worth 60 points, then you will have worked for 12 of the 18 months in that profession.
• If it is worth 40 or 50 points, then the period is extended to two of the three years previous to application.

 
You can also support your application with a number of different factors to increase your number of points.

• Australian employment prior to visa application.
• A successful period of study within Australia previous to application.
• If your skills are considered to be in high demand, increased further by a job offer in this field.
• If your partner meets threshold Skilled Migrant criteria you are able to gain further points.

Employer Nomination Scheme

The Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) allows migration to Australia for permanent, highly-skilled staff from overseas or those temporarily residing there. Australian employers are able to recruit under this scheme when they have been unable to fill a role through the Australian labour market or through their own training scheme. It’s important to bear in mind that whilst in the country you can only work for the employer who originally sponsored you.
 
Initially a three-year fixed period Visa, this can lead to permanent residency.

• You must be under 45 years of age upon application, though exceptions may occur dependent on the role, especially more senior positions.
• You must have sufficient ability in English language.
• You will have skills that are relevant to the position.
• You meet the requirements set by those under the ‘highly skilled person’ definition.
• You fulfil any professional membership, licensing or registration requirements.

De Facto Visa
 
If you are in a permanent unmarried relationship with an Australian citizen, migration is possible through the de facto Visa. Initially lasting for a period of two years, after this period permanent residence can be applied for.

Prospective Marriage Visa

If you are engaged to be married to an Australian resident, permanent non-native resident or an eligible New Zealand passport holder, migration to Australia is possible under the Prospective Marriage Visa. 
 
The Visa is valid for nine months, by which point the marriage will be expected to have occurred, at which point eligibility for the Spouse Visa is available.
 

Working Holiday Visa
 
If you are aged between 18 and 30, you can obtain a Working Holiday Visa (WHV). 
This allows you to stay for up to 12 months in Australia and work in temporary assignments.

This is ideal if you want to make an exploratory visit to Australia and gain some experience within the market, or are travelling and working at the same time.
 
A Working Holiday Visa allows you to work for:

• A single employer for up to six months
• Undertake study or training for up to four months

You are only allowed to work for six months with any one employer and you should not have any dependent children.

People from the following countries can apply:

Belgium, Canada, the Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

You do need to provide evidence that you have sufficient funds for a return fare and evidence (for example, bank statement or savings book) of sufficient funds for the initial stage of your holiday.

Working Holiday Visa holders are also permitted to study or train for up to four months.
You can only be granted a Working Holiday Visa once.

Working Holiday Visas can be obtained by making an application on the Internet, or at Australia House.

For full details on all visas, visit the Australian Immigration website:

http://www.immi.gov.au/immigration.htm

Click here to see the roles we currently have available in Australia

Overview of major Visa & Work Permits – New Zealand

Permanent Residency

Skilled Migrant
Partner Visa

Temporary Visas

Working Holiday

For general information and to find out if you are eligible, contact:

Immigration New Zealand
Mezzanine Floor
NZ House
80 Haymarket
London
SW1Y 4TE
UNITED KINGDOM

09069 100 100 National (calls charged at £1 per minute)

W:  www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/

 
Skilled Migrant

All Skilled Migrant Visa applicants must meet health, character, and English language ability requirements, as well as meeting a minimum points requirement over various categories.

If you have a job offer from a company based in New Zealand alongside the relevant skills and experience, it is possible that you will be eligible under the Skilled Migrant Category.

This is a difficult work permit to obtain and is reliant upon a great deal of experience in a specific field and an offer of employment. The application can be further supported by the fact that the area is one that is suffering a shortage of workers at the time of application.
 
The permit is decided upon via a points system, based on the following criteria.

• Those over the age of 56 are not eligible to apply, and it’s worth bearing in mind that more points are designated to younger people. The most essential aspect of your application is the kind of employment you seek.
• If you have a relevant offer of work in an area in which your experience and qualifications demonstrate that you are skilled, your application will be strengthened.
  
• Your qualifications will be assessed alongside their New Zealand equivalent. If you have studied at any point in New Zealand, this will work in your favour.
• Any work experience gained in New Zealand will help towards your application.
• If you have a Partner who also has a job offer from an employer in New Zealand, this again could help your application.
• Job offers from a region outside of Auckland will also be an advantage when applying.

Partner Visa

This Visa exists to aid those who are looking to join their partners in New Zealand. It is open to those who are married, unmarried, engaged or in same-sex partnerships. If successful you will gain a Long Term Business Visa which means that you will be able to work, self-employed, for three years.
 
Criteria

• Parental consent is required if you are between the ages of 16 and 18.
• You will have been legally married or living together In a close relationship for the past 12 months.
• Basic abilities in English language as well as character and health criteria must also be met.

Working Holiday Visa
 
The Working Holiday Visa is available specifically for younger people who wish to experience another culture, while funding themselves by working in that country. The Visa lasts for one year. On receiving the work permit you have are able to travel to, live and work in New Zealand for 12 months.

• You must be between the ages of 18 and 30.
• You will not be looking to take any dependents on your travels.
• You will not work for any one employer for more than three months.
• Basic abilities in English language as well as character and health criteria must also be met.

Applicants must be from one of the following countries that have exchange program agreements with New Zealand:

Argentina
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Korea
Malaysia
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Singapore
Sweden
Taiwan
Thailand
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay