Our Services

Individual and Family Visas
Skilled Visas
Partner Visas
Parent Visas
Employer Sponsorship and Nomination Visas
Other Visas and services

Corporate Visas
Business Visas
Employer Sponsorship and Nomination
Skilled Visas
The Skilled stream of the Migration Program is designed to attract migrants who make a significant contribution to the Australian economy and fill positions where no Australian workers are available.
General Skilled Migration is a program that allows skilled people to migrate and work in Australia temporarily or permanently.
This visa program is point tested, which means applicants must satisfy the minimum point requirement (currently – 65 Points).
Skilled applicants can apply for this skilled migration visa program by independent, state/territory sponsorship, or eligible relative’s sponsorship.
Skilled workers around the world whose occupation and education are registered in the skilled occupation list are welcomed to apply for this visa program.
General Skilled Migration program has two different visa subclasses at a national level and one visa subclass at the regional area level. These visa subclasses have different criteria and requirements.
Permanent skilled migration visa (PR)
There are two options in this visa category
- Skilled Independent Visa Subclass189
- Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190
The Requirements to applying for a 189 or 190 visa is:
- be at least 18 and under 45 years of age
- pass a skills assessment for an occupation listed on the relevant skilled occupation list
- meet English language, health and character requirements
- achieve the pass mark set for the skilled migration points test – currently set at 65 for these visas
- lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect database and wait for an invitation to apply for a skilled Visa. *
- upon invitation lodge your application within 60 days
*Note that to apply for Skilled Nominated Visa Subclass 190 you will need to be nominated by a State or Territory as a suitable candidate for an occupation listed on the Skilled Occupations List and meet the state requirements.
Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa Subclass 491
This is a 5-year temporary visa for people who are prepared to live and work in regional areas. All of the previous criteria apply to this visa.
However, it is also possible to be sponsored by a relative who lives in the regional area where you are applying.
Pathway to PR – Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa Subclass 191
Holders of a subclass 491 Visa that has lived and worked in a designated Regional area and have had a taxable income at or above a specific Threshold (currently set at $53,900) for at least three years will be eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence Skilled Regional Visa Subclass 191.
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Partner Visas
The Partner Visa can be an option for eligible partners who are married to or in a de-facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
There are two stages in the application for a Partner Visa. The temporary stage and permanent stage.
In most cases the applicant will be granted a temporary visa to come and/or remain in Australia until the applicant is eligible to submit a further application for a Permanent Partner Visa, usually, two years after the lodgement of the first stage of the partner visa application.
In some circumstances, a Permanent Partner Visa can be granted at the same time as the temporary Visa without having to meet the two years relationship requirement.
There are two options for temporary partner visas
Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 309)
This is a visa for an eligible partner who is not living in Australia at the time of the application. Once the visa is granted, the partner/visa holder can come to Australia on a temporary Partner visa. A second stage visa application will be required for the permanent Partner Visa (subclass 100), usually, two years after the lodgement date of your Temporary Partner Visa Application (subclass 309).
Temporary Partner Visa (Subclass 820)
This is a visa for an eligible partner who is in Australia at the time of application. Once the temporary visa (subclass 820) is granted, the partner/visa holder can submit a further application for a Partner Visa subclass 801 (Permanent Residency), usually, two year after the lodgement of your subclass 820 Visa Application.
Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300)
This temporary visa lets you come to Australia to marry your prospective spouse in Australia and then apply for a Partner visa in Australia leading to permanent residence.Â
New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa (Subclass 461)
This is a temporary visa for Partners and family members of New Zealand Citizens who are not “eligible” New Zealand Citizens. Once this visa is granted you can live, work and study in Australia for 5 years. You can apply for a further Subclass 461 if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Book Your Initial Migration Consultation
Parent Visas
Permanent Visa Options for Parents
Parent visas are designed to allow Australian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents to come to Australia to live permanently.
There are two kinds of parent visas – Contributory and non-contributory.
The contributory parent visa involves paying a very high visa application charge, designed to compensate the Australian Government for health care costs associated with the elderly.
The non-contributory parent visa has a relatively much lower application charge, however, the processing times for this visa are extremely long.
There are other criteria such as the balance of family test and health criteria that must be satisfied to be eligible for a parent visa.
Parent Visa (Subclass 103) – Non- Contributory. This option in most cases is practically not applicable as the estimated processing time for this visa today is about 30 years. As the application can only be made outside Australia, the applicant is unable to come and stay in Australia until visa approval, in other words, for at least 30 years.
Aged Parent visa (Subclass 804) – Non- Contributory. This visa can be lodged while applicants are in Australia. The applicants for this visa will be granted a Bridging Visa and they can remain in Australia waiting for the visa outcome.The disadvantage of this visa is that the estimate processing time for this visa is about 30 years and while on a Bridging Visa, the applicant is not entitled to Medicare, therefore, liable for any healthcare cost.
Contributory Parent Visa (Subclass 143). This option is for applicants that can afford to make a monetary contribution of $43,600 per parent prior to visa approval which can speed up the processing time to around 5 years.
Contributory Aged Parent Visa (Subclass 864). This option is for applicants that can afford to make a monetary contribution of $43,600 per parent prior to visa approval which can speed up the processing time to around 5 years.This visa allows applicants to lodge their applications in Australia and be granted a Bridging Visa, so they can remain here while the application is being processed.
The main requirement for an Aged Parent Visa is that the applicant is eligible for an Age Pension in Australia.
Another important requirement is that a parent meet the balance of family test if at least half of their children (including step-children) or more are living in Australia as permanent residents or citizens.
Temporary Visa Options for Parents
Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa – Subclass 870
This is a long-term temporary visa option that lets a parent of an Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident or eligible New Zealand citizen visit Australia for up to 3 or 5 consecutive years, with a maximum 10-year cumulative stay in Australia permitted as a subclass 870 visa holder.
For a further Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa, the applicant must be outside Australia for at least 90 days before being eligible to be granted another subclass 870 visa.
This visa requires sponsorship by an Australian child and this child has to meet some requirements to be able to sponsor their parents. See below some of the sponsorship requirements:
- at least 18 years old;
- the biological, adoptive, or stepchild of the parent (the child’s spouse or de facto partner can also sponsor, provided they too are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen);
- be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen, and not be an ineligible sponsor;
- only sponsor two parents at any one time;
- have a minimum household taxable income threshold of $83,454.80; *
- Be resident in Australia for at least 4 years
* Note that the income threshold can also be a combined income with the sponsor’ spouse or another child of the visa applicant.
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Employer Sponsorship and Nomination Visas
Temporary Skill Shortage(TSS) Visa (subclass 482)
This temporary Visa gives you full work rights for you to work for a sponsor employer for up to 4 years. Applications for this visa can be done outside or inside Australia.
For occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skill List (MLTSSL) the applicant may be eligible to apply for a Permanent Visa 186 (Temporary Residence Transition Stream once completing 3 years of paid employment for the same sponsoring employer.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
There are three pathways under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
The Temporary Residence Transition Stream is an option for applicants who have:
- worked with the employer on a 482 or TSS visa for the last 3 years
- an English level equivalent to IELTS 6
- is under 45 years of age
The Direct Entry Stream is an option for applicants who can:
- provide a formal skills assessment in their occupation
- show that they have worked in their occupation for three years
- have an English level equivalent to IELTS 6
- is under 45 years of age
The Agreement Stream is an option where the employer has a labour agreement. Labour agreements are negotiated with the Department of Immigration to fill specific skills shortages.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa ( subclass 494)
This visa is for skilled workers who want to work in regional Australia to fulfill skills shortages. A successful applicant must work in the approved position for three years to be able to apply for Permanent Residence ( Regional) visa (subclass 191). It is possible to qualify for this scheme with at least three years prior work experience and positive skill assessment.
The conditions differ for regional Australia and employers sponsoring visa applicants in the regions can:
- qualify with lower skill levels
- sponsor an occupation listed in MLTSSL or ROL
Aside from these variations, the process and pathways for this applications are similar to the SC 482 and SC 186 in regards to the Nomination and Visa Application, however the first and most critical step for SC 494 is applying to Standard Business Sponsorship and the Regional Development Authority, a successful RDA application means the region has approved the need for the position. Regional Development Authorities criteria can be complex.
Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state or territory authority. It provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program. DAMAs operate under an agreement-based framework, providing flexibility for regions to respond to their unique economic and labour market conditions.
DAMA is employer sponsored program and individuals need to have a sponsor/employer to apply for 482 labor agreement visa. Currently, there are seven DAMAs in place:
- Northern Territory: Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement
- The Goldfields, WA: City of Kalgoorlie Boulder
- Great South Coast, VIC: Warrnambool City Council
- Adelaide City and Regional SA: Immigration South Australia
- Orana, NSW: Regional Development Australia – Orana, NSW
- Far North Queensland: Cairns Chamber of Commerce DAMA – Cairns Chamber of Commerce, FNQ
Book Your Initial Migration Consultation
Other Visas and Services
Global Talent Visa
This visa is for highly skilled professionals to work and live permanently in Australia.
Australia wants the brightest and best global talent to work in ten future-focused sectors. The program is designed to support the economy by introducing innovative skills to high priority industries.
Australia offers opportunities for innovation as it has strong trading links and a business-friendly regulatory approach.
The program will grant talented individuals permanent residency to make their new lives in Australia.
In 2021-2022, there are 15,000 places available under the program.
Book Your Initial Migration Consultation
MIGRATION STRATEGY PLAN
Migration Strategy Plan
During my years working as a Registered Migration Agent I have seen many clients trying to take shortcuts because they have been misguided about their pathway to becoming a permanent resident (PR).
All too often they have not been provided with a complete picture of all their options and as a result, end up making impulsive decisions that serve them in the short term but the long run ends up costing them stress, time, money, and the possibility of losing their dream.
Here are four reasons why a Migration Strategy Plan is critical to achieving PR.
- Without understanding where you are going, you cannot reach your destination. Our migration strategy plan provides a comprehensive overview of your entire pathway to achieving PR.
- If you come up against an obstacle, you will know what next step to take. There may be times when Australian migration laws and policies change which can impact your pathway and so we provide several options for your consideration. This will help you avoid making rash decisions and instead assist you in maintaining confidence along your pathway to PR.
- The path to achieving PR can be complicated and confusing. Our goal is to simplify this process and make the pathway crystal clear based on your unique circumstances.
- There is no “one size fits all” approach. We tailor each migration strategy to your unique circumstances. The journey to achieving PR can at times feel distant and impersonal. At Visaroos we bring the human side to an impersonal and sometimes complex process. We have been in your shoes and understand the gravity of this life altering decision.
In the long run, having a personalised migration strategy plan will save you stress, confusion, time, and money.
Book Your Initial Migration Consultation
SKILLS ASSESSMENT
Skills Assessment
 A skills assessment is a document issued by the relevant skills assessing authority in Australia in which the applicant’s education and/or work experience (skills) are assessed against Australian standards for each particular occupation.
You may need to have your skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority to be eligible to apply for one of the below visas:
- 189 Visa (Skilled Independent)
- 190 Visa (Skilled Nominated)
- 491 Visa (Skilled Regional – Provisional)
- 186 Visa (Employer Nomination Scheme Direct Entry)
- 482 Visa (Temporary Skill Shortage) – only for specific required occupations
- 494 Visa (Employer Sponsored – Provisional)
Whether you wish to apply for a skilled permanent visa, a skilled temporary graduate visa or (some) employer sponsored visas, you will most definitely require a positive skills assessment for your visa application to be successful.
Preparing a skills assessment application is often a complex process on its own. Preparation and planning are ESSENTIAL for a positive outcome. In our experience, having a skills assessment application ready to be lodged requires knowledge of the process and careful consideration.
Getting this wrong could ruin your one chance at permanent residence in Australia. Do not leave it to chance—use the services of a registered migration agent who knows exactly what they are doing.
Book Your Initial Migration Consultation
CITIZENSHIP
Citizenship
Once you become a Permanent Resident the next step may be to become an Australian Citizen. The general requirements for Australian Citizenship are:
- Permanent resident status for 1 year and have lived in Australia for at least 9 out 12months within the year
- Lived continuously and legally in Australia for the past 4 years
- Be physically present in Australia and must have not been absent for more than 12 months in total in the last 4 years
- Meet the good moral character requirement
You can become a citizen of Australia in different ways.
- Person 60 years or over
- Permanent residents or New Zealand citizens
- Your parent was an Australian citizen when you were born overseas
- Child 15 years or younger applying on their own
- Born to a former Australian citizen
- Child adopted under Full Hague Adoption Convention/bilateral agreement by Australian citizen
Person born in Papua before independence in 1975 - Become an Australian again
- Born in Australia and are stateless
We have successfully assisted many people to apply for citizenship and we know what pitfalls to avoid and what documents are necessary. This ensures your chances of a positive outcome without delays.
Student Visa – Subclass 500
Student Visa – Subclass 500
We support hundreds of students to choose the best visa options to meet their academic goals and secure fulfilling careers and permanent residency upon graduation.
Applying for the visa that matches your proposed study plan can be complex. We can support you with a study package and visa strategy that is aligned with your migration goals.
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Graduate Visas – Subclass 485
Graduate Visas – Subclass 485
Graduate Temporary Subclass 485 Visa
This visa gives you full work rights in Australia for between 18 months and 2 years, with possibility of extension for the 485Â Post-Study Work stream. You can use this time to meet the requirements for certain visas such as accumulate work experience for you to qualify and find an employer sponsor for the 482 Visa or to complete the requirements for the skilled migration program.
This visa has two streams:
The Graduate Work stream is designed for recent graduates with skills and qualifications in high-demand occupations in the Australian labour market, specifically for occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skill List (MLTSSL)
The Post-Study Work stream is for people who were granted their first Australian student visa on or after 5 November 2011. It applies to recent graduates with an Australian bachelor, master’s, or doctoral degree in any field of study.
Book Your Initial Migration Consultation
Business Visas
Australia offers a range of visa options for business owners or investors and their senior managerial employees. You may be eligible to apply under different business migration categories.
During your Business Migration consult, we will discuss visa categories available and select the most suitable option for you and the business.
Temporary Business Visa Categories
Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) visa (subclass 188)
This visa is for people who wish to own and manage a new or existing business in Australia, or to invest in Australia.
You must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect and be nominated by a state or territory government or Austrade on behalf of the Australian government before being invited to apply for this visa.
The visa includes four streams:
- Business Innovation stream:
For people with business skills who want to establish, develop and manage a new or existing business in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government.
- Investor stream:
For people who want to make a designated investment of at least AUD1.5 million in an Australian state or territory and maintain business and investment activity in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by a state or territory government.
- Significant Investor stream:
For people who are willing to invest at least AUD 5 million into complying with significant investments in Australia and want to maintain business and investment activity in Australia. Applicants can be nominated by a state or territory government or Austrade on behalf of the Australian government.
- Premium Investor stream:
For people who are willing to invest at least AUD15 million into complying with premium investments in Australia and want to maintain business and investment activity in Australia. Applicants must be nominated by Austrade on behalf of the Australian government.
Holding this visa is the first stage before becoming eligible to qualify for a Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888). You can apply for permanent residence, once you have proved that you meet the minimum criteria for business investment or turnover.
Permanent Business Visa Categories
Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888)
This visa allows you to:
- continue to own and manage a business in Australia (the Business Innovation stream)
- continue business and investment activity in Australia (the Investor stream, the Significant Investor stream and the Premium Investor stream).
Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132)
This visa allows you to establish a new or develop an existing business in Australia. It has two streams:
- Significant Business History stream: for high-calibre business owners or part-owners who want to do business in Australia
- Venture Capital Entrepreneur stream: for people who have sourced venture capital funding from a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL).
Book Your Initial Migration Consultation
Employer Sponsorship and Nomination
In today’s market, many businesses are seeing how overseas talent can offer a sustainable solution to skills shortages. Australian employers rely on skilled overseas talent to bridge local skills gaps. At
Visaroos, we understand that leveraging international talent demands careful navigation.
As your trusted registered migration agents, we thrive on executing a well-thought-out and meticulous visa strategy to maximise your employees’ chances of visa success, leading to your organisation leveraging overseas talent.
As an Australian boutique agency, we work in collaboration with organisations to leverage the benefits of overseas talent by making the visa process seamless. As we say at Visaroos,”Migration is not a problem, it’s a process”.
Temporary Skill Shortage(TSS) Visa (subclass 482)
This temporary Visa gives the employee (applicant) full work rights to work for a sponsor employer for up to 4 years. Applications for this visa can be done outside or inside Australia.
For occupations on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skill List (MLTSSL), the applicant may be eligible to apply for a Permanent Visa 186 (Temporary Residence Transition Stream once completing 3 years of paid employment for the same sponsoring employer.
Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
There are three pathways under the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
The Temporary Residence Transition Stream is an option for applicants who have:
- worked with the employer on a 482 or TSS visa for the last 3 years
- an English level equivalent to IELTS 6
- is under 45 years of age
 The Direct Entry Stream is an option for applicants who can:
- provide a formal skills assessment in their occupation
- show that they have worked in their occupation for three years
- have an English level equivalent to IELTS 6
- is under 45 years of age
The Agreement Stream is an option where the employer has a labour agreement. Labour agreements are negotiated with the Department of Immigration to fill specific skills shortages.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa ( subclass 494)
This visa is for skilled workers who want to work in regional Australia to fulfill skills shortages. A successful applicant must work in the approved position for three years to be able to apply for Permanent Residence ( Regional) visa (subclass 191). It is possible to qualify for this scheme with at least three years prior work experience and positive skill assessment.
The conditions differ for regional Australia and employers sponsoring visa applicants in the regions can:
- qualify with lower skill levels
- sponsor an occupation listed in MLTSSL or ROL
Aside from these variations, the process and pathways for this applications are similar to the SC 482 and SC 186 in regards to the Nomination and Visa Application, however the first and most critical step for SC 494 is applying to Standard Business Sponsorship and the Regional Development Authority, a successful RDA application means the region has approved the need for the position. Regional Development Authorities criteria can be complex.
Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state or territory authority. It provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program. DAMAs operate under an agreement-based framework, providing flexibility for regions to respond to their unique economic and labour market conditions.
DAMA is employer sponsored program and individuals need to have a sponsor/employer to apply for 482 labour agreement visa. Currently, there are seven DAMAs in place:
- Northern Territory: Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement
- The Goldfields, WA: City of Kalgoorlie Boulder
- Great South Coast, VIC: Warrnambool City Council
- Adelaide City and Regional SA: Immigration South Australia
- Orana, NSW: Regional Development Australia – Orana, NSW
- Far North Queensland: Cairns Chamber of Commerce DAMA – Cairns Chamber of Commerce, FNQ