<< terug / back

Immigratie in Australië

Immigration in Australia

 

terug naar boven

Who can apply

Introduction

Family (external link)

Economic immigrants

General criteria

Introduction  (link)

The information on this website is updated periodically, but for full details and the latest updates, check the Australian immigration website.

The annual  number of immigrants in Australia (see link):

  • year 2006 -2007: 140 100
  • year 2007-2008: 149 400
  • year 2008-2009: 158 021
  • year 2009-2010: 168 700 (planned)

Breakdown in immigrant categories:

  • 60% economic immigrants ("business")
  • 30% family class immigrants
  • 10% refugees

back to top

1. Economic immigrants

This category includes skilled workers and people with business skills or outstanding talents.

(a) Skilled Workers  (link)

Applicants in this category must:

  • be highly skilled
  • be under 45 years of age
  • have a sufficient level of English-language ability
  • make a contribution to the Australian economy (refer to the Skilled Occupation List)
  • have relevant paid work experience for a certain amount of time  

There is a points system, and eligible applicants must score at least 120 points on 10 criteria. The applicant must gain sufficient points on the day he/she lodges the application. The pass mark changes from time to time. Check the website for the current pass mark. Applications which achieve a score below the pass mark (but above another mark, known as the 'pool mark') will be held in reserve for up to 2 years after the time of assessment. If the pass mark is lowered at any time in that 2-year period, and the applicant's score is equal to, or higher than, the new pass mark, the application will be processed further. For a self-assessment test, the applicant can download a booklet issued by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (= DIMIA) here.

SKILLED WORKERS POINTS SYSTEM

1. Skills

(max. 60 points)

60 points: the applicant has a qualification (such as a degree or trade certificate) and work experience which meets the relevant Australian standards and which is specifically related to the applicant's nominated occupation.

50 Points: the applicant has a qualification equivalent to an Australian bachelor's degree or higher professional qualification, which needs not be specifically related to the applicant's nominated occupation.

40 points: the applicant has a qualification equivalent to an Australian diploma or advanced diploma, which needs not be specifically related to the applicant's nominated occupation.

2. Age

(max. 30 points)

30 points: 18-29 years

25 points: 30-34 years

20 points: 35-39 years

15 points: 40-44 years

3. English language ability

(max. 20 points)

20 points for "Competent English", i.e. the applicant is a native English speaker, or the applicant has a minimum score of 6 on each of the language abilities (reading, writing, speaking, listening) in the International English Language Testing System test ( = IELTS test).

15 points for "Vocational English", i.e. the applicant has been at a post-secondary school where all instruction was in English, or if the applicant has a minimum score of 5 on each of the abilities in the IELTS test.

0 points for "Functional English", i.e. the applicant's English is of a lower level than above but is still regarded as sufficient for a particular occupation (in a designated area). Minimum score on the IELTS test is on each of the abilities.

4. Specific work experience

(max. 10 points)

10 points: the applicant has scored 60 points under "skills" above, and has at least 3 years of specific experience in the nominated occupation in the four years immediately before the date of application.

5 points: the applicant has at least 3 years of specific experience in any occupation listed on the Skilled Occupations List in the four years immediately before the date of application.

5. Occupation in Demand / Job Offer

(max. 20 points)

20 points: the applicant has a job offer for full-time employment in a nominated occupation that is on the "Migration Occupations in Demand List" (= MODL).

15 points: the applicant's nominated occupation is on the MODL but does not have a job offer.

6. Australian qualifications

(max. 15 points)

15, 10, or5 points for an Australian post-secondary qualification (diploma, trade qualification, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or a doctorate) that was obtained while present in Australia (where all instruction was in English).

7. Regional Australia

(5 points)

5 points: the applicant has lived and studied for at least 2 years in regional Australia (i.e. outside the cities) or in low population growth metropolitan areas.

8. Spouse skills

(5 points)

the applicant's spouse, too, satisfies the basic requirements of age, English language ability, qualification, nominated occupation and recent work experience, and has obtained a suitable skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority for his/her nominated occupation.

9. Relationship

(max. 15 points)

15 points: the applicant or the applicant's spouse is related to an Australian citizen (non-dependent child, parent, brother, sister, niece or nephew) who is willing to sponsor the applicant.

10. Bonus points

(5 points)

the applicant has invested at least AUD 100,000 in an approved government investment for a term of at least 12 months,

and/or the applicant has Australian work experience in a skilled occupation from the Skilled Occupations List for at least 6 months in the 48 months immediately before the day on which the application was made (while holding a substantive visa authorizing the applicant to work),

and/or the applicant is fluent in one of Australia's community languages (other than English).

back to top

(b) employer-sponsored workers ("business category")  (link)

There are four categories of applicants who are sponsored by their employer:

  • the highly skilled applicant sponsored by an Australian employer unable to fill a vacancy from within the Australian labour market (= Employer Nomination Scheme)
  • the applicant sponsored by an employer in regional or low population growth areas of Australia who is unable to fill a vacancy from within the Australian labour market (= Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme).
  • the applicant sponsored by an Australian employer in the event of an existing or emerging shortage in the Australian labour market (= Labour Agreements).
  • the applicant with manegerial or specialist skills sponsored by an international company choosing Australia as a location for investment (= Invest Australia Support Skills).

back to top

(c) business owner (link)

The (sponsored or unsponsored) applicant must have operated a business in Australia successfully for at least two years and still hold a valid Provisional Business Skills visa (the application has to be made in Australia). A (government) sponsored applicant will be judged by lower criteria than an unsponsored applicant. In order to first obtain the Provisional Business Skills visa, the applicant must meet a number of criteria, such as:

  • successful business career
  • specific ownership interest in the business
  • specific minimum amount of net assets
  • significant annual turnover
  • involvement in the management of the business
  • commitment to maintain an ownership interest in and remain involved in management
  • no history of unacceptable business activities
  • employment of (an) Australian citizen(s) or permanent resident(s)
  • specific maximum age (typically under 45 if unsponsored, and under 55 if sponsored)
  • Vocational English language ability (refer to definition above)

back to top

d) investors (link)

The applicant must be willing to maintain a significant investment in Australia for 4 years. The applicant can obtain a Permanent Investor visa when he/she has been in Australia on a Provisional Investor visa for at least 2 in the last 4 years. In order first to obtain the Provisional Investor visa the applicant must meet  a number of criteria, such as:

  • successful record of business or investment management
  • specific minimum amount of net assets
  • no history of unacceptable business activities
  • specific maximum age (typically under 45 if unsponsored, and under 55 if sponsored)
  • Vocational English language ability (refer to definition above)

back to top

(e) business talents (link)

The applicant must be a high-calibre business person.

The criteria include:

  • sponsorship by Australian State or Territory government
  • successful business career
  • specific minimum amount of net assets
  • significant annual turnover
  • involvement in the management of the business
  • commitment to maintain an ownership interest in and remain involved in management
  • no history of unacceptable business activities
  • specific maximum age (typically under 55)

back to top

(f) established business in Australia category  (link)

Requirements include:

  • the applicant needs to have been in Australia (on a temporary visa) for at least 9 months in the 12 months before the date of application.
  • the applicant needs to have had at least a 10% interest in an Australian business for at least 18 months before the date of application.
  • the applicant's total net assets in Australia are at least AUD 250,000 (in the 12 months before the date of application).
  • the applicant's total net assets in an Australian business are at least AUD100,000 (in the 12 months before the date of application).
  • applicants must score at least 105 points in a points system with the following 4 criteria:
ESTABLISHED BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA TEST

1. Age

(max. 30 points)

20 points: 20-29 years old

30 points: 30-44 years old

25 points: 45-49 years old

10 points: 50-54 years old

0 points: under 20 or over 55 years old

2. Language

(max. 30 points)

30 points: better than functional English

20 points: functional English

10 points: bilingual in non-English languages

10 points: limited English

0 points: no English

3. Business attributes

(60 points)

60 points: for 1 year prior to application, the applicant's business(es) employed at least 3 full-time Australian permanent residents (not family),

and had a minumum annual turnover of AUD 200,000, or exports of at least AUD 100,000 a year.

4. Net assets

(max. 15 points)

15 points: at least AUD 2,500,000

10 points: at least AUD 1,500,000

5 points: at least AUD 500,000

0 points: less than AUD 500,000

back to top

(h) regional established business in Australia category (link)

Requirements include:

  • the applicant needs to have has at least a 10% ownership interest in a main business in a designated area in Australia for at least 2 years immediately before the year of application.
  • the applicant's total net assets in Australia are at least AUD 200,000
  • the applicant's net assets in business in Australia are at least AUD 75,000.
  • the applicant has a turnover of at least AUD 200,000, or exports of at least AUD 100,000.
  • the applicant has employed at least 2 full-time employees for a 2-year period.
  • eligible applicants must score at least 105 points in a points system with the following 5 criteria:
REGIONAL ESTABLISHED BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA TEST

1. Age

(max. 30 points)

20 points: 20-29 years old

30 points: 30-44 years old

25 points: 45-49 years old

10 points: 50-54 years old

0 points: under 20 or over 55 years old

2. Language

(max. 30 points)

30 points: better than functional English

20 points: functional English

10 points: bilingual in non-English languages

10 points: limited English

0 points: no English

3. Business attributes

(max. 60 points)

60 points: for 2 years prior to application, the applicant's business(es) employed at least 3 full-time Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens (not family).

40 points: for 2 years prior to application, the applicant's business(es) employed at least 2 full-time Australian permanent residents or eligible New Zealand citizens (not family).

4. Net assets

(max. 15 points)

15 points: at least AUD 2,500,000

10 points: at least AUD 1,500,000

5 points: at least AUD 500,000

0 points: less than AUD 500,000

5. Sponsorship

(15 points)

the applicant is sponsored by an authorized Australian business development agency.

 

All applicants also have to meet the following requirements:

  1. the financial requirement: enough money for the maintenance of the applicant and his dependants during the first two years in Australia. For this, the applicant will have to sign a so-called Assurance of Support.
  2. a medical examination, including an HIV-test and an X-ray
  3. a recent certificate of good conduct

back to top

© november 2009 © November 2009

<< terug / back

menu hier