Helping you call Australia home

This article is also available in Spanish. The Subclass 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa is a fantastic visa option for many people. It’s affordable, generally processed quickly, and allows the holder to live and work full-time in Australia. Even better, you can keep renewing the 461 visa as long as you are either in a relationship with a New Zealand citizen—or not in a relationship at all. But here’s the important part: the 461 visa is a temporary visa. And w

This article is also available in Spanish. If you’re working in Australia as a diver and would like to stay long-term, one of the possible options is to be sponsored by your employer. Fortunately, recent changes have made this pathway more accessible for divers. Important update: Diver added to Core Skills Occupation List As of December 2024, the occupation Diver (ANZSCO Code 399911) has been added to the Core Skills Occupation List. This is a significant change it means that

This article is also available in Spanish. If you’re working in Australia as a cabinet maker and would like to stay long-term, a good option is to be sponsored by your employer. Fortunately, cabinet maker is on the skilled occupation list in Australia, which makes employer sponsorship a viable pathway to remain in the country. Cabinet maker is on the Core Skills Occupation List The occupation Cabinet Maker (ANZSCO Code 394111) is included on the Core Skills Occupation List. T

This article is also available in Spanish. Every year on 1 July, the government increases visa application fees, and also increases the income threshold for nominees of employer sponsored visas. Planning ahead can help save costs. What is the income threshold? When a business wants to sponsor someone for a visa, one of the key requirements is that the salary offered must meet or exceed a minimum income threshold. In some cases, applicants will need to be paid even more than

This article is also available in Spanish. Applying for a Protection Visa (subclass 866) in Australia is one of the most important and life-changing decisions you can make. Whether you are fleeing persecution, violence, or serious harm, this visa offers you a chance to find safety and security. It is a humanitarian visa for refugees. However, the process of applying can be complex, emotional, and overwhelming. That’s why getting professional legal help is not just a good ide

This article is also available in Spanish. One of the best pathways to permanent residency in Australia is securing an employer-sponsored visa. However, finding an employer willing to sponsor you can be challenging. If you do manage to secure a sponsor, it can significantly increase your chances of staying in Australia long-term. Here’s how you can improve your chances of finding an employer sponsor: 1. Be in Australia if Possible Being physically in Australia can make it muc

This article is also available in Spanish. Migrating permanently to Australia is an exciting goal, but it requires careful planning and flexibility. Immigration laws change frequently, and unexpected obstacles can arise during the visa process. That’s why having a Plan B—and even a Plan C—is crucial to ensuring you have multiple pathways to achieve your dream of staying in Australia. 1. Apply for more than one visa Many people focus on a single visa application, but in some c

This article is also available in Spanish. Health requirements for visa applicants Most visa applicants must meet certain health requirements to be granted a visa. If there is a health requirement, the applicant will need to do a medical exam, as requested by the Department of Home Affairs. A visa may be refused if an applicant has a medical condition that is considered to cause a "significant cost" to Australia's healthcare or community services. Conditions that may lead t

This article is also available in Spanish. If you are in Australia and have you have had a visa refused (for example a student visa), you may still be able to apply for an onshore partner visa. Applying for a subclass 820 Partner Visa after a visa refusal can be challenging, but with careful preparation and compliance with requirements, you can increase your chances of success. Here’s what you need to know. Key Requirements for Reapplying 1. Complete the Sponsorship Form on t

This article is also available in Spanish. If you’ve been living in Australia on a bridging visa, or without a valid visa, having been unlawful for a period of time, you might still have options to apply for a Subclass 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa. This is where Schedule 3 criteria come into play. Understanding these requirements is essential if you find yourself in this situation. What Is Schedule 3? Schedule 3 of the Migration Regulations 1994 applies to

This article is also available in Spanish. If your relationship with your New Zealand (Kiwi) partner has ended in separation or divorce, you may still be eligible to apply for another Subclass 461 New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship Visa to stay in Australia. However, there are important conditions you must meet. Key Eligibility Requirements 1. No New De Facto or Married Relationship To qualify for another Subclass 461 visa after your breakup, you must not have entered in

This article is also available in Spanish. When applying for an Australian visa, one of the key requirements you may need to meet is passing a health examination. Whether or not you need a medical test depends on the type of visa you are applying for and your individual circumstances. Who Needs to Do a Health Exam? The following applicants are required to undergo a health examination: Permanent and provisional visa applicants – If you are applying for a permanent or provision

This article is also available in Spanish. Unlike many other visas, the subclass 444 Special Category Visa for New Zealand citizens does not have the Public Interest Criterion PIC4005 or PIC4007 health requirement. This means that in order to be granted their visas New Zealand citizens do not need to undertake a health exam. Therefore Kiwis with significant health issues and disabilities are able to live in Australia without having to provide any further evidence about thei

This article is also available in spanish. Australia places a strong emphasis on public health and safety, which is reflected in its visa requirements. While health examinations are mandatory for some temporary and all permanent visa applicants, vaccination requirements are less extensive. Here’s what you need to know about the health and vaccination policies for visa applicants. Vaccination Requirements: Polio Vaccine Australia does not generally require visa applicants to p

Navigating the rules around Australian citizenship for children can be complex. Here’s a breakdown of key scenarios to help clarify who...

This article is also available in Spanish. You should get your Australian citizenship so that your visa cannot be cancelled; you can travel overseas more easily; and you have the right to vote. Becoming an Australian citizen is a significant milestone for many migrants. It not only solidifies your connection to Australia but also opens the door to numerous privileges and rights. If you’re considering taking this step, here are some key benefits of Australian citizenship that

This article is also available in Spanish. NZ citizens who arrive in Australia are given a subclass 444 Special Category Visa at the airport. Although this visa is temporary it allows holders to stay in Australia indefinitely. A child born in Australia after 1 July 2022 to a subclass 444 holder will be Australian. This means they only need to apply for evidence of Australian citizenship, as they are born Australian. If you were born in Australia between 1 September 1994 and 2

Despite my previous blog post and the strengthening sponsorship and nomination processes bill not being passed, the Department of Home Affairs has announced that the new Skills in Demand visa, will in fact replace the Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) visa on Saturday 7 December 2024. You can see the announcement here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/news-media/archive/article?itemId=1269 The exact details of this change have not yet been announced, however the much ant

This article is also available in Spanish. Despite Australia's close relationship NZ citizens are not automatically given Australian citizenship. However on 1 July 2022 the laws were changed to make it easier for NZ citizens to get Australian citizenship. Now, NZ citizens do not need to apply for a permanent visa in order to get Australian citizenship. Instead, NZ citizens can apply for Australian citizenship after they have lived in Australia for 4 years. Mandeville Migratio

This article is also available in Spanish. Becoming an Australian citizen is a significant milestone, but before you embark on the journey to citizenship, one important factor to consider is dual citizenship. Here’s everything you need to know about maintaining multiple citizenships and what it means for your future in Australia. What Is Dual Citizenship? Dual citizenship allows a person to be a citizen of two (or sometimes more) countries simultaneously. It means you can ret