Initially this type of visa is issued for two years, after that time if your relationship is still genuine and continuing your application will be re-assessed and you may be eligible for permanent residence.  During the temporary period, you are permitted to live and work in Australia.

The process time is usually five – six months.

In some circumstances, such as a long term spousal relationship or having children, Australian Immigration may decide to give you a permanent visa from day one, without the need for the two year temporary period.  This will be at the discretion of Immigration.

To support your application you will be asked to provide documentation evidencing your relationship, including marriage certificate and witness statements.

The prospective marriage visa must be applied for offshore and at the time that visa is finalized,  you will need to be outside of Australia.

The process time is usually 5 – 6 months.

You will be asked to supply supporting documents such as evidence of your intention to marry your partner within 9 months of your visa being approved, have met each other in person, etc.

This visa will be valid for a 9 months, and in that time you must legally marry your partner. After you’re married and before your prospective marriage visa expires you may apply to remain in Australia as a spouse.

Evidence of living together for at least 12 months prior to application will be required as part of your visa application.

The Australian de facto visa application is made up of two parts – the sponsorship and the visa application. The Australian citizen or permanent resident acts as the sponsor.  The sponsor must agree to meet certain obligations such as financial support, information and advice to help their partner settle in Australia and accommodation.

The process time is usually 5 – 6 months.

This type of visa is initially valid for a two year period. During this time you will be able to live and work in Australia. After two years, your application will be re-assessed and should your circumstances still be the same, and the relationship still be continuing, your visa will be made permanent. You apply for both the temporary and permanent visa at the same time.

All criminal convictions must be declared on the application and further information will be requested to support it.

If you have been charged with any offence that is currently awaiting legal action, or if you have been convicted of a crime or offence in any country including any conviction which is now removed from official records, you still need to declare it on your Australian application.

Additional information will be required to support your application.  You may be asked to provide a police clearance certificate for each country you have lived in for 12 months or more and a personal statement of events.  Upon receipt of your application, we will provide you with a check list of required documents relevant to you.

Your visa application will take longer to process once a conviction is declared.  All applications are assessed on a case by case basis.

The New Zealand working holiday visa will allow you to stay for 12 months.

To be eligible to apply for New Zealand working holiday visa you must:

• Outside New Zealand
• Have a valid passport from eligible country that’s valid for at least three months after your planned departure from New Zealand
• Be between the ages of 18 – 30 (up to your 31^st birthday)
• Not bringing children with you
• Meet medical and character requirements
• Traveling to NZ mainly on holiday with work as a secondary intention
• Hold a valid passport from one of the following countries:

Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

(Additional requirements may apply dependent on the country of passport.)

Once your visa is approved you will have 12 months to travel and to activate your visa by entering New Zealand. Your working holiday will activate on the first day you enter New Zealand and you can stay up to 12 months.  This type of visa is multiple entry which means that you can enter New Zealand as many times as you wish however time spent outside New Zealand cannot be made up.

You will be also able to study for not longer than 3 months.

Please note: If you had previously been approved a New Zealand working holiday visa, you are not able to apply for another visa again. Regardless if you used your previous working visa or not.

3 Month Tourist Visa (ETA)

For those who wish to stay in Australia for less than 3 months.  This kind of visa will be valid for 12 months from the date of issue and is multiple entry which means you can travel to and from Australia as many times as you wish and stay for up to 3 months on each visit.

Most visa applications will be processes within 24 hours.

Please note if you have had any convictions in any country, you cannot apply on the ETA system.  All criminal convictions must be declared on visa applications and further information will be requested to support your application.  All applications are assessed on a case by case basis.

If arriving on an ETA with criminal convictions, you could be refused entry into Australia.

6 Month Tourist Visa

If you will be staying longer than 90 days you will need to apply for a six month tourist visa.

You will have 12 months to activate your visa by entering Australia and when you enter your visa allows you to stay up to 6 months per visit.  This visa is multiple entry, this means that you can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want during the time your visa is valid.

This visa is usually issued within 48 hours, however it can take longer if further information is requested.

To be eligible to apply for a six month tourist visa:

• You need to be outside Australia.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Meet financial requirements (approx £3000).
• You must not work while in Australia.
• You must not study for more than three months while in Australia.

12 Month Tourist Visa

If you will be staying longer than 6 months you will need to apply for a 12 month tourist visa.

You will have 12 months to activate your visa by entering Australia and when you enter your visa allows you to stay up to 12 per visit. This visa is multiple entry, this means that you can leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you want during the time your visa is valid.

Usually processed within 2-4 weeks from receipt of all requested information.

To be eligible to apply for a 12 month tourist visa:

• You need to be outside Australia.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Meet financial requirements (approx £5000).
• You must not work while in Australia.
• You must not study for more than three months while in Australia.

If you wish to visit Australia and support your trip with extra funds, this visa is for you.  You will be able to travel around Australia for up to 12 months, taking up temporary employment to help out with your finances.

To be eligible to apply for an Australian working holiday visa you must:

• Be outside Australia
• Have no dependent children
• Be between the ages of 18 – 30 years old
• Meet medical and character requirements
• Hold a valid passport from one of the following countries:

Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan and United Kingdom

Once your visa is granted you will have 12 months to activate it, and you will activate by entering Australia. You can stay up to 12 months from your date of arrival. This type of visa is multiple entry which allows you to enter Australia as many times as you wish however time spend outside the country cannot be made up.

The Australian working holiday visa scheme allows you to work on a casual basis in order to supplement your travel.  Work undertaken must be incidental to the main purpose of travel.  There are no restrictions on the type of work under taken however,  you must not be in employment for more than 6 months with any one employer. You will be also able to study for a maximum of 4 months.  If you wish to study for any longer, you will need to apply for a student visa.

Your visa will be electronically tagged to your passport.   This means you will not receive a stamp or label showing your authority to travel. The airline will complete a visa status check when you arrive. Your confirmation outlines all your terms and conditions of your visa grant. It also confirms to potential employers that you are able to work legally in Australia.

For those who wish to extend their visa for another 12 months, there is an option for applying for second working holiday visa once you have completed your first year. To be eligible for a second year, you must have completed a minimum of 3 months specified work which includes: Agricultural, mining or construction in regional Australia.

In order to apply for a second working holiday visa, you must meet the same conditions as on your first working holiday visa: be between 18-30 years of age, be applying no more than 12 months before you intend to travel to Australia (if applying from outside Australia), not have accompanying dependent children.

You will be asked to provide the Australian Business Number of your employer, postcode, exact dates (must accumulate to minimum of 3 months) and the employment verification form to support your application.

Everyone who wishes to travel to Australia for any purpose require a visa.  The visas vary depending on the purpose of your visit, your age and how long you wish to stay in Australia.

All visas have their own requirements which applicants need to fulfill, everyone must meet health, character and financial conditions.

Below are the different types of Australian Visas.

Australian Tourist Visa:

If you looking to travel to Australia for a holiday or to visit friends and family you will need to apply for a tourist visa.  Depending on how long you wish to stay there are 3, 6 or 12 months tourist visas available.  You will need to meet health, character and financial requirements successfully.  These visas are electronically tagged to your passport after they are issued.

Australian Business Visa:

These visas are for people who wish to visit Australia for a short-term business purposes for example: educational or business related meetings, seminars, conferences, informal studies or training.  This type of visa allows you to stay for up to 3 months (90 days) on each visit within 12 months from the date when the visa was granted.

Australian Working Holiday Visa:

This visa is for people aged 18 to 30 years of age, who wants to travel round Australia, whilst earning money to help fund their holiday. If you have dependent children but they will not be joining you on your travels, then you can apply using a manual application.  There is also the opportunity to extend the working holiday visas for up to another 12 months by completing 3 months seasonal work, you will be required to provide evidence of this when applying for your second year.

Australian Student Visa:

If you wish to travel to Australia to study for more than 3 months you will need to apply for a student visa.  First you must be fully enrolled in an Australian institution and have received a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE).  This will be issued by the Australian institution you will be attending.  The forms are usually issued after the tuition fees have been paid.  This type of visa allows you to study for the period of your course as well as take family members with you to accompany your stay in Australia.  You will need to declare on your application that you are able to financially support yourself and your family members for the duration of your stay.