Which visa do you need?

This page contains information on the following kinds of visas:
  • Global Talent
  • Skilled Visa
  • Work - Sponsorship
  • Regional Australia
  • Partners
  • New Zealand Citizens
  • ​Business Owners/Investors
  • Students
  • Visitors
  • Family Reunion
  • Citizenship and Resident Return Visas
  • AAT Appeals
Scroll down to find the visa you need, then expand the box by pressing (+) to read more. 
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Having trouble finding the information you need? 
Fill out this contact form or phone the Sharon Harris team on +61 7 5504 6111.

SKILLED VISAS

This stream is Points-tested for qualified English speaking persons in specified occupations and does not require an employer to sponsor you.

Department of Home Affairs (DHA) must invite you to apply which is at their discretion.
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Expand below to see details:
189 Skilled Independent – permanent residence (PR)
  • For skills in demand by Australia
  • Limited occupations available
  • More than 65 points required for invitation
  • No State government nomination​

Get your application started with our FREE help guide:
190 Skilled Nominated – permanent residence (PR)
  • Requires State or Territory nomination (worth 5 points)
  • For skills required by each State
  • More occupations available than 189 visa
  • 65 points required​

Get your application started with our FREE help guide:
491 Skilled Work – Regional – temporary residence (TR)
  • Regional areas
  • Requires State or Territory nomination (worth 15 points)
  • For skills required by each State
  • More occupations available than 189 visa and 190 visa
  • 65 points required
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Get your application started with our FREE help guide:
Or click this link to learn more about 'Regional Australia'.

WORK VISAS – SPONSORSHIP

Many Australian employers cannot find locals to fill their vacant positions.

This may be due to the location of the business, the highly skilled or unique role, language skills required, knowledge of overseas business, and so much more.

​If you are an employer and can prove this, you may be able to sponsor overseas workers.

​Different occupation lists will initially dictate which visa is possible.
​
Expand below to see details:
186 Employer Nominated Scheme – permanent residence (PR)
  • For skilled workers in specific occupations
  • Must be nominated by an Australian employer
  • May live and work anywhere in Australia

You have 3 options for 186 visa:
  1. Direct application if you have a skills assessment plus 3 years experience
  2. After holding 482 visa for at least 3 years, or 457 visa may be less
  3. Nominated under a Labour Agreement

Get your application started:
482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) – temporary residence (TR)
  • Employers must be approved to sponsor by Department of Home Affairs (DHA); and
  • Prove unable to fill vacant occupation
  • Occupation lists apply
  • You must be skilled for the occupation
  • Up to 4 years possible but depends on the occupation:
  • Medium term occupation - 4 years with pathway to Permanent Residence (PR)
  • Short term occupation - 2 years with extension
  • Labour Agreement (LA) occupation – LA dictates

Get your application started with our FREE help guide:
408 Temporary Activity – temporary residence (TR)
You must be sponsored by an Australian organisation for specific events or contracts in specific activities.

This visa is often used for AFL, Soccer, Rugby, Tennis,  Racing or other areas of sports and by many religious organisations.

With our multicultural society there are many different religions in Australia. This visa allows churches and other organisations to bring the people they need to serve their objectives.  

Specified activities include:
  • Sports players, coaches, athletes, adjudicators involved in competition or training
  • Religious workers
  • Entertainers
  • Staff exchange
  • Researchers
  • Government programs
  • Covid-19 related critical sectors
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Get your application started with our FREE help guide:
407 Training – temporary residence (TR)
  • Employers provide on the-job training for up to 2 years
  • Must have approved Training program
  • Occupation lists apply
  • Suitable for those not yet qualified
  • May lead to other visas
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Get your application started with our FREE help guide:

REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

​Rural and regional Australia offers wonderful opportunities for migrants. These regional towns and areas have universities, schools, hospitals, airports, manufacturing, retail, professional services, construction, churches, sports centres, and so much more. But they need people.

​The occupation lists available for migration to regional areas are much greater than for our cities. You will be required to remain in regional area/s for at least 3 years, but we are sure you will want to stay longer. The communities warm welcome will encourage you and your family to stay. 

Sharon Harris Migration Specialists work extensively with farmers and other rural businesses including horse racing and breeding, fruit and vegetable farming, tourism and hospitality, and all others.

We love our regional Australia and know how difficult it is for many regional employers to find Australians willing to live and work there. We want to help them find migrants (you) to help them!

Expand below to see details:
491 Skilled Work – Regional – temporary residence ​(TR)
  • 65 points based visa
  • Excellent pathway to Permanent Residence (PR)
  • 5-year visa
  • Requires State government nomination or an Australian family if in specific locations (worth 15 points)
  • Extensive occupation lists differ for each State
  • ​Live in a regional area for at least 3 years and then apply for PR – 191 visa​

Get your application started with our FREE help guide:
494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional – temporary residence (TR)
  • ​Employers must be approved to sponsor; and 
  • Prove unable to fill vacant occupation
  • Regional areas only
  • Extensive occupation list
  • ​Skills assessment needed
  • Visa valid up to 5 years
  • ​Live in a regional area for at least 3 years and then apply for PR – 191 visa​

Get your application started with our FREE help guide:
191 Skilled Regional – permanent residence (PR)
  • Commences 16 November 2022
  • Available after 3 years holding a 491 or 494 visa
  • Must have earned at least $53,900 income each year
  • Family must live, work and study in regional areas each year
  • No points
  • No nomination

Get your application started with our FREE help guide:

PARTNER VISAS

Australians are able to bring their overseas partner to live with them in Australia. You may be married, de facto, same sex or engaged.

The process may be slow and the evidence required is extensive. However, we have a service to help you lodge your application yourself.

​Consider our service options to ensure this is simple and affordable for you.

Expand below to see details:​​
820/801 Partner Onshore applications
  • 820 (Temporary Residence) and 801 (Permanent Residence) applied at one time
  • One fee paid at lodgement
  • Processing times are at the discretion of Department of Home Affairs (DHA)

Get your application started:
309/100 Partner Offshore applications
  • 309 (apply from overseas - Temporary Residence) and 100 (Permanent Residence) applied at one time
  • One fee paid at lodgement​
  • Application for 100 visa may be lodged onshore
  • Processing times are at the discretion of Department of Home Affairs (DHA)

Get your application started:
300 Prospective Marriage
  • Apply from overseas only
  • Must be engaged
  • Must marry in Australia within 9 months of visa grant
  • Then apply onshore for 820 (Temporary Residence) and 801 (Permanent Residence)

Get your application started:
Family violence: 
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Unfortunately, some migrant partners will experience Family Violence (FV). If so, they should then be eligible to be granted Permanent Residency (PR).

​Sharon Harris Migration Specialists work closely with psychologists, social workers and other experts to ensure they obtain PR.

​Family Violence includes emotional abuse. It need not be physical abuse. Even if your Partner application is not decided, you may still be eligible for PR.

​Australia does not tolerate any form of Family Violence. If you are suffering and do not know what to do, contact us immediately for a confidential meeting.

​We are very experienced in this area and also in representations to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) if your Partner visa is refused.

Need to know more?
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Visit the Family Violence page. 

Or, talk to us Sharon Harris Migration Specialists on +61 7 5504 6111 for a FREE consultation and we will explain how family violence is defined in migration law.

NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS

Most NZ Citizens do not know they enter Australia holding 444 visas. These are Temporary Resident visas.  

​If you were in Australia on or before 26 February 2001 you may be a Permanent Resident of Australia. But if not, there are options to apply for PR. 

Expand below to see details:
189 Skilled Independent – NZ stream – permanent residence (PR)
  • No points test
  • No occupation list
  • No age limit
  • Must have lived in Australia on or before 19 February 2016
  • Earned specified income of $53,900 p.a. for at least 4 years (subject to Australian Government announcement)

Get your application started:
461 NZ Citizen Family Relationship visa – temporary residence (TR)
  • For partners and children of NZ Citizens
  • Must prove genuine relationship
  • 5 year visa

Get your application started:
186 NZ stream
  • Some exemptions apply

Get your application started:

BUSINESS OWNERS/INVESTORS

These options relate to significant owners and investors as they depend on your overseas business evidence, personal assets, investment or business activity, and your ‘paper trail’.

It is imperative to prove your source of funds. If not possible, do not apply.

​If you wish to conduct a new or existing business or invest in Australia, you will require State government support and each State will vary in its requirements.

Expand below to see details:
132 Business Talent – permanent residence (PR)
There are 2 pathways:
  • Experienced business owners which requires minimum assets of $1.5M and business owned with turnover of $3M; and
  • Applicants whom have sourced venture capital funding from a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association Limited (AVCAL) and requires funding of at least $1M
  • Applicants must have genuine and realistic commitment to invest in Australia
  • Proposed investment or business must be approved and nominated by State government

Get your application started:
188 Business Innovation and Investment – temporary residence (TR)
There are 5 options in this visa all of which lead to Permanent Residence (PR).

Each requires State nomination as applicants must invest or conduct business in the nominating State:
  • Business owner
  • Investor
  • Entrepreneur
  • SIV requires investment of at least $5M for 4 years
  • PIC requires investment of at least $15M for 1 year

Get your application started:
600 Business Visitor
This permits stays of less than 3 months and must be lodged offshore. Your purpose of travel may include:
  • To make general business or employment enquiries
  • Negotiate contracts
  • Take part in a conference or trade fair. (You must not be paid by the organisers)

Get your application started:

STUDENT VISAS

Please do not enrol in studies unless you have accurate and honest advice of the possible visa options to follow.

Many people both overseas and in Australia will recommend courses to you because they receive huge commissions from those colleges. They will not recommend colleges that do not give them commissions.

​You must research the occupation lists and the visas before deciding a course if you want to stay in Australia. But, once you complete the course those occupation lists and visa options may have gone.

​To save you saving money and time on useless courses, here are some things you should know about Sharon Harris Migration Specialists:
  • We do not take any commissions from any college, university or school.
  • We are not education agents because we will tell you about all your options.
  • We do not provide template GTE letters.
  • We will advise if you have any visa options from any course.

​​​​​Expand below to see details:
500 Student – temporary residence (TR) to study
Temporary residence to study at: 
  • School
  • VET sector includes TAFE
  • University
  • English schools​
Each 500 visa requires evidence:
  • Financial status
  • Reasons for study
  • Intend to study in Australia temporarily

Get your application started:
485 Temporary Graduate – temporary residence (TR)
This visa is for people who completed at least 2 academic years of study in Australia within the past 6 months but has 2 options:
  1. completed the studies at any University, in any course and receives 485 for 2 years
  2. Completed the studies for specific occupations on Medium Long term list and receives 485 for 18 months.

Get your application started:

VISITOR VIAS

There are electronic Visitor (651) visas which you will usually receive when booking your flights with your travel agent.

​Then, you do not even fill in application forms to Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

However, some countries of higher risk will require you to still lodge applications to DHA. 

​​​​​​Expand below to see details:
600 Visitor
  • Provide reasons for visit
  • Financial status
  • Ties to home country
  • Intention to return home
  • Immigration history
  • Study if less than 3 months
  • Business activity may be permitted
  • Sponsored by Australian family

Need help with this visa application?: 
Contact Sharon Harris on +61 7 5504 6111 for a FREE phone consultation. 

FAMILY REUNION VISAS

There are other permanent residence visas which enable Australians to bring family members to live with them in Australia.

​These are limited due to the number of visas granted each year which therefore may result in extremely long processing periods.

​For example, DHA says Remaining Relative visa may take 50 years.

​​​​​​​Expand below to see details:
103/804 Parent – permanent residence (PR)
If most or equal number of children live in Australia as Citizens or PR they may sponsor parents to live here.

​However, the processing time is about 30 years. So, unless you are able to apply onshore, this is probably not a viable option.

Need help with this visa application?: 
Contact Sharon Harris on +61 7 5504 6111 for a FREE phone consultation. ​
143/864 Contributory Parent – permanent residence (PR)
Same as above required except the application fees are much higher so then the processing time is much faster, about 4 years.

Essentially, the fees are paying for access to Medicare (the publicly-funded universal health care insurance scheme in Australia).

​There are temporary options for these simply to enable you to split the application fees across 2 years.

Temporary options include:
  • 116 / 836 CARER – enables overseas family to come and provide care for their Australian relative. They must prove their need for care
  • 101 / 802 CHILD – dependent child of Australian permitted to live with their Australian parent
  • 115 / 835 REMAINING RELATIVE – you must be the very last remaining relative of your Australian family member
  • 114 / 838 AGED DEPENDENT RELATIVE – enables older relative from overseas who is financially dependent on their Australian relative to reside in Australia
  • 102 ADOPTION – overseas application only and child must have been legally adopted overseas

Need help with this visa application?: 
Contact Sharon Harris on +61 7 5504 6111 for a FREE phone consultation. ​

CITIZENSHIP AND RESIDENT RETURN VISAS

Australian Citizenship:

​We recommend where possible every permanent resident now obtains Citizenship. Reason being DHA may cancel your permanent residence.

Most countries permit dual Citizenship.
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It is a simple process and requires you satisfy residency periods and of course, character.

​​​​​​​Expand below to see details:
155 – RESIDENT RETURN VISA (RRV)
  • Permanent residents must renew PR if they did not acquire Citizenship
  • They must ensure RRV received prior to departing Australia
  • 155 valid for 5 years if they reside in Australia for at least 2 out of each 5 year period
  • 155 valid for one year if reside less than 2 years
  • 157 RRV granted for 3 months if urgent circumstances

Need help with this visa application?: 
Contact Sharon Harris on +61 7 5504 6111 for a FREE phone consultation. 

​AAT APPEALS (Administrative Appeals Tribunal)

As DHA case officers, migration agents and lawyers, and you may make mistakes you have the right to appeal most refusals and cancellations to the AAT.

​We have represented clients in these matters where we believe the decision were wrong.
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There are occasions where your situation may be one which requires the attention of the Minister of Home Affairs. This process is known as Ministerial Invention (MI).

​These circumstances are to be compelling and compassionate and often are seen to receive media attention.

It is rare for some Ministers to intervene, while others have shown much compassion. 

Need to lodge an appeal with the AAT?:

​Fill out this contact form or phone Sharon Harris on +61 7 5504 6111 for a FREE phone consultation.
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