Welcome to Australia Immigration Guide
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Immigration is responsible for overseeing the Department of Immigration.
Immigration to the Australian continent is estimated to have begun around 50,000 years ago when the ancestors of Australian Aborigines arrived on the continent via the islands of the Malay Archipelago and New Guinea.
142,800 people migrated to Australia in 2007-08. In 2008-09 about 300,000 new migrants were expected to arrive in Australia, the highest number since World War II. However, in March 2009, the Australian Government announced a 14 per cent cut in the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program intake from 133 500 to 115 000 in response to worsening economic conditions.
Australia is often referred to as "The Lucky Country." With its spacious surroundings, high standard of living and excellent health and education systems, Australia attracts visitors and migrants from all over the world. Add to that a temperate climate, beautiful landscape and political and economic stability, Australians really have a quality of life to be envied.
The appeal of Australia is evident in the large number of people who migrate under the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) Migration Program every year. In recent years, over 100,000 people have migrated to Australia every year. These people have helped contribute to Australia's growing multicultural population and will continue to shape Australia's future.
Why Australia?
- It is Sixth largest country in the world.
- Lowest population density per square kilometer.
- Diverse culture with people from almost 200 countries.
- Ranked third in the United Nations 2006 Human Development Index.
- One of the world's most urbanized country, with about 70% of the population living in the 10 largest cities.
- An ideal place to live.
- A true welfare state.
How to Apply for an Australian Visa:
Would you like to travel to Australia? Have you ever thought of having a great holiday in Australia? Did you ever consider working in the land Down Under? If you do, then you need to know more about the country, its culture, people, and food before you make that major decision of traveling to Australia and obtaining your own Australian visa.
For security reasons, the government of Australia has tightened its visa application processing. This is exactly why Australia has numerous types of visas applicable only to an individual set of reasons for staying there.
- Studying in Australia
You will need to have a student visa if you want to study in Australia for more than four months. In order to qualify for this kind of visa, you must have obtained an offer of a place at an Australian educational institution or college for that matter. - Temporary Residence - Business Purposes
Another popular kind of Australian visa is the working holiday visa. To be eligible, you must be between the ages of eighteen to thirty years old, must have a valid passport in an approved country, must have a return ticket or be able to prove that you have enough funds to purchase one and to cover expenses during the first part of your stay. Moreover, you must have no children and your purpose of visit in Australia must not be for education or economic reasons but for travel alone. - Temporary Residence - Social/Cultural Purposes
You can apply for an Australian ETA over the internet. ETA or Electronic Travel Authority tourist visa is the simplest travel visa and is issued to those who are traveling to Australia for business or tourism purposes for no longer than three months. ETA is an electronic system that substitutes visa labels or stamps in your passport and when approved it is stored digitally to the passport number you supplied during your application. Moreover, you ought to have a passport from an ETA using country in order to be eligible for this system. - Citizenship
On the other hand, if you are planning to work and live permanently in Australia then you can apply as an immigrant through the Australian General Skilled Migration Program. The program aims to meet skills shortages in Australia by attracting skilled migrants who will be able to make a direct contribution to the economy of the country.
The country's warm climate, rare charm, natural beauty, and fast rising economy makes Australia one of the best places on earth to visit, work, live or set up a business. If you wish to go to Australia then you must obtain the right visa for yourself. However, if you are uncertain which visa you will need then you can visit the website established by the Australian government that can give you a step by step instruction on what you have to do in order to apply for an Australian visa.