Australian work visa – Few basics you need to know

The lifestyle and employment opportunities in Australia drives lots of foreign workers to Australia. Most visa applications come under 3 major work visa arrangements:

• Australia's Skilled Migration program
• The family stream that includes parents and spouse visas
• Visa arrangements for applicants with special circumstances

Australia’s immigration laws are regularly reviewed and can change. Hence, staying updated on these laws will be a wise practice.  This will help you understand the visa types and their stipulations clearly.

Australia’s SkillSelect is an agency that scrutinizes your profiles. They check whether you have the skills and qualifications Australia needs. If you have them, you will be invited as per requirement. With the invitation, you can apply for a skilled visa by the Australian Government. You could be nominated for a skilled visa by a state or territory government also. An employer’s nomination for a skilled visa is also a way for skilled workers to enter Australia.

What is SkillSelect?

SkillSelect is an agency in Australia that deals with recruiting skilled workers from foreign countries. Workers and businessmen interested in migrating should first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. They may qualify for a skilled visa after scrutiny of their skills and qualifications. Then, the chosen ones receive invites through SkillSelect.

An EOI indicates your desire to be considered for a skilled visa. It is not counted as a visa application.

The way to working in Australia

The Australian Home Affairs website can educate you on applying for work visas. It also has information on skilled occupations in Australia. You can also learn about licensing and registration requirements and regional employment.

There are the following visa options for workers in Australia:

• Employer-sponsored visas
  • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS) Visa (Subclass 187)
  • Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186)
  • Temporary Work (Skilled) Visa (Subclass 457)
• Working Holiday visa (Subclass 417)
• Work and Holiday visa (Subclass 462)

Rights and restrictions of workers 

The rights and restrictions for workers are the same for all in Australia. This is irrespective of the worker’s citizenship or visa status. Knowing the workers’ rights can help you to avoid incidents of exploitation.

Under Australian law, the employer is obliged by Australian workplace and immigration laws to:

• Pay you the right wages for the time worked
• Provide you with a safe workplace

No contracts or agreements can deny you these basic rights. The Fair Work Ombudsman ensures that foreign and domestic workers can work in a productive, harmonious, and cooperative workplace.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Australia, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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