There is a lot of confusion going on when people decide to immigrate to Australia. And it is clear why, the number of visas is enormous, even more so the number of options how to get them. It took me years to find out the right option for me, but it will take you minutes to read about it. Why you should do it? Because the rules are exactly the same for everyone despite the country you are coming from (Brits go through the same immigration process as Russians do). The most straight forward and time efficient way is to apply as Skilled Migrant.
Visa 175 – Skilled Independent (Migrant)
This type of visa offers the least expensive way to become Australian resident given the fact that you have the qualification which is in demand in the country (to determine if it is your case, check this list of professions). To apply for this type of visa you have to be under 50 yo and have several years of experience working in your nominated occupation. The most essential cost here is the cost of the visa itself. The waiting period is around 2 years. When your get your visa you become a Permanent Resident once you arrive to Australia to activate it. But what if your occupation is not on the list? There is an alternative, albeit a much more costly one.
Visa 885 – Skilled Independent (Residence)
Just like with 175 visa type described above, you are give a Permanent Residence the time you get the visa. To get this visa you still have to have a qualification on the Australian SOL. However, for this visa you can receive this qualification in Australia. When applying for 885 you also don’t have to provide any proof of relevant work experience (this is true at the time of the writing). Of course, before you can start your course in Australia you have to get a student visa.
Visa 573 – Higher Education
To be eligible for 573 student visa you have to pass the language test (IELTS Blog helped me a lot in preparation) and enrol into one of local Universities. If you don’t score enough points in IELTS, then look for the University that offers English Language Courses. In this way, you can get in with lower score, took a language course and then be enrolled into the Higher Education Program (mine was Masters of IT, because I already had Bachelor Degree which I obtained in Russia).
The other condition is you have to demonstrate enough money to pay for your studying and living during the length of your course. The general formula goes like that: Tuition Cost (mine was 14000 a year) + Living Cost (mine was 15 000 a year) = 29 000 x 2 years of studying = 60 000. The amount should sit in your bank account for at least 3 months prior to visa application.
The waiting process of getting 885 visa might take up to 18 months which depends on how long your country of origin does security checks (mine was 6 months). When you include the amount of time it takes you to get education (for me it was 2 years + another 6 months as I studied English too) it can easily stretch for more than 3 years.
These are two simple legit ways to become Australian Resident. The choice will depend on your particular situation. Feel free to ask me any questions or details about my immigration process…