Working in Australia

What you need to be able to work in Australia

An Active English Production 2012

Immigration Information
http://www.immi.gov.au/managingaustralias-borders/compliance/workinglegally/ You need to be an Australian citizen or have a working visa to legally work in Australia

Temporary visas
Most temporary visa holders have work rights, although some classes of visas only allow limited work rights. Example: Working Holiday visas and Student visas

Online check on immigration status

The department's online facility that allows eVisa holders to enquire about their immigration status

http://www.immi.gov.au/managingaustralias-borders/compliance/workinglegally/evo-for-visa-holders.htm
To use VEVO, you must have a Transaction Reference Number (TRN) or password

Check Vevo (Visa entitlement verification online)

Enquiries can be made online. You will need a TRN, or a password along with your: date of birth, Note: Date of birth should be entered as d/month/yyyy passport number and country of passport.

Visitor Visas
http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/visitors.htm eVisitor
The eVisitor allows visitors to travel to Australia for short term business or tourism purposes for up to three months. eVisitor applications are free and are available to passport holders from the European Union and a number of other European countries. See: eVisitor Eligibility

e676 Tourist Visa The e676 Tourist visa allows people to visit Australia for holiday, sightseeing, social or recreational reasons, to visit relatives, friends or for other short-term non-work purpose. Tourist visas are available for a stay of three, six or 12 months. To apply for an e676 Tourist visa you must hold an eligible passport. See: Eligible passports for online applications

Extend Stay in Australia

Extending your stay in Australia If you are already in Australia and hold a valid ETA (Visitor) (subclass 976), an eVisitor (subclass 651), e676 Tourist Visa, or a paper lodged tourist visa (subclass 676) granted for a stay of three months or less you can extend your stay in Australia to a maximum of six months. See: Tourist (e676) Visa Online Applications

Student Visas
http://www.immi.gov.au/e_visa/students.htm

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/ Your passport country and course(s) of study determine your Assessment Level. The Student visa subclass under which you will be assessed is determined by your main course of study, even if you are studying a package of courses.

Sponsored Student Visas

http://www.immi.gov.au/students/sponsored/

The following visas provide sponsored training options. Professional Development Visa (Subclass 470) Allows sponsored foreign nationals who are professionals, managers or government officials, to undertake professional development training programs in Australia for periods of up to 18 months. Occupational Trainee Visa (Subclass 442) Allows foreign nationals to undertake a supervised, workplace-based training program in Australia. The training should provide additional skills in their occupation or field of expertise.

Employers can Sponsor Workers

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilledworkers/ Lawfully operating Australian employers can sponsor and employ skilled workers who have recognised qualifications and skills/or experience in particular occupations required in Australia.

Information for sponsored workers

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilledworkers/more-information-esw.htm Subclass 457 visa holders your rights at work The Fair Work Ombudsman and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship work together to help you understand your legal rights when working in Australia. See: 457 Visa Holders Your Rights at Work (188KB PDF file)

 Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme A registered nurse and her family have migrated from the United Kingdom through the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (RSMS), and are now happily settled in regional Victoria. See: Skilled Migrant Profile

Employing Cooks and chefs

Employing overseas chefs and cooks A new brochure has been developed covering information on the visa options for people wanting to work as a chef or a cook in Australia. See: Employing Overseas Chefs and Cooks (November 2010) (2.4MB PDF file)

Refuge and Humanitarianism

http://www.immi.gov.au/visas/humanitarian/

Australia's Humanitarian Program is an important part of our contribution to the international protection of refugees. It is designed to ensure that Australia can respond effectively to global humanitarian situations and that support services are available to meet the specific needs of these entrants. The Humanitarian Program has two components: Offshore Resettlement For people outside Australia in need of humanitarian assistance. Onshore Protection For people already in Australia who are found to be refugees.

Travel Documents Required

Travel documents required for all other travellers All travellers other than Australian and New Zealand citizens need to present the following documents to officers in immigration clearance: a valid passport or other acceptable travel document a valid visa or authority to enter Australia (including electronic visas) a completed and signed Incoming Passenger Card, including health and character declaration. See: Passenger cards Anyone who arrives without a valid travel document, visa or authority to enter Australia, may be refused entry to Australia or delayed until their identity and claims to enter Australia have been confirmed.
http://www.immi.gov.au/managing-australias-borders/bordersecurity/travel/documents/

Acceptable Travel Documents

A small number of travellers may have other types of travel documents which are also acceptable for travel to Australia. Holders of these documents will in most cases also require a visa. The travel documents must be issued by a recognised authority and be acceptable for travel to Australia. The document must have a photograph of the bearer and provide the holder with a re-entry authority to the country of issue, or an entry authority to another country. Other acceptable travel documents include: Document of Identity (if holder is not an Australian citizen then a visa is required) Certificate of Identity (a visa is required) Document for Travel To Australia DFTTA (a visa is required. DFTTAs are normally issued to offshore refugee and humanitarian entrants for their initial entry to Australia.) Laissez Passer (a visa is required) Convention Travel Document (such as Titre de Voyage a visa is required) Documents issued to refugees (a visa is required) Kinderausweis issued to German minors photo of bearer not required (a visa is required) Military documents for military personnel travelling by air (see Documents for foreign military personnel travelling by air section above).

Fact Sheet
http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/95documents.htm

Everyone travelling to Australia needs an approved travel document, visa or authority to enter Australia. For entry to Australia: Australian citizens have automatic right of entry to Australia and need only present a current Australian passport on arrival. Australian citizens who hold dual or multiple nationalities should hold an Australian passport and use it to enter or leave Australia, even if they use a foreign passport overseas. The only exception is where they have been issued an Australian Declaratory visa. Permanent residents (migrants) cannot travel on their migrant visas once they have been granted Australian citizenship. This is because the migrant visa ceases to be in effect when Australian citizenship is acquired, even though it may not yet have reached its expiry date or been physically cancelled. New Zealand citizens travelling on New Zealand passports receive electronic visas that entitle them to stay in Australia. All other non-citizens, including people who migrated and now live in Australia permanently, must hold valid visas or authorities for re-entry to Australia. Anyone who arrives without a visa, an authority for re-entry or an Australian or New Zealand passport may be refused entry to Australia or have their entry delayed until their identities and claims to enter Australia have been checked. All people entering Australia must also fill out an incoming passenger card (IPC). All non-citizens are required to make a health and character declaration on the IPC.