How can I apply for the Australian visa lottery?
Are you looking to relocate to Australia but don’t know where to start from? The Australian visa lottery, which is commonly referred to as Australia Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or eVisitor, is a popular choice for anyone who would like to live and work in Australia. However, one thing to remember is that Australia does not follow the traditional lottery method to qualify, like the USA. Australia has a points based mechanism to qualifying skilled workers through their visa programs. In this blog we will walk you through the process of qualifying to apply for an Australian visa, which is often referred to incorrectly as the Australian visa lottery.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for an Australian visa you must satisfy the following criteria:
Age:
Must be younger than 45 years of age
Language proficiency:
Must demonstrate competent English
Qualifications:
Must have a qualification relevant to your occupation
Work experience:
Must have a minimum of 2 years of work experience relevant to your occupation
health and character requirements:
Must meet the health and character requirements
Application Process in Steps
Here’s a brief process to apply for an Australian visa:
Check your eligibility:
Go to the Australian Government’s Visa Finder tool to check if you’re eligible to apply for an Australian visa.
Select the appropriate visa:
Choose the visa that fits your needs, such as the Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) or the Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190).
Set up an ImmiAccount:
Set up an ImmiAccount to submit your application and monitor your application status.
Submit your application:
Apply for the visa, including all required supporting documents, such as your passport, birth certificate, and qualifications.
Pay the application fee:
You must pay the application fee, which varies depending on your visa type.
Wait for the processing:
Once you apply, you wait for the processing, which can take a long time, several months or longer.
Points-Based System
Australia operates a points-based system to select skilled workers into a number of the visa programmes; points are awarded based on your:
Age:
25-32 years of age (25 points), 33-39 years of age (25 points), 40-44 years of age (15 points)
Language proficiency:
Proficient English language proficiency (20 points) or other language proficiency (10 points)
Qualifications:
PhD (20 points), Bachelor’s degree (15 points), Diploma or trade qualification (10 points)
Work experience:
8-10 years work experience (20 points), 5-7 years work experience (15 points), 3-4 years work experience (10 points)
Advice and Considerations
For all of us to keep in mind, we have compiled some advice and considerations:
Provide a complete application:
Make sure to supply all of the required documents and information.Consider using a registered migration agent to assist with your application.
Keep informed on immigration regulations:
Stay informed on changes on regulations and procedures for immigration.
ClosingIn closing
while there is no real visa lottery, the process for selecting skilled workers for visa programs through a points-based system can be competitive and confusing. By being sure you understand the eligibility requirements, how the process works, and the points based system, we can greatly improve your chances of success. So, provide a complete application, use a registered migration agent and remain informed!
