How exciting! You’ve decided to take the leap and move to Australia, but not sure which Australian visa you need . Here are some of my recommendations for which visa could be best suited to you depending on your personal situation.
Quick disclaimer: I am not a migration agent or an immigration official of any kind. This advice is from my personal experience. It also includes what I’ve learned from others over the years through their Australian visa process. Please seek professional immigration advice if you need.
I came to Australia in 2020 on the WHV (417) completed my 3 months regional work in Bundaberg. I’m a Permanent Resident and excited to say I’m applying for Australian citizenship this month. Proud to say I’ve lodged all visa applications myself. I can help you with some tips I wish I knew before I moved here.
The Working Holiday Visa (WHV 417)
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417
- Eligibility: you must be between the ages of 18-30. If you’re from: Republic of Ireland, UK, Canada, France, Denmark and Italy you are eligible until 35.
Cons of this Australian Visa
6 month work limitation on the Working Holiday Visa (417) Australia
- After six months you are no longer allowed to work with the same employer. There are some exceptions to this rule.
Difficulty with Jobs on this Australian Visa
This 6 month rule can make it challenging to get a job if you’re not in a critical sector. It will take some time to get a job that you like and in a location you want.
Living in one of the big cities like Sydney presents challenges.
This can be frustrating for new arrivals.
- You will face a lot of competition for the same job
- Consider that the employer has to invest time in training you. Then, 6 months later, you have to leave due to the visa condition. This can be frustrating for new arrivals.
Pros of this Australian Visa
With that said it is possible to get a job you like and that pays well. Many of my friends have admin jobs. They fill in on casual contracts. To be honest, this is the best scenario if you’re coming here to travel.
If you choose casual work this happily means a higher rate of pay for you.
- You’re not tied down with one employer with limited weeks of annual leave
- If you choose casual work this means a higher rate of pay for you.
If you manage to get your foot in the door somewhere, ask the employer to consider sponsoring you. This is possible if you have the necessary qualifications or experience.
Specified Work for Working Holiday Visa (417)
The work was hard and the pay was terrible, but it was honestly one of the best experiences! I met so many people doing my farm-work who are still my closest friends today, nearly 5 years later.
You’re thinking: “but you’re a Nurse, couldn’t you have gotten an Australian Sponsorship Visa?” This leads me on to the most important bit. What you want from life in Australia.
When we moved here, I didn’t know how long we would stay. I really wanted to enjoy my time. I also wanted to travel as much as possible.
Getting sponsored and having a permanent job at that time wasn’t right for me. It would mean I would only have a set number of weeks off per year. I would have to work nights and weekends. To be honest that isn’t what I moved here for.
I wanted to say yes to as many things as possible.
WHV is Perfect Short Term
If you’re unsure how long you would like to stay here. The Australian visa I recommend is the WHV 417. This visa costs 650 AUD. Compared to PR and sponsored visas, it is a lot cheaper.
It also gives you some freedom. It allows you to move here. You can feel the place out. Then, decide if this is somewhere you would like to stay or spend a few more years.
Then you can focus on trying to get your 2nd WHV or applying for sponsorship /PR avenues.
Luckily for those from the UK and Northern Ireland, you don’t need to complete the specified work. You can apply for the 2nd or 3rd Working Holiday Visa (417) from July 2024.
Sponsorship Visa: Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa (482)
Sponsorship is the best option for you if:
- you are looking for more security with your job and income.
- You need consistent work and a guaranteed way to stay here.
- You can stay up to 4 years with this Australian visa. Your employer can also sponsor you in the future for PR (186) through the “Employer Nomination Scheme”.
I strongly encourage you to research the company you are moving here with. You could move here and realize they’re really not the best company to work for.
You’ll need to find another employer to take over your sponsorship before you can leave your current job.
A tip I suggest is, if you don’t have children come over first on your WHV. You can see what the job situation is like. Use that opportunity to see what companies/employers you enjoy working for before making the commitment to a 2-4 year sponsorship.
Often employers will pay the cost of the sponsorship on your behalf. If you leave before your sponsorship ends, you might need to repay your portion of the cost. You would repay this amount to your employer.
Permanent Residency Visa
You can apply for PR onshore and offshore. Luckily, nurses are in high demand and my whole visa process from start to finish was less than 6 months. This is definitely not the norm.
- To move here on a PR visa it can be a lengthy process. Often, it can take over a year to be finalized.
- Keep this in mind when deciding if you want to move here in a hurry.
- PR is an EXPENSIVE process. PR cost my partner and I 8500 AUD including all the checks, documents and English tests etc.
Think About Cost
A migration agency can be really helpful. They assist especially if you have a complex situation with partners or children. They also help with just navigating through the whole process.
Please keep in mind to budget for this additional cost. They can range from approx 3k-5k depending on the number of applicants.
I hope you found this information helpful. If you are wondering about how you can find accommodation when you arrive check out my post.
Ultimately, the visa application process should consider your current situation and reflect the life you want to create in Australia.
I would love to hear what visa you’re applying for and when you plan to make the move. Drop a comment below and share with a friend moving to Australia.
