Australia is one of the most peaceful corners of the world. The country is distinguished by high indicators of social well-being of the population, a low crime rate, and favorable climatic conditions. Over the past 30 years, the country's economy has been growing steadily, ranking 12th among the most powerful economic systems on the planet. That is why so many foreigners, including Russians, seek to obtain a residence permit in Australia.
The benefits of immigration
An official residence permit in Australia is access to:
- living in favorable climatic conditions (moderate continental or mild Mediterranean);
- free local medical services;
- quality education;
- free government legal services;
- participation in local elections;
- the prospects for obtaining citizenship and the right to visa-free entry to the territory of 167 countries of the world.
All of the above is the answer to the question of what gives a residence permit in Australia to foreigners.
The article “Australia: the life of ordinary people” will tell you more about life in the country.
Take a sociological survey!
On what grounds can you get a residence permit?
The list of the main ways to obtain an Australian residence permit includes:
- admission to one of the local higher education institutions;
- immigration for doing business;
- employment;
- family reunification;
- marriage with a citizen / citizen of the country;
- arriving in Australia as a refugee;
- investing in the local economy.
To become a student of an Australian university, you will need a document on the applicant's current education, a certificate confirming the absence of socially dangerous diseases, medical insurance, as well as a bank statement that it has sufficient funds to pay for educational services (at least 10,000 dollars).
Local universities give preference to applicants with knowledge of the English language. You need to pass the IELTS language test and score 6 or more points. Some educational institutions require applicants to pass tests in specialized disciplines.
The article “How to get education in Australia” tells about the education system in general and about entering and studying at the university in particular.
To immigrate to Australia for business, you must have lived in the country for at least 12 months on one of the visas and be no older than 55 years old. The firm must have a turnover of $ 400,000 with a combined annual income of $ 300,000, pay taxes on time and have no debt. It is also required that the company employs at least two Australian citizens.
All information about the company should be submitted to the Ministry of Enterprise Development and the Immigration Department. If a positive decision is made, the foreign entrepreneur (as well as his family members included in the application) will receive a residence permit for a period of 4 years.
Talking about how to obtain a residence permit in Australia in 2021 through employment, it should be indicated that you need to find an employer who will provide official registration in the workplace and receive an invitation from him.
Learn about Australia's National Employment Standards and Average Wages in 2021.
Those who failed to do so can try to move to Australia under the Independent Professional Migration Program, which has been implemented since 2021. Its participants must:
- be at least 18 and not older than 50;
- have a higher education, a specialty in demand in this country and the corresponding qualifications;
- have work experience in their specialty;
- speak English (score at least 6 points by passing the IELTS exam).
Qualified professionals in demand in Australia include programmers, software engineers, doctors, nurses, agronomists, ecologists, teachers, preschool educators, surveyors and others.
For a complete list of current occupations, see the Immigration Department's Skilled Occupation List (SOL).
To participate in the program, you need to register in the SkillSelect system. For each of the above points, this system awards points to applicants. For the decision to be positive, you need to score 60 or more points.
The right to a residence permit are foreigners whose parents or minor children are Australian citizens or have a permanent residence permit (permanent residence). 
To do this, you need to confirm the relationship. Children who have turned 18 years old can apply for a residence permit only if they are studying full-time at an Australian university or require custody for health reasons.
Obtaining a residence permit in Australia is also possible in the case of marriage to an Australian / Australian. Important: the host country must financially provide its spouse with relocation and residence in the country for the first two years.
To apply for a residence permit in refugee status, the applicant must prove that in his homeland he has become a victim of persecution for religious, political, racial and other criteria. You will need to provide an official written refusal of the authorities of your state to provide him with protection.
Australia has several investment programs for foreigners, participation in which provides for the granting of the right to reside in the country:
- Under the terms of the Investor Stream program, it is necessary to buy shares of one of the companies in the territory of the state in which the investor plans to carry out his activities in the future for 1.5 million Australian dollars.
- According to the requirements of the Significant Investor Stream program, it is necessary to invest a total of $ 5 million: 1.5 million in those firms that the Australian authorities will name, and the remaining 3.5 million at their own request.
- The Premium Investor Stream program provides for investing more than $ 15 million in the Australian economy, which leads to obtaining not a residence permit, but permanent residence.
But the purchase of real estate in Australia is not the basis for granting foreigners a residence permit.
Residence permit
To obtain a residence permit, you must contact the consular section of the Australian Embassy in Russia. Reception of citizens is carried out only by appointment. Detailed information can be obtained on the website of the Embassy.
List of official documents
Before traveling to the Australian Embassy for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit, you need to prepare the following documents (originals, as well as copies translated into English and certified by a notary):
- international passport;
- passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- certificate from the place of work;
- a certificate from an educational institution (for students);
- pension certificate (for pensioners);
- documents confirming relationship with an Australian citizen (birth certificates of children, marriage certificate);
- papers confirming the legality of the business: certificate of registration, certificates of payment of taxes (for entrepreneurs);
- an extract from the bank on the availability of funds in the account (since a residence permit in Australia is provided for financially independent persons);
- a contract with a higher education institution and a receipt for tuition fees (for applicants to Australian universities);
- a contract with an Australian employer and an invitation from him (for migrant workers).
You will also need two photos measuring 45 × 35 mm and an application form filled in by the applicant in the established sample. The exact list of documents depends on the basis on which the applicant applies for a residence permit.
The article “Visa for CIS citizens to Australia: types, procedure and cost of registration” will help you to understand the intricacies of types of visas, documents, cost and timing of obtaining an entry permit.
How long does the registration take and what is the cost of the service?
The terms for obtaining a residence permit are individual and depend on how correctly and timely the package of required documents is prepared. As evidenced by the reviews of Russians who previously applied for a residence permit in Australia, on average, the process lasts about a month.
Urgent processing - up to 5 business days.
The applicant must pay a consular fee of $ 130. The receipt of payment is attached to the package of documents.
Refusal to grant a residence permit and its cancellation
The most common reasons for denial of a residence permit in Australia include:
- submission by the applicant of an incomplete or incorrectly executed package of official papers;
- providing false information about yourself;
- the presence of socially dangerous diseases;
- past criminal record;
- being wanted;
- lack of financial resources sufficient to support their residence in Australia.
A valid residence permit can be canceled if its holder:
- submitted false information about himself to some authority;
- violated Australian laws;
- threatened the country's sovereignty by his actions;
- personally refused a residence permit;
- received a permit for permanent residence in Australia or citizenship.
In case of refusal to grant a residence permit and deprivation of this status, the foreigner is always explained the reasons for the decision. If there is no explanation or the foreign citizen does not agree with the argumentation put forward, he has the right to challenge this decision in court.
What to do if you don't have enough points
As noted above, a residence permit in Australia for Russians and citizens of other countries under the program of independent professional migration is provided if they gain the required number of points assigned to them for each of the selection criteria.
If you cannot get the required points, you can:
- If there are relatives in Australia, document the relationship with them. Such foreigners always have priority over the rest of those wishing to immigrate to the Green Continent.
- Contact the employer and ask him to assist in the paperwork. Highly qualified personnel are always welcomed.
- Present an Australian university diploma, if available. For former students, a residence permit is issued out of turn.
- Propose a promising business project to the state / territory government. These entrepreneurs are eligible to move to Australia without earning points.
It is obvious that the attitude towards immigrants in this country is quite loyal.
Several recommendations for an applicant for a residence permit
Obtaining a residence permit in Australia is not problematic for those applicants who can bring some benefit to the country. Therefore, first of all, you need to consider how you can attract Australians to your side: the ability to make profitable investments in the local economy, a promising business project, or the presence of high qualifications and experience in a field in which there is a shortage of personnel.
Otherwise, it is recommended that you try to immigrate through an educational program. After graduating from an Australian university, there is a chance to find a job in the country and stay permanently.
What follows the expiration of the residence permit
The standard in Australia is a residence permit for 5 years. After this period, the temporary residence permit can be renewed. Documents must be submitted one month before the end of the 5-year deadline. The application can be submitted online (online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login) or in paper form directly at the Immigration Department.
If a foreign citizen temporarily residing in Australia has complied with all migration requirements, after a residence permit, he can apply for a permanent residence permit - permanent residence.
After 5 years of residence with permanent residence status, you can obtain citizenship. At the same time, you will not have to renounce the citizenship of the Russian Federation.
Output
Australia is on the list of countries that are loyal to immigrants. It is not difficult to obtain a residence permit in this state, especially for students, qualified specialists, businessmen and those who wish to reunite with their families.
Compliance with the requirements for residence permit holders is the key to obtaining a permanent residence permit, and then - an Australian passport.
