04 Apr A Complete Guide to Immigrate to Australia from India (2024)
With its mile-long beaches, excellent standard of living, and world-class educational institutes, Australia is fast becoming the first choice of students and working professionals looking for a bright career and a great life ahead. If you wish to migrate there, then this guide is for you.
We’ll walk you through the entire process of immigrating to Australia from India and help you with various immigration pathways, eligibility criteria, and documents required to move to Australia. But first, let us talk about different Australia visa categories:
Different Australian Visa Categories
Before you plan to go to Australia, you need to know the types of visa categories Australia offers and under which visa category you can apply for an Australian visa. Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs lists the following visa categories:
- Visitor visas
- Studying and training visas
- Family and partner visas
- Working and skilled visas
- Refugee and humanitarian visas
- Other visas
- Repealed visas
Various visas fall under these categories. Let us know what these are.
|
Visitor visas |
|
| Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) | Visitor (subclass 600) |
| eVisitor (subclass 651) | Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) |
| Transit visa (subclass 771) | Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) |
|
Studying and training visas |
|
| Training visa (subclass 407) | Student Guardian visa (subclass 590) |
| Student visa (subclass 500) | |
|
Family and partner visas |
|
| Adoption visa (subclass 102) | Contributory Parent visa (subclass 143) |
| Aged Dependent Relative visa (subclass 114) | Dependent Child visa (subclass 445) |
| Aged Parent visa (subclass 804) | New Zealand Citizen Family Relationship (temporary) visa (subclass 461) |
| Carer visa (subclass 116) | Orphan Relative (subclass 117) |
| Child visa (subclass 101) | Parent visa (subclass 103) |
| Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884) | Partner (Provisional and Migrant) visa (subclass 309 100) |
| Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864) | Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300) |
| Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 173) | Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115)
|
| Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) | |
|
Working and skilled visas |
|
| Business Innovation and Investment (permanent) visa (subclass 888) | Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 494) |
| Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa (subclass 188) | Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
|
| Business Owner (subclass 890) | Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) |
| Business Talent (Permanent) visa (subclass 132) | Skilled-Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476) |
| Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 124) | Skilled Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 489) |
| Global Talent visa (subclass 858) | Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887) |
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) | Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) |
| Investor visa (subclass 891)
|
State or Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892) |
| Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) | State or Territory Sponsored Investor visa (subclass 893) |
| Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) | Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) |
| Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme (subclass 187) | Temporary Activity visa (subclass 408)
|
| Temporary Work (Short Stay Specialist) visa (subclass 400) | Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) |
|
Refugee and humanitarian visas |
|
| Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202) | Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785) |
| Protection visa (subclass 866) | Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790) |
| Refugee visas (subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204) | |
|
Other visas |
|
| Bridging visa A – BVA – (subclass 010) | Medical Treatment visa (subclass 602) |
| Bridging visa B – BVB – (subclass 020) | Resident Return visa (subclass 155 157) |
| Bridging visa C – BVC – (subclass 030) | Special Category visa (subclass 444) |
| Bridging visa E – BVE – (subclass 050 and 051) | Special Purpose visa |
| Crew Travel Authority visa (subclass 942) | Investor Retirement visa (subclass 405) |
| Former Resident visa (subclass 151) | Confirmatory (Residence) visa (subclass 808) |
| Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988) | |
|
Repealed visas |
|
| Business (Short Stay) visa (subclass 456) | Labour Agreement visa (subclass 120) |
| Business Skills (Provisional) visa (subclass 160 and 165) | Labour Agreement visa (subclass 855) |
| Domestic Worker (Temporary) Diplomatic and Consular visa (subclass 426) | Media and Film Staff visa (subclass 423)
|
| Domestic Worker (Temporary) Executive visa (subclass 427) | Medical Practitioner visa (subclass 422) |
| Electronic Travel Authority (Business Entrant) visa (subclass 956 and 977) | Medical Treatment (Short Stay) visa (subclass 675) |
| Electronic Travel Authority (Visitor) visa (subclass 976) | Medical Treatment Long Stay visa (subclass 685)
|
| Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 121 and 856) | Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 119 and 857) |
| Established Business in Australia visa (subclass 845) | Religious Worker visa (subclass 428)
|
| Exchange visa (subclass 411) | Retirement visa (subclass 410) |
| Foreign Government Agency (subclass 415)
|
Skilled Designated Area Sponsored visa (subclass 496) |
| Government Agreement visa (subclass 406)
|
Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495) |
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 175)
|
Temporary Work (Entertainment) visa (subclass 420) |
| Skilled Independent visa (subclass 885) | Temporary Work (Skilled) visa (subclass 457) |
| Skilled Regional Sponsored visa (subclass 475) | Tourist visa (subclass 676) |
| Skilled Regional Sponsored (subclass 487) | Temporary Work (long Stay Activity) visa (subclass 401) |
| Skilled Sponsored visa (subclass 176) | Training and Research visa (subclass 402) |
| Special Program visa (subclass 416) | Visiting Academic visa (subclass 419) |
| Sponsored visa (subclass 886) | Foreign Affairs or Defence sector visa (subclass 576) |
| Sport visa (subclass 421) | Higher Education Sector visa (subclass 573) |
| Superyacht Crew visa (subclass 488) | Independent ELICOS Sector visa (subclass 570) |
| State or Territory Sponsored Regional Established Business in Australia visa (subclass 846) | Non Award Sector visa (subclass 575)
|
| Postgraduate Research Sector visa (subclass 574) | Student Guardian visa (subclass 580) |
| School Sector visa (subclass 571) | Vocational Education and Training Sector visa (Subclass 572) |
You can read about these visas in detail here. If you don’t know under which category you fall and which visa you should apply for, use Australian governments Visa Finder to get a better clarity according to your preference and eligibility.
Eligibility Criteria to Immigrate to Australia
As mentioned above, there are many visas for which you can apply and go to Australia. Most Indians who go to Australia mostly go on student or working and skilled visas namely Skilled Independent visa (Subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). What are the eligibility criteria to apply for these visas? Let’s find out.
Eligibility criteria to get skilled independent visa (Subclass 189): The applicant must have work experience in a nominated occupation on Australia’s Skilled Occupation List. Your age must be between 18- to 44-year-old. Additionally, one must possess a skill assessment report by a designated authority for that particular occupation.
Eligibility criteria to get skilled nominated visa (Subclass 190): The top most requirement is that you must be nominated by an Australian state or territory. You also must have previous work experience in the occupation in which you are nominated on Australia’s Skilled Occupations List. Additionally, applicants must be under 45 years of age when invited to apply.
Other than meeting the above requirements, the applicant must have:
- 60 points or above
- IELTS test score of 6 or above
- Health and police clearance certificates
- Expression of Interest (EOI) submitted to the Australian Immigration Authority
Points Structure for Different Visa Types
In order to be eligible to apply for Australian visas, you need to score minimum required points in Australia PR points calculator. The higher the points, better will be your chances of receiving an invitation to apply for Australian PR visa. The points vary depending on the type of visa. Let us take Skilled Work Subclass 190 visa as an example. For this visa, the points will be distributed based on the following factors:
|
Age |
|
| Age Group | Points |
| 18-25 | 25 |
| 25-33 | 30 |
| 33-40 | 25 |
| 40-45 | 15 |
|
Educational Qualification |
|
| Qualification | Points |
| Doctorate | 20 |
| Bachelor’s degree | 15 |
| Master’s degree | 10 |
| Diploma or trade qualification | 10 |
Remember, doctorate, bachelor’s degree and master’s should be done from an Australian educational institute or an educational institute whose standard is recognized in Australia. On the other hand, a diploma or trade qualification must only be awarded by an Australian educational institute. The master’s degree must be from an Australian educational institute after doing 2 years of academic study in a relevant field. Also, note that the points will be allotted only for your highest qualification.
|
English Language Skills |
|
| Level of English | Points |
| Competent | 0 |
| Proficient | 10 |
| Superior | 20 |
|
Work Experience from Outside Australia |
|
| Number of years | Points |
| Less than 3 | 0 |
| 3 or 3+ | 5 |
| 8 | 15 |
|
Partner Skills |
|
| Requirements | Points |
| Spouse/de facto partner competent in English and non-Australian is also an applicant | 5 |
| Spouse/de facto partner meeting age, English and skill criteria, non-Australian is also an applicant | 10 |
| Single (with partner who is Australian citizen) | 10 |
Documents Required for Immigrating to Australia from India
It is important to keep all your documents ready so that you don’t miss out on immigrating to Australia just because of a lack of documents when the time comes. So, make sure you have the following documents:
- IELTS score indicating proficiency in the English language
- Skill assessment results, indicating how skilled an applicant is
- National Identity Card
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificate
- Medical certificate
- Police certificate
- Passport
- Job offer
- Proof of funds
Australian Visa Changes 2024-2025
The Australian Government Introduced some changes in certain visa. These changes have already been implemented from 1st of July 2024. An applicant must be aware of these changes to move forward with visa preferences and eligibility.
1. Ballot Visa System for Certain Countries
Applicants from India, China, and Vietnam will need to enter a ballot (lottery system) for some visa categories, particularly in high demands areas. This change has been made to manage the flow of applicants.
| Country | No. Of Applicants |
| China | 5000 |
| India | 1000 |
| Vietnam | 1500 |
2. New Visa for Young Indian Professionals
A specific visa pathway is being introduced for young professionals from India in technology field. Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professional Scheme (MATES) visa allows Indian citizens to work in Australia, promoting cross-border employment opportunities between the two nations.
There are 3000 places for primary applicants under this new Visa. These are mining, renewable energy, engineering, artificial intelligence, information and communication technology, financial technology, and agricultural technology. An applicant among 3000 will have to pay a fee of $365 against the Visa application.
3. Restriction in On-Shore Visa Applications
The Federal Government of Australia announced that following visa holders can no longer apply for another Australian student visa while they are in Australia.
- Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485)
- Medical Treatment Visa (subclass 602)
- Electronic Travel Authority Visa (subclass 601)
- eVisitor Visa (subclass 651)
- Maritime Crew Visa (subclass 988)
- Medical Treatment Visa (subclass 602)
- Visitor Visa (subclass 600)
4. Changes in Temporary Graduate Visas Stay
The Federal Government of Australia has reduced the maximum stay period for this Visa. They have also changed the age limit for Temporary Graduate Visa to 35 years or below. However, Masters and PHD applicants are still eligible to apply for this visa under 50.
Another change in visa subclass 486 is that it is down to 3 streams from 4. The fourth stream, that is the Replacement Stream, has been removed. Here is the revised version of 3 stream and their changed names:
| Previous Stream Name | New Stream Name |
| Graduate Work Stream | Post-Vocational Education Work Stream |
| Post-Study Work Stream | Post-Higher Education Work Stream |
| Second Post-Study Work Stream | Second Post-Higher Education Work Stream |
5. Temporary Skills Visas
There has been one important change in temporary visa is that if visa holders are applying for a job switch or changing their sponsoring employer, they can stay longer than before. The updated stay period could be a consecutive 180-day period to maximum 365 days (about 12 months). Staying more than the maximum period will lead to deportation from the country. These changes are applicable to the following visa holders:
- Temporary Work (skilled) (subclass 457)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494)
- Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482)
6. Introducing Skills in Demand Visa
The Australian government is rolling out a new Skills in Demand Visa by late 2024 to replace the current Temporary Skills Shortage visa (Subclass 482). This update is designed to address workforce shortages efficiently.
This visa will last four years and has three key categories that is Specialist Skills, for top professionals in fields like tech and renewable energy; Core Skills, which focuses on in-demand jobs and has an updated job list to make applications easier; and Essential Skills, aimed at lower-paid workers in industries like aged care.
Step-by-Step Process for Migrating to Australia in 2024
If you know the whole process of migrating to Australia, then the process of migrating will be a smooth one. Otherwise, you might make mistakes that might add up to you getting a visa rejection. So, to improve your chances of getting your visa approval, we are sharing a step-by-step process to migrate to Australia.
Step 1: Gather All Your Documents
Gather all the documents you’ll need, including your birth certificate, educational qualifications, details of work experience, and other relevant proofs, before submitting your application.
Step 2: Submit Your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect
If you are applying for a skilled visa, you’ll be required to have a ‘create’ or ‘update’ your Expression of Interest (EOI) in SkillSelect. This states that you wish to migrate to Australia based on the skills you hold.
Step 3: Registration of Interest (ROI)
When your EOI is finalized, then lodge a Registration of Interest (ROI), which will further confirm your interest in applying for the visa.
Step 4: Eligibility
Ensure you are eligible for the specific visa type you would be applying for. You will be shortlisted based on those eligibility criteria and invited to apply for nomination for the visa if you meet the eligibility. You must present all the required document proof if you are nominated upon selection.
Step 6: Receive SkillSelect Invitation
On your approval, you will get a SkillSelect invitation to apply for the visa through this platform.
Step 7: Create an ImmiAccount
Log in to your ImmiAccount on the website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs, filling out personal information and validating your email.
Step 8: Application Form
According to your visa preference, fill in the application form with all the details regarding personal information, intention of visit, and the intended duration of stay.
Step 9: Pay Application Fee
The last step of the process involves paying the application fee through a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. This amount varies according to the visa type.
Step 10: Lodging Application
After accomplishing all of the above, you can lodge your application on the ImmiAccount.
Step 11: Checking Application Result
Track and monitor your visa applications on the ImmiAccount. Processing times are subjective; everything will be alright if you get your visa after a couple of months.
FAQs on Immigrating to Australia
We have covered everything you need to know regarding immigrating to Australia from India in 2022. Read the frequently asked questions about going to Australia to clear your doubts further.
- How much does it cost to migrate to Australia from India?
Ans. Depending on your visa type, the cost of immigration varies. For example, for a Business Permanent visa, one has to pay AUD 2,590 while the same person has to spend AUD 4,115 for a Work-steam Permanent visa.
- Which are the most popular visas to get PR in Australia?
Ans. If you wish to obtain permanent residency in Australia, the popular visas are work-stream permanent visas, family-stream permanent visa, and business or investor-stream permanent visa.
- If I am applying for a permanent Australian Skilled worker visa, what is the minimum number of points required to qualify?
Ans. You will need a minimum score of 65 points to qualify for the Australian Skilled worker visa in 2022.
- If I am 40 years old, can I immigrate to Australia from India?
Ans. Yes, you can immigrate as the maximum age for immigration to Australia is 45 years.
Final Words
We hope you got all your answers regarding immigrating to Australia from India in 2024. Still, do you need more information? Contact immigration experts in Mohali. Get in touch today and start your journey towards moving to Australia from India.
