Genuine Temporary Entrant

The Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement is an integrity measure designed to ensure that the Student Visa Program is used for its intended purpose and not as a means for international students to obtain de facto permanent residency in Australia.

The GTE requirement enhances the integrity of the student visa program by ensuring that only genuine applicants are granted student visas. To be eligible for any student visa, applicants must demonstrate to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection that their intention to stay in Australia is genuinely temporary.

When evaluating the GTE requirement, the department will consider:

• The applicant's circumstances
• The applicant's immigration history
• If the applicant is a minor, the intentions of the parent, legal guardian, or spouse
• Any other relevant factors

Eligibility

To be eligible for streamlined student visa processing, you must meet all the following criteria:

• At the time of submitting your student visa application, you must hold a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) with a university or non-university higher education provider that participates in the streamlined visa processing arrangements for a:
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Master’s degree
  • Doctoral degree
  • Non-award university student exchange program
  • Non-award study abroad program
• If you are enrolled in a package of courses, all preliminary courses must be with an education provider participating in the streamlined visa processing arrangements or with a nominated educational business partner of that provider.

Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)

The Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) is a temporary visa designed for young people who wish to travel and work in Australia for up to one year. This visa promotes cultural exchange and strengthens relationships between Australia and eligible countries.

This visa allows you to:

• Stay in Australia for up to 12 months
• Work in Australia, typically for up to six months with each employer
• Study for up to four months
• Leave and re-enter Australia as many times as you like while the visa is valid

To apply for this visa, you must:

• Have never previously entered Australia on a Work and Holiday (Temporary) Visa (subclass 462)
• Hold a valid passport from a country that participates in the Working Holiday Program with Australia
• Be at least 18 years old but not yet 31
• Be a genuine visitor with the primary purpose of holidaying in Australia
• Have sufficient funds to support yourself during your working holiday (approximately AUD 5000)
• Have enough money to purchase a return or onward travel ticket at the end of your stay
• Not be accompanied by dependent children at any time during your stay

You must be outside Australia when applying for your first Working Holiday Visa and when the visa decision is made. If you apply while in Australia, you must be in Australia when the visa is granted. If you apply from outside Australia, you must remain outside Australia until the visa is granted.

Typically, you can only work for one employer for up to six months.

Student Guardian Visa (Subclass 590)

This visa is for individuals who wish to come to Australia to

provide care and support for:

• A student visa holder under 18 years of age, or
• A student visa holder aged 18 or older who requires care and support due to exceptional circumstances.

This visa allows you to:

• Stay in Australia as the guardian of an international student under 18 years of age who is studying in Australia on a student visa.
• Study an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) for less than 20 hours per week.
• Study another course for up to three months.
  Typically, only one Student Guardian Visa holder is allowed per student visa holder, though a guardian may care for more than one student.

Visa holders can remain in Australia for the same duration as the student visa holder or until the student turns 18 years old.

This visa generally does not permit you to work. You can apply for this visa either from within or outside Australia.

To apply for this visa, you must:

• Be the parent or legal guardian of the student, or a relative who is 21 years or older and has been nominated in writing by a parent or legal guardian.
• Not bring family members under the age of 6, except in certain circumstances.
• Be able to provide accommodation, general welfare, and other support to the student, unless you are applying with the support of your home country's government.

You must also:

• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have sufficient funds to support yourself, any accompanying dependents, and the student.
• Have adequate health insurance for yourself and any dependents accompanying you.
• Not owe any money to the Australian government, or have arranged to repay any outstanding debts.
  Intend to stay in Australia temporarily.
• Provide biometric information if requested.

Skill Select and EOI

As of July 1, 2012, the Australian Government introduced a new system for general skilled migration called 'Skill Select.' This is an online system or talent pool that assists employers, as well as state and federal governments, in finding suitable skilled workers. To participate, applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to indicate their intention to migrate to Australia. After submitting an EOI, applicants must wait for an invitation from the immigration department before they can lodge their visa application.

You can only apply for your visa after receiving this invitation. An EOI is valid for two years, and if you do not receive an invitation within that time, you will need to submit a new EOI. Compared to the previous skilled migration process, 'Skill Select' is more efficient, with visa applications typically processed within 10 weeks. To reduce the waiting time for an invitation, applicants should aim to maximize their points. It's important to note that an EOI is not a visa; therefore, applicants must extend their current visas or return to their home countries before their current visa expires.

Points Test

The points test includes various categories, such as age, English language proficiency, skilled employment, qualifications, credentialed community language, study in regional Australia, partner skills, professional year, and nomination by a state or territory government or sponsorship by an eligible family member in a specified/designated area.

Some graduates may struggle to obtain 30 points in the age category if they are under 25 years old, and others may find it challenging to achieve a score of 7 in all four components of the IELTS exam. However, those who achieve a score of 7 in all bands of the IELTS exam can earn an additional 10 points for their English language ability.

Skills Assessment

A crucial step before submitting an EOI is obtaining a skills assessment. Each assessing authority has its own requirements, and many have raised their English language requirements. However, there may be alternative options if you do not meet these language requirements.

For example, in the field of accounting, if you do not achieve a score of 7 in each band of the IELTS exam, you can opt to complete a professional year instead. A professional year program offers internship opportunities, and your employer may offer you a permanent job upon completing the internship.

Additionally, completing a professional year can earn you an extra five points, which may help you meet the requirements and pass the skills assessment. Professional year programs are available for accounting, engineering, and IT. As of January 15, 2014, the Australian Computer Society requires either one year of post-qualification work experience or a professional year certificate to obtain a skills assessment for migration purposes. For those who have difficulty finding employment, a professional year may be a viable alternative.

Definition of Partner

Partners of Australian citizens, permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens can apply to enter and/or remain in Australia permanently. The term "partner" includes:

• Those planning to marry
• Legally married (de jure) partners
• De facto partners

Visa Options

Partner Visa (Subclasses 820 and 801):
This visa is for individuals already in Australia who are married to or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Partner (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 309) and Partner (Migrant) Visa (Subclass 100):
These visas are for individuals outside Australia who want to enter and stay in Australia with their partner, who must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.

Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300):
This visa allows individuals outside Australia to enter the country and marry their fiancé, who must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen. After the marriage, visa holders can apply to stay in Australia permanently.

Requirements

The general requirements for all parent visa categories include:

• You must be a parent of a child who is an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, or eligible New Zealand citizen.
• Your child must be settled in Australia, typically having lived there as a resident for at least two years, and must be willing to sponsor you.
• You must pass the balance of family test, meaning at least half of your children must live permanently in Australia, or you must have more children living permanently in Australia than in any other single country.
• You must meet the health and character requirements.
• If applying for a visa category that includes the word "aged" in its title, you must meet the definition of an Aged Parent (refer to the Parent Migration booklet for details).

Visa Options

Parents can apply for migration to Australia under one of the following visa categories:

• Parent Migrant (subclass 103)
• Contributory Parent Migrant (subclass 143)
• Contributory Parent Temporary (subclass 173)
• Aged Parent (subclass 804)
• Contributory Aged Parent Residence (subclass 864)
• Contributory Aged Parent Temporary (subclass 884)