Moving to Australia: Relocation Guide

To obtain a work visa or permit for your employee to work in Australia, your first step is to determine the appropriate Australian visa based on the employee's skills, qualifications, and length of residence in the country.

For Australian work visas with a "skilled worker" requirement, your employee may have to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). You can help the employee submit an EOI through SkillSelect, an online system where Australian immigration officials evaluate potential skilled worker candidates.

If your employee receives an invitation to apply based on their EOI, they can submit their Australia visa application through ImmiAccount, another online service in the Australian immigration system.

Remember, employees will need multiple documents throughout the application process. These include their driver's licence or other state-issued ID, birth certificate, diplomas and other educational certificates, and background checks. Any documents not in English must be translated before submission.

Each Australian work visa has its own requirements. In general, however, visa applicants must possess the qualifications, skills, and experience for the type of work they will do in Australia. Proof of a university degree may be required, although a combination of trade qualifications and relevant experience is often sufficient.

Visa applicants may need to demonstrate English language proficiency. The Temporary Skill Shortage visa and other permits may also require your employee to meet specific health and character requirements. This typically involves some health exams and police clearance documents to demonstrate good character.

A formal assessment of qualifications is often required for Australian skilled work visa applications in Australia. This helps ensure your employee has the qualifications and skills that meet the standards held by native Australians working in similar positions. To validate English language proficiency, these assessments typically involve your employee taking standardised tests, such as the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

In the Australian immigration process, each occupation has its own assessing authority to evaluate applicant qualifications. The assessing authority may request educational transcripts, employment references, or other documentation that supports your employee's expertise. Depending on your employee's occupation, additional standardised tests may be required.

As an employer, you can help your employee prepare for assessments by providing guidance on the required documentation and assessments. You can also establish contact with the assessing authority on behalf of your employee to learn more about applicable assessment requirements.

While you can help your employee with much of the Australian immigration process, they are also responsible for preparing many important documents. So, which documents do they need to get ready?

The answer to that question depends on the specific visa they apply for. Australia's Department of Home Affairs (DHA) can give you a checklist of documents your employee will need. However, this list will apply to nearly all applicants, so your employee can start by preparing these documents:

• Valid passport: The passport must be valid for the intended duration of stay in Australia, with some extra time as a buffer.
• Educational documents: Gather certified copies of diplomas, transcripts, training certificates, or any other relevant academic credentials.
• Employment references: Employees should provide reference letters from previous employers and documents verifying their employment history. They should also include a resume or CV listing positions held and duties performed.
• English language proficiency: If required, provide results from standardiszed language tests such as the IELTS or TOEFL.
• Police certificates: Obtain police certificates from all countries where your employee has resided for 12 months or more in the last ten years.
• Health exams: Employees should undergo any necessary health examinations required for the visa subclass and provide doctor-certified records with the results.

Additional documentation may be required. As you learn from the DHA about additional documents your employee must provide, add them to your list.

While work visas grant temporary residency at a minimum, your employee may eventually want to transition to permanent residency in Australia. There are several paths to permanent residency, and your employee's work visa determines how it works.

The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa is for employee-sponsored skilled workers with a job offer from an Australian employer. If your company has a presence in Australia and your employee qualifies for this subclass, they are immediately granted permanent residency. 

The Skilled Nominated Visa (subclass 190) is similar, but it is for employees nominated by an Australian state or territory government. Recipients are also granted permanent residency. For both visas, family members and eligible partners on a Family visa are also granted permanent residency.

Work visa holders are required to have adequate health insurance during their stay in Australia. Whether they have a permanent or temporary visa affects how they can get coverage.

If your employee is on a permanent visa or they're transitioning to permanent residency, they are eligible for Medicare, Australia's public healthcare system. However, even with Medicare coverage, some employees may opt for private health insurance. While Australia's public healthcare system is world-class, your employee can access a broader range of services and avoid potential waiting times with private health insurance. Or, if your company provides employees private healthcare coverage, your employee may simply prefer that option.

The type of health insurance required for temporary visa holders depends on your employee's specific visa subclass and their country of origin. Some visas, such as the Temporary Skill Shortage visa, require visa holders and their family members to hold adequate private health insurance for the duration of their stay.