Australia and New Zealand Immigration News

A new pilot visa programme has been launched this month to make it easier for business and tourist visitors from India to apply for a visa by allowing them to apply online for a visa to travel to Australia.

Andrew Robb, Trade and Investment Minister said: 'India is one of the world's fastest growing outbound travel markets. This trial will make it easier for Indian visitors to apply for visas to travel to Australia'

The company that runs Australia's immigration detention centres has been awarded a further five-year contract, despite concerns about its conduct at centres it currently manages.

Temporary workers in Australia can in some circumstances now apply for a Subclass 400 visa for an increased period of six months. Previously the maximum period of stay was three months. These changes were introduced on 23rd November 2014.

The subclass 400 visa is a short term, temporary work visa which is normally issued quickly to employ overseas workers who are urgently required for specialist level work in Australia. Overall it is much easier obtaining a Subclass 400 visa than, for example, a Subclass 457 Temporary skilled work visa.

Australia and China signed a free-trade agreement on 17 November 2014, which include a number of changes to immigration between the two countries.

The measures were announced as part of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA). This will result in more Chinese nationals coming to Australia, however some people in Australia are concerned about the impact this may have on the jobs market in Australia.

Some of the changes include:

We remind you that in September the Australian senate voted to save four visa classes which relate to family members. These visa categories had previously been discontinued from June 2014.

Age Dependent Relative VisaRemaining Relative VisaAged Parent visaCarer visa.

These types of visa allow Australian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor relatives to come and join them in Australia. They were first introduced in the Migration Act of 1958.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced a new permanent residence visa aimed at wealthy investors.

The 'Premium Investor Visa,' which will be launched next summer, is available for applicants who can invest $15 million or more into the Australian economy.