Migrating to Australia can be a life-changing experience, whether you come for a brief period of time, for an extended stay, or desire to remain indefinitely and pursue permanent residence. Knowing how long you can expect to remain on a visa is perhaps one of the most important things since not all visas to Australia will permit you to remain for extended periods.
Below are some of the main differences between temporary and permanent visas to Australia:
Temporary Visas to Australia
A temporary visa is, as the name implies, a visa that allows you to remain for a specified duration in Australia. The period of time can vary widely from a few days (e.g. business trip or airline crew layover) to a few weeks (e.g. tourist visa) to a few years (e.g. temporary employment visas).
There are many different temporary visas that allow you to come to Australia and some will allow you the option of prolonging the visa or obtaining a bridging visa on a path towards permanent residence, but many do not and you must leave after the visa has expired.
Some examples include:
- Tourist visas: visit Australia and explore the country by land or via cruise ship with a visa such as the tourist visa (subclass 600) for up to one year.
- Student visas: study in Australia and work up to 48 hours a fortnight with a visa such as the student visa (subclass 500) for up to five years.
- Working Holiday Visas: citizens of particular countries and within certain age ranges can travel, work, and/or study in Australia for up to 12 months with the Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417).
- Temporary work visas: skilled foreign migrants may be eligible to apply for an employment visa such as the temporary work visa (subclass 482) and remain for 2-4 years or longer.
Visas with the Ability to Pursue Permanent Residence in Australia
Most study and employment visas are initially temporary and some may have the option of allowing you to apply for subsequent visas and/or permanent residence, so it is always important to carefully inspect every visa on the Department of Home Affairs website and to speak with a qualified migration lawyer.
Many permanent resident visas fall in the category of family reunification and include visas such as partner visas (subclass 820, 801) or family and parent visas. For these types of visa applications, there are strict eligibility criteria about your spouse or family member, e.g. you must be married to or in a de facto relationship with an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
Differences Between Temporary and Permanent Visas
It should be evident by now that the key difference between a temporary and a permanent visa to Australia is that the former has a defined duration whereas the latter will allow you to remain in Australia indefinitely. Permanent visas are essential for anyone that wants a pathway to permanent residence and citizenship, as well as all of the benefits and responsibilities that come along with this.
There are other differences, however these differences have more to do with the specific visa as each visa subclass is different than the other. Since every visa has different eligibility criteria, benefits, and so on, it is always worth planning well in advance and consulting with a qualified immigration lawyer such as Gold Medal Visa.
Gold Medal Visa
Apply for temporary and permanent visas with the assistance of Gold Medal Visa.
