| Business Residency Permit Requirements | Citizens from all APEC economies except New Zealand must apply for a visa to take up temporary business residence in Australia. |
| Categories of Permits | Intending temporary business residents can apply for a Temporary Business (Subclass 457) visa.
The 457 program is the most commonly used program for employers that need to sponsor suitably qualified overseas workers to Australia to fill skilled vacancies on a temporary basis.
Processing steps:
1. Australian or overseas employers wanting to sponsor overseas workers must first apply for status as a Standard Business Sponsor.
2. An approved Standard Business Sponsor can nominate to fill a specified number of skilled vacancies within their business over a two year period.
3. Suitably qualified overseas employees or other sourced professionals and tradespeople then apply for a 457 visa to fill the vacancies nominated by the Standard Business Sponsor. More information online: www.immi.gov.au/allforms/visiting_business_long.htm |
| Arrangements for Intra Company Transfers and Specicalists | A 30 - 40 day processing standard applies to visa applications received from executives, senior managers and specialists (including associate professionals, skilled tradespersons and related workers) on intra-company transfer, where all the necessary documentation is complete. |
| Documentation Required |
- Valid passport or equivalent travel document;
- Recent passport-sized photos of all applicants;
- Completed application Form 1066, accompanied by evidence of an approved sponsorship and nomination, or proof that the nomination has been lodged but not yet decided;
- A declaration regarding the applicant’s ability to meet health and character requirements (a chest x-ray is usually required and a full medical exam is required in some cases); and
Evidence that the visa applicant is aware of the salary they are to be paid. |
| Method of Lodgement | The easiest way is for Australian-sponsored visa applications to be lodged electronically via the DIMA website: www.immi.gov.au, click on 'online services', then go to 'Business'.
To lodge an electronic application, the visa applicant must include the nomination approval number or Transaction Reference Number, which should be obtained from the applicant's sponsoring employer.
Applications not lodged electronically must be lodged on paper form 1066 in Australia at the same office which processed the sponsorship application, even if the visa applicant is overseas.
Overseas business-sponsored cases cannot be lodged electronically: They must be lodged on paper form 1066 at the Australian diplomatic mission closest to the applicant's place of residence.
Service Sellers: People coming to Australia to negotiate or enter into agreements for the sale of services in Australia do not require sponsorship, but should provide a supporting letter from their overseas employer confirming the nature of their negotiations in Australia. Service Sellers can lodge their application in Australia or overseas, depending on their location. These applications cannot be lodged electronically, only on paper using form 1066. |
| Processing Time | Varies from office to office. Electronic applications are given priority processing. Special arrangements are in place for personnel on intra-corporate transfer. |
| Length of Validity and Stay | Permitted length of stay is dependent on the period requested by the employer, and conforms to validity.
Validity for sponsored cases is from 3 months to 4 years. Validity for service sellers allows for an initial stay in Australia of up to 6 months. |
| Application Fee | Each visa application attracts a visa application charge (VAC). See www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/990i_business.htm for the current VAC.
For applications lodged in Australia, the fee is payable in Australian dollars, preferably by credit card or cheque. Fees for applications lodged electronically must be paid by credit card.
For applications lodged overseas, the fee is payable in the currency of that country. Contact the Australian diplomatic mission to confirm the fee amount and payment arrangements. For SBS, the sponsoring employer also incurs fees. See: www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/990i_booklet11.htm |
| Extension | Temporary business residents may apply for a further 457 visa with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs without departing Australia. Applicants for a further visa must submit new visa application forms (either electronically, or on paper) and provide evidence that the employer remains an approved sponsor and that an approved nomination exists for the position. In some cases, the sponsor may be required to lodge a new sponsorship and/or nomination application. The sponsoring employer must demonstrate that the continuing presence of the business resident will benefit Australia. The same fee is payable for the new visa. |
| Rules Relating to Accompanying Dependants | Dependant family members may accompany the principal visa holder and can be included in the same application at no additional fee. Dependent family members:
· may work in Australia, though licensing or registration may be required for some occupations; may attend school but are responsible for any fees charged. |
| Review/Appeal Procedures | A decision to refuse a visa application may be appealed if the applicant is in Australia and the visa application was lodged in Australia. |
