To receive regular updates on information relating to visas register with us and tick the Visas box.

• Permanent Visas
• Temporary Visas
• Bridging Visas
• Protection Visas

These categories may be further sub-divided into the categories shown to the right.

Visas are issued according to their class and subclass, although they tend to be referred to solely on the basis of their subclass, eg subclass 136 - Skilled Independent, which is actually a Class BN visa.

To receive regular updates on information relating to visas register with us and tick the Visas box.

Permanent Visas

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Holders of permanent visas are granted almost the same rights as an Australian citizen. They are allowed to settle in Australia permanently, and to depart and return to Australia without restriction within a period of 5 years from the date of the visa grant - so long as the visa has been validated by way of entry into Australia ( generally at immigration clearance at a designated airport or seaport ) within the period stated on the visa. If they have not obtained Australian citizenship status within this 5-year period they will need a Resident Return visa to re-enter the country more than 5 years after the original visa has been granted.

Applicants for permanent visas generally apply under the Skilled Program, Business Skills Program, or Family Program. A complete list of permanent visas is available here.

Temporary Visas

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A temporary visa is usually the route to Australia for people that do not meet the criteria for a permanent visa, or who do not want to remain in Australia permanently. Holders of temporary visas may have various restrictions attaching to their stay in Australia - for example, not permitted to work, must not undertake any formal studies - and the visa holder must leave Australia or arrange a replacement visa by the date stated on the visa.

Holders of a temporary visa are required to pay tax on income earned whilst in Australia, but do not have access to a range of benefits or public health cover in Australia. That said, citizens of certain countries (including the UK) remain entitled to emergency medical cover when they are in Australia. An extension of private health cover may therefore be desirable.

There are many different sub-classes of temporary visa - for a complete list click here and for more details click here.

Bridging Visas

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A bridging visa is an interim holding visa that is granted to certain non-citizens who are in Australia, whose visa has generally expired, and who are awaiting the outcome of an application for another category of visa, the intention being to give lawful status to that person whilst their application is being processed. More details are available by clicking here.

Protection Visas (also referred to as the Refugee and Humanitarian Program.)

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Australia provides humanitarian assistance to people in need overseas for whom resettlement in another country is the only option available if they are to avoid human rights abuse. Assistance is provided under Australia's commitment to the UN Refugee Convention, and in particular the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Refugee Protocol.

The Convention defines a refugee as someone who:

• Is outside his or her country of nationality or their usual country of residence, and
• Is unable or unwilling to return or to see the protection of that country due to a well founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.

Protection visas may give a refugee permanent residency status, or temporary residence for 3 years if the refugee has entered Australia illegally or on fraudulent documents, during which time he or she may apply for a permanent Protection Visa.

Review Procedures
Decisions to refuse or cancel a visa within Australia are usually capable of being reviewed by one of the following authorities:

• Migration Review Tribunal
• Refugee Review Tribunal
• Administrative Appeals Tribunal

The nature of the review in question will determine the most appropriate tribunal to appear before -if you require assistance on a review matter please contact us.

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