Planning to venture out into the world and leaving your home country behind is probably one of the toughest things you can do. The amount of courage you have to build up and the things you’ll have to sacrifice, not to mention the huge sum of money you have to save, are just unimaginable. And if you’re really keen on migrating to Australia, you have to accept that these are inevitable.
But like what I clearly emphasised in THIS POST, living the expat life can be rewarding. And while our motivations (which may not be totally related to Philippine politics) may differ, the end goal is almost always the same: to provide ourselves and our loved ones a better life.
So now that you’re considering to live the expat life in Australia, you may wonder, “where do I start?” Lucky for you, I’m here to outline what you need to know – and DO – should you decide to finally migrate to Australia.
Permanent or Temporary?
When we talk about migration, we usually talk about the kind and type of visa that one should be applying for. There are hundreds of different types of Australian visas. Each with its own set of restrictions, application processes, and fees. However different these visas may be, they all narrow down into two categories: permanent and temporary.
So what’s the difference? A lot. But to easily summarise the important ones, I created this table for you:
| Permanent Visa | Temporary Visa | |
| Medicare | Yes | No |
| Work | No restrictions | Limited (employer, location, work hours) |
| Stay | Permanently | Up to 3-5 years (depending on visa) |
| Path to citizenship | Yes | No |
| Guest invitations | Yes | Yes |
| Dependants | Yes | Yes |
| Travel outside Australia | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Ease of application | Relatively hard | Relatively easy |
READ: Australian Citizenship: basic guide to becoming an Aussie
Obviously, if you want to stay here in Australia for good, you should aim to get a permanent visa. However, it is not the easiest path. And unless you are applying for Skilled Migration and have a skill that is highly sought after, then it’s nearly impossible for any state or employer to sponsor you with one.
At the same time, if you just want to “test the waters” and see what being an expat in Australia feels like, then applying for a temporary visa (like a student visa) would be best for you.
Migrating as a student
Most nationals (Filipinos included) who come to live and work in Australia arrive on a student visa. Because although student visas are really expensive (tuition, show money, visa fee), it is the easiest and fastest to apply for, while at the same time giving the holder the opportunity to earn money while studying.
Another reason why most nationals opt for a student visa is because their skills (or professions) do not fall on any of the skills listed in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL). SOL is basically the list of skilled workers that Australia lacks and therefore requires. So if your skill is not on that list, then there’s virtually zero chance for you to apply for a working visa.
Take note, however, that student visas fall under the temporary visa category and student visas expire; usually around the time that the course you have enrolled on has finished.
TIP: if you apply for a student visa and want to stay in Australia for good as part of the work force, make sure to enroll on a course that leads to a skill that is on the SOL.
Migrating to Australia as a skilled worker
Skilled immigrants, especially ones who belong to technical specialisations (engineering, IT, etc) and health care (nurses), are highly sought after. If your skill falls under this category, then your prospect and chances of migrating to Australia is way bigger than most immigrants.
As a skilled immigrant, you get to virtually skip the long process and work immediately as soon as you land here in Australia. I will be discussing about skilled migration in-depth later but for now, here are the things that you need to prepare:
- Passport (obviously!)
- Transcript of Records (signed and sealed by your University)
- Diploma
- Certificates of Employment
- English proficiency test
- Money – lots of it!
Working Holiday visa
Australia’s Working Holiday Maker program allows the visa holder to stay in Australia for a 12-month holiday, during which time they can undertake short-term study and/or work. Unfortunately, this program is not available to Philippine passport holders.
Other migration options
As mentioned above, there are heaps of different visas for migration. You just have to read through them and pick the one that’s best for you. Here are other more popular visas other than the student visa and skilled migration visas:
For a full list of migration visas, visit the Home Affairs website HERE.
What to do from here
Migrating to Australia is a dream. And like most dreams, you have to work hard for it. From here on out, the best thing you can do is to save money – lots and lots of it. You’re going to need it.
You’re also gonna have to do lots of research. Read. Read a lot. And then read some more. The Home Affairs website is a good resource. Everything is laid out there and if you have any questions, you are more than welcome to shoot them an email.
Another good resource are Facebook groups that offer to answer your visa and migration questions for free. I found this Facebook group and highly recommend that you join it as well.
Once you have done enough research and are confident enough to take action, then do so carefully. You don’t want to be wasting both your time and money.
Hiring an agency
If you’re unsure and are afraid of risking it all, the best thing to do is to hire an agent/agency.
There are hundreds of immigration agents/agencies everywhere, so make sure to pick a reputable agent/agency and one that is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and always follow your gut instinct. You don’t want to be losing all the money you saved up just because you were complacent.
Summary
Migrating to Australia – or any other country for that matter – is a headache. But trust me, it’s worth it. I hope this article has given you an idea on where to start and what to do. If this article has helped you in any way, please let me know. At the same time, if you have any questions, feel free to drop in the comment box below.
Best of luck!