Australia Substantive Visas | A Comprehensive Guide

Are you planning to move to Australia? Australia substantive visas are your ultimate solution. Here is the detailed guidance for the substantive visas.

This guide will answer all the questions related to substantive visas, such as

• What is a substantive visa?
• How does a substantive visa differ from other visas? 
• Which visas are on the list of substantive visas?
• What is the difference between bridging visas and substantive visas?
• Can I get permanent residency through substantive visas?

So, let’s get started with an in-depth overview of the substantive visas in Australia.

Overview: What is Australia Substantive Visas

Australia offers different substantive visa options for qualified people. The substantive visa can be the path to temporary as well as permanent residency. Therefore, visas can have various purposes, such as studying, doing business, traveling, or having family reunions.

The main plus point of an Australian visa is the legal stay in Australia. This means that applicants can enter and leave Australia based on Australian laws and regulations.  

Australia Substantive Visas are

• Visitor visas
• Student visas
• Work visas
• Skilled migration visas
• Permanent  residency visa

However, if you want to live in Australia temporarily or permanently, the substantive visa option is for you. It gives the permission to live legally, temporarily, or permanently. Meanwhile, bridging, enforcement, and criminal justice visas are not part of substantive visas.

Is a substantive visa different from other visas? 

Australia’s Substantive visas will give a different experience. Firstly, the visa holder will enjoy legal status in Australia without any res. So the person can easily enter and leave Australia. In contrast, some visas don’t grant this freedom.

Secondly, the substantive visas are specially designed for long-term stays. These visas allow the visa holder to continue their work, study, or tourism in Australia.

Thirdly, there are higher chances of getting a permanent residency. For example, skilled migration and other work visas lead to PR (permanent residency).

Types of Australia Substantive Visas

1. Visitor Visa 

Visitor visa subclass 600 has six different streams that have different validity periods. The subclass 600 is an ideal visa for those who want to travel to Australia. Thus, the visa holder can stay up to 3, 6, or 12 months.

The following streams are present in the list of subclass 600 visitor visas,

• Tourist stream (apply outside Australia)
• Tourist stream (apply inside Australia)
• Business visitor stream
• Approved destination status stream
• Frequent traveler stream
• Sponsored family stream

Hurry up and fill out the visa application form for any of the following visitor visa subclass 600.

Visa Stream	Purpose	Stay Duration	Cost
Tourist Stream (Outside Australia)	Tourism, family visits, or cruises	Up to 12 months	AUD 195
Tourist Stream (In Australia)	Tourism or family visits	Up to 12 months	AUD 490
Business Visitor Stream	Short-term business visits	Up to 3 months	AUD 195
Approved Destination Status Stream	Chinese citizens on organized tours	As specified in the grant letter	AUD 195
Frequent Traveller Stream	Frequent travel by Chinese citizens	Up to 10 years (3 months/stay)	AUD 1,435
Sponsored Family Stream	Family visits (sponsored by a resident)	Up to 12 months	AUD 195

2. Student Visa 

Australian government opens the door to education as a subclass 500 visa. This visa is for students who are looking for a good substantive visa to pursue their studies. The validity of a visa depends upon the length of the course. Normally, it ranges from three to five years. 

Thus, the visa holders can also apply for the subclass 600 visa if the visa expires before graduation. After graduation, there are also many options for work visas. For example, you are now eligible for the temporary graduate subclass 485 visa.

Student visa subclass 500 also gives the work rights of 48 hours a fortnight. So, if you are in the Master’s or doctoral course, you can work in Australia to fund your education. The subclass 500 visa application will cost AUD 1600. The cost also depends on the course and institution. 

3. Work Visas: Australia Substantive Visas

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482)

A temporary skill shortage visa is for people who are skilled and want to work in Australia. The nominator or sponsor selects such skilled people. These visas are open when there is a shortage of skilled workers in Australia. There are the following eligibility requirements for subclass 482,

• A nomination letter from a credible sponsor.
• There must be the right skills.
• You must pass the English proficiency test.

For the medium-term stream, skilled workers can stay in Australia for up to four years. However, the stay duration increases for Hong Kong’s passport holders by five years. The cost is AUD 3115 for a medium-term stream subclass 482.

So, if you are a skilled worker, then you must give a shot at a bright future in Australia. Fill out the visa application form. And unlock the tons of work opportunities in Australia.

Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189)

Are you a British national who has the skills to work in Australia? Or are you a New Zealand or Hong Kong Visa holder with the required working skills? Then, there is a skilled independent visa for you (subclass 189).

Skilled Independent Visa is for those who want permanent residency in Australia. The main plus point of this visa is that there is no need for a nominator or sponsor. 

There are two main requirements for this substantive subclass 189 visa:

• You must be invited to apply for this visa.
• Your age must be under 45.

Let’s have a look at the different visa streams of subclass 189.

Visa Stream	Purpose	Stay Duration	Cost
Points Tested Stream	For invited skilled workers to live and work permanently in Australia without a sponsor or nominator	Permanent	AUD 4,765
New Zealand Stream	For eligible New Zealand citizens with demonstrated commitment to live and work permanently in Australia	Permanent	N/A
Hong Kong Stream	For eligible Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport holders for PR.	Permanent residency	AUD 4,765

Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

There is another permanent work visa for skilled workers offered by the Australian Government. As the name indicates, there is a need for nomination to get this visa. 

There is the following eligibility requirement for subclass 186 visas:

• You must have the necessary skills for the job.
• An Australian employer must nominate you.
• Health and character requirements.

This visa gives you the freedom to live permanently in Australia. Now, if you are unable to get a nominator in Australia, then there is another solution. Many people get visitor visas and travel to find work. Therefore, it becomes easy to apply for an employer nomination scheme later.

Bridging Visas vs Substantive Visas

A Bridging Visa B (BVB) allows individuals to leave the country and return. Thu, people can travel while waiting for their substantive visa application. The validity of a Bridging Visa B is between three to twelve months. Thus, it also allows temporary travel outside of Australia.

Pathway to Permanent Residency

Many substantive visas can serve as a pathway to permanent residency in Australia. For instance, the temporary skill shortage visa (subclass 482) can lead to PR after years. Thus, you are eligible for the employer nomination scheme (Subclass 186)

Subclass 189 and 190 visas allow skilled workers to transition from temporary to permanent residency.

Many international Student Visa (Subclass 500) holders can apply for the PR. Thus, they can apply for skilled migration programs after completing their studies.

Final Verdict

Australia’s Substantive visas are the ultimate solution for many travelers. These visas give you lots of options based on your particular purpose. So, whether you want to study, work, or visit, there are many substantive visa options. This article has covered all the substantive visa options. Know your needs and apply now.

FAQS

What is a substantive visa in Australia? 

A substantive visa is any visa that allows lawful entry and stay in Australia. For example, a visitor visa, student, work, or any other visa. Thus, these visas give temporary or permanent residency in Australia.

Can I convert from a tourist visa to a bridging visa in Australia?

A bridging visa is granted to the applicant who applied for the substantive visa. This is for a shorter period to make the applicant stay till the visa processing.

What is the validity limit of a Bridging Visa B?

 A Bridging Visa B is valid for between 3-12 months. It gives visa holders the freedom to travel outside of Australia.