The Australian government's Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) guards Australia's borders and lets only select people in. While a more temporary visa such as a travel visa or a working holiday visa is generally easy to obtain, getting a permanent work visa involves a complex process. However, there are several visa options available to working visa applicants, and several things that applicants can do to increase their chances of obtaining Australian working visas. If an applicant manages to get a permanent work visa, he can live and work in Australia indefinitely. While he will not be able to vote, he will get access to government services and incentive programs such as first home owner grants.

Australian Working Visa for Professionals and Skilled Migrants

The visa program for professionals and skilled migrants, also known as the General Skilled Migration program, allows individuals with professional skills and good English abilities to live in Australi. Applicants have to be between 18 and 45 years of age and have relevant work experience or eligible Australian qualifications.

An applicant for this visa has to pass a points-based test, which rates him according to his age, English language test score, nominated occupation, work experience, fluency in any of Australia's regional languages, experiences in Australia, and his partner's work skills. DIAC has the details of these criteria and how much an applicant can score for each requirement on its website. As of 2010, the pass mark for this category is 120. If an applicant has trouble determining his score, he can contact an immigration lawyer, immigration attorney, or migration agent. These experts in Australian migration often offer free initial consultations by phone or in person.