Top Australian Migration Myths Debunked

It’s amazing how much misconception surrounds the subject of migration to Australia.

Here, some of the top myths are debunked and the reality confirmed.

It’s impossible to move to Australia

No it’s not!

In fact, the government offers numerous different types of visa depending upon the specific circumstances concerned. The country actually welcomes visitors and migrants who apply correctly and legally.

It is true to say that you will need to meet certain qualifying criteria that vary from one type of visa to another. It’s also, admittedly, very complicated — but not for specialists who know the system.

Visas are easy if you have a job

Not true! There is a lot an employer has to do before they can offer a sponsored migration visa application.

It’s by no means routine and just admin.

You can get a visa automatically if you’re starting up a business in Australia

This is another frequent misconception.

You can’t get a visa ‘automatically’ under any circumstances (there are slight exceptions for New Zealand citizens) that entitles you to work and live long-term in the country. Saying you plan to start a business is no exception — unless you are fortunate enough to have VERY large sums of capital to invest.

There are though special visas relating to commercial situations and they can be applied for.

You can’t work if you have a holiday visa

In fact, you can, providing you have a ‘working holiday visa’. Australia has specialist advisors called a ‘migration agent’ who can assist you in applying for this status (or indeed for any other type of visa).

Of course what you cannot and mustn’t do is to enter Australia on a tourist holiday visa and then make an arbitrary decision to start working while you’re there.

If you have a family member there already, your visa is a formality

This is perhaps the most commonly-heard myth.

While the country does operate on humanitarian principles surrounding the need to reunite families, this is a long way away from saying that any family member is given priority or that such applications are a formality.

It’s a lengthy and complicated business, even if the person living in Australia is a very close blood-relative.

Preference is given to people from certain countries

While it is true that Australia has in the past given certain priorities to people from specific countries or regions, today the policy is officially totally neutral.

The visa processes and allocations are indifferent to colour, religion, ethnic origin or political affiliations. As you might expect though, it may be difficult to obtain a visa if you have a criminal record or are considered to be a security risk.

You can make all the visa applications yourself

This one is technically correct but perhaps not quite the whole story.

There are so many visas and so many different ways of going about things, that many people choose to use one of the above-mentioned migration agents. Be aware that delays can be substantial if you get things wrong when applying and rejections may be much more likely.

Nobody ever really checks your visa

Do not assume that Australia is like, for example, many Western European countries where id and visa status checks are rare due to a mixture of practicalities and political correctness.

Australia is a great democracy but one which has a reputation of rigorously and enthusiastically defending its rights in terms of deciding who lives there and on what basis. Visa status checks are relatively common — so make sure you get the right sort of visa and comply with its conditions, unless you want to get into serious trouble.

You can find out more about — Migration agent, Australian Immigration Perth,