How does a trip to Australia sound? Did you know that there are a wide range of visa options available, something to suit virtually any purpose? You might be seeking a holiday, study or a Cyrpus work visa, for example. And how long would you like to stay in Australia for? Are you seeking a short visit, a longer temporary stay or even to settle in Australia permanently? After discovering the benefits and opportunities in Australia, you may decide to stay indefinitely!
And did you know that for certain types of visas, you may be able to include eligible family members as dependent visa applicants, which means they may accompany you to Australia?
Where Do You Start?
Given the plethora of options on offer, the key is to find the right visa for you. But how do you do this, and where do you start?
As you prepare to embark on this journey, it is important to be aware of just how complex Australia’s migration laws are. Although you are free to engage in the process yourself, there is a lot of detail contained in the legislation which is not widely known to the public. It takes years of training and experience to gain a good understanding of how the process works, and thereby maximise your chance of a successful outcome.
Internet searches and seeking the advice of family and friends may be fine as a starting point, but if you consider the depth and breadth of information that sits behind the surface, you may realise that having a detailed and extensive knowledge of this subject area will put you in good stead for getting your application right, and consequently, improving the prospects for it to be approved.
Think about it like this – there are experts for virtually anything these days. Accountants, lawyers, doctors, plumbers, builders, teachers … the list is virtually endless. These people know the ins and outs of their subject area and are the best source of information and advice when we need help.
Migration law is the same. Consider the potential benefits of putting yourself in the hands of professionals who know this topic back to front. Even if you just seek initial advice and take it from there on your own behalf. You decide how far you take the process.
Get Help With Your Cyprus Visa (For Australia) By Engaging a Registered Migration Agent
Look no further than PAX Migration Australia. Our people are trained professionals in migration law, and have the skills, qualifications and many years of experience to assist people like yourself to apply for a Cyprus visa for Australia.
They will provide you with tailored advice which is prepared specifically for you, based on your own individual circumstances, goals and needs. They will carefully and clearly explain the visa requirements for Cyprus citizens, and how these fit with your situation. Whether that be a Cyprus immigration work permit, a visitor visa, family or other type of visa, whatever your reason for seeking to travel to Australia, the team of experts at PAX Migration Australia are there to help you through this process.
Contact PAX Migration Australia to discover your options for a Cyprus visa for Australia.
Get More Information About To Choose PAX Migration Australia For Your Cyprus Visa
To learn more about why you should consider choosing PAX Migration Australia, what our clients think about us, and why obtaining expert advice and assistance from a migration agent can be beneficial in achieving a positive outcome on your migration matter, please see the following articles:
Selecting a migration agent in Australia
Should I use a migration agent or immigration lawyer for my application?
Migration Agent Aberfoyle Park
To see what you can expect from PAX Migration Australia when you engage our services and the process involved, we recommend that you refer to the following articles:
Migration Agent Kensington Park
What Cyprus Visa (For Australia) Options Are Available?
Now that we have covered how you can get help with your Cyprus visa for Australia application, let’s now take a look at the main types of visa options that are on offer to Cyprus citizens and passport holders.
It is also important to be aware that for certain visas, as a Cyprus citizen, you may be required to demonstrate that you meet the English language requirement to qualify for the relevant visa. This may require you to complete an English language test and attain a prescribed minimum score.
Working Holiday Visa
The Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa can be a good option if you are looking to travel to Australia for a holiday, and you would like to be able to engage in work to help supplement your finances. You can even complete short term study or training as a working holiday visa holder. It allows you to spend 12 months in Australia from the date of your first entry.
Another benefit is you that you have the option to extend your stay in Australia if you qualify for a second and third year working holiday visa, which would enable you to spend an additional 12-24 months in Australia. This can be a great option if you’d like to continue your stay in Australia as you explore the many exciting sights and sounds that this beautiful and unique nation has to offer. A potential extension can also be a good opportunity for you to work towards qualifying for a further Cyprus visa for Australia if you seek to remain in Australia thereafter.
For instance, you can use your time in Australia as a working holiday visa holder to gain skilled work experience to allow you to later qualify for a Skilled Visa in your nominated occupation.
You can utilise the time to live and work in a certain state or territory of Australia so that you can satisfy criteria to be eligible for a state sponsored skilled visa.
Or perhaps you may seek to reside in Australia permanently with your Australian spouse or de facto partner. To be eligible for a Partner Visa, one requirement you may need to satisfy is to demonstrate that you have lived with your Australian spouse or de facto partner for a certain minimum period to time. The time you have in Australia as a working holiday visa holder can be used to accumulate the time you will need to apply for a partner visa.
What Do You Need To Know About A Working Holiday Visa (For Cyprus Citizens)?
One of the most important points to be aware of if you are thinking about applying for a working holiday visa is that there is a limited age bracket within which you can apply. Cyprus passport holders are eligible to apply for a subclass 417 visa between the ages of 18 and 30.
If you apply for a working holiday visa while you are 30, but you turn 31 before a decision is made on your application, the visa may still be granted.
How Do You Qualify For A Working Holiday Cyprus Visa (For Australia)?
In addition to the abovementioned age requirement, to qualify for a working holiday visa, the main visa requirements for Cyprus citizens are to:
- Intend to stay temporarily in Australia as a genuine visitor; your primary purpose must be to have a holiday;
- Demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to meet your personal expenses for your first 3 months in Australia (minimum of $5,000) and for your departure fare;
- Have a reasonable prospect of obtaining employment in Australia;
- Have a good immigration record; and
- Satisfy health and character criteria.
How Can You Extend Your Working Holiday Visa?
As noted above, If you meet certain conditions, you can extend your working holiday visa and stay in Australia for an additional 12-24 months if you are later eligible for a second and third working holiday visa. This means your can potentially have an overall stay period in Australia of up to 3 years, subject to meeting specified requirements.
One of the main criteria to qualify for a second year working holiday visa is to complete a minimum 3 months (88 calendar days) of ‘specified subclass 417 work’ whilst you held your first working holiday visa.
And to be eligible for a third year working holiday visa, you must complete a minimum of 6 months (179 calendar days) of specified work whilst you held your second subclass 417 visa (or a Bridging Visa which is in effect and which was granted when you applied for your second year working holiday visa), on or after 1 July 2019.
To be eligible for a second- or third-year working holiday visa, you must also continue to hold an eligible passport, meet the age limit at time of application (the same as for a first year Working Holiday visa) and have abided by the conditions on your previous working holiday visa.
What Is Meant By Specified Subclass 417 Work?
To be eligible for a second and third year working holiday visa, it is very important to have a good understanding of what ‘specified subclass 417 work’ means.
This is defined as work that is undertaken in a ‘specified’ industry and area of Australia. It must be remunerated based on relevant Australian laws and awards.
Bushfire recovery work completed in declared bushfire-affected areas can be included as specified work, even if on a voluntary basis, when applying for a second or third Working Holiday visa.
Specified work means:
- plant and animal cultivation in regional Australia;
- fishing and pearling in regional Australia;
- tree farming and felling in regional Australia;
- mining in regional Australia;
- construction in regional Australia;
- bushfire recovery work in declared bushfire affected areas only, after 31 July 2019; and
- critical COVID-19 work in the healthcare and medical sectors anywhere in Australia, after 31 January 2020.
Learn more about how you can extend your working holiday visa in our articles on Major Working Holiday Visa Changes and Changes to the Working Holiday Maker Visa 2019.
Are There Any Work Limits On A Working Holiday Visa?
Even though you are permitted to work in any location, occupation or industry whilst in Australia as a working holiday visa holder, you will be required to abide by visa condition 8547, which imposes a work limitation.
Under this condition, you can work for any one employer generally for a maximum 6 month period.
You are however allowed to work for the same employer for more than 6 months without first asking permission from the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) as long as the work is:
- in different locations and work in any one location is not for more than 6 months;
- in plant and animal cultivation anywhere in Australia;
- in certain industries only in northern Australia;
- assisting bushfire recovery efforts (from 17 February 2020);
- in critical sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic including agriculture, food processing, health, aged and disability care and childcare (from 4 April 2020).
If you would like to work for longer than six months with one employer in any other case, you must request permission from the Department.
What Other Cyprus Visa (For Australia) Options Are Available
Skilled Visa
Australia’s skilled migration program is designed to attract migrants who can significantly contribute to the Australian economy and fill vacancies where Australian sourced labour is unavailable. High participation rates in the workforce help stimulate growth and as a result, generate more employment for Australians.
There are a wide range of Cyprus work visa options available, with each one targeted for a specific purpose. These include independent, state sponsored, family sponsored and employer sponsored visas. There are also temporary, provisional, and permanent options available. A provisional visa is a temporary visa which may result in the grant of a permanent visa if specified requirements are met.
An important component of the skilled visa stream is the role it plays in regional development, by contributing skills and labour that cannot be sourced from the local employment market, as well as encouraging investment and promoting spending in regional areas. There are specific skilled visa subclasses for regional areas to meet this need.
A skilled visa is based on your skills, qualifications and/or experience in a skilled occupation that is on the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) for the relevant visa subclass for which you intend to apply.
Each type of skilled visa has its own characteristics, visa requirements for Cyprus citizens and visa conditions by which you must abide as the holder of the relevant skilled visa. Visa conditions may, for example, impose limits on things like where and for whom you can work, and where you must live, work and/or study for a certain period (including any of your accompanying family members).
Some skilled visas are also based on a points test, for which you must achieve a minimum points score before you can lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI). Only upon receipt of an invitation can you then proceed to apply for the visa itself.
As a skilled visa applicant, you may be subject to an age limit, and you may require a skills assessment.
As you can see, there is a lot of detail which you need to have a good understanding of before you apply for any visa, to ensure that you meet all relevant requirements. And if your application is successful, you need to be aware of your visa conditions and ensure that you comply with your obligations. Serious ramifications can result if you fail to do so, which can include the cancellation of your visa and possible further consequences regarding your eligibility to later apply for a further visa to Australia.
Some of the main skilled visas are:
- Subclass 189 Skilled (Independent) visa;
- Subclass 190 Skilled (Nominated) visa;
- Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa;
- Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa;
- Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa;
- Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa.
Get More Information About The Skilled Visa
We recommend that you refer to our article on the Australian Skilled Migration Visa List to learn about the various types of skilled visas available, key aspects related to skilled migration and links to further information if you are considering applying for a Cyprus immigration work permit.
Information about the South Australian state sponsored options is also available in our South Australian State Nomination Program article.
Visitor Visa
If it is a visit to Australia for a short-term period that you are after, you might like to consider a Visitor Visa.
A Subclass 600 Visitor Visa is aimed for people who are seeking to travel to Australia for tourism, business or to visit family and friends. It is temporary and can have a visa term of up to 3, 6, or 12 months.
Alternatively, a Subclass 651 eVisitor visa is another option which is open to Cyprus citizens. It allows you to visit Australia as often as you like in a 12-month period, with a maximum stay of up to 3 months each time you enter the country. It is aimed for Cyprus citizens who are seeking to travel to Australia for tourism, to visit family or friends, or as a business visitor. You can also complete a short study or training course for up to 3 months as a subclass 651 visa holder.
Student Visa
A Subclass 500 Student Visa is designed for people who would like to study in Australia. It is a temporary visa with a term of up to five years (the length will depend on the duration of the course/s you select to study).
There are a wide range of courses and subjects at all level that you can choose from, including vocational, higher education, postgraduate research as well as non-award and English courses.
We recommend that you refer to our Student Visa article for an outline of the eligibility criteria and how you can apply for a Student Visa.
To discover some of the benefits of studying in Australia, please see our Is Australia the best place to be an international student article.
Temporary Graduate Visa
The Subclass 485 visa is a temporary visa with a term of between 18 months and 4 years, depending on the stream for which you apply, and on your qualification. You must select one of two streams when you apply, being either a Graduate Work or Post-Study Work stream.
As a subclass 485 visa holder, you can live, work and study in Australia on an unrestricted basis. A temporary graduate visa can be a good choice if you are seeking a flexible visa that is not subject to limitations. It can also be a good step to take if you are thinking about formulating a pathway to a longer-term stay, or permanent visa in Australia. Because of its flexibility, you can use the time you have in Australia as the holder of a Temporary Graduate visa to prepare for and meet the criteria to qualify for a further Cyprus visa for Australia. This could include gaining work experience in a skilled occupation, completing a qualification and/or living in a specified area of Australia for a prescribed minimum period.
And the good news is that as a result of recent changes, you may be eligible for a second temporary graduate post-study work visa, which would enable you to extend your stay in Australia by an additional 1-2 years (if you satisfy prescribed criteria). You can learn more about this option in our Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 article.
Get More Information About The Temporary Graduate Visa
To read more about the subclass 485 Cyprus visa for Australia, please see the following articles, which we have produced to help you to understand how the temporary graduate visa application works, and the issues you need to be aware of if you are considering applying for this visa.
International Graduates Continue to Get Caught Out on Graduate Visa
What are different temporary graduate visa streams and how to qualify for these streams
Qualification criteria for Temporary Graduate subclass 485 visa
Occupation lists – what are they and how do they apply to graduates?
Comprehensive Guide to Temporary Graduate Subclass 485 Visa
Top 5 Graduate Visa Tips AND How to spend your time on a graduate visa wisely
Most common refusal reasons for graduate visas
Family Visa
The Family Visa stream is all about human relationships, including romantic partner/spouse relationships, child and parent relationships.
Partner Visa
A Partner visa is a family stream visa for Cyprus citizens who are in a married or de facto relationship with an Australian partner or eligible New Zealand citizen. It provides a pathway to a permanent residence visa to immigrate to Australia.
The Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa is an onshore application. If you are outside Australia, you need to lodge a Subclass 309/100 Partner Visa application.
Prospective Marriage Visa
If you are engaged to marry your Australian partner (or eligible New Zealand citizen), you may consider a Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa (an offshore application).
Read more about the Partner or Prospective Marriage visa in our Partner Visa Sponsor Approval article.
Other Family Visas
There are a range of other Family visas you may be interested in, including a Parent or Child visa.
You can find more information about these other family visas in our Sponsoring a family member article.
Business Visas
If you would like to establish and manage, invest in a business, or innovate a product or service to commercialise in Australia, a Business Visa may be the one for you.
One of the main visa requirements for Cyprus citizens to qualify for a Business visa is that you need to apply for and be granted sponsorship approval by a State or Territory Government.
The business visa stream offers both temporary and permanent visa options. It can also provide a pathway to permanent residence in Australia, so that you can settle here indefinitely.
Get More Information About The Business Visa
See our Comprehensive Guide to a Business Investment Visa article for a detailed outline of the Business visa options available.
To read about the South Australian state sponsored Business visa options, please see our articles on the South Australian State Nomination Program and 188c Visa Eligibility.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
In conclusion, we note that the above discussion provides an overview of the types of Cyprus visas for Australia. Australia’s migrations laws are complex, and each case is different. We recommend that you seek professional advice before you proceed with applying for a Cyprus visa for Australia, as being fully informed about the process and requirements that apply will give you the best chance of achieving a successful outcome on your application, and thus lessen the chance that it will be refused. A migration professional can help you to do this. Start off on the right foot by contacting PAX Migration Australia today.
For up-to-date advice on a Cyprus visa for Australia, book your confidential consultation with a migration agent in Adelaide. PAX Migration Australia is a leading immigration advice service based in Adelaide.
Get More Information
Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates and additional information.
Contact us to book a no-obligation consultation to find out more about applying for a Cyprus visa for Australia.
Sources/Links
Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs – Immigration and citizenship – Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program – specified work conditions – Specified subclass 417 work
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/whm-program/specified-work-conditions/specified-work-417
Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs – Immigration and citizenship – Working Holiday Maker (WHM) program – specified work and conditions – 6 month work limitation
Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs – Immigration and citizenship – Skilled migration program – Overview
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/skilled-migration-program
