Are you looking for a new experience? Have you ever thought about travelling to Australia? It may seem like a world away from Germany, but that is part of its appeal to the thousands of people who make their way to this beautiful and unique nation each year. Why not join them to see for yourself what it is about Australia that makes it so appealing to the multitude of travellers who make their way to Australia from across the globe every year?

If this is something that you would like to do, you may be wondering how to go about it. Where do you start?

What To Consider Before Applying For A German Visa For Australia

Well first up, you need to decide what it is that you are travelling to Australia for, that is, what is your purpose? Is it to have a holiday and to experience Australia as a tourist? If so, you might consider a Visitor Visa.

Or you may be looking to combine your trip to Australia with work to help fund your trip, in which case a German working holiday visa Australia might be the one for you.

Perhaps you would like to live in Australia for a longer period, or even permanently. A Skilled Visa, which you may qualify for based on your skills, qualifications and/or employment experience may be granted for a temporary or permanent term. Some visas also provide a pathway to a permanent residence visa after a certain period, provided all prescribed requirements are satisfied.

Alternatively, a Student Visa is a great way to gain a qualification and at the same time, experience all that Australia has to offer. You can travel around the country to explore its unique sights and sounds and world-famous attractions during your course breaks. You can also work on a limited basis.

Other reasons for travelling to Australia might include to live with your Australian spouse or de facto partner, or a parent or child. There are a range of Family visa options available for you to consider.

How about investing or conducting a business in Australia? For this, you may look at a Business Visa.

As you can see, there are many types of visas on offer, with each one designed for a specific purpose. The key is in determining exactly what it is that you are seeking to do in Australia, and then finding the most suitable visa for you.

And another aspect to consider is that for some visa types, you may also have the option to bring eligible family members with you to Australia as dependent applicants.

It is important to be aware that for certain visas, as a German citizen, you may be required to provide evidence 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.

Before we move on to discuss some of the main German visa for Australia options on offer, it is important to point out just how complex migration law can be. Even when looking at a supposedly simple case of a short visitor visa, things can get pretty complicated in some cases. And the last thing anyone would want is to have their visa application refused because they have misunderstood the requirements and/or made a mistake. Not only would you be wasting time and money for what is ultimately an unsuccessful result, but it could also result in more serious consequences were you to apply for a further visa to Australia thereafter. In the most serious of cases, you could be subject to an exclusion period, or even a re-entry ban.

It is therefore very important to arm yourself with the right information and get it right the first time around. The good news is that there is help out there.

You Can Engage a Registered Migration Agent To Help You

PAX Migration Australia are trained professionals in migration law, with a team of experts who have the skills, qualifications and a wealth of experience to help people like you apply for a German visa for Australia.

They will meet with you to gain an understanding of your individual circumstances, and what it is that you are hoping to achieve in Australia. They will then provide you with tailored advice just for you, which you can consider and then decide where to go from there. Start off on the right foot by contacting PAX Migration Australia to explore your options for a German visa for Australia.

Get More Information About Why To Choose PAX Migration Australia For Your German Visa To Australia

To find out more about why you should consider choosing PAX Migration Australia, feedback from our clients about what they 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 in Adelaide

Immigration Agent Adelaide

Migration Agent Australia

Best Migration Agent Adelaide

PAX Migration Adelaide

Migration Agent Elizabeth

Migration Agent Aberfoyle Park

Migration Agent Glen Osmond 

For more information on what you can expect from PAX Migration Australia when you engage our services, including the process involved, please see the following articles:

Migration Agent Hallett Cove 

Migration Agent Kensington Park 

Migration Agent Morphett Vale

Migration Agent Oaklands Park

Migration Agent Reynella

Migration Agent Glenelg

Migration Agent Henley Beach

Migration Agent Noarlunga

Migration Agent Semaphore

What German Visa (For Australia) Options Are Available?

Now that we have taken care of the important aspects to think about as you embark on this journey, what are the potential visa options that may be available to you?

Working Holiday Visa

A working holiday visa Australia Germany can be a great option if you are looking to combine your holiday to Australia with work to help fund your travels. And you can even study or complete training for a short period. The Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa has a 12-month term (from the date of entry to Australia).

There is also now the option to qualify for an additional 12-24 months in Australia on a second, and thereafter third German working holiday visa Australia, provided you meet specified requirements.

This means a potential overall stay period in Australia of three years, which provides you with a great opportunity to not only experience what the country has to offer and to live as a local, but also the time to work on the elements you would need to meet in order to apply for a further German visa for Australia, such as a skilled temporary or permanent visa.

The main requirements to qualify for your first year working holiday visa Australia Germany are to:

  • Be aged between 18 and 30 years (inclusive) at time of application;
  • Intend to temporarily stay in Australia as a genuine visitor, with your primary purpose being to have a holiday;
  • Demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your personal expenses for the first 3 months of your stay in Australia (minimum of $5,000) and for your departure fare;
  • Have a reasonable prospect of securing employment in Australia;
  • Have a good immigration record; and
  • Meet health and character criteria.

How To Qualify For A Second And Third Year Working Holiday Visa

Among the requirements to qualify for a second year working holiday visa, you must complete a minimum 3 months (88 calendar days) of ‘specified subclass 417 work’ whilst you held your first working holiday visa.

To be eligible for a third year working holiday visa, you need to 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.

What Is Specified Subclass 417 Work?

This means work that is undertaken in a ‘specified’ industry and area of Australia.  It must also be remunerated as per the relevant Australian legislation and awards.

Voluntary work can be included as specified work to apply for a second or third Working Holiday visa if it relates to bushfire recovery work completed in declared bushfire-affected areas.

The meaning of specified work for this purpose is set out below:

  • 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.

The work undertaken must be the primary role, function or activity completed during your employment. Support work in any of the abovenamed industries will not meet the specified work criterion to qualify for a second- or third-year working holiday visa Australia Germany.

You can learn more about the option to extend the working holiday visa term in our articles on the Major Working Holiday Visa Changes and Changes to the Working Holiday Maker Visa 2019.

Visitor Visa

If you would like to visit Australia for a short-term period, you might consider a Visitor Visa.

A Subclass 600 Visitor Visa is aimed for people who are looking to travel to Australia as a tourist, for business or to visit family. It is temporary and may be granted for a period of up to 3, 6, or 12 months.

Alternatively, you might look at a Subclass 601 Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) Visa, which also enables you visit Australia for a shorter period. It is for people who would like to travel to Australia for a holiday, to visit family or friends, or as a business visitor. It also permits study/training for up to 3 months.

The subclass 601 visa is a temporary visa available to citizens of certain countries only, including Germany, and allows you to enter Australia on an unrestricted basis for a 12-month period, with a maximum 3 month stay allowed each time you enter Australia.

You could also consider a Subclass 651 eVisitor visa, another option available to German citizens. With this visa, you can visit Australia as many times as you wish in a 12-month period, with a maximum stay of up to 3 months every time you enter. It is aimed for German nationals who are seeking to travel to Australia for tourism, to visit family or friends, or as a business visitor. You can also study or complete training for up to 3 months in Australia as a subclass 651 visa holder.

Skilled Visa

If you would like to travel to Australia for work, a Skilled Visa (or Work visa as it is commonly known) could be the one for you. You might be able to qualify for a German working visa Australia based on your skills, experience and/or qualifications. To be eligible, your skilled occupation must also be included on the relevant Skilled Occupation List (SOL) as specified for the skilled visa subclass which you seek to apply for.

There are a number of Australian work visa for German citizen options available for you to consider, each with its own specific requirements, obligations and visa conditions that you will need to abide by. Temporary and permanent visa options are available, in addition to a provisional visa, which is where a temporary visa may result in the grant of a permanent visa if prescribed criteria are satisfied.

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

Please see our Australian Skilled Migration Visa List article to discover the various types of skilled visas available, key aspects related to skilled migration and links to more information if you are interested in applying for an Australian work visa for German citizen.

Further information about the South Australian state sponsored options is also available in our article on the South Australian State Nomination Program.

Business Visas

To establish and manage, invest in a business, or innovate a product or service to commercialise in Australia, you might like to consider if you are eligible for a Business Visa. To qualify, you must obtain sponsorship approval by a State or Territory Government.

With temporary and permanent residence visa options available, this type of visa too an provide a pathway for you to settle in Australia.

Get More Information About The Business Visa

Our Comprehensive Guide to a Business Investment Visa article provides a detailed outline of the Business visa options available for you to consider.

More information about the South Australian state sponsored Business visa options is also available in our South Australian State Nomination Program and 188c Visa Eligibility articles.

Student Visa

Another popular choice for travelling to Australia is to complete a course/qualification. Australia’s education system is world-renowned and recognised for its top schools, colleges and universities to provide students with a superior education that will put them in good stead to pursue careers in whatever field they may choose.

The Subclass 500 Student Visa is a temporary visa which can have a term of up to five years (depending on the duration of the course/s selected).

A wide range of courses and subjects are on offer, from a raft of highly regarded education institutions. Sectors include school, vocational, higher education, postgraduate research, non-award and English courses.

For more information, see our Student Visa article for an outline of the eligibility criteria and how you can apply for a Student Visa.

And to discover some of the benefits of studying in Australia, we recommend that you refer to our article Is Australia the best place to be an international student.

Temporary Graduate Visa

The Subclass 485 visa is a temporary visa which consists of a Graduate Work and a Post-Study Work stream. The visa term can range from between 18 months to 4 years, depending on which stream you apply for, as well as your qualification.

It is worth considering a Temporary Graduate visa once you have completed your course of study/qualification as a student visa holder. The subclass 485 visa allows you to live, work and study in Australia and can be a good next step in your visa pathway in Australia. It is often considered a great option as a ‘stepping stone’ for people who are seeking a pathway to a longer-term, or permanent visa in Australia. It is a flexible option with no restrictions, which means you can essentially spend your time in Australia in any way you wish (for example, you are free to work for any employer for as long as you like, study, or travel around Australia).

You can also use the time that you have in Australia whilst the holder of a Temporary Graduate visa to prepare for and satisfy relevant criteria in order to be eligible for a further German visa for Australia, by gaining work experience, completing a qualification and/or residing in a specified area of Australia for a certain minimum period, for example.

Adding to these potential benefits, changes recently introduced mean that you could be eligible for a second subclass 485 visa with an extended stay in Australia of an extra 1-2 years (if you satisfy prescribed criteria). Learn more about this option in our Temporary Graduate Visa Subclass 485 article.

Get More Information About The Temporary Graduate Visa

For more information about the temporary graduate German visa for Australia, please see the following articles. These are designed to help you to understand how the Temporary Graduate visa application works, and the issues you need to be aware of when embarking on this type of application.

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?

Australian Graduate Visa FAQs

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

Illustrating the great breadth and depth of German visa for Australia options on offer, add to this the Family Visa stream. These visas are specifically designed for relationships, whether that be romantic partner/spouse relationships, parent or child to name a few. These is a visa available for virtually any purpose. As previously stated, the key is selecting the right one for you, based on your unique individual circumstances.

Partner Visa

Included in the family visa stream is the Partner visa, which is aimed for foreign nationals who are in a married or de facto relationship with an Australian partner or eligible New Zealand citizen.

The Partner visa provides a pathway to permanent residence to migrate to Australia from Germany.

Eligible onshore applicants may be eligible to apply for a Subclass 820/801 Partner Visa.

The equivalent offshore application is the Subclass 309/100 Partner Visa.

Prospective Marriage Visa

Alternatively, if you are  intending to marry your Australian partner (or eligible New Zealand citizen), you may consider applying for a Subclass 300 Prospective Marriage Visa. This application must be lodged offshore.

Please see our Partner Visa Sponsor Approval article for more information about a Partner or Prospective Marriage visa.

Other Family Visas

In addition to the Partner and Prospective Marriage Visa subclasses, there are a range of other Family visas you might like to consider, including a Parent or Child visa.

Learn more about these other family visas in our article about Sponsoring a family member.

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In conclusion, we note that the above discussion provides an overview of the types of German 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 German 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 German 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.

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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