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Immigration
Australia has an international reputation for welcoming migrants from all over the world.
The Australian Government continues to actively encourage people to bring to our country a diverse range of cultural, skilled and investment assets. With nearly one in four Australians now born overseas, it plans to shape Australia’s future with a well balanced migration programme centred on the following main categories of applicants:
- Business owners and investors
- Skilled workers
- Students
- Family
Australian property ownership can certainly have a significant and positive impact in the assessment of visa applications, particularly for the following visa applicant
Business Owners and Investors
It is a great time to invest in this country!
Australia has traditionally been a safe and politically stable country. Its economic strengths, world leading corporate governance standards, innovative skills base, cultural diversity and political stability make it a very attractive investment destination.
Australia’s economy has been rated as one of the most resilient in the world to the current global economic issues. Its GDP is consistently growing at a level in excess of the global average and its products are in demand across a varied range of markets.
Under the Business Skills migration programme overseas business owners and investors are encouraged to bring their knowledge, experience and capital resources to Australia to establish or manage an existing business, or simply invest in its resources.
Ownership of Australian property will certainly underpin your commitment to establishing a solid investment base in this country. There is no doubt that to own assets in Australia, particularly property, indicates a seriousness about settling here and is evidence that you will have no difficulty establishing yourself in Australia, which is a criterion for a successful application.
You will be able to:
- establish a new or existing business in Australia
- travel in and out of Australia any number of times as long as the visa is valid
- have your family accompany you to Australia. They will have access to work and study rights
- establish a pathway to permanent residence.
Most Business Skills pathways to permanent residency require a two stage process. Initially you enter Australia on a provisional (temporary) visa for 4 years and, after satisfactory evidence of a specified level of business or investment activity, you may then apply for permanent residence.
Please note: Should you only want to visit Australia to inspect properties with a view to investing in them, or to personally inspect properties already owned and check on the management of them by people acting on your behalf here would seem to be good grounds for the grant of a temporary Business Visitor visa at least.
Self-Funded Retirees
The Business Skills programme also caters for the self-funded retiree who would like spend their ‘golden years’ experiencing our very relaxed lifestyle, but returning to their home base in their ‘twilight years’.
The Australian Government is keen to attract this type of resident, albeit on a temporary basis.
This visa will allow you to:
live in Australia for four (4) years, with possible options of further 4 year periods
have your partner accompany you to Australia
work in Australia for up to 20 hours per week
travel in and out of Australia any number of times as long as your visa is valid
Please note: Although a strong net asset base is a mandatory consideration for assessment, Australian property ownership can be counted towards meeting this criterion.
If you begin early and build up a property portfolio in Australia, then, once you are 55 years of age and your children all left home, you can spend long periods in Australia without losing citizenship or property rights in your original country.
Whether you have family and friends in Australia, or you just think it is a great place to spend a lot of time, you can have the best of both worlds: your country of citizenship and Australia!
Skilled Workers
As Australia has come through the Global Financial Crisis in a stronger position than most other economies skill shortages in many industries are expected to continue.
Australia’s population is also expected to grow quite significantly over the next 20 years and we will need many new skilled workers to help ease the financial effects associated with both an aging population and sustained economic growth.
To maintain its competitiveness in world markets and continue to supply quality domestic services Australia is actively encouraging skilled migrants to our shores.
Work opportunities are particularly abundant in the mining and engineering, health, and building trade industries.
Australian property ownership is generally not a requirement for this migration programme, however such an investment can only strengthen your application.
Students
Australia’s education system is recognised internationally for its quality and it supports our country’s reputation as one of the best places in the world for students to ‘live, learn and grow’.
The cost for enjoying the Australian experience is quite affordable. Course fees and living expenses are very comparable to those paid in countries such as Canada and the United States.
Once you have completed your studies employment opportunities within Australia and around the world will be there to explore!
People who want to study in Australia may be granted a Student visa that entitles them to come to Australia on a temporary basis for a specified period to undertake study at an Australian educational institution.
In most student visa applications evidence is required of the financial resources of the family from which the student comes before a visa will be granted.
The ownership of property in Australia would again strengthen your application, particularly if it is property in which you can be accommodated or if the income from it could be used to support you while studying here.
Recent changes in legislation have allowed students (who are on a student visa for a minimum 12 months) to purchase property without a limit on its value, thereby allowing you to invest in the more desirable areas.
Parents who also invest in properties are demonstrating a commitment to support their children in a safe environment.
Student Guardians
Included in the Student visa programme, is the provision for a parent, or close relative, to accompany their child student (under 18 years) to Australia under the popular Student Guardian visa.
This temporary visa will allow you to:
· live in Australia for the same length of time as the student for whom you are guardian, or until the student turns 18 years of age
· bring dependent children with you to Australia, but only if they are under six years of age and meet specific eligibility requirements
· study in Australia for up to three months
Following completion of high school, your child could pursue a university or trade education and eventually gaining permanent residency. They may then be in a position to sponsor your own permanent migration to Australia.
As the Australian Government will be most concerned about where the child and guardian will live, the purchase of property will have a very significant bearing in the assessment of visa applications.
This is just a snapshot of the Australian immigration system where Australian property investment may be of significant consideration.
As there are many other visa options available, including those under the very extensive Family Migration stream.
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