A visa is a document that allows a person entrance into a country. They are formally registered with the government and are usually a requisite for entrance into a country by foreigners. The actual rules governing visas and when they are needed varies vastly between countries.

Visas are split between categories. Australia, among other countries, is divided into Skilled Visa for workers emigrating to the country, Working Holiday Visa for someone under 30 looking to work and live in Australia for under 2 years, Visitor Visa for small holiday or business trips, Business Visa for entrepreneurs or executives looking to emigrate to Australia, Family Visa if you have a family who can sponsor your move to the country, and Fiancée/Spouse Visa if you are married or engaged to an Australian or eligible New Zealand citizen. These can all be applied for through the Australian Visa Bureau.

Australian citizens must hold a permanent residency visa in order to be a citizen. They last for 5 years and allow a person to stay indefinitely, but can be revoked by the Minister for Immigration, in the case of criminal activity. Employers can sponsor an overseas employee to fill a vacancy, and families can sponsor a family member for immigration. For visitors like holiday makers a temporary visa is easier to obtain and is done through the ETA scheme, an electronic system which replaces the visa label or stamp on a passport and removes the need for application forms. To be eligible you must have a passport from an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) using country; most western countries fall into this category but advice can be found on Australia’s visa website or from the proper authorities. There is a simple online application form and once obtained the visa allows a tourist to stay in Australia for up to three months.

John Gibb
http://www.australia-visa-resources.info