Australia has always been one of the most popular destinations for Hong Kong people to immigrate, and the more well-known ones are skilled immigration and investment immigration. Recently, the Australian government announced a new “haven” policy, lowering the threshold for Hong Kong people to apply for permanent residence. Hong Kong people holding a temporary graduate visa (485), a temporary skilled shortage visa (482), or a temporary skilled work visa (457) can apply to immigrate to Australia to obtain permanent residence. If you intend to immigrate to Australia, this article will introduce the scoring, conditions, and fees of different immigration methods!

Australia is a multicultural and developed country. The reasons for attracting many immigrants include:

• High quality of life and high-quality public service system.
• Abundant job opportunities and good wages.
• Excellent education system and world-renowned universities.
• Stable political environment and rule of law system.
• Beautiful natural environment and rich ecological resources.

Australia’s New Immigration Policy – “Safe Harbor”

On March 5, 2022, the Australian government implemented a new Australian immigration policy called “Safe Harbor” to make it easier for Hong Kong people to immigrate to Australia. As long as you meet one of the following Australian visa requirements:
Method 1: Meet one of the visa requirements
1. Hold a SAR passport or BNO passport
2. Students with Temporary Graduate Visa (485)
3. Temporary Skilled Shortage Visa (482) or Temporary Skilled Work Visa (457)

Method 2: Apply for “Hong Kong Group” Hong Kong Stream (189) or (191)
“Independent Skilled Visa (189)” or “Remote Area Skilled Immigrant Permanent Residence Visa (191)” can apply for permanent residence. Points (EOI scoring) method, you can apply for permanent residence through the special Hong Kong Stream.

How to apply for Australian citizenship:

• The Australian citizenship application process and eligibility requirements can be found on the official website of the Department of Home Affairs. In general, the requirements for naturalization in Australia include:
• Appropriate period of residence: Usually requires at least four years of residence in Australia, at least one of which requires a permanent residence visa.
• Pass an English language test: An English proficiency test, such as the English section of the Australian Citizenship Test, is required.
• Understand Australian values ​​and civil rights: You need to pass the citizenship test to test the applicant’s understanding of Australian values, laws and civil rights.
• No criminal record: You need to provide proof of your clean criminal record.

Three common ways to immigrate to Australia

1) Investment immigration
The Business Innovation and Investment (Temporary) Visa (188) is an investment immigrant visa familiar to Hong Kong people. This visa allows applicants to own and manage enterprises in Australia, conduct local business and investment activities, or invest in business innovation. Generally speaking, applicants need to meet the following three qualifications: submit EOI in the SkillSelect system of the Immigration Bureau, be nominated by a state or territory government agency, and be invited by the authority. After receiving the invitation, the applicant needs to apply for a visa within 60 days.

188 visa types include the following:
1. Business Entrepreneur Visa (188a): Applicable to people with business skills, allowing applicants to operate new or existing businesses in Australia. Need to get at least 65 points and provide proof of business success (such as annual turnover, and equity). If you are invited by the authorities to apply for a visa before July 2021, you need to invest 850,000 Australian dollars (about HK$4.85 million) in Australia; if you are invited after July 1, 2021, you need to invest 1.25 million Australian dollars (about HK$7.1 million) ). If the visa is approved, you can live in Australia for 5 years, and after meeting the specified requirements, you can apply for a business innovation and investment (permanent) visa (888), and you can apply for naturalization. The visa fee is 6,085 Australian dollars (about HK$34,700).

2. Investor visa (188b): Applicable to the designated investment category for investing in Australia, and needs to obtain at least 65 points and be nominated by a state or territory government agency. If you are invited by the authorities to apply for a visa before July 2021, you must make a designated investment of at least A$1.5 million (approximately HK$8.5 million) in the location of the nominated state or territory government agency; if you are invited after July 1, 2021, It is necessary to invest 2.5 million Australian dollars (about HK$14.2 million) in a compliant investment portfolio designated by the Australian government, such as bonds and stocks. After meeting the specified requirements, you can apply for business innovation and investment (permanent) visa (888), and then you can apply for naturalization. The visa fee is 6,085 Australian dollars (about HK$34,700).

3. Significant investment visa (188c): The applicant needs to be nominated by a state or territory government agency, and needs to hold a compliant investment of 5 million Australian dollars (approximately HK$28.5 million) in Australia and maintain investment activities. After meeting the specified requirements, you can apply for business innovation and investment (permanent) visa (888), and then you can apply for naturalization. The visa fee is AUD 8,925 (approximately HK$50,900).

In general, Australian investment immigrants need to meet certain conditions and qualifications and need to invest a certain amount of money to apply for the corresponding visa. Although the threshold is high, investment immigration is a good choice for those who want to develop their careers or live in Australia.

2) Skilled Immigration

To understand Australian immigration, you first need to know the representative numbers of different skilled immigrant visas. For example, people interested in applying for a skilled migration visa can migrate to Australia through the independent skilled visa (189), the skilled nomination visa (190), or the skilled work area (temporary) visa (491). Every year, the Australian government provides states and territories with a certain number of skilled immigration quotas, and states and territories issue visa nominations accordingly. In addition, applying for an Australian immigration visa requires points, and applicants must be invited by the authorities to be eligible to apply for a visa. It is recommended to understand the requirements of the Australian skilled migration visa first to determine whether you are eligible.

Technical immigration conditions:

• The field of work is included in the specified occupation
• Get an Expression of Interest (EOI)
• Skills recognized by a designated body
• under the age of 45
• IELTS score of 8 or above
• A SkillSelect score of 65 or higher
• The application fee is AUD 4,045

Nominated technical visa – 190 state-nominated technical visa conditions:

• under the age of 45
• SkillSelect ≥ 65 points, generally 80 points are required to be invited to submit a visa application
• IELTS reading, writing, listening, and speaking ≥ 6 points
• The occupation is included in the medium and long-term technical list
• After submitting a letter of intent, or a Texas or territorial government agency as a nominee

Nomination technology visa – 491 remote area state nomination technology visa conditions:

• under the age of 45
• SkillSelect ≥ 65 points
• Occupation is on the short-term skill list/medium- and long-term skill list / remote area skill list
• IELTS reading, writing, listening, and speaking ≥ 6 points
• Guarantors are immediate family members or close relatives who are Australian citizens/permanent residents and live in remote areas for a long time;
• Or after submitting a letter of intent, or a state or territory government agency in a remote area as a nominee
• Can only settle and work in designated remote areas, and can change employers
• After the visa period expires, the visa cannot be renewed and can only be transferred to apply for another visa

Employer-sponsored skilled visa conditions:

• Have an Australian Employer Guarantee
• Get an Expression of Interest (EOI)
• The occupation is included in the medium and long-term technical list
• under the age of 45
• IELTS score of ≥ 4.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, with an overall average of ≥ 5
• Employers need to meet the requirements and submit an application
• The application fee is AUD 4,045.

3) GTI AUSTRALIA (Global Talent Independent Visa)

Australia GTI immigration (858), also known as the Global Talent Independent Program (Global Talent Independent Program), is a permanent visa with no age limit for applications and no scoring. It is designed for professionals in internationally recognized fields. In 2021-2022, the program has 15,000 places, dozens of times more than other visas.

Global Talent Independent Visa Conditions:

• In one of the fields of expertise, sports, art, and academic research: (Resources, Agri-food and Ag Tech, Energy, Health Industries, National Defense, Advanced Manufacturing and Space (Defence, Advanced Manufacturing and Space), Circular Economy (Circular Economy), Digital Technology (Digitech), Infrastructure and Tourism (Infrastructure and Tourism), Financial Services and Financial Technology (Financial Services and FinTech), Education Relevant (Education) with internationally recognized achievements
• Be nominated by an Australian institution with an international reputation in the Australian citizen/Australian permanent resident/eligible New Zealand citizen/applicant’s specialist industry
• If the applicant is 18 years old or above, the English proficiency must reach functional English

Points system for immigration to Australia:

Immigration Australia uses a points system to assess applicant eligibility. Here are some common elements of a scoring system:

• Age: The younger you are, the higher the score you get.
• English Proficiency: The better your English proficiency, the higher the score you will get.
• Education: The higher the degree of higher education, the higher the score obtained.
• Work experience: The more work experience you have or the more experience you have in a specific career field, the more points you receive.
• Australian qualifications or work experience: Additional points can be awarded for qualifications obtained in Australia or work experience in Australia.
• Spouse Skills: Additional points are awarded if the spouse has specific skills or education.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hong Kong Immigration to Australia

What happens if no employer nominates or sponsors the applicant?

If the applicant does not have an employer nomination or guarantee, the “Expression Of Interest (EOI)” and required documents must be submitted to the Australian government before applying for a skilled visa. After that, applicants need to wait for the local government to conduct screening, and the government will invite qualified applicants to submit visa applications.

Australian Immigration Scoring Guidelines?

Both skilled immigration and investment and entrepreneurial immigration have a scoring mechanism, and only applicants with a score of 65 or more can be invited. If you want to get an overview of your score, the easiest and most direct way is to visit the official scoresheet calculator, answer each question, and you will know your score.

Can I keep my Hong Kong resident status after naturalization?

Under the laws of Australia and Hong Kong, generally, having Australian citizenship does not affect your retention of Hong Kong resident status. However, specific circumstances may vary depending on individual circumstances and local laws, and it is recommended that you consult relevant regulations or consult a professional immigration attorney for exact information.

Can parents and children follow the immigration?

Australia has a variety of immigration visa types, including some visa types that allow the owner to apply for a family reunion visa for parents and children. Eligibility and application procedures depend on your personal circumstances and the type of visa you are applying for. It is recommended that you check the official website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs or consult a professional immigration lawyer for more detailed information.

Can I hold Australian and other passports at the same time?

According to Australian law, Australian citizens can hold passports from other countries at the same time. However, holding passports from multiple countries may involve dual citizenship issues, so it is recommended that you check local laws and regulations of relevant countries, or consult professional immigration lawyers for exact guidance and advice. Note that some countries may not allow their citizens to hold passports from other countries at the same time. Therefore, it is very important to know and abide by the laws of the relevant countries. Consulting a professional lawyer can provide more specific and personalized advice. – The above information is for reference only. It is recommended that you check the official website or consult a professional immigration lawyer.