Living in Australia

The right visa depends on your purpose (work, study, family, or travel), your nationality, your skills and qualifications, and whether you want temporary or permanent residency. F4MG offers a free consultation to assess your eligibility across all visa streams and recommend the best pathway for your situation.

Processing times vary widely. Tourist and electronic visas can be granted within days. Student visas typically take 4–8 weeks. Skilled migration visas range from a few months to over a year. Family visas, particularly partner and parent visas, can take 1–5 years. F4MG provides current processing time estimates based on the latest Department of Home Affairs data.

You are not legally required to use a migration agent, but it is strongly recommended for complex visa categories. Australian migration legal practitioners like F4MG are the only professionals legally authorised to give migration advice for a fee. Our practitioners significantly reduce the risk of refusal by ensuring your application is complete, accurate, and strategically prepared.

A temporary visa allows you to stay in Australia for a defined period and may or may not lead to permanent residency. A permanent visa grants you the right to live and work in Australia indefinitely. Many applicants follow a temporary-to-permanent pathway, for example, 482 → 186 for skilled workers, or 820 → 801 for partners.

Work rights depend on the specific visa. Most temporary skilled visas (482, 491, 485) include full work rights. Partner visa holders at the temporary stage also include work rights. Student visas allow limited work (typically 48 hours per fortnight during study). Visitor visas generally do not permit work.

The points test is used to assess eligibility for points-tested skilled visas (189, 190, 491). Points are awarded for age, English proficiency, work experience, qualifications, partner skills, and other factors. You generally need a minimum of 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest, but competitive invitations typically require 80–90+ points.

Yes. F4MG serves clients globally, including from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Philippines, and across Africa. Many Australian visas can be applied for offshore. Our agents work remotely and manage the full application process on your behalf regardless of your location.

A refusal is not necessarily the end. Depending on the visa type and reason for refusal, you may have the right to seek a review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) or reapply with a stronger application. F4MG reviews refusal decisions and advises on the best course of action, including grounds for appeal and alternative visa pathways.