The Australian Visa Lottery: What You Need to Know
The Australian visa lottery is a unique system that offers residency in Australia to people who are not eligible for permanent residency. Those who do not meet the strict requirements for this program may find it difficult to stay in the country as a visitor. However, if you participate in the visa lottery and win an invitation, you have a higher chance of getting residency permanently in Australia. To understand more about this program and its eligibility factors, keep reading our guide.
If you have the golden ticket, you’re in. Australia has more than 25 million residents and is home to the second-highest number of immigrants per capita in the world. However, there are some restrictions on immigration because of the high demand for skilled workers as well as a cap on the number of visas issued per year. If you don’t fit into any of these categories, you might not be eligible to apply for an Australian visa.
The Australian Visa Lottery was introduced in September 2016 to curb oversubscription and increase diversity within Australia’s immigration program. The following article will explain more about this popular immigration program and what you need to know before applying.
What is the Australian Visa Lottery?
The Australian visa lottery is a system where the government randomly selects citizens to obtain a permanent resident visa. It’s similar to the U.S. diversity visa program, which grants green cards to immigrants who have contributed to their country of origin through skills and achievements.
In Australia’s case, the government awards 50 visas per year to citizens who are not married or in a de facto relationship; those selected may apply for an independent temporary (subclass 198) or permanent resident visa (subclass 8). Both partners must be selected equally, one from each eligible country.
The Australian visa lottery was created in the mid-2000s and implemented in 2007. At that time, the Australian government ran a points-based immigration system and changed its policies to increase the number of skilled migrants. They said that through the visa lottery system, they wanted to diversify their migrant intake and bring in people from underrepresented groups, such as entrepreneurs and skilled workers who may not have otherwise been eligible for citizenship. In other words, they wanted to increase the number of skilled migrants.
How Does the Australian Visa Lottery Work?
If you are a citizen of an eligible country (or countries), you can apply for the Australian visa lottery. If you are selected, you may apply for an independent temporary (subclass 198) or permanent resident visa (subclass 8). Both partners must be selected equally, one from each eligible country. In order to be eligible to apply, you must be 18 years of age or older. You must also: Be a citizen of an eligible country Be currently residing in an eligible country Be able to support yourself financially Be not married or in a de facto relationship
Requirements for the Australian Visa Lottery
You must be a citizen of an eligible country. This means you can’t be a citizen of Australia’s arch-nemesis, New Zealand. You must currently reside in an eligible country. So if you are a citizen of India, but currently live in the U.S., you are not eligible to apply for the Australian visa lottery. You must be able to support yourself financially. You must not be receiving any form of public assistance, such as welfare payments or unemployment benefits.
Who Can Apply for the Australian Visa Lottery?
If you meet the requirements for the Australian visa lottery, you can apply. The lottery is open to citizens of select countries. Countries eligible for the Australian visa lottery include Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
How to Apply for the Australian Visa Lottery
In order to apply for the Australian visa lottery, you must submit an online application. The application process is conducted entirely online, and interested and qualified applicants should go to the Australi Visa Application Portal: http://www.immi.gov.au/ You will be asked to provide basic information about yourself as well as information about your foreign partner.
The application process for the Australian visa lottery is different from the “standard” visa process. It’s designed to be easier and less stressful for the applicant. If you are eligible to apply, you will need to submit the following information in your online application: Some basic information about yourself, such as your name, address, and date of birth Your foreign partner’s information, including their name, address, and date of birth A reference letter, which will be provided to you by your reference letter provider
Conclusion
The Australian visa lottery program is a chance to migrate to Australia if you aren’t currently eligible to apply for a permanent residency visa. You must meet all of the eligibility requirements, including a sufficient income and being single. Now that you know what the lottery is and how to apply, you can get started. However, Australia isn't currently running the Australia visa lottery program. You can check out our other articles for better alternatives to the visa lottery program. Disclaimer: Megahams is an information website and not officiated with any immigration portal.
