Does simply having family in Australia make you eligible for a visa? At Visa Go Australia we’re often asked about family sponsored visas. After all, Australia is a migrant nation and every knows someone who lives there.
So, can family sponsor me to live in Australia? I talked to Migration Agent Darren Chatt to find the answer.
Family Living In Australia
Australia is a multicultural nation, with 30% of its population born overseas. In 2020, more than 7.6 million people living in Australia were born overseas. (ABS 2021). Therefore, it’s no surprise that many wannabe migrants have family living in Australia.
Depending on your intentions, the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491) may be suitable. This skilled visa allows family to sponsor your application.
The 491 visa allows applicants up to 5 years of living and working in regional Australia. Moreover, this visa type provides a pathway to permanent residency.
Learn more about the 491 family sponsored visa
Can Family Sponsor Me To Live In Australia?
If you wish to live and work in Australia, then you can use an eligible family member to sponsor you.
A family member can provide sponsorship under the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 491). This means you must first be eligible for a skilled visa; simply having a family member in Australia does not make you eligible for a visa.
Australia’s skilled visas are based around an occupation list and points system. These visas are designed to attract young skilled workers into the country. The basic criteria for a skilled visa can be seen on our dedicated webpage. You can calculate your skilled visa points and determine if you require sponsorship here.
Family Sponsor Criteria
As a sponsor you must be:
- Living in a designated area of Australia
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible NZ citizen
- Aged 18 years or older
- Be an close family member
As an applicant you must meet the skilled visa criteria. Additionally, you must nominate an occupation on the MLTSSL (Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List).
491 Family Sponsored Visa Process
To apply for a skilled visa, you must first secure a positive skills assessment and English Test. Following this, applicants should lodge an EOI (Expression of Interest) to register their interest in emigrating to Australia. It is at this stage you will nominate a family member to sponsor you.
If your EOI is successful, you will be invited to apply for a skilled visa and given 60 days to lodge. Lodging an EOI does not guarantee a skilled visa, and if uninvited will expire after two years. Medical and character checks are completed and uploaded following visa lodgement.
Benefits of family sponsorship
If you are eligible for a skilled visa, you can use family sponsorship to gain an extra 15 points towards your application. Generally, the more points the better for skilled visas as competition is high. Using a family member to sponsor you may be the difference in securing a skilled visa and not.
Secondly, family sponsored visas are subject to regular invitation rounds via SkillSelect. This is beneficial because it’s easier to predict when you may receive an invitation. In comparison, state sponsorship visas (subclass 190 and 491) are invited sporadically depending on state demand.
Finally, SkillSelect publish invitation round results so you can see how many points are realistically required. For example, at the time of writing the last invitation issued was to an application lodged in January 2022 with 80 points.
If you want to live in Australia, then a family sponsored skilled visa could be for you. You can complete our free visa assessment to discover your points and visa options. Moreover, you can book a visa consultation with our Migration Agent for just £60.
