Skip to content | Change text size
 

Immigration requirements for new Academic staff

Persons requiring visas

Visa clearance is required for all persons entering Australia who do not hold either Australian or New Zealand passports.

The visa must be arranged before a person from overseas departs for Australia. A person appointed from within Australia must obtain visa clearance before commencing duties.

Visa sponsorship is provided by the university as required, for persons who intend to work, study or undertake occupational training or other activities at the university, appropriate to the university.

Heads of administrative units should be aware that the university makes certain undertakings in respect of temporary residence sponsorships for new appointees and visitors. For example, the university may be responsible for health costs or repatriation should a health problem occur. Appointees are required to have medical insurance cover either through their own country or through Medicare, or are to take out private insurance which is arranged through the Human Resources Division, Clayton campus. Refer to visa type. Costs associated with the sponsorship undertakings is a charge against the host unit's funds.

Responsibility for obtaining visas

The types of visas which may be issued to academics from overseas are subject to an agreement between the Australian vice-chancellors' committee and the Department of Immigration & Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. All correspondence with this Department must be directed through Human Resources Division. No arrangements for the appointment of overseas staff members should be finalised without prior consultation with Human Resources Division.

Visa type

There are two main types of visas, namely: permanent residence - and temporary residence - educational (class 418).

Permanent residence

All Academic staff of Lecturer and above or equivalent status who are offered appointment to tenurable positions or fixed term positions of not less than 3 years may be granted permanent resident status subject to meeting requirements of the Department of Immigration & Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

The guiding principle in the decision of the department will be an expectation of permanent employment, as evidenced in writing by the university. The university will nominate individual appointees for permanent residence under the Australian Employer Nomination Scheme if requested to do so. Permanent residence applications take between six to twelve months to be processed.

A staff member currently holding temporary residence status may apply for a status change to permanent residence. To comply with Section 6A (1) D of the Migration Act, the university must submit a nomination under the Australian Employer Nomination Scheme and must demonstrate beyond doubt that the appointee is the only suitable applicant for the position and there is an expectation of continuing employment with the university.

Temporary residence visa

All staff appointed from overseas to visiting and fixed-term appointments of less than three years' duration are required to qualify for temporary resident status.

Educational visa (visa class 418)

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to obtain a visa or entry permit in Class 418 Educational, the following criteria must be met:

  • the applicant must have been offered appointment at an Australian higher educational institution or research institution to an academic position or as a librarian, technician or laboratory manager; or to a position at an Australian tertiary education institution or research institution to undertake graduate or post doctoral research; or to a position in an Australian school or technical college;
  • the applicant must provide a letter of appointment from the relevant institution, school or college;
  • other requirements of the Department of Immigration & Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs as deemed appropriate.

Sponsorship

If the intended stay is for more than four months the applicant must be formally sponsored by the university. The University preferred supplier of Immigration Services will lodge a "Sponsorship for Entry to Australia for Temporary Residence" form with the Department of Immigration & Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs together with prescribed fee which is charged out to the administrative unit.

Although formal sponsorship is not required if the intended stay is less than four months, applications should be supported by evidence of engagement by the university.

Period of stay

Initial applications may be approved for up to four years for senior academic and post doctoral research staff.

Taxation

Salaries, stipends and scholarships are subject to Australian taxation except in some circumstances where double taxation agreements may apply. The terms of such agreements vary between countries and applicants should ascertain the situation in their country of origin prior to accepting an offer and applying for an educational visa.

Health Cover

Persons applying for a Class 418 visa are not eligible for Medicare enrolment from 1 July 1995. Arrangements for private health insurance cover are made through Human Resources Division.

Labour market testing

A permanent or temporary residence visa for an appointee to a position below the level of Lecturer is subject to evidence being submitted that the overseas appointee is the only suitable available person for the position. The post must be advertised over a four week period during the eight weeks prior to lodgement of sponsorship for visa. The advertisement must be inserted in a Saturday and a weekday edition of both a metropolitan and a national daily newspaper. Where there is any possibility that labour market testing may be necessary, Policy and Consultancy Division should be contacted.

Subject to the above provisions and the nominee meeting Government employment criteria, the Department of Immigration & Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Melbourne (with possible reference to Canberra) sends a cable which authorises the issue of a visa, subject to normal migration checks through to an overseas government office.

At the request of the head of the administrative unit or dean, Human Resources Division will arrange supporting documentation for sponsorship renewals and extensions of temporary residence visas through the preferred supplier of Immigration visas approximately two months before the expiry of a current visa. The Department of Immigration & Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs will not process renewals any earlier. Where an extension is sought for positions below the level of Lecturer, the university may still be expected to go through the procedures of advertising and providing proof that the nominee is still the only suitable available person for the post.

Where a visa holder intends remaining in Australia, the university is required to ensure that the temporary residence visa is extended under the sponsorship of another institution or that a visitor's visa has been obtained to extend the stay in Australia.