AussieIMG Uncategorized, Visa

Work Visa (482) Application

  • The visa that most hospitals will sponsor is the ‘Temporary Skill Shortage Visa-Short Term Stream’ 482 subclass or simply the ‘482 visa’
  • You can stay on this visa for upto 2 years and it can be further extended for a period of another 2 years only
  • The application is entirely online and can be started after your hospital gives you a nomination letter.
  • Depending on your nationality, you may or may not be required to provide biometrics (Eg. Indian nationals are exempt from biometrics and the application is entirely online)

Documents required for this visa:

  • A digital photograph: A selfie from your phone is sufficient
  • Digital copy of your passport
  • Nomination letter from hospital
  • Police clearance certificate from your home country and any other country that you have lived in for more than a year since you turned 18 years old.
  • Evidence of English Language ability (note that the language requirements for 482 visa is different/lower level than that required for AHPRA registration)
  • In-principle AHPRA registration letter
  • A copy of your primary medical qualification
  • Your Curriculum Vitae
  • A letter from you stating that you are a Genuine Temporary Entrant and that you will not breach your visa conditions.

Once you gather these, all you need to do is to:

  • Submit the online application form and pay the fee.
  • A case officer (CO) will be allotted for your application who will then assess your case and ask for any clarification or details if required. The CO will also generate a HAP ID, which you will need to get your medical check-up done.
  • You will receive a copy of your finalized visa application in your inbox.

Learn more about the 482 visa via the Australian Government, Department of Home Affairs Website.

AussieIMG Jobs and Registration, Visa

Application for Permanent Residency

As mentioned here, your 482 work visa can last for a maximum of 4 years only. If you want to continue to remain in Australia and enjoy all social benefits, you will eventually need to apply for a permanent residency (PR).

Employer sponsored permanent residency is not really an option for most IMGs (except if you are a consultant, working full time and commit to work for that hospital for certain years or working in a rural hospital for many years).

Australia has a point based PR system, which means that the government has a pre-set PR quota every year and they choose to give it out to those who have the highest number of points as per their EOIs or Expression of Interests. You can use this points calculator to know where you stand.

As a doctor, you may apply for permanent residency only after you get General Registration with AHPRA (after atleast 1 year of work in Australia)

This process of permanent residency is getting more and more competitive every year. Unfortunately, doctors DO NOT have the ability to earn extra points by doing certain courses, which other professionals like engineers can. Also, unlike doctors who require atleast 1 year of Australian experience to apply for a PR, other professionals can put in their EOIs even if they are not in Australia. Furthermore, the entire process- from lodging an EOI to getting your final application approved can take months to years.

This means as doctors we are left with 2 options

  • Put an EOI and wait in hope
  • If your spouse is from a different profession, get them to apply for a PR

There are 2 different subclass of PR that you can apply/put an EOI to:

  • Skilled Independent Visa (189 Subclass)
  • Allotted from the federal government quota
  • Difficult to get/ need higher points
  • Skilled Nominated Visa (190 Subclass)
  • Allotted from the state government quota
  • Relatively easy to get
  • Each state government might have their own rules for nomination
    • Eg: You may put an EOI for 190 for the state of Queensland only if you have worked in the state for 6 months
  • Need to stay in that nominating state for atleast 2 years
  • Can apply only when the state opens their nomination window

Steps to apply for a PR:

  • Put an application for expression of interest via SkillSelect website (both 189 and 190)
  • Please note that an application for 190 will be picked up only if applied when the respective state opens the nomination window
  • Gather all the documents needed
  • Once you receive an invitation, lodge your formal visa application and upload all documents.
  • Wait for a case officer to be allotted
  • Once allotted, the case officer will go through your documents and ask for any clarification
  • PR finally gets approved

Note that if your 190 EOI gets picked up before 189, the state will ask you for additional documents (like evidence of commitment to state, job offer in that state etc) before you receive a formal invitation to lodge your visa application.

Each Australian state may have their own requirements to be met before you can apply for the 190 visa. Eg. For Queensland, your EOI will be picked up only if you have worked in Queensland for 6 months before you put in your application.