While faltering international trade and commerce continue to wreak havoc on business opportunities across the industrialised world, the Australian economy has only grown. Its unemployment remains low due to ready access to credit and resilient primary industries, and much of the country’s social and economic landscape is extremely attractive to investors, businesspeople and overseas workers alike.

Its Migration Program annually takes on a large number of migrants and temporary entrants and those interested in migrating or investing should treat Australia’s complex set of around 150 different visas – and their intersecting and overlapping requirements – with a great deal of care.

About one third of those visas cater, in some manner or form, to business people through visa options for investors, business owners, senior executives and other “high calibre” talent, as well as to Employer Nominated, State Sponsored and Regional Skilled migrants. This does not count the multifarious, contradictory work permissions allowed in many visitor and student visas, and a professional advocate can be of great service in sorting out the best option.

For example, for those with “genuine and realistic commitment” to open a business or a branch in Australia, Business Talent (Migrant) (Subclass 132) may await; owner operators might find that “to stay in Australia on a permanent basis”, Business Owner (Residence) (Subclass 890) is their best fit; “employees of a major overseas business” may look to Senior Executives (Provisional) (Subclass 161) for achievability and security.

Similarly, whilst some investments, accords and deals can be achieved within the three month window of the ETA, eVisitor, Business (Short Stay) (Subclass 456) and Sponsored Business Visitor (Short Stay) (Subclass  459) visa types, other endeavours require the permanence afforded by the 800-series Subclasses; for some Subclasses, applications can only be submitted from outside of Australia, whilst others place temporal and location requirements upon applicants; some require English language, health and security tests, others do not; some secure results in days, others in years.

“Understand which options provide the best possible chance of success is difficult, and the services of a Registered Migration Agent (RMA) qualified in Migration Law and Practice and regulated government or a Qualified Education Agent Counsellor often proves invaluable,” said Maurene Horder, CEO of the Migration Institute of Australia (MIA), the peak body representing migration advice professionals, including Education Agents. “All our Agents comply with the highest standards of ethics and behaviour, maintain up to date knowledge through rigorous continuing education requirements and are committed to helping their clients in every undertaking and in providing clarity in an obscured visa landscape.”

This is especially valuable as the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has spent the past 12 months significantly altering its linchpin General Skilled Migration (GSM) program. During recent years, this has become an oversubscribed program, which led to major changes from February 2010, with the government ceasing about 20,000 prospective GSM migrants’ applications, reducing the program’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL) and instituting a more difficult Points Test.

These actions left many potential migrants and overseas students without a preferred path to residency and has been a game changer in terms of the mix of migrants and visitors coming into the country.

For those who cannot qualify for highly sought after but sometimes difficult to achieve Business Person visa types (including investors, owners and the like), windows of opportunity still remain.

Indeed, with its new Points Test, the Australian government laid out a veritable wish list for potential business migrants, including post graduate degrees from local institutions, work experience in Australia and very high English language test scores.

Employer Nominated, State Sponsored and Regional Skilled migration programs are all of growing importance, and for those able to find nomination within local workplaces or interested in seeking sponsorship through taking their skills or investment dollars to regional and rural areas, paths to residency and eventually citizenship are readily available.

Availability is not the same as simplicity, however, and the degree of complexity of the Migration Program’s regular changes requires up to the minute legal advice and information.

While anyone may submit his or her own visa application, and many thousands are successful in doing so every year, that option may not prove the most prudent path. The degree of complexity of the Migration Program’s regular changes requires up to date and professional advice and information.

“By using an MIA Member Agent, visitors, workers, students, humanitarian entrants and business people can rest assured that their knowledge and support will uncover and achieve the best possible result.” – MIA CEO Maurene Horder

For more information about your migration options see mia.org.au.