If you are a recruitment consultant and looking to work in Australia but not an Australian resident then this information should be used as a preliminary guide to assess whether you have the basic requirements for entry. If coming from a country outside of Australia you must be a resident in at least one of the following countries:

United Kingdom

Ireland

Netherlands

Germany

Canada

Japan

Malta
If this is satisfied then you maybe eligible to apply for a visa to work in Australia.

Many come to Australia initially on a working holiday visa (sub class 417) which permits you to work for a maximum period of 6 months for any one employer. The 417 visa's are valid for 12 months but in recent times have been revised to 24 months if certain conditions are met. For the recruitment consultant looking for work there is rarely opportunities for such a short period of time. Therefore many employers would look to "sponsor" a candidate on a business class visa (sub class 457) for a period of up to 4 years. The "sponsor" is the terminology used to describe the entity that will take sponsorship responsibility for your visa during your stay in Australia. All applications for visas are made to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMIA).

With the increased number of overseas recruitment consultants working in Australia many agencies are applying to become "sponsors" themselves as this has become easier to apply for in recent years, giving them a competitive edge and allowing them to employ directly.

Alternatively there are also several independent companies that offer to be your visa "sponsor". There are several of them to choose from with slight differences in each so it is worthwhile looking around to see which one is right for you. Essentially all charge a management fee for looking after your sponsorship which is based on a percentage of your salary. With the current laws surrounding the business visa this charge can be offset by tax breaks under the Living Away from Home Allowance (LAHA) scheme which gives tax concessions to overseas employees working in Australia on a temporary basis.

At Barton Mills Recruitment we can offer impartial advice to recruitment consultants on the merits of each scheme and what it really means to you. Like many agencies Barton Mills Recruitment employs overseas consultants therefore we have gone through this process ourselves so we really do talk from experience.

In order to be considered for your sponsorship application there are several key requirements such as:

Having an offer of employment

Being degree qualified or valid work experience in your profession

Earning a minimum salary threshold

Aged 18+

Registering with an approved Health Insurance scheme for the period of your visa.

Passing a medical examination.

Up to date resume, certificates, and references.
Visa approval is calculated on a points system based on your qualifications and experience. A skilled migration agent can advise you through the process. Typical costs are around $1,000 per visa application if you require this assistance.

As you can see the majority of the requirements are straight forward. The offer of employment is where we come in, in providing the best rec to rec service in Australia, enabling you to find your dream job in recruitment.

In obtaining sponsorship there is also the option of including a partner on your visa - known as a de-facto for immigration purposes. If this option is taken then the partner is entitled to stay in the country for as long as the visa holder. There will be no restrictions on where they can work and will be treated as a normal taxpayer.

Should you leave your employment the "sponsor" is obligated to inform the Immigration Department of this. On receipt of this information, DIMA will contact you directly to provide you with the options available for a further stay in Australia.

Depending on whom the sponsor holder is of your visa you can either stay on the current visa and find new employment or alternatively go through the process again of applying for another visa with another sponsor.

It is possible to apply for permanent residency at any time either before you come to Australia or while you are working here. There are more requirements to gain residency than the business visa is not covered in this information.

It is possible to enter Australia under a tourist visa which allows you a maximum of 6 months stay in the country. Tourist visas do not carry any work rights. However, a Tourist visa is a visa that a 457 Business Visa can be lodged from, providing there is no Condition 8503 "No Further Stay" on your Tourist Visa.

Whether you are still overseas and planning your trip or currently in Australia and looking for a recruitment position we may be able to assist you. If you have the skills outlined in this section and would like to hear more please send us your resume and contact details.

For more information contact richardm@bartonmills.com.au.