Choosing to migrate to another country is a huge step and requires tedious work. There are a lot of information out there that could be confusing or overwhelming. Thankfully, The Asian Parent is here to help you better understand how to migrate to Australia from Philippines.
Filipinos in Australia have various alternatives on where to live. Here's a rundown of how to immigrate to Australia with your Philippine passport. A work visa, an invitation from a family member, or studying and subsequently converting to other permissions are the most common options.
Many Filipinos, particularly Permanent Residents, have previously relocated to Australia. There are numerous visa alternatives available to you, including the option of living temporarily before applying for a permanent visa. Read about the options here.
Permanent Resident Options
Family-Stream
These are available to partners, parents, and dependent relatives of Australian citizens or permanent residents, as well as qualifying New Zealand nationals. Here are some alternatives:
- Partner Visas (Subclass 309 and 100) – you can apply for a permanent Partner visa afterward
- Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300) – then apply for a partner visa
- NZ Citizen Family Relationship Visa (Subclass 461) – stay for 5 years
- Aged Dependent Relative Visa – for a single older person relying on a relative in Australia for financial support (Subclass 114)
- Remaining Relative Visa (Subclass 835 or 115)
- Orphan Relative Visa (Subclass 837)
- Carer visa (Subclass 116) – those who will provide care to a relative in Australia
- Parent Visa (Subclass 103) – settlement of parents of Australian Citizen, PR, or NZ Citizen to move to Australia permanently (There is also a Sponsored Parent Visa – but it’s temporary)
- Aged Visa (Subclass 804 / 864) – for an aged parent
- Contributory Parent visa (Subclass 143) – for those half of your children already in Australia, this is costly though
- Dependent Child Visa (Subclass 445) – this is temporary until the parents have been given a permanent visa
- Child Visa (Subclass 101) – the child will move to Australia to be with Parents
- Adoption Visa (Subclass 102) – for adopted Children with parents in Australia
Work-Stream
You could potentially be welcomed to Australia and work there. Before arriving here, you will usually need to receive a nomination from an employer. There are temporary choices, but the following are permanent:
- Employer Nomination Scheme Visa (Subclass 186)
- Skill Nominated visa (subclass 190)
- Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887)
- Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 124) – nominated by a citizen or PR in Australia or an Australian organization
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) – only for 5 years but, if eligible, you can apply for Permanent Residence after 3 years
Business or Investment Stream
- A Business Innovation and Investment (subclass 888) – for investors, entrepreneurs, and business owners in Australia
- Business owner visa (subclass 890)
- State or Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892)
- State or Territory Sponsored Investor visa (subclass 893)
- Investor Visa (Subclass 891)
- Business Talent Visa (subclass 132)
Student Visa
Study for up to 5 years, after which you can apply for another visa to work and eventually become a Permanent Resident. Here's a guide about studying in Australia with a Philippine passport.
The Australian student visa is a temporary visa that can be extended for up to five years depending on the type of course and its duration.
You must be enrolled in an approved course of study in Australia before applying for a student visa. If you need assistance selecting and applying to universities in Australia, please contact our Study Abroad consultants.
4 steps to migrate in Australia with your family
With these 4 steps, you can move to Australia with your family.
1. Job search and house-hunting
For financial security, knowing the job market is important. You can choose to get a job or start a business.
Finding a job
If you decide on finding a job, check out the salary guide.
Also, here are the sites you can visit to look for jobs before arriving at Australia:
- Australian Careers and Employment Centre for International Students (ACECIS)
- AMES Australia - Skilled Professional Migrants Program
- Jobs Victoria
- Job Outlook
- myfuture: Australian Careers Directory
- Overseas Qualification Unit
Starting a business
Starting a business in Melbourne is good because of its history of strong commercial success. It is actually the preferred destination of 60% of Australia's permanent business migrants.
Find out if your business investment would be a good choice with the growing your business checklist.
Choosing where to live
When you migrate to Australia, you can choose what state you would like to live in.
One of the most popular cities is Melbourne as it has been declared one of the most liveable cities in the world. People living in Melbourne enjoy a safe city, affordable healthcare, world-class education, reliable infrastructure, business opportunities and a healthy environment.
Make your move
Getting everything ready is a tedious task. It takes a lot of energy and may take some time. To help you out, take a look at this relocation checklist to know how long it might take to migrate.
You could also avail the help of an immigration agent or lawyer. They can assist with visa applications, and legal matters and provide general information when learning how to migrate to Australia from the Philippines.
But to clarify, getting one won't influence the outcome of your applications or the speed of the process. It would only mean less work and hassle for you.
Migration agents are required by law to be registered in order to provide immigration assistance services. To look for one, check out these websites:
READ MORE:
Japoy and Jan Lizardo Gives tips on how to migrate to Canada
2. Apply for visa
Some visas require nomination from a state or territory government. Discover all visas that are eligible for visa nomination:
Visa nomination can help you meet the requirements for some Australian skilled and business migration visas. It's easy and has no charge.
Even if you have a visa nomination, you are still required to apply for an actual Australian visa. For this application, go to the Department of Home Affairs website.
3. Prepare for immigration
Once your Australian visa has been granted, you can go back to the relocation checklist to make sure you're not forgetting anything. This is the part you get ready physically, mentally and emotionally.
4. Arrival and settling in
If you choose to move to the state of Victoria, their Skilled and Business Migration Program offers help to businesses, investors, and skilled migrants.
It is managed by the Victorian Government's Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions. Investor Relationship Managers are also available for investment support and information.
How much does it cost to migrate to Australia from Philippines
As a general rule, three key cost aspects must be considered:
1. The fees associated with submitting a visa application
The fees for submitting a Visa Application comprise the majority, but not necessarily all, of the following in Australian Dollars:
| Department of Home Affairs (DHA) Visa Application Charge: | $ 3,670 (for Permanent Residence Visas) |
| Skills Assessment Application Fee | from $300 to $1,050 for most occupations |
| IELTS or PTE Test (if required) | $ as applicable |
| Medical Examination | as applicable |
| Police Clearance Certificate Fee: | on average $ 20 per person |
| Translations and Document Certification Charges | up to $ 500 |
2. The expenditures of relocating to Australia
The costs of relocating to Australia include, but are not limited to, the following:
| Airfares | These will definitely vary depending on your country of origin and the size of your family. |
| Entries to validate your visa | Your visa will need to be validated. This may need you to visit Australia twice: once to validate the visa and again to take up residence. The initial entry for validation is usually required 3 to 5 months after your visa is approved. You can either stay in Australia at the time of your first admission or leave and apply for residency later. |
| Shipping costs of household goods |
A conventional three-bedroom house's contents should fit into a 20-foot container. The prices of packing, shipping, and clearing the container in Australia vary greatly by country but should be between $ 5000 and $10,000. |
3. The costs of settling in Australia
The cost of settling in Australia includes the cost of housing (rent, security deposit, upfront rent payments, and so on), transportation (purchase of a car), household expenses (TV, fridge, furniture, and so on), as well as the cost of looking after yourself and your family and maintaining a reasonable lifestyle.
Obviously, costs will vary greatly from family to family, and if you are a single migrant or have family here, your expenditures may be significantly lower. The following is a general estimate of how much you should budget for your first year in Australia (in Australian dollars):
| Single migrant | $ 15 - 20,000 |
| Couple | $ 20 - 30,000 |
| Family of 3 or 4 | $ 30 - 40,000 |
| Family of 4+ | $ 50,000 or more |
You're moving to Australia or New Zealand as an immigrant, which will have a significant influence on your life and the lives of your family. Your preparedness will be very important in achieving the goals of your migration.
To minimize needless hassle when leaving the Philippines and entering Australia or New Zealand, it is critical that you follow the minimal government travel regulations.
Equally crucial is your understanding of the legislation controlling your permanent residence, as well as your understanding of primary settling concerns in Australia or New Zealand, so you may go about your daily activities with confidence.
Whichever state you choose to live in, moving to Australia goes with a lot of benefits.
Additional information from Matt Doctor