What Does Substantive Visa Mean?

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Substantive Visa: Meaning, Examples, and Requirements

If you’re planning to migrate to Australia, whether temporarily or permanently for work, business, holiday, studies, or family-related, you probably have heard about a substantive visa but don’t exactly know what it is and how it differs from other visa types.

In this blog post, we’ll tackle substantive visa meaning, some examples, and general eligibility requirements to help you get started in your visa application to this proverbial Land Down Under.

Substantive Visa: Meaning and Overview

A substantive visa can be both a temporary visa or a permanent visa. It is granted to qualified and eligible individuals who wish to live or stay in Australia indefinitely or permanently. The main purpose could be either for employment, business, investment, travel, education, or reuniting with a partner and other family members.

Moreover, any temporary and permanent visa that is NOT a bridging visa, an enforcement visa, or a criminal justice visa is a substantive visa.

Examples

Here, we’ll list five (5) examples of substantive visas and explain briefly what each visa mainly caters to, namely:

  • Student Visas
  • Work Visas
  • Family Visas
  • Tourist Visas
  • Protection Visas

Student Visas

For aspiring international students who want to gain quality education in Australia, they can apply for a student visa subclass 500 and live in Australia for up to five (5) years or until they finish their studies. Applicants can also bring a parent with a student guardian visa subclass 590 for emotional, physical, and financial support, especially for minors.

Work Visas

Working visas are some of the most popular and in-demand visa types that Australia grants skilled migrant workers around the world. Individuals could get a work-related visa by being invited by a State territory, sponsored by an Australian employer, nominated by a renowned Australian organisation, and more. Some specific examples include:

  • Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
  • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
  • Global Talent visa (subclass 858)
  • Business Innovation and Investment (provisional) visa (subclass 188)

Family Visas

If you want to reunite with your de facto Australian partner/spouse, be with your child, live with your parents, or provide carer services for a sick relative, a family-related visa is best for you. Some of the most common family-related visas are:

  • Aged Parent visa (subclass 804)
  • Carer visa (subclass 836)
  • Dependent Child visa (subclass 445)
  • Parent visa (subclass 103)
  • Partner visa (subclass 820 & 801)
  • Prospective Marriage visa (subclass 300)
  • Remaining Relative visa (subclass 115)

Tourist Visas

Visitor visas are granted to individuals who could prove they are genuine temporary entrants who wish to travel to Australia for a specified period of time and do not intend to stay here other than as a tourist or visitor. Examples of tourist visas include:

  • Visitor (subclass 600)
  • Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
  • Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601)
  • Transit visa (subclass 771)

Protection Visas

Finally, Australia offers protection visas for eligible candidates seeking asylum and are able to prove a well-rounded fear of persecution should they be forced to return to their home country. Examples of humanitarian and refugee-related visas include:

  • Protection visa (subclass 866)
  • Refugee visas (subclass 200, 201, 203 and 204)
  • Global Special Humanitarian (subclass 202)
  • Temporary Protection visa (subclass 785)
  • Safe Haven Enterprise visa (subclass 790)

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General Eligibility Requirements

A substantive visa can be both a temporary visa or a permanent visa. It is granted to qualified and eligible individuals who wish to live or stay in Australia indefinitely or permanently. The main purpose could be either for employment, business, investment, travel, education, or reuniting with a partner and other family members.

Moreover, any temporary and permanent visa that is NOT a bridging visa, an enforcement visa, or a criminal justice visa is a substantive visa.

Application Form

First, you must fill out an appropriate application form depending on the type of visa you’re applying for. Application is typically done online by creating an ImmiAccount.

Valid Passport

You must present a valid passport that is not due to expire soon. You must also prepare other identification documents such as a birth certificate, national ID card, and recent photographs.

Proof of Purpose

You must present proof of your purpose for applying for a certain visa. For example, you need to provide proof of accommodation and a booked return flight ticket for a tourist visa, or admission letters from an Australian institution for a student visa.

Financial Means

In order to make sure you have enough money to shoulder the entirety of your stay in Australia, you are required to submit evidence of your financial capacity, such as recent payslips, tax records, and personal bank statements.

Health Assessment

The Department wants to ensure that it only permits candidates who don’t have serious medical issues that may put public health at risk. As such, you will undergo a mandatory health examination as part of your visa application requirement.

Character Check

The Australian Government also wants to ensure that it will not permit candidates entry to Australia if they have a criminal record or have been engaged in criminal activities. You will therefore need to secure and submit police clearances to establish you are of good moral character.

Visa Fees

To complete your application, you will need to pay for the application fee of your specific visa. While visa fees may change over time, the cost for a student visa is AUD $710, AUD $190 for an offshore tourist visa, and AUD $8,850 for a partner visa, among many others.

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Conclusion

What does substantive visa mean? It is any Australian visa, temporary or permanent, except bridging visas, criminal justice visas, and enforcement visas. These visas could be family-related, for work, study, or travel purposes.

In order to qualify for an Australian substantive visa, you must meet certain eligibility and documentary requirements, including health and character checks, proof of sufficient funds, purpose of visa, and submitting all pertinent documents relevant to your visa application.

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