In July 2010, the Australian Government announced a series of innovative changes which were to be made to Australian immigration practices and visa classifications over a period of five years.
At that time, the Australian Government committed to achieving a 50% reduction in the number of temporary residence working visa subclasses by 2012, and set a target to reduce the total number of Australian visa subclasses by 50% by 2015.
An initial public discussion paper was released in July 2010 that proposed a series of principles which would guide this visa simplification process and deregulation process through to 2015.
The Australian Government has recently initiated the ‘visitor visa phase’ of the visa simplification and deregulation process and has released a discussion paper inviting public comment on the deregulation of the Visitor visa group - Simpler Visas: Making Visitor Visas Simpler.
This discussion paper examines Australia’s current visitor visa framework and outlines a proposed simplified framework for the visitor visa group.
The purpose of Australia’s visitor visa system is to allow overseas persons to enter Australia for a short period of time to engage in:
Certain Australian visitor visa subclasses also allow the visa holder to work while they are in Australia for a short period of time in limited circumstances.
Applicants for Australian visitor visas have reported that they have experienced difficultly in selecting the appropriate visitor visa subclass for their intended stay in Australia.
Currently, there are nine separate visitor visa subclasses, with varying distinctions as to purpose of visit, length of stay and work conditions.
The discussion paper proposes that visas for all short stay (non business related) work activities be moved out of the visitor visa program altogether and into a new unsponsored ‘short stay’ visa category (which will form part of the proposed new temporary work visa categories).
The paper seeks public views on the proposed simplified visa framework for Australian visitor visas, which will inform both the development and implementation of the new visitor visa framework.
The discussion paper directs that all public comment and suggestions be submitted for consideration by 13th May 2011. Following the consideration of all responses, the Australian government will finalise and announce a new visa framework for Australian visitor visas.
It is intended that the final results of this discussion paper be implemented in official Australian immigration policy by September 2012.
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