What visas are available for consultants paid by a foreign company in Australia?
My employer rushed me out here on short notice so I'm currently in Australia on a 3 month ETA Business Visa (Subclass 601). I'm wondering if anyone has any idea if I'm using the right visa as I'm not employed by an Australian company - i.e., I don't get paid by directly by the company I'm consulting for, they pay my overseas company, who pay me my normal salary.
I may have to come out here a few more times this year and don't want to get in trouble with border control if I re-enter after a short time in my home country or in another country (two weeks).
My employer is going to get in touch with an immigration specialist soon hopefully, but in the mean time I wanted to find out about other people's opinions.
Best Answer
Assuming you're actively working as opposed to (say) sitting in meetings or conducting negotiations, the answer is no, you're not.
One of the people I work with is in a situation extremely similar to yours -- visiting for 3 months, working but paid by overseas employer -- and our company's lawyers advised him that an ETA is insufficient, and they should apply for a Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visa (subclass 400). The application is considerably less onerous than the 457 Long Stay visa, and while processing times are usually quoted as one month plus, but in practice it was granted in under a week. (Your mileage may vary, of course.)
The main catch of the 400 is that it's intended for stays of under 3 months, with a maximum of 6 months if you have a good justification. If you're planning on returning in the future to work again, the 457 may be the better option.
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To be eligible for this visa, you must have at least 3 years of working experience in your nominated occupation and have a relevant skills assessment. With this visa, there is a requirement that you must work for the employer who is sponsoring you. This visa provides pathway to permanent residency through the 191 visa.Do Australian companies sponsor visa?
The employer-sponsored visa allows Australian employers to sponsor specific skilled labour to serve their business needs. It also allows skilled labour of a foreign country to explore their employment options with Australian employers, in case they may need their skills.How much does it cost a company to sponsor a visa Australia?
The costs to sponsor an employee on a visa or a temporary visa like the 482 visa, is $1,200 each year. This increases to $1,800 per year for employers with a turnover of more than $10 million. Employees on the medium-term stream occupation list have an eye on permanent residence in Australia.How can a company sponsor you in Australia?
How to sponsor a workerHow to Apply for Employer Sponsored Work Visa Australia (3 Steps You Must Take)
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Answer 2
NOTE: It seems that I was mistaken, and you should read the comments below, and @CMaster's answer for more information. I'll leave this post up in the hope that it is informative to others.
I've been to Australia a couple of times under similar circumstances, and I used the Electronic Travel Authority Visa. It was very easy, and as far as I know, it is the ideal visa for short stays (up to 3 months at a time) where you are not working for an Australian company (it is okay to go for business purposes, as long as you are being paid by your company back home).
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