Visa Services

We secure temporary and permanent residence visas for executive, managerial, professional, technical and trade personnel.

How BDO can help

Our specialist immigration lawyers represent clients in interviews or appearances before the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Australian Consulates or Tribunals of Review and the Courts.

We provide advice on all visa categories, including:

  • Sponsorship by Australian businesses
  • Sponsorship by overseas businesses
  • Employer-sponsored skilled migration visas
  • Family visas
  • Regional-sponsored migration scheme
  • Labour agreements
  • Skilled migration visas
  • Designated Area Migration Agreements
  • Other, including visitors, those changing their status to permanent residence, resident return visas and citizenship).

Visa services for students

We act for overseas students who apply outside Australia for their first student visa. We also act for students who already have a student visa to study in Australia and have a visa and related issues.

Visa conditions, visa cancellation and revocation

We advise students on visa conditions, including attendance and satisfactory performance requirements, mandatory and discretionary visa cancellations, applications for revocations, merits review applications and related matters. We also work for students seeking residency in Australia, including concerning skills assessments, English language and other requirements.

Visa categories

  • 482 visa program: The Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa enables Australian and overseas businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers to fill prescribed positions on a temporary basis for up to four years.
  • Subclass 482 – Sponsorship obligations: Companies that are approved sponsors under the Subclass 482 visa program are required to meet sponsorship obligations.
  • Subclass 482 – Monitoring and sanctions: Approved Sponsors under the Subclass 482 visa program are subject to sponsorship monitoring to ensure compliance with sponsorship obligations and liable to sanction in the event of breach.
  • Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Permanent Residence: The Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) Permanent Residence enables businesses operating in Australia to recruit skilled personnel from overseas on a permanent basis.
  • Business Skills Visas (subclass 188 and 888): The Business Innovation and Investment Program aims to attract successful investors and entrepreneurs to invest and establish businesses in Australia.
  • Visitor Visa / Short Stay Visas: Australia has a number of visitor / short stay visas which cater for both business persons and tourists.

Meet our team

Rebecca Thomson

Rebecca Thomson

Principal Lawyer, Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator, Migration Services
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